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| *Vultures Knob>>>Chopper Bike |
Is riding a Chopper motorcycle difficult? |
What level of difficulty is riding a chooper bike? What are some of the pro's and con's vs. a "regular" bike? I've been riding a chopper for over 20 years... It's much the same as a reg bike but they need more room to turn. Cons: Slower speeds are a little tougher to manage while turning... All the weight is on the BACK of the bike, making the front wheel lighter... front brakes tend to be useless. If you lock up a front brake on a chopper, there's a good chance they'll slide the front wheel... It has to do with the physics of stretching the front end... Rake, trail, stretch, etc... Was it cut at the neck? (very bad) Was it cut under the tank (top tube) and tweaked from the front down tubes? (the correct way to do it) ALSO, most choppers tend to be a hard tail, rigid mount... Meaning no shocks and the motor has no 'dampers' on it... so there's a rougher ride and more vibration... As far as the neck moving a different direction or the front wheel 'flopping' as you turn it, this should not happen if the scooter has been chopped properly... Oh yea, those 'springer' front ends.... with the springs on top if the front rails (with no shock) tend to 'pogo'... They bounce if ya hit a series of bumps in the road... Look for one with a shock... STAY AWAY from 'girder' front ends... The ones where the whole front end moves at the trip trees... They don't work well... Pros: Choppers look really cool... The gurls love em! Here's a tip... if you could look through the neck where the trip tree bolt goes through, you should be able to see the bolt that holds the front wheel on... The easiest way to check is to take a string, tie it to the top of the trip tree (as close to the neck bolt as possible) and run it down to the front wheel bolt and see how close the string is to the BOTTOM of the neck (where the lower trip tree attaches)... the closer, the better... There's a lot to consider, Choppers ain't near as comfortable, better for profiling around town, not road trips... Is it built properly? Safety comes FIRST... But I suppose it comes down to preferance... Choppers look cool, the ride a bit different but you DO get use to it... If you want to tour or take long trips, I would suggest a 'regular' bike... If ya want to be noticed, get the chopper... As I said earlier, be sure of the manufacturer, be sure it was built properly... Does it STOP? Brakes that function properly are more important than the motor... And most important, WHY do you want a chopper? Only you can answer that one... Find one that fits, you shouldn't have to reach for anything... The pegs should fit your feet, the hand controls should be easy to get a grip on without having to hunt for em... Hand shift (jockey shift) looks cool but REALLY takes some practice, that leaves only one hand on the bars... Foot clutch (suicide clutch- is not just a clever name...), that leaves NO feet to put on the ground while you're clutching and braking at the same time... AND a foot clutch is either on or off, there ain't no 'slip or feather' the clutch... its all or nothing... I ride a chopper, hand shift, hard tail, rigid mount motor... vibrate and bounce... alla that... I love it... You WILL get use to it all... but be careful where ya get it from!!! One more thing... Some choppers ain't legal in all states... What's legal here in Texas ain't legal in California... Too long? Too low? Outlaw pipes? Some more to think about... Buy a chopper from a reputable shop... NOT a 'back yard' custom. Engineering makes or breaks the scooter.... a bad chop job can get ya killed... Keep the shiny side UP and the rubber side DOWN... Ride Hard, Hide Free... Source(s): Owner\Engineer of 'Killer Kustom Cycles' Riding a chopper for over 20 years... And still alive! riding a chopper is not difficult at all The longer the forks are....The more you need to "get use to it" If their only kicked out a little...it's no problem But if their long...the neck of the bike tends to go the opposite direction.....No Biggie ....Just need to get used to it. Gotta Fly... Mike & "Jaz" in MN Experiance with long forks All depends. How much its streatched and raked, how low or hight it is, etc etc. Many chopers or custom bikes that are streatched or have long rakes can be tricky at low speeds. But t hey cruise really sweet on the highway. Then some, the way t hey are build are teribble in the twisties. If your looking at sometinhg already built to buy, you need to find out and if you want to deal with those issues. It's more a matter of getting used to then a matter of difficulty. Riding a chopper isn't really anymore diffcult it is a different feel. If you are just starting out with a motorcycle you should probably opt for a cheap motorcycle with a good helmet and jacket. The only different between a "chopper" and a "regular" motorcycle is the length of the front forks and adjustments to the frame to make it work. It is a more cumbersome steering system but that is just a side effect of looking cool. |
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