EnigManiac

It seems there is a renewed and invigorated interest in cruisers, choppers and lowriders in the bicycling world with the introduction of the massively successful Schwinn Stingray bicycle last year (approx 750,000 units sold) and the adult Spoiler version launched late in the year. Other models such as Nirve Cannibal and Switchblade, the Giant Stiletto, The Kona Chopper and a wide selection of beach cruisers are selling briskly throughout north America. However, this site seems to cater toward the road, racing, commuting and training cyclist moreso than those who prefer cruisers. Perhaps the site can attract an entirely new and exciting audience and membership by appealing more to these equally 'serious' cyclists. Thanks.

madbiker555

Ya I noticed that my LBS is filled with $700 crusiers, and at a bike show before the march brake there were quite a few.

phidauex

I'd support a 'silly bike' section for bikes modified for reasons other than performance. That would include pre-made choppers and lowriders, as well as wacky stuff people make like home-made choppers, tall bikes, giraffes, bucking bikes, art bikes, and all the other things that junkyard bikes get ressurected as.

I've been making a double decker tall bike, and it hasn't been easy to find places to discuss it.

peace,
sam

EnigManiac

I don't know if I'd consider cruisers and choppers silly: I take mine seriously and they cost me serious cash, but I think there should be an unusual bike section for tall bikes, over-sized bikes etc. I saw a bike with 36" wheels that I want to buy That thing is huge!

phidauex

I'd say any bike that doesn't have usability as its highest design goal is a 'silly' bike, and I don't mean that in a bad way. I'd say choppers are very silly, but I still love em.

Anyway, custom bikes aren't really discussed anywhere here, with the vague exception of some custom performance frames in the track section. I think a custom bike forum could include everything from the cruisers and choppers up through the more wacky bikes. I mean, there can't be THAT many of us, and you don't want to spread things too thin too soon, you know?

peace,
sam

James H Haury

Perhaps the enthusiasts of chopper bikes are serious about them, but I seriously question their functionality.Would you want to take this type of bike for a 20 mile ride pushing a 4 inch wide tire better suited to a motorcycle or are these types of bicycles more show than go?Chopper bikes are trying to be something they really are not to me a bicycles beauty is in part determined by its functionality and efficiency .I .E form follows function.

celticfrost

go back behind your white picket fence.

EnigManiac

It seems everyone is focusing on the 'chopper' part of 'cruiser / chopper / lowrider' title or assuming that enthusiasts are all customizing the choppers they are buying. There are a few manufacturers who make a very rideable, comfortable and functional chopper now that don't need a lot of modifications. I have been commuting my usual 10 mile (5 each way) approx. on a Giant Stiletto the past few weeks and am impressed with its comfort, speed and, of course, style. The Nirve choppers are also efficient bikes that I'd consider commuting on. I usually ride a Fuji Shangri-la 3-speed beach cruiser and have commuted on it daily for two years, but the Stiletto is faster. I have also commuted on my new Firebike (7.6 ft long stretch-cruiser). I wouldn't consider any of these bikes for long commutes or trail riding or touring or anything like that, but is that the only measure of bicycling? James Haury questions the functionality of choppers (doesn't mention beach-cruisers, etc though) and asks whether you'd take one on a 20-mile ride. Of course not. They aren't designed for that. If I enjoyed (and my back could handle being bent forward for 20 miles) long commutes I'd have a light-weight touring bike, but is that the only kind of riding we do? Don't we also take short local trips, rides down to the beach or boardwalk, through parks, etc? That's what a chopper is for. And yes, they are all about the bling-bling, but they have become more than that in recent years with multi-speed (my Stiletto is 7-speed) and other new technology (disc brakes). And, yes, customizers love to make them unique.

My point is not everyone is riding 20 mile trips everywhere all the time. We also ride for fun and that's where a cruuiser / chopper section would be aimed: at the fun side of cycling. Use the touring, racing and road bikes for what they're intended for and use cruisers for what they're intended for, that's all.

joeprim

While I agree with you on this a lot of folks don't seem to and I see no harm in having a form for their bikes. I may not spend a lot of time reading it, but that's not important. Besides they might come up with a good idea if only by accident -

Joe

-=(8)=-

I love chopper bikes !!
I love the imagination of the people who build them.
I will never forget my first bike, a blue Stingray in 1968 and canabalizing countless
other bikes afterward in hopes of having the wackiest bike in the neighborhood.
I put about 12 miles a day on a SoCal Lowrider when I live closer to my job.
It got waaaaay more positive attention than my custom Harley ever did.
For all you 'real' and 'serious' cyclists....Its OK to have fun when you ride...really!

randya

I'm down with a section for Kustom Kruizers and other odd creations. Tall bikes, small bikes, art bikes, swing bikes, choppers and other creations, both factory-built and home-made, attract a larger number of cyclists every year. More than half my bike collection now fits this category. Bike punk culture is getting bigger all the time also, and would fit into this category as well, IMO.

