Choose The RIGHT Bike For Your FIRST Chopper Build

Im 6'4" and 260ish. Ive built a twon cam heritage vicla, a 131 powered street glide, and now im building my foot clutch jockey shifted evo sporty. Im going bobber not chopper, but some of the stuff is still relative. Maybe on round 2 of building this bike ill go hardtail

The v star 650 is a super popular platform for chopping

Lmao. I won't fit on a sportster, but a xs 650 ya I can fit on that. 😂

Non biased builder ??
Subscribed !!!

I don’t understand why big twins “must” be chain driven. At my shop we put belts on everything and never had a problem. Unless we’re having fitment issues we will not put a chain on a chopper. My personal bike has had the same belt for 7 years, I rode it hard daily and no issues!

It's all about budget, the price of the donor bike, the customizing will always be just about the same.

A major consideration should be resale value. No matter what motor/trans you choose; frames(often) forks, wheels, tires, brakes, tanks, paint and chrome all cost the same. But what's worse, if you don't do ALL the work yourself, someone else's labor costs the same. The more desirable the motor/trans combo, the more likely you are to see a higher return on your "investment" when you sell.

U look like alex jones and ryan gosling had a baby

What do you think about a 1978 CB 750A build?

If going with an Evo Sporty also get a 5-spd version. Hard to find stuff for a 4-spd evo Sporty

I'd have put your list in reverse order. For me, the XS-650 is the greatest bike ever to chop, and if I ever own another H-D it'll be a Sportster or a (not on your list but) UL. As for the XS struggling (I don't think you used that word but it's what you meant) on the highway, yours might have. Mine doesn't. As for big twins, I bought a basket-case '77 Shovelhead back in 1980 and before I even rode it, I had an S&S 93ci Sidewinder kit (the latest and greatest thing at the time) put in. Nowadays I'd have to ask the question - since when is 1200cc not a big enough motor for a bike? I've seen Boss Hoss bikes with 572ci Chevy engines. Unless you find yourself in a pissing contest, is there any need for that?

All i want is panhead

Where can i catch your interviews with some of the builders?

Good video. Good advice. I don't have a chopper but would like one.

I guess I’m a weirdo…a LowBrow weirdo, see what I did there? 😂 I’ve got a big twin, now I’m wanting to go down to a 1200 Evo Sportster for my next build😂 dude Evo Sportsters are so freakin cool to me! And they are dang near bulletproof! Love this video and love this channel, I just found it, and I’m glad I did! ❤

Very good video bro!

Did you see my complete story on my Yamaha 1700 chopper?
It is on your website.

I have a chance at 2 CB900s, one runs, one doesnt. Price for both is under $1K. Would love to build a chopper with them. Thoughts?

Cb750 screw Harley

I built mine in my living room in 3 months paid state taxes on 16 grand of parts, used a jims 5 speed and a s&s 96 engine kraftec frame paugco springer been working on it off and on for 14 years.Its a good hobby keeps you out of the bar? Runs like a bat out of meatloaf.

i seen throttle addiction do an open belt on one of there sporty builds it didnt look great popped out too far

you can run a belt with a hardtail sport i been seeing more dudes keep the belt drive kinda weird fork out the $200 for a chain kit

Genny Shovel is 1st choice
Unit Triumph is 2nd choice
Metric V-twin is 3rd choice
current ride is a Suzuki Savage 650 chopper built by me on the cheap

would a 1970s cb750 be a hard first project

I'm loving the Chop culture and this is a load of valuable information for a newbie like me, thank you for this!

I build my frist Harley in 1983 a 1967 XLH Sportster hot rod in high school I have owned a Panhead and a Shovel or two one thing to know about is Up keep and cost of repairs on a older bike. You need to know how fix it on the side of the road

Looks like you're sponsor by Low brow customs, i think that is better buy a use Big Dog or Independence chopper and walk away from fabrication, time and cust. For a JAP chopper a build a TENERE 700 very easy with a short monoshock, sporster gas tank and fabricated seat and rear fender.

Gonna chop out a new softail M8 😈

🤘

To be honest in my opinion I would not start with a HD... they are just too complicated and expensive and the parts cost alone is horendeous. Yamaha virago, dragstar, kawasaki VN, honda Shadow(600 is one of the best looking hardtail choppers ever) are way cheaper and easier to build, not to mention reliability with those compared to HD. If you like building bikes and want to try it you will eventually build another one which will be better and more expensive. So for me HD should be the second one to build not the first one. You can learn on the cheaper and easier one which still looks cool and is easy to do basicly anything to it (jockey shifter and so on)

My first Harley 69 Sportster Iron Head chopper I was 16, leaked oil so bad Old man made me park it in the street, from there owned 8 Harleys nothing newer than a 03, EVO's except one Twin Cam, yeah I'm partial to the EVO, just saying😎

Poor ironheads :(

I’ve decided to go with a sportster and buy all new parts except for the powertrain and whatnot.

What if you’re 5’8 but 260?

Hey Grease, thank you for this excellent video. I am in the very first stages of planning a chopper build with hard tail and extended front fork. I have determined what I like and what I don't like. I wish to either do an Evo Big Twin or Sporty 1200. I understand the appeal for more power, so obviously the Big Twin wins that choice. Unfortunately I am 5'6” tall and 145 pounds. Would the Big Twin be too large a bike for me size wise? If it makes a difference, I am keen on the lowest seat position possible for ease of handling when stopped.

Shovelhead refers to the engine, not the bike. It is the same thing with the Evo Evo refers to the engine.

I’m 70 it would be the EVO for me.

Your a good one brother. Thanks for all of your videos. It's giving me a great foundation to start thinking about doing this. Thanks dude

Im gonna do an xs650 Yamaha....

Bro in my area Facebook marketplace is practically giving evo sportsters away

I’m starting a build the first of the month, starting with the frame. I’ve got an idea in my mind but I’m sure there will be adjustments along the way. I really appreciate the channel and these videos

The best first bike for you to turn into a chopper is the one thats available to you and in if not under your budget. If your looking to build a chopper yourself and actually do the work your going to make mistakes. Everyone does. Nothing wrong with it, but it happens. When it does though, i’d rather buy a cheap replacement part over an expensive one. You can find 70’s through early 2000’s sportsters at great prices. Plenty of inexpensive parts, and tens if not hundreds of thousands of examples of different styles, techniques, and guides on how to do it yourself.

Chop an EVO sportster first. There’s LOTS of support and parts, hard tails etc for specific chopper builds.

😎👍🏻😎

Old vid, but question occurred to me. Why do you feel that someone wouldn't want a belt on a rigid frame? Yeah, slightly anachronistic but nearly maintenance free and a lot cleaner.

"doesn't even own a shovel!" lol i love it.

Where did that first shovel's bars come from?

Hey Grease, do you know of a catalogue that offers different frames, front ends, tails, wheels and engines? I knew a guy years ago that did a few builds and bought everything through a catalog.

Can I put a evo engine ina a sportster iron head frame that I hardtailed?

Harley is too slow and too heavy S&S motors are made in the USA thire high powered and lite weight they don't leak oil the counter balance weight on the main crank has been removed connected it to a Baker six gear

What are YOUR thoughts on the list? Do you agree with these choices or do you think there's a great platform that got left out? Let me know down below.