What's a Chopper Motorcycle? A Comprehensive Guide to Its Style, History, Types, Customization Features, and Recommended Models!

Do you know what a chopper motorcycle is?

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What kind of motorcycle comes to mind when you hear "chopper bike"?

Many people might think of American bikes with extended front forks and handlebars that seem to be above one's head.

Some might imagine an American bike with excessive modifications, but a chopper bike refers to a motorcycle where original parts like handlebars have been cut, processed, or removed.

Therefore, "chopper" refers to a broader range of modifications, not just to the front forks and handlebars.

Meaning of "Chopper"

The origin of "chopper" is said to come from the English word "chop."

Translated into Japanese, it means "to cut off or remove with an axe or hatchet."

The term "chopper" is said to have originated from the literal "chopping" modifications, such as cutting parts of the frame to adjust the neck position and install self-made front forks.

The common image of a chopper might be an American bike with long extended front forks and high handlebars positioned above the head.

However, a chopper is defined as a bike that has undergone various custom modifications, such as removing or cutting original parts, reflecting the origin of the word "Chop = Chopper."

Another feature is the lowered seat

One of the characteristics of a chopper bike is that the seat slopes downwards towards the back, creating a "tail-down" look.

Lowering the seat creates a contrast with the handlebar height, making the center of gravity appear lower and enhancing its wild and robust appeal.

The lower seat height also improves foot reach, making it easier for even petite women to ride.

Learning the History of Chopper Bikes

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Chopper bikes are said to have originated in the United States in the 1940s, starting with customs of American motorcycles like Harleys.

The origin lies in customizing motorcycles by cutting off original fenders and miniaturizing gas tanks on Harleys, riding them with simplified parts.

After World War II, American soldiers aimed to lighten military motorcycles by removing fenders and making gas tanks smaller.

This lightweighting, simplified appearance customization, and fuel efficiency improvement eventually led to the recognition of the chopper style.

The chopper style was popular among young people in the United States, but it gained worldwide recognition with the release of a movie.

American popularity soared in the 1960s due to a movie.

The movie "Easy Rider," released in 1968, was the catalyst that spread the American-born chopper style worldwide and brought it recognition.

Many of you have probably heard "Born to Be Wild," the theme song of Easy Rider, which has been widely used in commercials and other media.

Easy Rider is a film about two young men who, not conforming to societal norms, hide a large sum of money they made from selling cocaine in the gas tank of their Harley and travel freely from California to Louisiana.

The Harley featured in the film was a 1965 model with an engine commonly known as a "Panhead," fully customized in the chopper style, and fully chromed—a groundbreaking modification at the time—making a significant impression on the public.

As a symbol of youth unbound by the values and conventions of their era, the film resonated with many young people worldwide and played a crucial role in the rapid spread of the chopper style.

While the chopper originated in the 1940s in America with simple modifications, and Easy Rider helped popularize the chopper style worldwide, today choppers are categorized into several types based on their style.

Types of Chopper Bikes

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A chopper is a style of customization that involves cutting or removing original parts, and it is classified into several types, including the Denver style.

While the exact definitions of chopper types can be ambiguous, here's an introduction focusing on their main characteristics.

Denver Style

Source: http://www.harley-w.com/Chopper.html

The Denver style is an American motorcycle with a rigid frame, long extended front forks, and a prismatic tank.

Parts are actively removed, resulting in an appearance that emphasizes the engine more. This style originated in the 1970s by the Los Angeles (LA) shop "Denvers," hence its name, Denver style.

In the Denver style, it is common to narrow the front forks to barely clear the tire width and not install a front brake.

LA Style

Source: http://www.harley-w.com/Chopper.html

The LA style is simply called "chopper" in the United States.

In Japan, we refer to it as the LA style: a rigid frame with a reclined neck angle and long front forks, finished with a simple exterior by removing external parts.

Street Drag

Source: http://www.harley-w.com/Chopper.html

Street Drag is an American custom motorcycle inspired by the style of drag racers, who compete for time over a 400m distance.

The customizations, such as the frame and swingarm, are long and low to achieve a lower center of gravity.

It's a style designed for faster straight-line performance, with all non-essential parts removed or modified for lightweighting.

Digger Style

Source: http://www.harley-w.com/Chopper.html

The Digger style is an American motorcycle customized based on drag racers competing in 400m races.

It is characterized by a reclined neck and long front forks installed at a gentle forward angle, resulting in a slightly hunched-over seating position.

During drag races, the rear tire would violently spin, melting the rubber from the heat to improve grip. This action resembled a gravedigger digging a hole, hence the name Digger style.

Characteristics of Chopper Bikes

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While many chopper bikes feature extended front forks, they also have various other characteristics.

Here, we'll introduce the main features of customizations applied to chopper bikes.

Long Fork Customization

The extended front forks are a major characteristic of many chopper-style motorcycles.

If a rigid frame with a laid-back neck angle is equipped with long forks, you can almost certainly identify it as a chopper.

Some even feature long forks reaching up to 2 meters, creating a powerful visual impact.

It's said that many beginners in choppers start with long forks, making long fork customization a classic in the chopper style.

Handlebar Customization

In chopper style, handlebars vary in position, extending back towards the rider, creating a slightly forward-leaning posture, or even positioned above the rider's head.

