American Chopper

**Paul in NZ** · 26th January 2007, 11:01

Originally Posted by Motu

Bring back Srapheap! Now that's a show if you want to see fabrication,nutting out designs on the fly,changing and adapting.The first few seasons were the best and I have most on tape.These American shows are just soaps.But Mythbusters is damn good - same as Srapheap...they wing it and adapt,change the plan when it doesn't work.

And MOST important in Srapheap and Mythbusters - they have FUN!!! They laugh! How many belly laughs do you see on American Chopper or Monster Garage?

Bloody oath! They are as funny as heck sometimes. I think it was one of the later ones when the catapult flinging the mini tore it'self to bits - nothing staged there...

In my humble opinon.... The bikes OCC and the rest build are seldom choppers in the true sense. You don't buy a chopper from a pro - you buy a customised production bike from a low volume manufacturer. A real chopper is home made (often using bits out of a book) by a non pro.

**Virago** · 26th January 2007, 11:06

Originally Posted by MikeyG

Read in a mag that the people who did biker build off are going to do a sports bike build off show. I'll look it up tonight and post more.

Cool - something that the cruiser /chopper lovers can piss on........

**miSTa** · 26th January 2007, 11:47

Originally Posted by vifferman

I like to watch "Murkn Chopper" for the 'engineering' and bike stuff, but WalrusDude really pisses me off, coming in and yodelling at WalrusWannabe(Junior, III). While I know he's doing it because (a) the producer told him to, because the show would be too slow otherwise, and (b) he has nothing better to do, and (c) he has "issues", it's blardy annoying.

You and me both!

**degrom** · 26th January 2007, 12:03

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

A real chopper is home made (often using bits out of a book) by a non pro.

Yes... That is how the non-pro becomes a pro.(People uses his parts and soon every one wants them)

I also feel if you have not done the chopping your self(at least some of it),it's not worth having a chopper. (What's the fun playing with lego's if every thing is built for you?)

**Toaster** · 26th January 2007, 12:09

Was a great series to watch... entertaining. Shame its just repeats now.

**degrom** · 26th January 2007, 12:21

Originally Posted by Toaster

Was a great series to watch... entertaining. Shame its just repeats now.

There's a nice show on ESPN called Chopper Nation Thursdays at 6:00PM.

Actually more in depth about the choppers them self.

**disenfranchised** · 26th January 2007, 12:36

Originally Posted by MikeyG

Read in a mag that the people who did biker build off are going to do a sports bike build off show. I'll look it up tonight and post more.

I'd love to see something like this..except maybe streetfighter and cafe racer styles, cause then there wouldn't be so much fairing to hide all the detailing.

I reckon even the biker build off show could include this....it can't be that every custom motorcycle builder in the states makes choppers.

Some of the effects they've used on the choopers would look awesome of a sportsbike...like the hubless rear wheel used on one of billy lane's bike in an earlier season.
http://www.rideontv.com/episodes/200...es/8009.49.jpg

**chanceyy** · 26th January 2007, 12:37

hmm enjoy it all the same .. love the widow bike 1 then the widow bike 2 outstanding to have a web designed petrol tank ..( real tank under the bike seat )was simply awesum to look at, the snap tools bike & fire bike outstanding designing

to me its art .. can not stand to look at pictures in a musesum but to watch them create bikes as they do ... its the kinda art I like

**surfer** · 26th January 2007, 14:21

Originally Posted by degrom

I also feel if you have not done the chopping your self(at least some of it),it's not worth having a chopper. (What's the fun playing with lego's if every thing is built for you?)

Surely riding a chopper is what it's all about? I don't think I'd want to be that hard on someone for riding something they didn't build. Not everyone can wield a welding torch.

**degrom** · 26th January 2007, 14:53

Originally Posted by surfer

Surely riding a chopper is what it's all about? I don't think I'd want to be that hard on someone for riding something they didn't build. Not everyone can wield a welding torch.

LOL... True. But that's why I want to build all the stuff myself.

I have been asking a lot of questions on chopper building. The last part was
about frame building. When I talked about bending the tubes most of the people said I should get it bent and not import a propper benderd from the states.

So I asked about welding. Most of the people said I should have a welding certificate to do it and that I should rather take it to a proper welder and get it welded up.

So if I get the tube bent by "BOB" and welds done by "Tim"...
Who's frame is it? It's for sure not my F&#ing frame!!!
I might own it, but that's where it stops!!!

I think there is a lot of pride involved in chopper building!

Some like to be proud of what they built and other like to be proud of what they are riding.

**surfer** · 26th January 2007, 15:18

Originally Posted by degrom

LOL... True. But that's why I want to build all the stuff myself.

I have been asking a lot of questions on chopper building. The last part was
about frame building. When I talked about bending the tubes most of the people said I should get it bent and not import a propper benderd from the states.

So I asked about welding. Most of the people said I should have a welding certificate to do it and that I should rather take it to a proper welder and get it welded up.

So if I get the tube bent by "BOB" and welds done by "Tim"...
Who's frame is it? It's for sure not my F&#ing frame!!!
I might own it, but that's where it stops!!!

I think there is a lot of pride involved in chopper building!

Some like to be proud of what they built and other like to be proud of what they are riding.

Only too true dude. Good luck with your build.

**Motoerhead** · 27th January 2007, 20:56

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Bloody oath! They are as funny as heck sometimes. I think it was one of the later ones when the catapult flinging the mini tore it'self to bits - nothing staged there...

In my humble opinon.... The bikes OCC and the rest build are seldom choppers in the true sense. You don't buy a chopper from a pro - you buy a customised production bike from a low volume manufacturer. A real chopper is home made (often using bits out of a book) by a non pro.

yep thats the way to do.....most of the biker cant find here bikes back after a few beer in the pub as outside the bar all the bikes look the same....not my one...kiwi build homemade peace of chopper....hardtail for hardcore rider....

**kiwifruit** · 27th January 2007, 21:19

there was a good show on today, biker build off....
they made bikes for the track. one was a 150hp harley engined ohlins suspension cafe racer (looked farkin awesome), the other was a rigid frame, flat tracker style racer with a 950 ktm v twin...also very very nice

**HanSoloNZ** · 27th January 2007, 22:04

How did they fit three Harley engines into the frame?

**disenfranchised** · 28th January 2007, 07:34

Originally Posted by kiwifruit

there was a good show on today, biker build off....
they made bikes for the track. one was a 150hp harley engined ohlins suspension cafe racer (looked farkin awesome), the other was a rigid frame, flat tracker style racer with a 950 ktm v twin...also very very nice

Article with some photos here
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Articl...ID=3463&Page=1