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Aternative American V-Twin Manufacturers
American Chopper - The Fine Art of the Custom Motorcycle
Motorcycling is very much an individual affair and for some
a solitary pastime. Whatever it is, most riders usually have their own strong opinions and are not afraid to voice them
or stand out from the crowd. While for some, the standard model Harley in the same trim as it left the factory is sufficient
to satisfy their needs, others regard this as a starting point. These are the customizers who just cannot resist altering
their bike's appearance or performance. What does 'customizing' actually mean? The precise definition to personalize,
which is achieved by changing various components to suit the individual's taste. This may simply be a case of a new
paint scheme, but for others it may be more radical, involving totally altering components, reducing the bike's weight, or
making it fit them more personally in an effort to make it more comfortable to ride. And for some reason, Harleys seem
to be the most popular bikes for this purpose. There are, of course, very practical reasons why this is so. Harley's,
unlike many modern machines, can be worked on with ease. They are not as mechanically complicated as others and require
fewer special tools for the job. Also, because they are built and designed with no end life, every part is replaceable.
So parts are easily obtainable, and the cost of making changes, often a huge factor, can be spread over a
long period of time. In other words, one can do small amounts at a time without having to strip the whole bike down
from top to bottom. Lastly, of course, there is the major fact that the engine is a magnificent lump of metal and the
sound of the V-Twin motor makes the whole effect complete. With most custom bikes, the top speed is immaterial, unless it is designed as
a race bike: but even then there are sufficient turning parts available to make it a viable part of the rebuild as well.
Custom bikes, from the excesses of the 1970's to today's exotic and varied creations, have become a permanent
feature of the motorcycle scene. But the modern custom movement didn't get going until after the Second World War.
As already discussed, the end of the war saw many GI's returning to America with the desire to ride a bike. Ex-army bikes were plentiful and cheap, but they were heavy and cumbersome. The cheapest and easiest way to
make them faster was to cut the weight, so certain parts were removed and consigned to the trash can. It
was this practical weight-saving exercise that led to the verb 'to chop' entering the biker's vocabulary - hence the 'chopper', used to refer to bikes with long raked out front ends, that were built out of machines and parts that had been chopped. Some maintain the name comes from chopping the frame
to alter the steering geometry, but the end result is the same. But like most things, chopping
isn't as simple as it seems, as removing one part can make a bike appear lopsided or unbalanced: so owners began to
build bikes from scratch rather than modifying a piece here or there as the fancy took them. This means carte blanche
with surfaces, and ever more elaborate paintwork, murals and chrome began to make an appearance. Neither was it just
cosmetic, with raked forks and high bars getting even more radical year on year. Peter Fonda's classic chopper in Easy
Rider inspired a generation of riders to do the same to their bikes, of whatever make, but during the 1970's there was
a suspicion that it had all gone too far. Specialized custom shows encouraged people to build bikes that were designed
for showing only, rather than riding: some custom bikes were becoming less and less practical for the road - more modern
art than motorcycle - and some even had no internal engine. While these initial efforts were nothing more than attempts to outdo
the next guy, shrewd machinists and sprayers realized that a business opportunity had presented itself to make parts for others
less skilled than themselves. As a result, a multi-billion dollar industry has resulted, allowing people to alter parts
here and there by replacing components using the existing mountings. Bolt-on customizing had arrived,
and it is still an important part of the movement today, and of which Harley-Davidson takes full advantage. Early on,
Harley realized it was its own bikes that were receiving the attention. So it too began marketing its own performance
and tuning parts as well as the more normal accessories like bags and screens. Now, the Harley-Davidson range
of accessories, and Screamin' Eagle tuning parts is vast, to rival any of the after-market manufacturers. However, for the committed customizer, merely buying the part and bolting it on is not an option.
They have to make as much of the bike as possible, in order to end up with something that is unique. Another alternative,
albeit expensive one, is offered by the firms that will build a custom bike from scratch, to the buyer's own specification,
when he chooses from various components in a catalogue. Some of these firms work on the sound principle that people
do not want to buy a new bike, then discard half of it and spend thousands on new parts. What they like
to do instead is build something different from the start. Companies build up the bike from scratch. Most use
the S&S motor and frames built by various manufacturers, but put their own names on the tank. These tend to be classed
as clones, as a quick uneducated glance would mark all of them down as Harley-Davidsons. In reality, not a single part
will bear the Harley stamp.