High-mounted handlebars are a crucial element that cannot be overlooked in forming a chopper.

The chopper style, highlighted by the freedom expressed in the movie Easy Rider that led to its global spread, emphasizes individuality, making parts like handlebars, which can be made longer or higher than others, an easily customizable area.

Jockey Shift Customization

The "jockey shift" got its name because operating it resembles a jockey whipping a horse while riding.

Unlike a conventional clutch mounted on the handlebar, it's a distinctive style where you change gears by operating a shift lever located on the left side of the seat.

With no lever on the left handlebar, the look is clean and uncluttered.

Since gear changes are done by hand, the clutch is typically operated by foot, combined with a rocker clutch or a suicide clutch that engages when released.

Muffler Customization

Chopper mufflers often have distinctive designs.

The exhaust pipes connected to the engine bend at several angles, and the pipe ends point diagonally upwards, creating a free-form shape.

Since the chopper style involves freely cutting or removing motorcycle parts, mufflers also have a free form.

If you install a muffler where the exhaust pipes fold several times while maintaining parallel alignment and the exhaust port flips up towards the sky, it will instantly exude chopper authenticity.

Seat Customization

Chopper seats are often replaced from comfortable stock seats with thin, well-shaped, or smaller ones.

When handlebars extend to eye level or above the head, a lowered seat is standard to make gripping the handlebars easier.

It's also popular to replace tandem seats with single-rider seats or to shorten the bike's tail for a complete single-rider setup.

Rear Fender Customization

In chopper style, it's common to modify the rear fender, either by shortening it to a minimum length or replacing it with an aftermarket part that is already short.

While the rear fender's function is to protect riders from mud and water splashed by the rear tire, in chopper customization, appearance is prioritized over function. Rear fenders are often boldly shortened or reshaped to match a single-seater conversion, making rear fender customization significant.

Headlight Customization

For headlight customization, the free-spirited chopper style offers various shapes and lens colors.

There's a rich variety of types installed, including common round shapes, square shapes, and smaller square shapes arranged in pairs vertically.

Choppers seeking an old-school look often use round shapes, while more modern styles frequently feature smaller square headlights.

Gas Tank Customization

Gas tank customization is also important for chopper style.

Originally, motorcycles are equipped with fuel tanks that hold enough fuel for a certain cruising range, considering fuel efficiency. However, for choppers, these are replaced with smaller and lighter tanks.

Reducing the tank size will decrease the amount of gasoline that can be refueled, necessitating more frequent stops at gas stations.

However, prioritizing style and freedom, choppers often choose tanks that look cool, putting practicality secondary.

Further customizing with favorite colors or drawing fire patterns will make the chopper even more unique.

In "Easy Rider," "Captain America," painted with the American flag on its tank, left a strong impression on viewers.

Can chopper bikes be bought new or used?

Chopper-style motorcycles are built by buying a base vehicle and then customizing it.

Here, we will introduce models chosen as bases for new choppers and examples of already customized choppers.

Please use this as a reference to create your favorite chopper style.

1. Harley-Davidson Softail

Source: https://www.harley-davidson.com/jp/ja/motorcycles/softail-standard.html

An essential base model for choppers is the Harley-Davidson "Softail."

With its simple bobber style, free of unnecessary attachments, it is highly popular as a chopper base both in its home country, America, and in Japan.

At first glance, it appears to have a rigid rear suspension, but it is a model equipped with a rear suspension that moves horizontally under the engine.

As of June 2021, it is still available new, making it an ideal American motorcycle for the chopper style.

• Engine: Milwaukee-Eight 107
• Displacement: 1,746cc
• Weight: 297kg
• Selling price: (New) 1,754,500 yen

1. Harley

チョッパーが仕上がりつつある。
楽しみだ。#Harley #Custom#Chopper#Shovelhead pic.twitter.com/FalKAEJfMu

— マフィア梶田 (@mafia_kajita) June 19, 2020

This Harley features a striking stepped seat and upward-angled exhaust pipes.

Overall, it has a simplified and sleek finish.

1. Harley Softail

ご意見をお聞かせください🤲

当方のバイクはＦＸ系でフリスコスタイルチョッパーを目指してます。

前輪19 後輪16インチ　ですが前後とも同じパターン（縦溝）のタイヤを履くのはアリだと思いますか？ナシだと感じますか？

フロント21インチなら悩まないんですけどね😅#Harley #Chopper pic.twitter.com/iHasiby6aq

— ゑっちゃん (@evisyah) November 21, 2019

This Harley has been customized to achieve a Frisco-style chopper.

With a 19-inch front wheel and a 16-inch rear wheel, it has an impactful and distinct finish.

1. Harley

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This Harley features strikingly long front forks that extend gracefully forward.

In particular, the seat and rear section are well-balanced with a good contrast.

1. Kawasaki Vulcan 400

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CQW9UKXhQ1x/

This is a chopper style based on a Kawasaki Vulcan 400.

With a black body color, the flame pattern on the gas tank and the red rear wheel create a nice contrast.

Summary

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We've introduced chopper-style motorcycles, detailing their characteristics, origin, and history.

Since a chopper is essentially about building a bike to your liking with free ideas, there are many types of choppers.

If you're interested in choppers or thinking about riding one, use this article as a hint to customize your favorite ride.