Choppers

[rsm]

I have two, my 2004 Big Dog Ridgeback and 2005 Chandler Custom; both are hardtails, both have S&S engines and Baker 6-speed transmissions. Great bikes, the Chandler is shorter and great for around town, while the longer Ridgeback is great for longer distance travel.

The one thing that's still missing, that I've wanted since I was a teenager, is an old school HD chopper like the ones I used to see in Easy Riders magazine, and other magazines.

A few weeks ago, I found a 1955 FLH panhead chopper, and before I could buy it, it had sold. Which worked out well because...

I really didn't want a panhead, I wanted a shovelhead, and I found one. And purchased it, still working through the details of the sale, delivery/pickup, title, registration, etc. of the bike.

Guessing it will take a few weeks to get it all sorted out to be registered and legal to ride once the deal gets finalized. Still a chance the seller can cancel the deal.

It's a 1977 HD hardtail old school chopper: springer, 74CI shovelhead, 4-speed transmission, with electric and kick start.

 

[harddriver]

Nice RSM, I hope it works out for you! My lower back hurts just looking at that chopper!

Is that a Sugar Bear springer?

 

[rsm]

Nice RSM, I hope it works out for you! My lower back hurts just looking at that chopper!

Is that a Sugar Bear springer?

Unlike my other hardtails that have hard-mounted seats, this has some suspension springs. End to end it's 9' 1" long; 2" longer than my Ridgeback.

It's "Sugar Bear style" according to the seller, so I don't think it's an original Sugar Bear.

 

[rsm]

Closed the deal. Waiting for final confirmation, then arranging a date/time for me to pickup the bike.

 

[Robostyle]

 

[Monkey Man]

Yup. RSM's even-more badass now.

 

[rsm]

View attachment 436889

when I was a kid in the '70s we all wanted chopper bicycles (and a gas powered go-cart - which none of us got)! A friend on my block got a Raleigh Chopper bicycle in bright orange, and we were all envious. This would have been even better!

Going to the supermarket with my mom, I remember the motorcycle magazines at the store, and would often come home with 1-2. as a reward for helping her with the shopping.

Later in my teens, I was working a few part time jobs, one at a convenient store; the owner had stacks of old Easy Rider magazines, which he sold in the store, in the back; on break I'd grab one to skim through, and I finally asked him, if I could borrow a few of the older issues.

This guy shocked me because he was all about business, and did nothing out of kindness or for free, or so I thought. He asked me, do you want these? I said sure if he didn't want them, fully expecting him to make me buy them, and he said then take them. I was shocked, and just thanked him. Took me weeks to go through them...

 

[rsm]

Yup. RSM's even-more badass now.

nah, just an old man living a childhood dream with motorcycles I could only dream about as a kid.

Gave up on my sailboat dream, and doubled down on the chopper dream and made it real.