Speedking – My 58

The dash of colour proves the old saying that less is more. A completely red chopper would look ludicrous, like something a clown would launch off a ramp under the big top, but a black one with a touch of cherry red screams awesome. Note too the extreme slope leading to a much lower seat, adding to the bike’s sleek look.

2010 Harley-Davidson Street Bob

There’s one other point of contention when it comes to defining a chopper, and try as we might there’s just no avoiding it. That is, some will argue that only Harley-Davidsons can be choppers – all other makes are wannabes. They will argue this to the death. (Your death, make no mistake, not theirs.) On this, I offer no opinion. You’re nuts if you think I’m getting in the middle of it all. Again, this owner of this bike knows the power of restraint. This is a nice bike. With shortened forks, the most prominent features are the handlebars, or “ape hangers”, as cool people like me refer to them.

Lochness Chopper Concept

In 20 years, will everyone be riding bikes like this? Will this entry look prescient, like 50 percent of Back to the Future 2, or be lamented as a missed opportunity, like the other 50 percent of Back to the Future 2? This is without question a chopper, a highly, highly customized chopper, which the Iranian designer named after the mythical Loch Ness monster. One has yet to take to the streets but my goodness wouldn’t people stop and admire if it did.

The Worst
Siemens Smart Chopper

This is, so we’re told, the first electric chopper ever built. At full charge, it has a range of 100 km, and can go up to 160 km/h. Of course, this chopper will save on fuel. It will especially save on fuel because no one will want to ride it. Seriously, though, it’s great that electric choppers are starting to appear, and with luck future ones will appear a little more stylish, without the blatant corporate branding.