Thai Choppers

[barrybike]

Took this video exactly 2 hours ago, bunch of harleys. They were so noisy, poor WV beatle alarm went off...

good video...nicely timed.......nice bikes too...was that last bike one of those modern indians........harleys can set off car alarms regularly with aftermarket straight through pipes,especially when you drive real close to car

[Kerryd]

Too many car alarms are set too fine. I get a kick whenever a storms rolls in and the thunder starts setting off car alarms everywhere. Even my (Thai) buddy's SUV is like that, and he loves his straight pipes. He literally has to walk around with his alarm remote in his hand to keep turning the alarm off whenever another bike rolls up.

My pipes do the same thing, even though they aren't straight pipes. Kind of embarrassing at times, like at 2:30-3 am when rolling up to the apartment with the latest "soon to be ex" on the back. At least my neighbours and landlady know I've made it home safely !

[BSJ]

Travelmate that is the only way to do it as far as I am concerned. If you got the skill to assemble a bunch of components you will never have to touch an electric welder! Seriously, all you need to do is paint some bits and assemble the lot together.

As much as I love V-twins there are other engine options! The factory that makes these radials is less than an hours drive away!

Not the bike in the pix (below) but it's crazy good! http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=fU_HYXOgbRw

Rotec Engines: http://www.rotecradialengines.com/

[jtp]

Now this is a bike.......Just don't drop it on your leg...

[barrybike]

thai scooter chopper.........

[RusticCharm]

Now this is a bike.......Just don't drop it on your leg...

Jesus! Who's the minger on the right? 

[jtp]

Now this is a bike.......Just don't drop it on your leg...

Jesus! Who's the minger on the right?

It's actually a photo taken in the Phillipines(I believe)Apart from that,i have no more info on the picture.I guess she is the love of someones life........

[jtp]

Here's 4 bikes I think are cool. What it probably says about me is I like V twins, and I like customs. And if people don't like the same thing as me that's fine, I can live with that. But, what I fine annoying is people who think I am strange or weird because of my choices and they want to tell me so. But I been getting that for the last 40 years so I don't expect it will change anytime soon! Being a motorcyclist ain't that strange... is it... really?

YES,you are strange...How dare you like those big noisy things...Oh wait,I like those big noisy things to....LOL Those are fantastic looking bikes in your post,i would have trouble choosing any single one to be my ride...Because i would want them all....www.dbbp.com has some incredible pictures of v twins.

[jtp]

How much are you willing to put down on a ready made custom bike travelmate.

In Europe I made a bunch of them and won a few awards, so if you're interested let me know and I'll set up up with a beauty if you want for your budget.

Cheers Bard

Thanks for the offer Bard. Unfortunately I have no interests in built up custom bikes. I prefer to build one myself from the ground up.

Having looked at frames, rolling chassis, etc. Costs can mount up fairly quickly. So gone off that idea. And will just buy a sport tourer and ride all over Thailand for this year.

http://www.custom-choppers-guide.com/ Check out this site,all about building your own chopper.Or http://www.chopperhandbook.com/neatstuff/downloads.htm for just about everything to build from the frame up for free.

[BSJ]

Hi tritexengineering, who ever designed that red thing in your post must have been 'Off his tits' at the time! It's unreal!

[barrybike]

another nice bike from hot rod in pattaya..........

[jtp]

Hi tritexengineering, who ever designed that red thing in your post must have been 'Off his tits' at the time! It's unreal!

Yeah,imagine having the disposable income to build bikes like that!!I guesstimate there would be $100,000 plus in that,easy.Check out the blue bike..NICE!!

[jtp]

If you ever felt the urge to build your own chopper,but lack the training(Welding,machining,measuring etc.)Then there are many websites dedicated to helping the layman achieve his goals.Many a man/woman have gone on to do and create amazing things in a completely different occupation to what they were taught originally.Check out these websites for practical info. http://mmu.ic.polyu.edu.hk/index.asp http://www.fournierenterprises.com/

http://allshops.org/cgi-bin/community/comm...d=9980178055177 http://www.khake.com/page88.html

http://www.jjjtrain.com/vms/library.html http://www.rnrfabrication.com/frameparts.htm

http://www.hondachopper.com/Manual.htm http://www.carbibles.com/suspension_bible_bikes.html

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/43452_i...nding-chart.htm

http://www.jhchoppers.com/projects/frame_chop/frame_mods.htm

http://favoriteprojects.com/how_to_build_a_tube_bender.htm

http://www.skidaddysprojectscom.com/TubingBender.html

[Richard-BKK]

A lot is said about the new vehicle registration law, but at least it generates a possibility to create a road legal custom build design.....

[wrathfultalon]

Took my bike for its final ride and and pulled in for some gas at a Shell and several locals and a couple foreigners pulled in on some less extreme versions. It was a strange feeling seeing some forks pull up next to me, looked back and some Swedish guy gave me a big grin, had to give him the thumbs up as all of them were out cruising by the look of their attire. On the flip side they gave mine a once over and seemed to meet with their approval so in the end I think we can appreciate all 2 wheeled motivation. While i might not buy a chopper, I appreciate the style and passion that goes into it.

[wrathfultalon]

Here's 4 bikes I think are cool. What it probably says about me is I like V twins, and I like customs. And if people don't like the same thing as me that's fine, I can live with that. But, what I fine annoying is people who think I am strange or weird because of my choices and they want to tell me so. But I been getting that for the last 40 years so I don't expect it will change anytime soon! Being a motorcyclist ain't that strange... is it... really?

