In the post–World War II United States, servicemen returning home from the war started removing all parts deemed too big, heavy, ugly, or not essential to the basic function of the motorcycle, such as fenders, turn indicators, and even front brakes. The large bikes exemplified the 'dresser' motorcycle aesthetic and provided a counterpoint to the minimalist bobber, and café racers. Indian Scouts and Chiefs of the time came with large, heavily valanced fenders, nearly reaching the center of the wheel on the 1941 Indian Series 441, while racing bikes had tiny fenders or none at all. The heavily valanced fenders of the 1940 Indian 440 four.Īn early example of a bobber is the 1940 Indian Sport Scout 'Bob-Job' which toured in the 1998 The Art of the Motorcycle exhibition. With the intent of making the bike lighter and faster, the fenders would often be removed, or at least to make it look better in the eyes of a rider seeking a more minimalist ride. History The Bob-Job Era, 1946–1959 īefore there were choppers, there was the bobber, a motorcycle that had been 'bobbed', or relieved of excess weight by removing parts. Two famous examples of the chopper are customised Harley-Davidsons, the ' Captain America' and 'Billy Bike', seen in the 1969 film Easy Rider. The ' sissy bar', a set of tubes that connect the rear fender with the frame, and which are often extended several feet high, is a signature feature on many choppers. To be considered a chopper a motorcycle frame must be cut and welded at some point.

Some of the characteristic features of choppers are long front ends with extended forks often coupled with an increased rake angle, hardtail frames (frames without rear suspension), very tall 'ape hanger' or very short 'drag' handlebars, lengthened or stretched frames, and larger than stock front wheel. They can be built from an original motorcycle which is modified ('chopped') or built from scratch. A chopper employs modified steering angles and lengthened forks for a stretched-out appearance. Peter Fonda rides a replica of the ' Captain America' bike used in Easy RiderĪ chopper is a type of custom motorcycle which emerged in the US state of California in the late 1950s.

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