There are those among us who collect big toys not just for the sake of displaying them, but also of enjoying them to the fullest. Pocket bikes, for example, are there to be ridden and seen in public in, and customizing pocket bikes is a way to show the world that you know your stuff. For the true pocket bike enthusiast, only the possession of mini chopper bikes can provide the genuine badge of creativity and uniqueness. Mini chopper bikes are essentially custom-made pocket bikes. You can order them from reliable manufacturers of pocket bikes of known models, such as Harley-Davidson models. Alternatively, you could look overseas for more affordable, yet no less stylish, models. China is considered the headquarters of affordable pocket bike models, custom or regular... but other manufacturing destinations, such as India, are fast catching up. Back in the post-World War II United States, motorcycle enthusiasts started taking out parts of their bikes that they considered too ugly, too bulky, or just not functional enough. They modified their bikes to suit their tastes, chopping out the parts that they felt were excessive; hence the term "chopper" bikes. Such bikes are often streamlined for aesthetic purposes, but serious racers also do it for a boost in speed. Chopper bikes can be easily spotted on sight. A trained eye will note their lack of distinctive motorcycle parts, such as turn indicators, fenders and yes, even front brakes. But even the untrained eye can spot a chopper bike, because many of them have the bulky spring-suspended saddle removed, which means the seat is much closer to the ground than regular bikes. Removing the saddle lessens the bike's weight, and optimizes the bike for racing. For this reason, chopper bikes are especially useful to dirt track racers. The act of "chopping" does not only involve cropping out the unwanted parts of a motorcycle - some reposition the parts in order to create a custom look. Sometimes, bike enthusiasts do this themselves, but many find there are more advantages to letting experts handle the work. The most famous chopper bike shop in the world is said to be the one that is also the first: Wild Child's Custom Shop of Kansas City, Missouri, owned by James "Wild Child" Greene. Mini chopper bikes follow the tradition set forth by regular chopper bikes, carrying the unique and unusual freedom of style and movement on to this new generation. |
