Chris S
Legendary Member
- Location
- Birmingham
It's not a 'proper' chopper so it doesn't matter.
Get your Chopper out
- Thread starter Drago
- Start date
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It's not a 'proper' chopper so it doesn't matter.
grldtnr
Veteran
Any one remember the 'Chopper Sprint' the most ungainly looking ride of the '60's , believe it or not ,came with drop style handlebars, as if the original wasn't bad enough , imagine getting into a racinng crunch on the 'Sprint', still had that banana seat and gear shift on the top tube, same sized wheels , tho' the tyres may have had a concession to be a little thinner, and enormous oversized drop bars.
I vaguely recall seeing one once, but such as it was the Chopper held no interest from me, I definitely remember the first model bought out, the rear stays were straight, rather than the later curved stays and the ape hanger bars were adjustable, by a pinch bolt on the steerer , you could adjust the bars for reach, for what ever reason that might have been, there was one knocking around our house but definitely not bought by any of us family aathome, must have been a friend's , tho not me, as i was that nerdy kid with a 24" wheeled Elswick "Jeep'' I was pretty proud of that bike, probably the 1st one I ever bought with my paper round money, I went every where on it, but outgrew it soon, I was a growing lad !
I vaguely recall seeing one once, but such as it was the Chopper held no interest from me, I definitely remember the first model bought out, the rear stays were straight, rather than the later curved stays and the ape hanger bars were adjustable, by a pinch bolt on the steerer , you could adjust the bars for reach, for what ever reason that might have been, there was one knocking around our house but definitely not bought by any of us family aathome, must have been a friend's , tho not me, as i was that nerdy kid with a 24" wheeled Elswick "Jeep'' I was pretty proud of that bike, probably the 1st one I ever bought with my paper round money, I went every where on it, but outgrew it soon, I was a growing lad !
Kell
Guru
- Location
- High Wycombe/London
Just doing some wikipedia reading of the original Chopper. I had no idea there was a single speed, a 5-speed and a 10-speed.
Hover Fly
He, him, his
- Location
- Besides the lake, beneath the trees
Yea but even the 5and 10 speeds were effectively single geared , because they were too heavy to ride out of the lowest gear.
Profpointy
Legendary Member
How about mine
Electric_Andy
Heavy Metal Fan
- Location
- Plymouth
I had a Grifter which I preferred. Obviously didn't know that it, or the chopper, would hit cult antique status. Lovely bike, put up with a lot of abuse and stood up to it like a tank
Punkawallah
Veteran
Righteous..
OP
OP
Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
Up our way Grifters we're for nerds.
Similar story here. Apart from the level of injury. And the Army. The ATC didn't seem too worried with the chipped front tooth and the road rash had healed by then!
It felt like 3/4 lightspeed but was probably about 20mph. I got off quite lightly really. The impact was quite well cushioned by the fat kid belly, though a pair of Otley market's finest jeans got shredded!
Mine was a lovely two tone (blue and rust). The shifter lever broke so bike shop put a SA 3 speed thumb shifter on the bar. Which was a lot less cool but functionally a lot better.