Cutom Sub-Groups If one thing has
distinguished the custom movement in recent years, it's the sheer dirversity of bikes now being built. Given that the
idea is to build unique, personalized machines, you might think that all of them are different. But within the diversity,
it is still possible to find general categories of custom bike, in which the builder may or may not have intended to place
it. What follows is a brief guide to the major types. Choppers The classic custom bike, typified by long raked
front ends as exemplified by Peter Fonda's Captain America. The headstock of the frame is angled at 45 degrees and it
normally has long extended forks or, if these are short, high handlebars. Most of these hardtail frames, without rear
suspension. For the well-informed these can be broken down into many sub-categories of chopper, depending on the style.
Full Dressers These are the large touring bikes that have had just about every part of their exterior covered in
extra lights and chrome, not to mention a few extra novelties. The name stems from the 1930's, when motocycle tourists
chose to 'dress' their Harleys or Indians with a screen and panniers, or maybe spotlights. Where paintwork can still
be seen, a mural is usually depicted, which will often be lit by multi-coloured lights in the dark. You'll often find
a stereo and sometimes a CB radio on the fairing, and nowadays even a personal phone or a satellite navigation system is likely
to be there. Their forte is to parade during the hours of darkness, when their presence can hardly be ignored!
Rat Bikes These are different
from other custom bikes (which are usually kept painstakingly clean and spotless, as if they had never travelled the road)
and are the opposite extreme, dirty workhorses that make a good point of being just that and sport patches, bodges (replaced
parts from non-motocycle sources), and more grease and grime than paint and chrome. The typical rat bike shows signs
of having covered thousands of miles with a hard-riding owner, who paradoxically may love his bike as much a anyone else.
But like any other customizers, rat bikers can go to extremes.
Some owners now set out to encourage the process of decay, deliberately causint the bikes to rust, creating oil leaks and
manufacturing the bodges before leaving the bike out in extremes of weather to create the desired effect and in their eyes
making them mobile works of art in their own right. Add a few criters,
along with some faded ex-military luggage, and you have a bike capable of winning a class at a custom show. Cutom Bikes This covers just about anything, but there are
various classes within the category. The term Lowrider speaks for itself: a bike that
is long and low. This can be further sub-divided into a Taildragger, where the rear fender covers the rear wheel down
to ground level. The Streamliner is where most of the bike is enclosed, save maybe the engine. The Classic is
where it is based on classic styling themes from the past, such as the Indian Chief, for example, or the Harley Knucklehead.
A Street Dragster, is a long and low machine with a performance engine. The Cafe Racer or Warbird This is a bodywork or styling kit which is fitted
to give the impression of a fighter plane. It is made by seat makers Corbin. Multi-engine speaks for itself. At least two or more engines are slotted into an extended frame, usually
inspired by multi-engine drag-racing bikes - and not always usable on the road! The Art Class is where the bike is made
to look like a well-know object or represent an advertising campaign. Trikes are again a self-explanatory term, together
with the sidecar classes.
Vintage Harley It is all very well looking to the future, but
many prefer to look backwards to Harley's glorious past. Restoring and running bikes that may otherwise have ended up
on the scrapheap is a good way to proceed. Most of these people, some as old as the bikes they run, others who had yet
to be born when their own bike rolled off the production line, turn up at events run by the Antique Motorcycle Club of America,
which was founded in 1954. These events allow people to display immaculately restored machines in the concours d'elegance,
or show original bikes that have the patina of age. There is a chance
to ride the old bikes, discuss them, and discover the parts needed to bring a moribund Harley back to life or restore it to total original form. These swapmeets and flea markets have
parts and accessories from all periods of time, as well as useful tools and books to help complete the projects. It is fair to say that one can find just about any part ever made, providing one has the time and patience
to look for them. However, many will be worn and need work: one alternative is to use the worn-out original as a pattern,
and get a machine shop to make up a new part from scratch. Allied to this are opportunities for those wishing to race
the bikes in various classes designed to cater to the classics. While some mahy be too rare to actually race and are
only displayed from time to time, a greater number are ridden hard in anger. They also get run faster than when they
left the factory, thanks to modern tuning knowledge, coupled with the use of modern lightlweight materials used in the rebuilding
of the motors. Then there are the trials and motocross events,
plus Short Track and Long Track races run specifically for period bikes. Here the bikes run as they did in their prime,
giving the rider and the spectator the chance to sample some real nostalgia. Many of those who indulge this vintage
or classic passion are not interested in modern Harleys, despite the fact that even the latest range owes much to the past.
