The Yamaha Raider really straddles two genres-the power cruiser and the custom chopper. None of the ones we tested-the Victory Vegas Jackpot, the Harley-Davidson Softail Rocker C, the Yamaha Raider S and the Honda Fury-costs more than 21 grand. Nor do these bikes empty wallets like a night in Vegas. Thanks to solid engineering, combined with an eye for design, a factory-made custom dramatically reduces those annoyances. As in the world of high fashion, comfort and functionality take a back seat to style. And the stretched handlebar position quickly tires shoulders. The steamroller-wide rear tire snugs tight to the seat with little or no suspension movement. The raked-out forks make the bike tough to maneuver at low speeds and cranky on curvy roads. A radically cool, old-school custom chopper is typically terrible to ride. Nowadays, playing Hells Angel can be as easy as walking into a dealership. Thanks to the tube, the popularity of this genre has skyrocketed, so naturally the mainstream manufacturers have jumped in. It was a homegrown, rebellious movement that gained serious traction in the early 1970s thanks to the 1969 movie classic Easy Rider.īut a lot has changed, most notably the rise of made-for-TV bike builders like Jesse James and Orange County Choppers who craft gorgeous, meticulously detailed rides-for six-figure price tags. After all, where's the sweat equity? The first customizers-returning World War II servicemen-began to "chop" or strip the bikes down by bobbing the fenders and removing parts to make them appear less cluttered. To hardcore bikers, of course, a factory-made custom chopper is an oxymoron. ![]() These bikes are two-wheeled jewelry, the rides that put personal style and attitude above all else. The impossibly long, low look of a custom chopper is unmistakable.
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