Chopper X

[Gravelgrinder59]

Hi, new to forum and build offs. Usually build older bikes, but got this 80’s BMX for 10.00 mostly for blue anodized bits. Started build on Nov 3, not ever thinking I’d enter, so sorry for lack of pics to start. Idea is to build BMX inspired chopper. Pics show original bike and inspiration

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Felt alittle bad intially tearing bike down but researched and was really worth much ( not BMX guy). This frame was actually base for grandsons first build this summer! It was lowrider then, I tore down to build true lowrider with parts. So this frame been laying around for a few months. So we’re going from low to high in front… I had idea of mateing a 26” chrome fork with a short head tube off a boss cruiser to this frame for awhile. Also had some cheap 20” freewheel mags I want to use. Surprisingly what really drove build was a pair of gum colored Vans Cult bmx tires I got from buddy Luke at locals lbs. He charged me 20.00 for pair and they’re like new.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

So here is picture of bike mocked up Weds. Nanner off schwinn stingray, bmx bars, mags. Like bmx bars with stem extended to resemble apes more, but started thinking would join this build off so ditching for true apes. Cult tires leaning for comparison. At this point wanted to make sure I even wanted to pursue this look. I’m digging look and gonna mount tires. Possibly gonna have to come up with another color seat to make whole bike flow with unusual gum colored tires.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

So here is Chopper X with few additions. Vans tires mounted, a cool vintage green flake over black nanner( I had from Rust n Grease, on Cabe). Took bmx bars off and installed Apes. Had some lizard skins mtn bike grips with green anodized locking rings that match seat I put on and a headlight from my stash.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Thought bike could use more black, don’t like narrow apes, have pair of rusty wider apes, that I sanded rust and chrome down and painted satin black. Also wanted more color on bike to match tires. I had some Vans bmx gum color grips that match, but I still wanted grip anodized lock rings to match seat. So I popped lock rings off old grips, cut down the long vans grips and installed lock rings by themselves on each end of grip for some green to tie in with seat.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Like the contrast of color with black bars, remembered I had a vintage bmx tank I had bought off ebay. Mocked it up, liked look so painted satin black to match bars. Also remembered I had a brown leather bag that was close to color of tires and grips. When I found it, color was really close match and straps were long enough to work with sissy bar, so I installed.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

The tank is molded plastic ( hope that’s ok?, seen fiberglass tanks used before). The original direction sheets cracks me up how primitive looking it is. Like someone molded in their garage

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Guess from pics you can see rear brake installed, it was beat up blue anodized to begin with. Disassembled and painted it semi-gloss black, lever is silver/black mtn bike lever I had.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Thanks guys that responded positively to my build so far, stumbling through this, not very computer literate.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Might not have computer skills, but you know how to throw a muscle bike together. This version right here

If I'm lucky, my Build Off bike will be close to it. Is that the 26 fork you were talking about?

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Yeah, it came off Jamis 1980’s Boss cruiser, the short steerer tube prevented me from using on a Klunker build, it’s stamped Asiku, isn’t that a decent fork? Probably too good to be used on this build but doesn’t fit anything else I have in 26”.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

So you think I should lose the tank? Input appreciated.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Came home from church today and did few more things. Added a 42” sissy bar I had, took some lowrider gangster pipes from another build pile and installed angled up. I was envisioning the old choppers with the fish fin tipped pipes. Also tried a bunch of guards, like GT Dyno cruiser guard best (zip tied on) but needs extensive shortening. I have cut line marked to follow the line of seat stay. I have another dyno guard for my future dyno build so don’t feel to bad cutting this one.

 

[hamqqea]

oh, I likes! impeccable flow...

So you think I should lose the tank? Input appreciated.

keep the tank

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

oh, I likes! impeccable flow...

keep the tank

Thanks hamppea, appreciate it. I like your builds and love the rake of forks on your chopper , cool frame also. I’ve got chopper forks like that but without the nice rake, they lift bike up a lot.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

So you think I should lose the tank? Input appreciated.

Tastes is personal. Some like more, some like less. Let the bike tell you what it wants.

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Matti I hear yeah about letting bike speak to you. New to forum but built about half dozen rats this year. Been following forum for few years but my lack computer illiteracy and I guess lack of confidence keep me out of the game. The more I built more I desired the critique of others who are accomplished builders. Listened to the words of veterans” let bike speak to you” early on. I’m not afraid to try anything as ridiculous as it may seem. As you guys know, Sometimes it’s a complete surprise and works and or looks fanatastic. Took yesterday off to ride, it was dry and sunny, and that is unusual this time of year up here in Seattle area. Here are few pics, first snowfall lower elevations.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Matti I hear yeah about letting bike speak to you. New to forum but built about half dozen rats this year. Been following forum for few years but my lack computer illiteracy and I guess lack of confidence keep me out of the game. The more I built more I desired the critique of others who are accomplished builders. Listened to the words of veterans” let bike speak to you” early on. I’m not afraid to try anything as ridiculous as it may seem. As you guys know, Sometimes it’s a complete surprise and works and or looks fanatastic. Took yesterday off to ride, it was dry and sunny, and that is unusual this time of year up here in Seattle area. Here are few pics, first snowfall lower elevations.

Full squish drop bar adventure rig

Kudos!

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Nice bike, cool terrain, thanks for sharing. This Build Off is bringing out so many trail rides

 

[Gravelgrinder59]

Thanks Capt Awesome, I guess that bike shows I’m a “out of the box “ kinda guy. I hate flat bars except for trails. After putting in 12,000 mi in a year road riding( a few years back) I was ready for a change. My mtn bike wasn’t getting ridden and I saw a pic online of proto type full suspension gravel bike that looked a lot like my bike. My gravel bikes 40 mm tires weren’t cutting it were I wanted to ride. Took mtn bike to LBS ( know guys well) said convert to dropbars. They thought I was crazy, owner didn’t think it would work. They did it, I loved it . I’ve put a few thousand mi on it, done 2 gravel centuries with it and it’s kind of becoming my go to bike. Guys at LBS always say they love this bike now when they see.(they’re all hardcore mtn bikers). I ride 80 percent gravel now