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Mini Choppers are scaled-down versions of custom-built motorcycles known as
Mini Choppers are scaled-down versions of custom-built motorcycles known as choppers
Chopper may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Chopper'' (comics), a horror comic book mini-series
* ''Chopper'' (film), a 2000 Australian film by and about Mark "Chopper" Read
* Chopper (''Judge Dredd''), a character in British comics anth ...
. Commercially available Mini Choppers are available from various retailers, some utilizing similar production methods to Minibike
A minibike is a two-wheeled, motorized, off-highway recreational vehicle popularized in the 1960s and 1970s, but available continuously from a wide variety of manufacturers since 1959. Their off-highway nature and (in many countries) typically enti ...
s, while others use Scooter, Moped
A moped ( ) is a type of small motorcycle, generally having a less stringent licensing requirement than full motorcycles or automobiles. The term used to mean a similar vehicle except with both bicycle pedals and a motorcycle engine. Mopeds typ ...
sourced parts/engines. Custom Mini Choppers are generally constructed from 1" steel tubing or 3/4" steel black pipe. The tube or pipe is bent and then welded together to get the desired angles and shapes of the frame.
Mini choppers use a variety of engines. One of the most popular is a Base 50 engine, a generic term for Imported single cylinder horizontal 50cc to 140cc 4-stroke engines derived from Honda's line of small motorcycle engines. 50cc (actually 49.5cc) engines offer the advantage of being classified as a Moped or Scooter engine, and many municlities do not require a specific motorcycle license to operate a vehicles with engines sizes of less than 50cc. Larger, vertical engines up to 250cc, developed for the ATV and motorcycle market are also used. These engines are Unit construction : ''For the vehicle design where the vehicle's skin is used as a load-bearing element, see Monocoque.''
Unit construction is the design of larger motorcycles where the engine and gearbox components share a single casing. This sometimes includes ...
, allowing for traditional multi-speed transmissions, and may feature either a semi-auto or fully manual transmission. Before the prevalence of inexpensive Chinese engines, industrial Briggs & Stratton or Tecumseh horizontal engines with Centrifugal clutches or Continuously Variable Transmission were more commonly used to transmit power to the rear wheel. This was similar to Minibike
A minibike is a two-wheeled, motorized, off-highway recreational vehicle popularized in the 1960s and 1970s, but available continuously from a wide variety of manufacturers since 1959. Their off-highway nature and (in many countries) typically enti ...
s or Go-kart
A go-kart, also written as go-cart (often referred to as simply a kart), is a type of sports car, close wheeled car, open-wheel car or quadracycle. Go-karts come in all shapes and forms, from non-motorised models to high-performance racing ...
s, and were often not street legal without modification, due to emissions.
Mini Choppers often use bicycle, moped
A moped ( ) is a type of small motorcycle, generally having a less stringent licensing requirement than full motorcycles or automobiles. The term used to mean a similar vehicle except with both bicycle pedals and a motorcycle engine. Mopeds typ ...
or small motorcycle wheels with pneumatic tires. Typical sizes range from 6" to 12". Full-size motorcycle wheels and tires are also used, but generally require larger engines to have the power to function adequately. To operate on the road, Mini Choppers will require necessary lighting and brakes to be street legal.
Legality
In the US Mini choppers are not legal in all states. In Pennsylvania, a vehicle with 1.6 to 5 horsepower is a motor-driven cycle; while anything exceeding 5 horsepower is defined as a motorcycle. Both require inspections and adhesion to DOT laws. Vehicles that are built with engines of less than 50cc, 1.6hp and do not exceed 25mph do not require an inspection. When you purchase a kit, or retail Mini Chopper intended for street use, it should be accompanied by a title, or a Manufactures Statement of Origin (MSO). If you custom build a mini chopper, you will need to adhere to local laws regarding acquiring a title.See also
* All-terrain vehicle * Honda Z series - also known as a Monkey bike. *Minibike
A minibike is a two-wheeled, motorized, off-highway recreational vehicle popularized in the 1960s and 1970s, but available continuously from a wide variety of manufacturers since 1959. Their off-highway nature and (in many countries) typically enti ...
* Pit bike
A pit bike is a small recreation, stunt or motocross racing motorcycle. Usually defined as having a horizontal air cooled engine and an open cradle frame.
Pit bike history
The pit bike evolved from the use of custom-built motorized two wheeled m ...
* Pocketbike
Pocketbikes are small, two wheeled recreational vehicles approximately one-quarter the size of a regular motorcycles, and are powered by two-stroke internal combustion engines of between 40 and 50 cc. Pocketbikes maintain the look of ful ...
References
External links
* {{Types of motorcycles Chopper motorcycles Minibikes Motorcycle customization