How many people out there haven’t heard of Orange County choppers; the TV show where dad and his two sons do more sparring than assembling, then it comes down to crunch time so they frantically try to finish the job; something inevitably goes wrong and you’re thinking “oh no, they’ll never finish”… And then they do. How can you build a chopper?

What Is a Chopper Anyways?

A chopper is a motorcycle that has been changed, or “chopped”, from its original design or possibly even built from the ground up. What sets a chopper apart from other motorcycles is its unmistakably lengthy front end frame; and more times than not the high handlebars that steer the front end. These bikes are low to the ground and require a bit of practice to maneuver successfully. The old movie “easy rider” shows a perfect example of a chopper. It is a stars and stripes customized Harley Davidson.

Murphy’s Law-If it Can Go Wrong, It Will

Since building a chopper can start with either an already assembled bike or be built from scratch you’ll want to know the pitfalls of each option. Changing a motorcycle from its original design is a tricky endeavor. “Cannibalized” bikes, motorcycles which have assorted parts from other motorcycles, frequently run into compatibility issues. Buying a chopper kit is a more surefire way of being guaranteed that the pieces will all get along nicely. The drawback with the kit, of course, is that you better know what you’re doing! Fortunately classes and videos are available to help accomplish this task.

So unless you know the Orange County chopper guys personally you’re going to have to decide whether or not this bike is really for you, will you be able to drive it, and the big question; who’s going to make it?