Copper Chopper wowed us earlier this month with an impossibly elegant SR400 bobber, constructed from scratch and laden with tasty handcrafted bits. It was Alexey and Igor’s first commissioned construct since taking their store from sideline gig to full-time enterprise. Earlier than that, they’d merely construct a motorcycle in line with their very own style, promote it and transfer on to the following one.
That’s how this spunky Harley ironhead bobber got here to be. Copper Chopper began with a beat-up donor bike, remodeled it with a choice of salvaged and {custom} components, and put it up on the market. And, unsurprisingly, it’s already discovered its new dwelling.
The shiny machine you’re right here really is a far cry from the unique 1976-model Harley-Davidson XLCH1000 Sportster that Alexey sourced for the undertaking.
“Once I purchased it it was in a really poor situation,” he tells us. “A lot of the components had been rusty, the heads had been leaking oil and the entrance finish was broken.”
The blokes began by pillaging Alexey’s 2013-model Sportster for components—particularly its forks and rear shocks. They shaved the brake mounts off the fork lowers, polished them up, and mounted a 21” entrance wheel with a tiny drum brake hub, purchased from Lowbrow Customs.
There’s a model new copy 16” wheel out again, additionally geared up with a drum brake. The tires are vintage-style Firestones.
The previous ironhead mill appears clear sufficient to eat off—nevertheless it didn’t begin out that approach. It underwent a full rebuild inside and outside, and an intensive bout of sprucing and portray. It’s additionally sporting an S&S Cycle carb, a choke from Lowbrow Customs and an digital ignition.
Each final nut and bolt was changed with new components, in addition to bits just like the kickstart pedal, shifter nub and foot pegs. Adorning the skin of the motor are new polished covers, a Copper Chopper ignition cowl, and a pair of stubby custom-made exhaust headers.
Sitting up prime are a custom-made gasoline tank, seat and rear cowl. All the pieces is remarkably well-proportioned—like how the curve of the tail part subtly mimics the curve of the tank. A lick of blue and white paint provides much more chicness to this svelte bobber, with out going excessive.
“I didn’t need this motorbike to look too {custom},” explains Alexey, “however relatively as if Harley-Davidson themselves made it again within the day. That’s why I made the tank, fender and exhaust design extra conventional and stylish.”
That sensibility is echoed within the Sportster’s cockpit. Alexey fabricated a set of slender, direct-mount handlebars out of stainless-steel, equipping them with new grips and {custom} levers. With an inside throttle and a well-hidden kill change, the entire setup is as minimalist because it will get.
In the event you haven’t figured it out but, Alexey actually loves the look of polished stainless-steel. “There wasn’t sufficient stainless porn up entrance for me,” he admits, “so I made a full stainless polished mirror, since I’d had this concept in thoughts for a very long time. I can solely see silhouettes behind me, however that’s sufficient.”
The entrance finish additionally wears a traditional chromed headlight, with a salvaged taillight hooked up to a side-mounted license plate bracket out again. The total package deal is flawless; a timeless trip that will look equally good exterior a café as it could in a front room.
However Copper Chopper haven’t constructed it simply to take a look at. Because of the suspension and engine upgrades, Alexey studies that this classic ironhead is a pleasure to trip. We’re ever so barely jealous of its new proprietor.
