Over the years I've seen a lot of customized Hondas, Triumphs, etc., referred to as choppers. I know that in the strictest meaning of the word they could be considered choppers, but, I've always thought of them as posers. Even though I've ridden metrics the only bike I've ever considered as a chopper is a Harley. Anybody else feel that anything other than a Harley is not a real chopper?

 

Nope.
Lots of the original choppers (or bobbers) were Indians or other makes.
These were production bikes with parts removed or "chopped" off.
In the 70s the term chopper was redefined to be a bike with raked and extended forks, (Parts were still "chopped" off) Hondas and Triumphs were popular around here I'm sure just about every brand of bike was "chopped" by someone.
These days many "choppers" are custom built from the ground up, and have very few if any Harley parts. You even have companies mass producing choppers (if that makes any sense). You even have people adding parts to stock bikes and they call them choppers.
But IMO the term never has and never will be Brand specific.

 

Nope most choppers in the day were Honda 750's and Trumpets (lot cheaper).
Chopper = to chop off the **** that don't make it go fast or stop.

 

Not for me, a chopper is a chopper regardless of engine brand. In reality, I beleive today's choppers should be called "customs". Choppers were stock motorcycles that were "chopped" or "bobbed" to create a different look. Point is, they were just a modification from stock. Custom, on the other hand, is custom, parts made to fit, one offs, etc., radically different than the norm. The definitions have gotten lost over the years, today a stock bike with a bunch of chrome repalcement parts is considered a "custom" when there is nothing really custom about it, it's a bunch of add on trinkets that anyone can do.

 

Upon returning from World War II, soldiers seemed dissatisfied with the motorcycles that were being built by Harley-Davidson and Indian. The bikes they had rode in Europe were lighter, sleeker, and were much more fun to ride. These vets started to hang out with other ex-soldiers to relive some of the camaraderie they had felt in the service. These groups of buddies realized that their motorcycles needed changes that Harley was not providing. These new "bikers" (another new term at the time) started their "chopping" by removing or shortening (bobbing) the fenders on their bikes. This made the bikes look cool and uncluttered. They originally called the new chopped bikes "Bobbers". The bikes kept evolving through the 60's and in the 70's and they started to call them "Choppers". In 1969 the movie "Easy Rider" was released which brought the Chopper into the public eye. That movie set into motion the wave of cool Choppers and Chopper builders that we see today. People wanted a Chopper and nobody was building them so they had to go build them themselves. Just what is a Chopper? The Chopper is created by removing or "chopping" off unnecessary parts from the bike. Who needs a windshield, front fenders, big headlights, clumsy blinkers, crash bars, big seats, etc? Chop them off and make the bike sleeker and lighter. Bikers started raking the front end so the tire was further from the bike, it gave the bike a cool look, which goes a long way with a biker. Handlebars were raised high and called ape hangers. The front tire was made thinner and the rear tire was made fatter. Some bikers even removed the battery and used a magneto to reduce weight. The gas tank, headlight, and blinkers were all made smaller. Anything deemed to be unnecessary was removed. This made for a bike style that was unique and tailored to each rider since each rider decided just what needed to be done to his bike to create the Chopper he desired. As individual backyard mechanics started to get noticed, more talented designers started building Choppers and their work became highly sought after. An individual now no longer needed to actually do the Chopper work, just express what he wanted to a Chopper designer and the designer would do the rest. Arlen Ness was one of the first and most recognized such designers. In the 1990's, the Chopper movement was revitalized. Although Harley Davidson is best known in the biker world, there are many other brands that people use to build Choppers. To many chopper riders, it's the end product that matters, not the name brand.

 

Schu - when we choppin' that VIC?

 

shoot.....I'll be lucky if I can buy anything for it this year

 

You're all right of course but when I hear the word chopper I see Dave Mann paintings, Captain America, HA's, bearded, long haired, hard drinkin, hard ridin bikers with chain wallets and even our very own Gumpmeister comes to mind. Somehow a stretched out Honda Shadow just doesn't fit my image. Sort of like some duded up, bar hoppin guy in New Yawk buying a pair of boots, a western shirt, jeans and a hat and calling himself a cowboy.

 

+1 Very well said.

 

From what I've seen in the couple of Vic shops I've stopped in there isn't that much available for them anyway (that can be a good thing).

How you liking that ride anyhow??

Inquiring minds need to know.