Many American soldiers who returned to the States after World War II were faithful to the Harley Davidson company but were not very happy with the new motorcycles that were introduced. Most of them enjoyed riding more exciting and lightweight motorcycles present in Europe. Getting trained in the service to maintain automobiles and motorcycles, they wanted improvements made. Consequently, the fenders on the bikes were shortened or removed altogether to lighten the weight. Generally the front fender was removed, but the backside one was only shortened to keep the passenger protected from mud and water thrown up by the rear tire.

While customizations continued to be produced by riders, the chopper was born and the term bobber was coined. The original objective was to alter these bikes for dirt bike racing. The name chopper was derived from the fact that these riders chopped off everything they deemed unnecessary for the bike. Windshields, big bike seats, crash bars, big headlights and front fenders were all chopped off and removed. Forward-mounted foot pegs replaced the larger footrests, and the fuel tank was made smaller, which all made for a lighter bike.

The incline of the fork to ground level was decreased by raking the front end of the bike which increased the bike's wheelbase. The handlebars were also raised and then they termed them ape hangers. Every motorcyclist was making a bike that was exclusively their own by making modifications and improvements where necessary. The front tire became smaller and the back tire had become fat. There ended up numerous riders who began to customize these bikes and sell them to others who did not want to do the work themselves. While the craze caught on choppers began to be produced.

The craze for choppers slowed down for many years, but lately it seems to have made a comeback. Choppers that happen to be custom built by the leading designers are revered greatly and in high demand. The chopper started to be very popular after it was noticed in the film Easy Rider. From the chopper revolution arrived the Shovelhead FX Super Glide, which was one of the Harley Davidson models. The chopper is much more than simply looks since the raked front end actually does improve performance. The motorcycles feel more reliable than the original factory suspension at high speeds there is however a catch. It is weightier and much less responsive at slower speeds and in curves.

If you want a custom crafted motorcycle, then you need to look into getting a hand-crafted chopper. It might be challenging to ride these at times but they feel good to be riding on one. One type that is becoming popular is the low-rider type which features a low frame to ground clearance.