Archive for March, 2010

Choosing A Motorcycle Frame For Your Custom Chopper

Choosing A Motorcycle Frame For Your Custom Chopper by Christine Harrell

Above almost all else, motorcycle frames shape the overall look and feel of your custom chopper. If you’re mulling over the idea of building your own custom chopper from scratch or from a custom bike kit, motorcycle frames are the piece around which you’ll want to build your design concept. There are several styles of motorcycle frames to consider depending on the look you’re going for and how you’ll be using your custom chopper.

Measuring Custom Frames:
When comparing custom frames, you’ll notice that they are described in terms of “stretch.” The amount of stretch in the downtubes refers to how much higher the custom frame is than the stock frame. The stretch in the backbone refers to how much longer the custom frame is than the stock model frame.

Sportster Style Motorcycle Frames:
There are different styles of Sportster motorcycle frames designed for the Sportster engine. Sportster motorcycle frames needs to be extra tough to withstand the weight and rumble of the big Sportster engine. If you’re going to have oversized tires on your custom chopper, you’ll probably want to choose a Sportster motorcycle frame like the Hardtail Chassis that is built for larger tires.

Rolling Chassis Frames:
Rolling chassis frames are any type of rigid, swingarm, or softail motorcycle frame with front and rear wheel assembly and a stretched backbone or front downtubes. These are different from Sportster softail frames that have no stretch.

Rigid Frames:
In most cases, rigid motorcycle frames are stretch frames that are angled upward. Where other motorcycle frames have both wheels connected to the motorcycle frame through a suspension arrangement, rigid motorcycle frames often forgo the rear suspension.

FRX Frames:
If you’re building a racing bike or dirt bike or are going to be riding on rugged terrain and need durability and extra suspension, FRX motorcycle frames may be your best bet.

The Weight Factor:
Make sure to consider the weight of the motorcycle frame before you buy. The weight of the motorcycle frame makes a big difference in how smooth of a ride your custom chopper will have; generally the heavier the frame, the smoother the ride. However, if you’re going to be drag racing, you might favor a lighter weight.

Motorcycle frames are literally the backbone of the chopper. You’ll want to be selective with all of the parts for your custom chopper, but when it comes to the motorcycle frame be sure to devote a little more time to research, asking questions, and getting opinions. The motorcycle frame is what holds the entire bike together and choosing a quality, heavy duty motorcycle frame is well worth the time spent shopping around.

Author is a writer for Jireh Cycles which specializes in custom motorcycle frames. For more information you can visit http://www.JirehCycles.com.

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Ten Reasons You Should Own a Custom Chopper

I’m doing my weekly research on choppers and I happen to come across this article. I think it’s pretty good (maybe even as good as the stuff about choppers I write:)

Ten Reasons You Should Own a Custom Chopper by Tyler Powers

Copyright 2006 Tyler Powers

Custom choppers are the Mercedes of motorcycles, and they are as much fun to own as any super-luxury vehicle. I’m certain that when you see a custom chopper, you wish you had one for youself. Here’s ten reasons to buy a custom chopper…

1. FUN! Yes, this is the first and foremost reason. You will have more fun with a custom chopper than just about any other investment you make. Cars are fun, sure, but they simply don’t provide the “in the wind” feeling that can only be obtained with a motorcycle and a custom chopper will make people stop and notice and that’s always fun.

2. Resale value. Just like a car, motorcycles depreciate with time. At least stock motorcycles do. But custom rides and antiques don’t in fact they can appreciate if you continue adding value to your ride. 3. Breaking out of the status quo. Just anyone can own a stock motorcycle. Harley dealers have great stock bikes that anyone who has the money can buy. Newspapers abound with ads for stock motorcycles that are being sold by an owner often because they want to upgrade and get their first custom chopper. That’s the status quo in motorcycles. If you want to break away and stand out in the crowd, a custom chopper will do that for you!

4. Custom choppers are accepted by all motorcycle riders. Have you ever noticed that the Harley riders will accept custom choppers that aren’t Harley builds much more easily than they will any other type of motorcycle? It’s true, if your bike is a custom chop, even if the drive train is not Harley, the Harley rides will not shun you or make nasty.

5. Your custom chopper can reflect your personality. If you purchase a stock bike, there will be hundreds of thousands of people who have exactly the same scoot as yours. With a custom chopper, you can provide input and customization that reflects who you are.

6. Riding comfort is another reason to customize. By choosing the frame, engine, risers, handle bars, saddle and parts that create your custom chopper, you can create the chop that is most comfortable for YOU, the rider.

7. Pizzazz. You can add as much shiny, eye-blinding chrome as you choose; or you can have as little as you choose. If you want lots of fringe, accessories the custom chop to include fringe all over. If you want a very stark, minimalistic ride, you can have that too! How much pizzazz you add is your choice and only your choice!

8. Head turn factor. You can guarantee, no matter what custom chopper design you settle on, you will turn heads. You can add all the “head turn” factor to you chopper you desire. If you want, you can create something that is drop-dead unique and turn every head you encounter. But if you aren’t a glutton for attention, you may choose a more simplistic design.

9. Make it solo. If you get sick and tired of the “can I ride with you?” questions and simply don’t want anyone to ride behind you, choose a solo saddle design that provides you an excuse, “my bike only rides one ME!”

10. Ego. Yes, we all have ego, don’t we? That’s what makes us what to be different to begin with. And a great ego stroke is riding out of your truly unique, one-of-a-kind custom chopper. Just don’t let it go to your head! After all, you still want your friends to love you and ride with you!

Tyler Powers is a contributing author and webmaster for http://www.custom-choppers-guide.com . You will find loads of information on creating a custom chopper or motorcycle and much more at http://www.custom-choppers-guide.com .

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Headbanger Motorycles Hollister Bobber

Cyril Huze just threw up a cool post about an Italian company making some cool bikes. You should check it out:

http://www.cyrilhuzeblog.com/2010/03/18/headbanger-motorcycles-hollister-bobber/

Yeah I know this post is not about choppers. It’s my site, I’ll post what i want