![]() In the post–World War II United States, servicemen returning home from the war started removing all parts deemed too big, heavy, ugly, or not essential to the basic function of the motorcycle, such as fenders, turn indicators, and even front brakes. The large and well-appointed bikes exemplified the "dresser" motorcycle aesthetic and providing a counterpoint to the minimalist bobber, and café racers. Indian Scouts and Chiefs of the time came with extravagantly large, heavily valanced fenders, nearly reaching the center of the wheel on the luxurious 1941 Indian Series 441 while racing bikes had tiny fenders or none at all. The heavily valanced fenders of the 1940 Indian 440 four.Īn early example of a bobber is the 1940 Indian Sport Scout "Bob-Job" which toured in the 1998 The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition. Two famous examples of the chopper are customised Harley-Davidsons, the " Captain America" and "Billy Bike", seen in the 1969 film Easy Rider. ![]() The " sissy bar", a set of tubes that connect the rear fender with the frame, and which are often extended several feet high, is a signature feature on many choppers. Some of the characteristic features of choppers are long front ends with extended forks often coupled with an increased rake angle, hardtail frames (frames without rear suspension), very tall "ape hanger" or very short "drag" handlebars, lengthened or stretched frames, and larger than stock front wheels. They can be built from an original motorcycle which is modified ("chopped") or built from scratch. A chopper employs radically modified steering angles and lengthened forks for a stretched-out appearance. Without it the wheel is too far up your ass and the seat too far forward resulting in that humping a football look.Peter Fonda rides a replica of the " Captain America" bike used in Easy RiderĪ chopper is a type of custom motorcycle which emerged in the US state of California in the late 1950s. My personal opinion is that they need that rear end stretch. For this reason, a typical Sporty hardtail conversion has rear end stretch. ![]() The reason guys look like "apes humping a football" is because they are so short. Sportsters are an entirely different animal. Perhaps comparing the specs of a swing-arm Shovel frame to a rigid Panhead frame would get you that answer you're looking for as to whether they are any shorter. I'm unsure if a typical Shovel hardtail conversion adds or removes any length in the rear. Hardtail conversions for swing arm frames attempt to mimic the dimensions/geo of those early rigid frames. "Stock big twin" specs refers to early BT rigid frames (knuckle/pan). WHAT rigid frame? Are you asking about a Shovelhead hardtail conversion or a Sporty? I would think they both would be slightly shorter than stock with the lack of a swingarm.maybe I'm wrong. How true do they remain to factory wheelbase? I guess I was asking more about a rigid frame. Where do you guys score big twins for decent prices? I could use an Evo and it would be mega reliable, but something about them just dont have the same soul as a Shovel. I'd like to just drop the coin and build a shovel with ratchet top, but budget is an issue. So.just how much smaller is the Sporty? I'd guess 4-5" of wheelbase. Most guys I've seen riding them look like an ape humping a football. I'm not interested in the super stretched sporty frames, I dont think they look right. Looks like I can score a complete EVO (boring) on ebay for about $1500 bucks, I've seen a few Shovels (what I prefer) for around $3k, Alternatively I can find a complete sportster for $2k locally or an engine only for $1k.Ĭonsidering the Sportsters attached tranny it becomes a more compact package, but just how much less wheel base is there in a Sporster rigid frame than a Big Twin rigid frame of the same dimension. Considering looking for a new project after I finish a buddies GS550 cafe.
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