Instead, they see themselves as saviours of bikes that need to be preserved for the future as a reminder of Harley's greatness
and also as symbols of a gender age. Art, Culture and Collectibles With such a fanatical following it was inevitable that books should be written sbout the marque,
magazines produced, pictures drawn, and lots of photographs taken. To list all the books and magazines that cater specifically
for the brand would take a volume in itself, likewise for the artists who illustrate the bikes. Some of course stand alone, like Scott Jacobs, whose photo-realist style has made him a licensed seller of
Harley-authorized pictures. Dave Mann, the cartoonist from Easyrider magazine, and French artist Francois Bruere are just two other people who are renowned
for their portrayal of Harley-Davidson machinery in drawings, the latter having built some superb custom bikes as well.
Drawings, of course, can cover the skin, and tattoos are popular with
the cognoscenti. The Harley emblem is favorite, along with the 'Ride to Live' slogan to match it. Straightforward
body painting, leathers adorned with painted devices, as well as airbrushed helmets to match the bikes, are all desirable
accessories at bike shows and rallies. Another form of art that is proliferating is sculpture.
Life-sized bikes are appearing made of wood, bronze, scrap parts, resin, in fact you name it, it has been used. The
bikes have either been made of separate items, or as part of a thematic presentation, as with the work of Mark Patrick.
For the less ambitious, there are countless model kits of Harley-Davidsons,
either ready-assembled or in kit form. Then there are belt buckles, watches, clocks, glasses, mugs, the list goes on,
not to mention the vast selection of other goodies and clothing marketed directly by Harley itself, who only spotted the earning
potential of its name in the early 1980's. By then it had lost millions, as many others had
already made money out of selling products bearing the Harley-Davidson name. However, after a great deal of work in
the courts of the world, it managed to get a grip on the situation, although it will never be totally in control. Nowadays, the ardent fan can be literally dressed from head to toe in Harley clothes. They can bathe in Harley oils, cover themselves in Harley talc and deodorant, not to mention the odd splash of aftershave
or perfume. No longer do you need Harley grease under your fingernails to show you
ride one. Moreover, at the end of the day, you can end your ride with a Harley beer before snuggling under a Harley
blanket. Harley-Davidson's list of products and collectibles is far too long to cover here; suffice to say that its
marketing team is making some of the losses from the time its goods were not licensed. So who buys all this stuff?
Who are the Harley people?
The
popular image of the Harley rider is well known, but in reality it will never be easy to recognize one accross a crowded room
because they exist in every spectrum of society. Quite apart from patch-club members, there are women riders, judges,
politicians, police officers, actors, pop stars and of course the average man on the street. If you'll forgive some
stereotyping, what follows is an attempt to identify some categories. In reality, the boundaries are blurred and many
people have a bit of two or more groups in their makeup. Perhaps the strongest identification of all, they are the people who
love being different, still dress in the style of the 1960's rider and feel they should act in the same way as the people
responsible for Hollister. Having said that, most of them keep to themselves and fraternize only with their own kind. They ride heavily
modified bikes and do not conform to society in general. Closely allied to the one percenters is the stereotype biker or, as
some would call them, the cult bikers. They dress all in black, wear heavy Native American jewelry, have tattoos and
behave as though they were real outlaws. In truth, most are hardworking family members who like to pose and escape at
weekends. They ride pretty much standard bikes. The Normal Rider
These form the bulk of Harley riders. They are often family people who work
in normal jobs and run a Harley as a means of escaping at weekends. Their bikes are not always new, but they don't care
as long as it is a Harley, to which they are unswervingly loyal. Not as heavily into the tattoo/jewelry image as the
'stereotypes', they are just as committed to riding Harley-Davidsons. RUBs or Rubbies RUB is
short for Rich Urban Biker. This sector comes from the high-earning faction, many of whom have come recently to motorcycling
and see it as a leisure activity, like hang-gliding oir mountain-biking. They require a bike to match the new car each
year and are prepared to spend whatever it takes. Money is not a problem and they ride for relaxation rather than escapism.
Because of their spending power, this group, far more than any other, is now Harley's largest audience. Although some profess disdain for the Rubbies, their practice of changing bikes almost every year
ensures a constant supply of low-mileage second-hand Harleys onto the market. They keep the public profile of Harley-Davidson
high, not to mention making a substantial contribution to company profits.
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