We started a series of stories about why we chop. They are a blast, inspirational and enlightening. This one touches on two elements of the equation. Why we chop and something about the history of the chopper.
There are two partners involved in this story and bikes. Both are partners in a Shop called Johnny Mac’s Chopper house. One was the photographer behind this feature with Chelsea, Jack McIntyre, a veteran and the other the shop boss, Johnny Mac.
Johnny Mac grew up in Richboro, the extreme southeastern edge of Pennsylvania along the Delaware River at the New Jersey border. He didn’t miss out on any East Coast action. He began Johnny Mac’s Chopper House in 2008 and is still going strong.
Johnny learned metal fabrication early on in life, mainly self-taught, but after having a background in race cars and high-powered motors, the love of choppers developed with the desire to customize. FAT TIRES… right, he loves them, however, he creates stunning bobbers and retro older Harley-Davidsons as well.
He started his shop just as the economy crashed and supposedly choppers died.
Let’s take a look at the general chopper history. So, they started along with custom cars in the ‘60s. In the late ‘60s manufacturing custom parts kicked off. In ’69 the movie Easy Rider glistened on the screens. In ’71 Easyriders magazine hit the streets. Other magazines hit the stands in ’72 and an industry flourished.
Bikes changed and styles emerged from AEE, Paughco, Arlen Ness, D&D, Custom chrome and Nempco. The performance side exploded with the help of S&S, Sifton and Zippers.
The industry clicked along until I introduced Jesse James to the Discovery Channel and choppers exploded from garage builds to manufactured bikes along with the economy.
A member of the Discovery team told me that the Biker Build-off series began after I was interviewed at the Easyriders Columbus Nationals show. Thom Beers never called to say thanks, although I worked with Hugh King, the director for decades and now own the bike the top ten builders built for him. It’s in the Sturgis Museum.
The industry went crazy during the TV era from 2002 to 2007. Chopper manufacturers popped up all over the country, with every upscale dude buying a Big Dog, Saxon, Texas, you name it. They are still around somewhere.
Then in 2008, when the economy crashed, so did the market and the industry. All the chopper manufacturers died, but our brothers in garages still dreamed of building and owning a chopper.
Of course, there were the naysayers who said ardently, “Choppers are dead!”
When no money was available, the purists still built using whatever they could find, sorta like the beginning when choppers were built with scraps, welders and swap meet finds.
Johnny and Jack still love dem choppers, the long fat-tire bikes, metalflake and flames. I would like to say, “Choppers will never die, because of the very nature of the breed.” They are not built for efficiency, handling performance, or manufacturing precision. They are built behind a stringent survival nature and love for being a startling stand-out against the straights, conformity and regulations. We are outlaws until the end.
Johnny Mac’s Chopper House is in Philly, handles custom work, painting, and more. 8342 State Rd, Unit 20. Philadelphia, Pa 19136. Stop by for a visit.
Check out our story about their charity bikes:
https://www.bikernet.com/pages/Charitable_Custom_Motorcycles_Wonderful_Sponsors.aspx
