The Chopper motorcycle is a movement in its own right. It’s about art, engineering, Americana, freedom, individuality, attitude and a lot more. The Chopper craze has had its fair share of ups and downs, but continues to ride strong throughout the decades.

But what is the Chopper, exactly? Before we can answer this question, we need to explore the history of the Bobber a bit. After all, the former is a direct descendant of the latter.

Source: lorddrakecustoms.com

Before the Chopper made its thudding debut in the motorcycle world, styles like the cut-down and the bob-job were pretty common sights on the roads.

These were called Bobbers, and GI’s making a homecoming from WWII were responsible for giving wheels to the Chopper movement.

Many of these returning soldiers had developed excellent mechanical skills during their time in the service. They had also been introduced to the smaller and faster European bikes of the time. These soldiers began bobbing their bulky and heavy machines right down to the essentials by doing the following:

• Removed the front fenders
• Either bobbed or removed the rear fenders
• Incorporated straight pipes to their exhaust systems
• Decreased their fuel tank sizes
• Replaced their small padded seats with wide leather, spring-supported seats

This is how the Bobber was born, and it was this blueprint that led to the creation of the Chopper.

By the 1960s, this trend took on a whole new dimension as the next generation of bikers emerged. The already bobbed bikes went through another axing, so to speak. The frames were either chopped or stretched—this changed the angle of their steering. The fork tubes were also extended to strengthen ground clearance. The further raised handlebars strengthened the leverage. The enthusiastic riders went full hog wild with this transformation.

A new fearless breed of Bobber was born: The “Chopper”. This motorcycle has some distinctive features, such as its tall sissybar, extended forks and lack of rear suspension. This style was the result of efforts to make bikes like the Harley-Davidsons lighter, agile and faster.

However, Choppers are less about mechanics and more about motorcycle culture. The Choppers emerged at a time when America was changing its race relations and making distinct societal shifts that were a result of WWII. Naturally, this motorcycle has a distinct smattering of the explosive counterculture that defined the 1950s and 1960s.

Source: Retrospace.com

The Chopper found even more stardom and fame on the Silver Screen. The world-renowned film ‘Easy Rider’ was released in 1969 and glamourized Chopper history with its star-studded cast and authentic motorcycles. The bikes used in 'Easy Rider' weren’t just rolled out of a showroom right in front of the cameras. These Choppers were handcrafted and very true to the folk art form they represent. The most legendary of these rides is the “Captain America” bike.

Still from 'Easy Rider', 1969. © Columbia Pictures.

'Easy Rider' made an enormous impact on the motorcycling world. Peter Fonda's 'Captain America' bike popularized the iconic red, white and blue chopper. This prideful paint job was permanently etched into American biker land. 'Easy Rider' made Choppers the most popular type of motorcycle in the world. Almost overnight, choppers were being built everywhere from China and Japan to Austraila and Germany.

Even at the time of 'Easy Rider' 's cinematic release, Choppers were essentially artistic creations that were largely associated with their builders. Documentaries such as 'Born To Be Wild' (1995) and 'Easy Rider: Shaking The Cage' (1999) made these bikes even more famous. But surpisingly, neither of these movies discussed the builder responsible for engineering the bikes in 'Easy Rider'. Because at the time, no one knew who was responsible!

For almost fifty years, the mechanics behind 'Easy Rider' motorcycles were completely unknown. But 2009's Discovery Channel series 'The History of the Chopper' finally unveiled the truth. Bike builder Clifford “Soney” Vaughs and reputed LA Chopper builder Ben Hardy (a reputed chopper-builder in LA), had designed and worked on the construction of the 'Easy Rider' bikes.

Cliff Vaughs on his 'Super Hog' Chopper in LA, '72 (Easyriders Archive, Left); Well-known chopper builder and Vaughs' mentor, Ben Hardy (samepassage.org, right)

Over the years, many small motorcycle customizers and firms sprung up and began capitalizing on the Chopper craze. Before long, Chopper aficionados were able to purchase a Chopper frame, tank and fork right out of catalogues to assemble their very own unique chopper at home.

From the 1990s to the early 2000s, an entire new generation of Chopper builders came on the scene. At the center of it all was Jesse James’ West Coast Choppers Operation. James' custom-made Choppers were widely recognized for their distinctive levels of artistic merit and impeccable craftsmanship. They could easily retail for almost six figures.

Jesse James on his 'Cisco' Bike. Source: Gramunion.com

Before long, hundreds of small Chopper manufacturers mushroomed across the country. They all tried to build their own version of the classic bike; some were quite stunning, while the others...not so much.

When the economic depression of 2008 struck, the motorcycle industry took a hard hit. These small Chopper manufacturers were all but destroyed. Even as the dust began to settle, the most recognizable Chopper Builders— including Jesse James’ West Coast Choppers and Big Dog— were in the doldrums.

Today, the Chopper industry is on the mend. Many motorcycle enthusiasts still hold a great deal of enthusiasm for the Chopper aesthetic. No matter which new bike comes along to bend the rules and try to make a statement, the Chopper will always hold its own distinct place in motorcycle history.

Die-hard Chopper fans will always remain fans, even as new ones are emerge. There is also a Chopper Institute dedicated to fostering new designers and builders.

It has been said that history repeats itself. From the looks of it, another Chopper Revival is just around the bend. The ‘Less is More’ motorcycle mantra lives on!

Source: Thunderbike.com