Buying a Chopper

I noted a few references to buying a chopper in another thread on a separate topic, and thought it might be worth creating a stand alone thread. Feel free to add your best/worst bought a chopper story. For purposes of this thread, let's consider a chopper to be a raked front end, high bars, chopped frame, west coast US style custom. Ie, not a cafe build. Or not......

Buying a "chopper" is an interesting proposition. Some are worth bringing back to stock. Some are best viewed as just a few useable parts, with the rest of the bike to be disposed of. Or of course you could keep it and cherish it as a chopper.

Fortunately, IMHO, not too many Nortons get chopped, and I don't think there is much of a market for them. It appears that more often Triumphs get chopped, and oddly enough where I live (West Coast of Canada) lots of BSA A65s. Chopperdom seems to be the place A65s seem to go to die. Most choppers I see are done badly, and sold as unfinished projects. It usually looks like somebody's dream exceeded their budget, skills, and priorities.

I bought a very ugly chopper (IMHO) that unusually had been done well and looked after. The frame was shop made, had a peanut fiberglass tank, Harley rear wheel, forward foot controls, radical rake on the front end, etc, etc. Somewhat surprising to me, I managed to sell the frame, tank, Bates style headlight, oil tank, and seat. I meet some interesting people who were very happy to buy the bits to complete their dream chopper! And I kept the Norton bits: a 850 engine with twin Mikuni's, good gearbox, front disk brake and sliders, front fender, and gauges. I ended up with ownership papers for a Norton, which I could use if I put the engine in one of my basket case projects. Selling the chopper bits brought the price of the good Norton parts down substantially. But it did take a lot of time and added to the parts storage problem.
The fellow who built the bike was known locally, although I never met him. I was told "the bike really hauled ass", and "he rode it like he stole it".

Stephen Hill said:

I noted a few references to buying a chopper in another thread on a separate topic, and thought it might be worth creating a stand alone thread. Feel free to add your best/worst bought a chopper story. For purposes of this thread, let's consider a chopper to be a raked front end, high bars, chopped frame, west coast US style custom. Ie, not a cafe build. Or not......

Buying a "chopper" is an interesting proposition. Some are worth bringing back to stock. Some are best viewed as just a few useable parts, with the rest of the bike to be disposed of. Or of course you could keep it and cherish it as a chopper.

Fortunately, IMHO, not too many Nortons get chopped, and I don't think there is much of a market for them. It appears that more often Triumphs get chopped, and oddly enough where I live (West Coast of Canada) lots of BSA A65s. Chopperdom seems to be the place A65s seem to go to die. Most choppers I see are done badly, and sold as unfinished projects. It usually looks like somebody's dream exceeded their budget, skills, and priorities.

I bought a very ugly chopper (IMHO) that unusually had been done well and looked after. The frame was shop made, had a peanut fiberglass tank, Harley rear wheel, forward foot controls, radical rake on the front end, etc, etc. Somewhat surprising to me, I managed to sell the frame, tank, Bates style headlight, oil tank, and seat. I meet some interesting people who were very happy to buy the bits to complete their dream chopper! And I kept the Norton bits: a 850 engine with twin Mikuni's, good gearbox, front disk brake and sliders, front fender, and gauges. I ended up with ownership papers for a Norton, which I could use if I put the engine in one of my basket case projects. Selling the chopper bits brought the price of the good Norton parts down substantially. But it did take a lot of time and added to the parts storage problem.
The fellow who built the bike was known locally, although I never met him. I was told "the bike really hauled ass", and "he rode it like he stole it".

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Funny or 'Odd' that you say that. The old neighborhood where I grew up, So California, in the 'late' 60's had one 'Real' chopper.
A hard tail BSA complete with molded frame and tank molded to the frame.
Painted Root Beer brown, Gold leaf and pinstriping. Through the eyes of a 15 yr old, I thought it was the Shitzzzz.

My first Norton was a “ chopper “ … sort of. A high school buddy bought a 750 Combat Roadster new and made it a “ chopper “ by swapping out the stock stanchions for really long ones . He deleted the front brake because the hose was not long enough and promptly ran into the back of a car . Fortunately the silly long forks absorbed much of the energy by bending backwards. I had a Husky 360 Sportsman with a bad bottom end so we swapped. I made the Norton into a cafe racer with Dunstall bits and built a tank and seat out of fiberglass. So began my love affair.

Never owned one myself, but in the 70’s a friend foolishly bought a beat up Yamaha 650 with extended forks. He didn’t want to ride the atrocity from LA to San Diego, so I volunteered to do it for him. About half way there I started wondering what am I doing this for?!

I loved a lot of what Indian Larry was doing here in NYC before he passed. He had a great style whether you liked it all or some of it. Id buy one of his Twisted frames a Panhead motor and go from there.. Its only time and money which I have neither of

I bought my first Norton when I was 17. My best friend also bought one. Back then choppers were common, Harleys and Triumphs, so we chopped our Nortons...



