I do not intend to disrespect anyone by this thread. It is being posted out of sheer curiosity.

What is the deal with "chopper" bikes? It doesn't look comfortable in any way having your arms spread out as far and high as possible. Doesn't the blood eventually run out, leaving them numb? Is improved ventilation part of the appeal? Is there an advantage in steering or handling? Does this style "look cooler" to other bikers?

I seriously just don't get it.

If this is just another "different strokes for different folks" concept, like popped polo collars, picnic table spoilers, skinny jeans, etc. I understand. I just want to know if that's what it is.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

The louder the bike, the smaller the... well you know. Its a scientifically proven fact

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Losing blood circulation during a long ride must be a lot of fun too

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

I was at Home Depot the other day when a young guy (mid 20s?) pulled up in a beautifully maintained F350, set way up high with huge tires. The truck was immaculate, so I doubt that he ever intended to go off road. His modifications, though pointless, were obviously expensive. Just as I said to myself, "What is the point?", a drop-dead gorgeous girl climbed down from the passenger side and went into the store with him, hand-in-hand. I thought, "Oh, I guess that's the point."

Different strokes for different folks . . .

as they are probably in that position alot,might as well get used to it ehh!!

If you are being serious...(I know a lot of Harley bashers...)

There was a movie in the 70's (?) called "Easy Riders", Starring Peter Fonda and I guess he was a big badarse or something who rode a Harley with an American flag paint scheme and "ape-hangers" (the high handlebars that are featured in this thread).

I'll reserve further comment, but trust that it is a 100% style thing.

-John

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Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

The ape hangers on Fonda's bike are pretty tame. But with them and the extended forks he said the bike was a ***** to handle. Watch this clip and note how his front wheel bounces (got traction?) and how much harder it is for him to turn in the street compared to Dennis Hopper's ride..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omuO4d4Y-4A&feature=fvsr


Me? I've always been partial to buckhorns. FXDL, as the name says.

Seems to me that the higher the ape hangers, the harder it would be to "counter steer" and thus harder to control the steering.

MTI's right however. Differerent strokes for different folks.

It's a style thing. Lots of folks aren't happy with mass produced, bean-counter influenced "stuff" so they personalize it to fit their own tastes. To each their own. And some people just like to piss other people off. I've often considered buying a Suburban or crew cab p/u, jacking it up and run some big @$$ tires just to annoy the hell out of the holier-than-though types that are so prevalent in CT.

Things designed to appeal to the broadest range of consumers won't fit everyone's needs or style.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Easy Rider was a great flick and actually helped perpetuate the two different style choppers seen there, the Long bike (Capt America's) and the bar hopper (Billy's). Both are still built, but it seems the bar hopper is the more popular now days, though you still see long bikes. I think the OP might have been referring to ape hanger bars, but a mere set of those on a bike does not make a chopper. It would take too long to explain the chopper culture, but it did rise out of the post war cycle boom, and the practice of "bobbing" or later "chopping" bikes, usually Harleys to remove all the extraneous stuff, lose weight and improve performance. It later became a styling thing too. Choppers aren't for everyone, but they are a unique American motor art form.

Like it or hate it, it's here to stay. And for those of you who have the snide "big bike, small junk" comments, I imagine that you wouldn't dare say that to a chopper rider face to face. Sounds more like penis, uh bike envy to me.....

not to be mean, but the majority of Harley guys I know only drive a couple miles at a time to the bar or to the next bar, then they stand around talking about it and can walk out and show it, which in the end is the most important, along with the ape hangers, how about those hard tails......

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1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

I had a hard tail Shovelhead bar hopper type bike once upon a time (no apes: I prefer low bars) and I rode it all over the place, Daytona from Houston, Sturgis, west coast etc. It is not as comfortable as my Goose was, but it didnt cripple me.

Not to be an idiot. (I agree with you somewhat) BUT, you have obviously never ridden a bike let alone a "chopper"

Your title of the thread and subsequent rant have no relation. Forks do not make a "chopper" nor do the apehangers you describe in the thread.

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

I did not write in an angry manner, hence your assessment that my post was a "rant" is uneducated. Not at all unlike my assumption that a bike's fork defines whether or not it is a chopper. The original post WAS being serious, like I said. Simple curiosity about the motivation behind the "look." I see now that it is purely a style element, probably in a similar vein with lowered/jacked up cars.

Yes I have ridden a bike (crotch rocket), but only briefly, and never got into the culture. I appreciate all the informative posts here.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

they do not look safe