I bought the basis to fufill a childhood fantasy today - my very own chopper-style musclebike! Snagged a Ross Apollo 3spd. Frame and fork on ebay today - hoping to see it next week sometime. It's currently rootbeer brown, and looks like it's in decent shape.
When I was in 2nd grade, a British kid moved into the newly-built condos a block down from my house, and we ended up in the same class at the local elementary school. We spent a lot of time racing the winding sidewalks in his complex, me on my Huffy Red Hott, and him on his Raleigh Chopper. Now, my Red Hott had flames, Action Tread white letter tires, hand brakes and a twist-grip 3 speed, but his Chopper had a 16 inch front wheel, 5speeds with a stick shift, and a chopper-specific frame that just blew my seven year-old mind.
As I've re-entered the world of bike restoring/building, the mental image of a chopper-style musclebike has been bouncing around the back of my head, and when I started realy looking into them, it was the space-framed Apollo that really turned my crank. Not only does it have twin top tubes, but twin down tubes as well, making it like a dragster in some ways.
So - while I wait for it to arrive, and sit here brainstorming, I thought I'd check with you guys for ideas. What have you always wanted to do to/see done to one of these chopper-style musclebikes? Springer fork? Drilled gussets? Molded frame?
I'd love to see some inventive seat/sissy bar treatments - and if somebody has an ultimate shift-stick idea - I'd be more than willing to consider it. I've got a Sturmey-Archer 3spd coasterbrake hub for this puppy, and my buddy has a set of super-narrow mid-rise apes on his mini chopper that he's not really happy with. I'm thinking metallic purple may be the way to go, but I'm open on color.
Anybody have suggestions for rolling stock?
Thanks, Fellas!
When I was in 2nd grade, a British kid moved into the newly-built condos a block down from my house, and we ended up in the same class at the local elementary school. We spent a lot of time racing the winding sidewalks in his complex, me on my Huffy Red Hott, and him on his Raleigh Chopper. Now, my Red Hott had flames, Action Tread white letter tires, hand brakes and a twist-grip 3 speed, but his Chopper had a 16 inch front wheel, 5speeds with a stick shift, and a chopper-specific frame that just blew my seven year-old mind.
As I've re-entered the world of bike restoring/building, the mental image of a chopper-style musclebike has been bouncing around the back of my head, and when I started realy looking into them, it was the space-framed Apollo that really turned my crank. Not only does it have twin top tubes, but twin down tubes as well, making it like a dragster in some ways.
So - while I wait for it to arrive, and sit here brainstorming, I thought I'd check with you guys for ideas. What have you always wanted to do to/see done to one of these chopper-style musclebikes? Springer fork? Drilled gussets? Molded frame?
I'd love to see some inventive seat/sissy bar treatments - and if somebody has an ultimate shift-stick idea - I'd be more than willing to consider it. I've got a Sturmey-Archer 3spd coasterbrake hub for this puppy, and my buddy has a set of super-narrow mid-rise apes on his mini chopper that he's not really happy with. I'm thinking metallic purple may be the way to go, but I'm open on color.
Anybody have suggestions for rolling stock?
Thanks, Fellas!