A few years later I realized how ridiculous it was, so I toned it down a bit



Once I was out of college, I sold the Norton and went full sport bike...

My mate Paul copper Triumph has a 60s ex police motor with a better cam and a single Amal with a choke lever as well Joe Hunt magneto he built this about 25 years ago but as he getting older he don't ride it to far bit hard on the old aging back.

He needs a sprung seat. I had one on a '51 Matchless rigid single and it was a comfortable ride. The Matchless frame probably had some flex which helped.

batrider said:

He needs a sprung seat. I had one on a '51 Matchless rigid single and it was a comfortable ride. The Matchless frame probably had some flex which helped.

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In his eyes won't look cool.

ashman said:

In his eyes won't look cool.

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No it doesn't look as cool but at least you can do the miles

ashman said:

In his eyes won't look cool.

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I built this recently for my mates son
If you are doing the miles you really need a sprung and damped seat

baz said:

No it doesn't look as cool but at least you can do the miles

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Well its not my arse riding around on it his back was sore so he didn't take the Triumph out on our kick start bike run so he took his Harley and guess what the battery shit itself and had to get home on the back of a tilt tray, if he was on the Triumph he have no problem with the Joe hunt.

speirmoor said:

I loved a lot of what Indian Larry was doing here in NYC before he passed. He had a great style whether you liked it all or some of it. Id buy one of his Twisted frames a Panhead motor and go from there.. Its only time and money which I have neither of

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Indian Larry, now he's an example of a true builder, innovator and artist. I went to the Del Mar Va bike week in 2004, two weeks after Labor Day. Larry was supposed to be in attendance. Only to find out he died on August 30th while performing a stunt . A few weeks before his appearance at the show. His partners continued to let the show go on. They brought all his bikes for display. The only thing missing was Larry. I have plenty of photos from the event, but they are 35mm and tucked away in a tote in the basement. You can go to www.indianlarry.com to see some of his work.

I would never chop a Norton, but this was a different animal. And yes sprung seat was a must have

This is a really cool thread, lots of excellent "period" photos.

All I can add is my BEST (hands down) chopper rescue...



The list of sins is extensive...

The chopper had:
-One round light, one rectangular
-ALL wires were red
-Front fender mounted to sprung legs
-HD tank WELDED to frame
-Frame badly raked
-Kickstarter welded to the shaft
-Front seat mount welded to frame
-One stainless header, one rusty header
-World's longest rear brake rod
-18" socket extension welded to shifter shaft, for hand shifting
-Engine required crank re-grind, all new bearings, new pistons & rings, cylinders re-bored .040" over, several transmission gears were replaced, all trans bearings & bushings replaced, all new valves & springs, head resurfaced and valve seats re-ground, all new clutch plates & springs, new primary chain, new camchain, all new lifters & pushrods, total carb overhaul including re-sleeving both bores & oversize slides, new alternator, new Sparx electronic ignition, new wiring harness, all new gaskets & seals (of course), and polished engine covers when it was done with the rebuild
-Many parts hose-clamped to frame
-Many parts U-bolted to frame
-Coils mounted in two pieces of steel pipe welded together then TAPED to the frame
-Over 10# of red Oklahoma dirt caked to the oily frame
-Completely worn swingarm bushings
-Completely worn isolastic rubbers (falling apart internally)
-Honda tail light welded to rear fender

I'm sure there were more debaucheries, but it's late and that's all I can remember...

There was one on FB Market Place and all I could think was WHY? One ride on a chopped Triumph when I was 17 said to me DEATH TRAP!

JimNH said:

There was one on FB Market Place and all I could think was WHY? One ride on a chopped Triumph when I was 17 said to me DEATH TRAP!

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Then you would have loved THIS little doozie that I rescued...



Just imagine slamming on the brakes, or hitting an immovable object - imagine your EYES meeting those springer top nuts!

I lost my appetite with this one. There was nothing I could do for it, so I kept the engine and sold the rolling chassis to a guy... (the tank went on the Triumph, seat went on my Guzzi for a pillion)



Isolastics? ISOLASTICS???

We don't need no stinking ISOLASTICS!

grandpaul said:

Then you would have loved THIS little doozie that I rescued...

View attachment 122890

Just imagine slamming on the brakes, or hitting an immovable object - imagine your EYES meeting those springer top nuts!

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I’d be more concerned with the angle of the seat and lack of rear mudguard…

Fast Eddie said:

I’d be more concerned with the angle of the seat and lack of rear mudguard…

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Look closely... no wiring, no control cables... that lump has not, nor will not ever go down the road as a functioning motorcycle. The hipsters have done the easy part... then lose interest