PWRDbyTRD

this is a joke right? *rolls eyes* Oh well, if it makes you happy, go for it.

-=(8)=-

I thought how kool it might be to put HUGE black tape wrapped ape hangers on my new BBQ
black P2.........I put on some high rise ReVells instead though but who knows....Ill assault anyones sensibilities on any level where appropriate ha ha

For some really, really tuff bikes and uber-serious builders do a web search on the Activist Hero's
of our culture and generation, CHUNK 6.6.6.

phidauex

Custom 'wacky' bikes are made by people wanting to have some fun with their old bikes. If you are going to criticize them, then you should give up all of the things that you do to your bike that isn't based purely on practicality. For instance, PWRDbyTRD is wearing a pretty hot pair of sunglasses in his avatar. Mirrored surfaces don't do anything for sunglass function, which is handled by tint, optics, and polarized coatings. Mirrored coatings are just for looks. JUST FOR FUN! Thats all well and good, I'm glad he's got sunglasses he likes. So why does he think that having a bike that is just for fun is such a laughable idea? I don't know.

Some people ride track bikes on the street, or ride their fixies brakeless, not necessarily because it is the most practical thing ever, but because they enjoy it more. Other people ride mountain bikes on the street because they like hopping up and down curbs as they ride, not because it gets them there faster, but because they enjoy doing it. People have fun picking colors for their bikes, or choosing stickers, or clothing. Fun!

I like to find old department store bikes in the trash, and turn them into something FUN! I don't see what is wrong with that. I can take 3 unusable Magnas, and turn them into one tall-bike (that I can actually commute on, and do occasionally). It isn't any more practical than a regular bike, and probably a little less, but at least its another bike, its a lot of fun, and it attracts a lot of attention to bicycling.

The fact that these custom kreations aren't made in factories by svelt italians and emblazoned with logos of companies who's name they can't pronounce means they aren't real bicycles. But that would be missing the point of bicycling, using your body to get around, and enjoy it at the same time. And some of us twisted souls enjoy bizarre bikes as much as we enjoy our regular ones.

So anyway, no custom bike hatin', unless you can prove that you've never once made a decision based on appearance or enjoyment factors, in addition to practicality.

peace,
sam

randya

If you're ever in Portland, Oregon September-ish, the Chunkatulon is an awesome event...

C.H.V.N.K 666 https://www.dclxvi.org/chunk/
Known probable upcoming events:
April 29 is the Organ Donor Invitational Pub Crawl.
April 30 is the Organ Donor Invitational Tallbike Jousting Tournament.

operator

We already have this, it's called the 'bent forum.

randya

We're talkin' about a whole different animal here...

James H Haury

So answer the question would you ride very far on them?I have nothing against a discussion area for them ,but you do not have to be rude.I gave my opinion and you bit my head off.I built a chopper style bike as a teen but I'm into folders now.You do not have to be defensive after all your purchase from the lbs keeps it going as much as money spent on a road bike or folder would.

Joe Gardner

I'll do some market research, and think about it. Thats the best answer I can give at this point.

randya

Joe - what's being offered 'in the market' is only part of this phenomena. A lot of these bikes are homemade and there's a big 'alt bike culture' scene going on in cities all over the US around these bikes, and events that cater to their owners and riders.

Joe Gardner

Randy, do you think the forum would be self supporting and self promoting in the alt bike culture? If I can get 2 - 3 new threads a day in a "alt bike culture" (i like that name... may use it for the title of the forum!) forum, I'll open it up.

randya

I'm guessing a little here, but I think you'd get at least two or three new threads a day, once people knew the forum was up and running. I'm not sure about donations from the DIY folks, a lot of them are living on the edge already; but there are also a lot of lowrider, cruiser and chopper folks who purchase commercially-built bikes and definitely have money to spend on custom parts and upgrades who would probably contribute if they felt the forum was providing a valuable service.

wpflem

It would be a fun forum to visit. I think the idea has merit. I'm seeing more and more of those bikes around, some very impressive.

James H Haury

So ,who says bicyclists on non cruiser bikes do not have fun? And why if i express my opinion
which differs from yours am I a hater?Do what you want with your bikes but chill,I do not hate cruiser bikes .I simply prefer not to ride one.If there will be a cruiser section or not really depends on forum admin.All my bikes have been changed in some way none of them are unmodified .Any serious cyclist will have something modified or modify something on their bike.Am I a hater no! Are you unreasonably defensive?Yes.

-=(8)=-

I would contribute to it....I dont know if it would be daily, but it would definately
be a section I would check every day. If you go into a magazine store there are about
three dedicated magazines to lowrider lifestyle so there is a huge following. The only
problem I could see happening here is most of the people who check this great site out
are very serious and dont think very highly of chopper bikes. I think people who can
decern lifestyle from practicality issues would appreciate it but the serious nature of
most people here might make it one of the less checked out forums. But, I never
would have thought a Rucumbant forum would be able to sustain itself either ! Doh !