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Question: Looking for a site to find out how i can build my own capt,america chopper cycle .looking for a full kit?

(Posted by: EdK on 2010-01-19 19:15:49)

Want to build a chopper like in the movie Easy Rider...

Posted by: vtwin_doc on 2010-01-19, 20:37:38

Below is an answer to a similar question about home built bikes......... Best Answer - Chosen by Asker Look at these web-sites for bike kits....and read below.... vtwinmfg.com/ NewVtwinWeb/ dragspecialties.com/ customchrome.com/ dcm/ cc/ index… bikerschoice.com/ An answer from a simliar question.... Best Answer - Chosen by Asker Bubba has it about right, on average, provided the have the money for the paint work, it can usually be done in about 3 months. I will, however, warn you, if you don't have experience working on or building bikes, I would learn first before attempting a project like this. I have had to take apart and completely rebuild entire bikes because auto and aviation techs usually have the mindframe they think bikes are simple...compared to most of today's cars, they are, BUT....if you don't know how to properly align a drivetrain (eng-to-frame, trans-to-frame, eng-to-trans, axle-to-frame), align a primary drive, front-to-rear sprocket alignment, caliper-to-rotor aligment, set steeering neck tension, check wheel bearing endplay, proper wiring & soldering techniques, wire routing, etc......the project can be a nightmare, normally the bike needs to be fully and properly assembled to make sure everything fits the way it should and in alignment ( this is called a mock-up build), then completely disassembled, sent out for paint, and then put back together. On top of that, most of the kits on the market are on the chep side, meaning they don't cost much up front because they use alot of "taiwan-ese " parts. Also, when you do a build like this, there is not much of a warranty, if any, so if something goes wrong, you are pretty much screwed. Another thing to take into consideration is titleing and insuring the bike, in some states, this can be an absolute nightmare. I am not trying to scare you off the project, but I see this alot, and from my experiences, the people would have been better off either having a reputable shop do the build, or just simply buy a bike. Oh, if you guys do decide to take on the project, KEEP EVERY SINGLE PAPER THAT COMES WITH THE KIT.....if and when you need replacement parts, if you don't have the paperwork with part numbers, you will have one hell of a time finding replacement parts. EDIT:...Regarding the "Cookie Cutter " comment.....yes...TO SOME DEGREE, I can agree about the "COOKIE CUTTER' customs.....but what are HD's, Honda, Yamaha, etc.....ALL MASS PRODUCED, ALL THE SAME......PRODUCTION bikes.........the AVERAGE eprson today doesn't have the knowledge, skill or time....and MONEY to build their own.....do you have ANY idea how much it actually costs to build a ground-up custom bike that would compare to the engineering quality, ride quality, handing, performance, etc that a Big Dog or Big Bear has......average cost of a Big Dog is $28-36k, to build a bike in your garage with the same qualities would take the average person 1-3years and approx $50k to build.....just think about what goes into building a bike like that......getting the frame dimensions correct, proper rake and trail (this can be trial error done 3,4 or 5 times with different raked triple trees and fork tube length before you get it right...meaning complete efront end changes), getting the electrics perfectly and CLEANLY routed, engine-to-trans alignment, trans-to-swingarm pivot alignment, rear axle-to-swingarm pivot alignment, front-to-rear sprocket alignment, etc......like I said, the AVERAGE eprson doesn't know how to do this, let alone do it RIGHT. I have personally built several ground up customs for my customers, they ranged in price from $35-65k and took me, a professional in a SHOP working 4-8/ day between 4-6months to build each one. Not to mention, if a component on the bike fails, you have little or no warranty on it....with a manufactured bike.....2 year warranty. Cookie Cutter or not..........it's cheaper quicker and better quality than MOST people can deliver out the garage. I have seen MORE THAN A FEW home built bikes that I would not tell my worst enemiy to ride, I have never seen such crappy work, wiring, misaligned, parts falling off, unsafe to be ridden pieces of crap in my life. NOT ONLY THAT......TRY TO REGISTER AND INSURE A HOME-BUILT BIKE........GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!!!!!!!!!.....IF YOU ARE ABLE TO....YOUR WALLET WILL PUKE WHEN YOU TELL IT HOW MUCH INSURANCE WILL BE CHARGING IT EVERY MONTH!!!!!!!!! 2 months ago 1 Rating: Good Answer 0 Rating: Bad Answer Report Abuse Asker's Rating: Asker's Comment: thank you very much that was what i was looking for the cold hard facts. now i have somthing to think about .

Posted by: Bob S on 2010-01-19, 20:20:03

J+ P Cycles in Anamosa, IA have the original bike in their museum, and sell all the parts you need to build one in their catalogs jpcycles.com

Posted by: Max Cruise on 2010-01-19, 20:31:02

I will bet that a kit is not available. If you want the Captain America motorcycle as seen in the movie "Easy Rider " you will have to build one from scratch.

Posted by: mike on 2010-01-19, 21:00:23

A few years back, Peter Fonda endorsed the California Motorcycle Company (CMC) to make some Captain America Chopper replicas. harleycustom.com/ Prod-Paughco_-_Captain_America_Custom_Chopper_-_Easy_Rider,The_Best_Movie_Ever__starring_Peter_Fonda,_Dennis_Hopper_and_Jack_Nicholson._Drug-runners_(Fonda,_Hopper_and_Nicholson)_take_to_their_choppers-23-364.html tejasthumpcycles.com/ Replica%20Bike%20Kits/ Captain_america_kit_bike/ Captain_america_kit.htm In response to Bob S, J P Cycles DOES NOT have the original. According to Peter Fonda, four police bikes (two of each) were customized for the film. One was burned during filming, and the other three were stolen before filming was completed. Both the Captain America bike and the Billy Bike were designed and built by an African-American bike builder named Ben Hardy. Peter Fonda met Hardy when Hardy built the bike he rode in The Wild Angels (1966). Dennis Hopper is interviewed in the documentary "History of the Chopper " and confirms that it was Hardy who built the bikes.

Posted by: James on 2010-01-19, 21:29:16

V-Twin has it right. You might also consider that the "Captain America " bike is about as impractical as they come, and not actually street-legal these days. As far as impracticality goes, it is a hardtail (meaning no rear suspension) and has really radical (meaning bad-handling) steering geometry. Also, a very short range due to the small "peanut " fuel tank. As far as legality is concerned, it has no front brake! This would only be allowable on the road if it could be shown to the DMV that the original vehicle had no front brake (i.e. if the frame were originally from a very old bike that was manufactured w/ o the brake). In the case of a new bike, with a new frame, this is a show-stopper. Never mind the consequences of actually riding in traffic with only a rear brake. I doubt that many insurance companies would be willing to write a policy for such a bike. As a new build, as opposed to a restoration, the bike must conform to all current standards. Missing items: turn signals; mirrors; horn; engine killswitch; folding footpegs; sidestand or clutch killswitch. Illegal items: handlebars too high, sissy bar too high; muflers; does not meet emissions or noise standards.

Posted by: clasqm on 2010-01-20, 11:53:46

Buy a Honda Fury and get a painter to put the US flag on the tank. Put on a tall sissy bar and a pair of fishtail exhausts and you'll be close enough for most people. Plus, you'll have a bike that starts, goes, turns and stops like a modern motorcycle. EDIT: Oh, yes, and a pair of mini-apehangers.