Will choppers ever take over the motorcycle seen from harley or indian?  

Doug-
Again, a nice attempt at seeding - but I think you've missed the mark slightly. See, Harleys(and to some lesser degree) Indians are what you use to make a chopper. A chopper in the purest sense is "a bike that has been chopped" so you start with a Harley and cut it up. I have several choppers - but they are still referred to as Harleys. If I chopped an Indian, the same would apply. I think you've confused brand with style here. Harley's can come in many different styles: flattracker, bagger, bobber, chopper - but they remain a Harley in essence and in brand. Maybe more on the mark would be a discussion of wither aftermarket manufacturers (such as Big Dog, Iron Horse, etc.) will ever eclipse the "Dealer" in terms of national sales. Still deeper, you could discuss the benefits of pre-fab choppers as opposed to kit choppers as opposed to scratch built rigs.  

I appreciate the knowledge. That would make a lot of sense. I am new at this and am trying to determine the difference between bikes. I never would have guessed that a chopper is made from an indian or harley. Thanks for the lesson.  

Glad I could clear that up for you. Are you the moderator on this board? If you are, you might want to spend some time getting "up" on what your readers are really into. Do you have a bike or better yet - have you ever built a chopper? I mean, that's what street chopper is all about, right? Building cool bikes? Perhaps you might to try putting a motorcycle together from the ground up - it would give you a great sense of personal pride and satisfaction - plus you'd have a vague idea of what people are talking about around here. Seriously, you'd dig it.  

I dont have an idea when it comes to choppers because I am not really into them like I am street bikes. I am not the moderator but try to get people involved with discussion so I try to incorporate things related to sport bikes but it is difficult. Pretty much what I see on TV with choppers.  

Yeah, that's not gonna work here Doug - because the chopper scene is SO much more than what is seen on the Discovery channel and all those other look-alike shows. There are some cool famous builders and some great bikes showcased on those shows: Billy Lane, Indian Larry (RIP), Chica, etc. etc. But the real heart and soul of chopper building is all about the lone guy in his garage, late at night when the kids are asleep, standing there, smoking a cigarette (or cigar) and just looking at his bike and trying to figure out how to make each part his and his alone. How to change something factory into something personal. How to make the bike in front of him the chopper of his dreams without money or help...how to pull the custom chopper out of the metal. It's about heart, soul, spirit and a fierce independence that lives deep down inside guys who wear the iron cross and know what it really means. And sorry Doug, you ain't gonna get there if your scoot (no disrespect intended) is a Kantana. And that's all there is to say about that. Call me Warren at Choppersrule.com  

I have that same passion when it comes to import cars. I guess it is something nobody will ever understand until they experience it. I do have a great respect for the blood, sweat and tears put into there bikes. Some of these bikes look amazing.  

I'm not thinking your on the right wave length here,...

sure an amount of fab skills are required to do an outstanding IMPORT car,. however all the critical engineering has been done for you as the bolt on after market so huge no one dares attempt a tower brace or tubular "K-member" for them selves,...

CHOPPERS on the other hand are a catch 22,. the bike market like the car market is flooded with items for sale and billed out as "CHOPPER PARTS",. any one worth their salt knows that CHOPPING is from the heart and an art form few posses in reality,.

many will tell you,. "NICE CHOPPER" looking at your BIGDOG CUSTOM BIKE,. but truth is not one bit of it was ever chopped to be different after the factory released it,. it was 100% assembaled in that fashion,..

now take a bike,. any bike, cut it up, re-use some of it, ad to it, make it your own creation no matter what brand it is,.. ride it,. because you now own a true CHOPPER!  

Well Put El C  

Hey
I'm on the 'puter looking for a forum to join when I read this post from EL C. Well put! I found the forum I want to belong to. I am one of those guys in the garage listening to my bike, waiting for it to tell me were to cut, grind or weld. Last winter I chopped my 01 Road Star

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb205/slatroni/Roadstarchop005-1.jpg?
t=1195710402 .

Now I am working a CB750 bobber.

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb205/slatroni/750chop002.jpg?t=1195710519

And I just bought my first HD. Its a "92" 883 and its talking to me......
Steve