YES,you are strange...How dare you like those big noisy things...Oh wait,I like those big noisy things to....LOL Those are fantastic looking bikes in your post,i would have trouble choosing any single one to be my ride...Because i would want them all....www.dbbp.com has some incredible pictures of v twins.

I love the Wakan! they idea of a air scoop up top is BA!

[wrathfultalon]

Let me correct you Barry, where in Europe was I involved in building custom bikes? Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Germany and I helped build bikes for Bandidos and HA, plus folks who wanted them.

Pictures, well since I left 10 years ago they're all in printed pictures from negatives but I can scan some and can upload to your email. Or you're more than welcome to come by and look through them. I don't want to pull out skeletons from the closet, so I would appreciate if we did that offline. They were all custom bikes except three real choppers where all we did was turbo charge and Nitrous the bikes plus removing all excessive weight.

Cheers Bard

Where do you find the time? I would love some custom work on my VFR if your interested. PM if you feel like doing something different.

[barrybike]

nicely done jap engined thai chopper

[barrybike]

another nice harley custom from pattaya bike week 08

[barrybike]

blue bike winner of best jap bike at burapa bike week 08 ,few other bikes at it too

[Travelmate]

Like the blue one.

Question are the frames local made or imported?

[barrybike]

Like the blue one.

Question are the frames local made or imported?

they are all thai 100 % made .shop called vs motor in pattaya built the blue one ........the only thing on most thai chops/customs that is usually imported is motor and wheels.......

[skippybangkok]

Can someone explain to me the purpose of extended forks? Is it only style or does it serve a function?

style man..function dosent come in to it with choppers....hard tail etc....

Yeh,

Used to ride with a big group in Europe, max we could do was about 80 or 90 km/h waiting for the "cool" choppers

[barrybike]

Edited March 14, 2009 by barrybike

[scottyd]

Those are cool. Some looklike they should be in a comic.

[BSJ]

I am seriously interested in being the first person in Oz (or LOS) to have one of these!

[barrybike]

I am seriously interested in being the first person in Oz (or LOS) to have one of these!

bsj there would be some serious torque from that bad dog ,3500 cc ,how much do you think it would cost for everything to get one on the road ??? i think the customs in thailand would go fairly hard on you to import one of those bikes ........

[barrybike]

has anyone any pictures of nice chops and customs from phuket bike week ,i wasent at it this year........

[dynabob]

To be honest this is show bikes, and if anyone is honest you would not be able to pass the cone test with any of them. However due to lack of laws regarding bikes they're legal in most countries. It amazes me a lot, how can a bike be legal if you can't pass a license test with it.

Also the word chopper came from the soldiers from 2nd WW who went home to US and bought out cheap from the army the (at that time fastest bike around in US) Harley's from war duty, these were heavy bikes and the guys chopped of unnecessary parts to lighten term and make them faster, hence the word chopper was born.

What is called a chopper today has nothing to do with it, it is heavily customized bikes which is dangerous to ride on the road. They should be called Show Bikes. Also the original bunch who rode these bikes were ex-soldiers who was tough guys and they started Hells Angels who became known in the movie Easy Rider. For many years youngsters who looked at that movie believed that the bike made these guys though, and when they managed to get enough money from a decent job and hit middle age they put on glue on tattoos and false beard in the weekends riding Harley's believing they were tough guys riding around trying to show of as dangerous guys.

I believe if the guys from WW2 could choose today they would be on a Jap supersport bike, because what they were after was a fast bike, the fastest around bike actually hence the chopping and modding, and where do we see this today? In Jap bikes, they are the ones getting modded and chopped more and more for speed not a (living legend) who lives of yesteryears and people make unrideable...

I do not mind Harley, I had one myself but the reliability of the US made engine was so crappy I was happy to get rid of it. Also my mate was the transporter for OCC at the Europe Tour and he was not amused from the Lincoln bike frame collapse and so on. I also do not mind show bikes, they are fun to look at but let us call a spade a spade and call these bikes showbikes and not choppers because that is really an insult to the guys who invented the term.

Cheers Bard

hello bard,i have two word's to say to you"PEARL HABOUR".

It was after the korean war not ww2 the BOPPER was born useing the 45 harley a side valve 750cc,3 speed motor ,springer front end,hardtail frame,nick named"sucide clutch"(foot clutch) stripped of all accessories including front brake.These guy's were hero's from korea and liked to party and ride together and did not start hel_l's angel's.

It was after vietnam,again 45 used stripped and bopped only now they were ridden by brother's in arm's,hated and rejected by the country they fought for only brought them closer together and in chicargo the OUTLAWS MC the first brotherhood was born,not Hells Angels.

The film was "the wild one"with marolin brando had hells angels.Easy Rider did give Jack Nicholson his big screen break had no violence or gang's and is now a cult film.Big difference.

The Chopper is a bike (any bike) where the rake of the frame has been altered at head to suit the exstended front end and is skilled engeneering,the first step is to remove steering head which is normaly done with an angle grinder .You have now chopped your frame,hence,chopper,if designed right can be ridden as normal,i have seen some crackers over the years.

What defines a showbike to me is cost,during building you reach a point practial or trophy.OCC build trophy bike's,badly i might add.The owner's never had the intension to ride and if you think back on OCC'S build's for tv program,most were corperate build's,tax write off's i'd guess.I know guy's back home that ride 60000e motors it's not my thing but each to his own.

Here endth history lesson on BOPPER,CHOPPER & showbike now you have the fact's.

LOUD PIPES SAVE LIVES

[AceCafe]

Here's a real Chopper...... banana seat 'n' all! First outing for the H-D Shovelhead beauty was a couple months ago at the Burapa '09 show. Built by the then President of Nagas MC of Sri Racha.

Edited April 14, 2009 by AceCafe