May 19, 2007
History of Choppers explores the past, present and future of how chopper riders and builders are pushing this metallic self-expression into the realm of art. 
From the sleek lines of a custom ride to the savage beauty of a rat bike scrambled together from spare parts, every chopper represents something unique about tis owner and is the ultimate statement of who the rider is. Motorcycle enthusiasts have been “chopping” bikes (making them lighter by removing or chopping off necessary parts) since the 1940s, and have contained to evolve as a culture group since the ’60 and in the ’70s, when they got their name and appeared in the defining 1969 film Easy Rider. In this first book that reveals the history and modern incarnation of the chopper, author R. Louis Wieland captures these unbelievable combinations of sculpture, attitude, and individuality, cobbled together from fact, anecdotes, half-truths, and tall tales — just like the bikes themselves. With full-color photographs of some of the most extraordinary bikes today, History of Choppers also tells the stories of the people behind the paint and pipes that make their choppers unique. Book retails for around $19.95.
