Mini-choppers? Why?

[JimO]

well i have 1

my boys use it to ride around but not on the road,look at it this way one day one of these minichopper riders will want to buy you overpriced 250 off you

[smoky]

there just a bit of fun lighten up.

Yea - I can see how they'd be fun - but where?

I guess they're a bit like a girl I knew when I was at high school - she was a bit odd looking, freaky weird, no one wanted to say she was their girlfriend, but when no one was lookin they all wanted to go for a ride.

[smoky]

I think we can officially say that they are for Morons,
No body wants to admit they own one (unless they bought it for their kids)



so now how do you close a thread??

[avgas]

Brilliant!!! Why didnt I think of that?

But first i have to make a coffee table out of my ol' race mountainbike frame. Thats the excuse i hold so im allowed to keep the ol' Avanti Barracuda around.

[avgas]

Now i want a mini-chopper so i dont have to buy a big one.
If they made $400 mini-lambo's then i wouldn't have to have a mid-life crisis later.

[Headbanger]

They look pretty sweet to me, I wouldn't own one, But I can understand someone fangin around the neighborhood on one, down the shops, round the block, off to work if its close enough.

[90s]

Saddos that buy these should save up and buy a proper C5.

[zooter]

Why do we need any more threads on the merits or otherwise of the bikes? If they are ridden sensibly then the only one in breach of the law is going to be the cager that runs up the arse of the mini chopper rider. I've done my share of slowing down from 70kph to 50 in an 80k zone when being tailgated on a litre bike so what's the difference for a mini chopper in a 50k zone? Nothing at all.

The consumer protection argument is a lethally double edged sword. On the one hand we have "buyer beware". The rider is obligated to have a roadworthy machine. A lot of the junk that is sold is apparently patently dangerous, hence the Warehouse recalls.

On the other hand if all the imports were subject to certification the consumer is effectively cut off from supply of cheap ones that are ok. And the homebuliders are denied the chance to throw together a chainsaw engine and a skateboard and ride it down the road.

Maybe if the law said a consumer has a right to expect a motor vehicle not to fall apart under normal use then the retailers would be responsible for importing stuff that was safe. Oh wait, that is the law.

[smoky]

Why do we need any more threads on the merits or otherwise of the bikes?

Need??? who needs any thread? It's just a bit of fun.
If it's not your what you want to talk about, then read somin else.
But you did have a bit to say on the topic

[90s]

Why do we need any more threads on the merits or otherwise of the bikes? If they are ridden sensibly then the only one in breach of the law is going to be the cager that runs up the arse of the mini chopper rider. I've done my share of slowing down from 70kph to 50 in an 80k zone when being tailgated on a litre bike so what's the difference for a mini chopper in a 50k zone? Nothing at all.

Erm, no. See my previous post about the C5. Road legal - yes. Dangerous because of their small size and low height? Absolutely. You can compare the safety road info for bicycles and recumbant bicycles to get an idea of the difference. A bicycle has approx. dimensions of a motorbike. A rider sits above the traffic (cars) and can be seen easily (not that all cagers look). A recumbant sits below the eye/bonnent line of a car, just as mini choppers do. And just the same are much more dangerous and likely to be trashed. Watch out for recumbant riders and see most have at least one flag plus some sort of light. Its a REALLY bad idea to be in traffic on a mini chopper.

But you are right - ultimately a cage may be the more guilty party in trashing you. Some comfort.

[ManDownUnder]

One one hand they're a cheap entry into transport (and it can be cool looking transport at that depending on your views) so I can see why kids and those with a smallish budget are picking them up.

Cheap to buy, cheap to run and a bit of fun.

On the other hand, anything that keeps the rider low enough to be invisible delivering reasonably poor performance (braking, power etc) needs to be seriously examined.

They're a greater risk than people realise I think... but so long as people know the risks... who am I to criticise?

[Unforgiven]

I think they are a pretty cool idea, and would be a bit of fun.
but I dont think they are really road-worthy, they are cheap shit with saftey features to match.

[Swoop]

Do gang prospects' have to ride these before they are "full members" and allowed a Harley?

[sunhuntin]

that first attachment, the mini black widow. theres a couple here whove got one each. for the price they paid per bike, they could have bought my bike twice! the woman comes in on hers sometimes, and always has trouble with the gear shift. when are able to reach the gear shift with your hand, you are too close.

havent seen many lately, which is good. did see two guys getting pulled for attempting to wheelie in built up traffic coming up on a red light, lol. cop pulled over and then did a u turn. not the safest move, but those two idiots were likely to run up the ass of someone, or ass off and get run over.

id love a mini black widow, but only as a living room accessory. never something id ride. its like an adult riding a childs tricycle.

[MisterD]

I hate the fucking things, chopped Lambrettas used to be cool now these contraptions have ruined the whole idea.