Sportsters make incredible Choppers, which is why they are among my favorite bikes for building low-cost chops. If you’re looking for Chopper building tips, a great example comes from a guy named Curt, whom I met at an Oklahoma City bike show. Although I didn’t catch his last name, the bike he built is truly a piece of rolling artwork.
At first glance, I thought it was a knucklehead until I got closer. The bike has been beautifully detailed, and the split rocker boxes are a great touch. The chrome on this bike alone probably cost more than my last car. You can't see it here, but there's also a small shock under the seat to smooth out the spring action.
I still have the stock low mileage '82 Sportster I bought as a daily commuter back in 2015, but I haven't had time for any motorcycle customization. Eventually, it will get some kind of mild treatment as time permits.
Another project we started in 2016 was sold before it was ever finished but had great potential. A fellow came into the shop one day and just had to have it, ignoring the 'not for sale' sign, and he went home with it.
The 'rigid' forks with the 4-bend bars seemed to be the main selling point. Lightweight Sportster chops are well suited for rigid front ends, the longer the better.
This bike used a 2-up Paughco frame with a 40-degree rake. I can’t recall why we didn’t bother to put a tire on that front wheel. The motor we started with was a typical basket case, but the price was right. The customer wasn’t impressed with this jewel, so we’ve still got it on a shelf somewhere.
We’ll be doing another Sportster chop project this year, so stay tuned for more motorcycle customization insights.
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