Zero Chopper

BlueSkyJaunte · 01-20-2005, 11:08 AM

These guys got soul.

RickM · RickM's Garage

Now that is raw.

Rot 911 · 01-20-2005, 12:16 PM

I just saw that episode the other night. Of course he lost out on the popular vote to the Joe Martin chopper that was all bling. Which is what really turns me off on the custom bike scene today. It is all about flash and so little about function.

turbocarrera · 01-20-2005, 12:19 PM

Now that I could ride.

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

I didn't see this one, but the last one they did that was all flat black with red, and the whitewall tires, that was just cooler than snot...

Real boy-racer 1950 chopper... loved it.

BlueSkyJaunte · 01:14 PM

Chris, do you mean the Exile "Hot Rod" done for the World BBO?

http://www.exilecycles.com

That bike's my inspiration.

PS Martin Bros. bikes are like the 70's pimp platform shoes of the "chopper" scene. You wouldn't want to be seen on 'em, but if you were, everybody would notice.

Adam · Adam's Garage

Looks like it'd hold at least 20 miles' worth of gas, too...

... but I really like it!

BlueSkyJaunte · 01-20-2005, 01:18 PM

Are you kidding? An old Knuck will get you maybe 30 mpg if tuned really well, and that tank's at least 2.5 gallons.

Craig 930 RS · 01-20-2005, 01:20 PM

Reminds me of the trend towards original basic hotrods from the 40s and 50s.
Cool.

chibone_914 · 01-20-2005, 03:04 PM

Nope, not Exile.

http://www.zerochop.com/

cstreit · cstreit's Garage

It was the Exile bike that I loved...

THIS one... Yeah baby, bada$$

Jeff Higgins · 01-20-2005, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Adam Chaplin
Looks like it'd hold at least 20 miles' worth of gas, too...

... but I really like it!

That's only about 20 miles worth of seat and suspension, too. That's the dirty little secret I learned about choppers in my youth - put a small enough tank on it to where you have to stop for gas about the time your ass gives out. That way your buddies can't call you a whimp. By the way, way cool bike. The yuppies and mid-life crisis crowd can have their Bourgets, Big Dogs, WCC's, OCC's, and all that billet catalog glitter crap. They build their rides with their credit cards; this one was built with some one's heart and soul.

Eric 951 · 01-21-2005, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kurt V
I just saw that episode the other night. Of course he lost out on the popular vote to the Joe Martin chopper that was all bling. Which is what really turns me off on the custom bike scene today. It is all about flash and so little about function.

Damn--I watched that episode too, but of course missed the very end when they did the voting and announced the winner. I was really pulling for that Zero bike--that crew was awesome--all of that hand-sanding and polishing

asphaltgambler · 01-21-2005, 05:02 AM

That style (they now call it 'Old Skool") is what has always been in vogue. I just call it cool. Hot Rods=big go-fast engine, minimal everything else; cars or bikes.

I own several custom Harley's and one has been featured in EasyRiders and a few othe major mags. Done the show circuit a few years back............. said this before. There should always be somebody pushing the style envelope to the maximum. But there should also be the builders that just make them more fuctional and better looking.

The current huge rear tire/long front-end craze is equal to the tail-fins on American cars that peaked by 1959. Hotrods went through this same scenario in the late 80's-90's where the cars were so slick with billet that they looked like spaceships. Then some really bright guy realized that the trend were tooooo slick and decided to get back to the basics. I think you'll see more bike builders following this soon.

BlueSkyJaunte · 01-21-2005, 05:24 AM

Hmmph, I thought the wide-rear-tire craze was just an attempt to make passenger asses look smaller.

SLO-BOB · 01-21-2005, 05:28 AM

You've got great taste in bikes Blue. I'm glad I'm not the only one who favors the "hot rod" bikes over the bling.

SteveStromberg · 01-21-2005, 05:36 AM

Forget all the Bling Real Bikers ride RATBIKES.
http://www.ratbike.org/

asphaltgambler · 01-21-2005, 07:26 AM

I'll post pics here of my bike tomorrow.

Overpaid Slacker · 01-21-2005, 07:46 AM

How much is the Zero Chopper? I know what asking the price means...

But I'm curious to see what it costs relative to my favorite bike:

MotoSook · 10:55 AM

I love that Zero bike. Lady H and I caught the tail end of that episode and I wished I had the TiVo set up already

There is no underlying meaning here, but the Asian guys that have been on BBO have turned out some great work. The Unicorn bike from Chica and this Zero bike were the only two bikes that Lady H expressed a liking to. And I agree. The Exile bike is cool too, but I could go w/o the white walls.

Here is another cool one from the Korean guys (matte-black.com). Their web site is super slow, but I have a file at home with most of their creations...some of it is too over the top industrial, but their Yamaha Road Star based bike was cool! I couldn't find it one the site...have to wait to upload from home..

here..