There is only one serious production chopper manufacturer on planet earth right now and their road to survival has had many twists and turns. Big Bear Choppers AKA Ragehard Choppers makes the biggest baddest production chopper in the world, The Redemption. I rode the Redemption for several weeks and several nasty observations became extremely clear.
First, this bike is not for the faint of heart or short in stature. Although the seat height is only 20 inches my 6’1” frame was spread eagle between the forward controls and …” ape hangers. Secondly the S&S 111 cu engine is a locomotive. With enough torque to drag an elephant this beast is relentless, its battleship load of power at the flick of the wrist. Finally, at ten feet long you must be master over this behemoth.
Admittedly, I was intimidated at first but that soon became exhilaration and finally domination. Know body, I mean know body messes with a man on a Redemption. Grown men stop in their tracks, small children cower behind the mothers’ skirt hems and even the authorities just stared in awe as this thunderous beast bellowed by. And thank god, with Redemptions blatant disregard for citizen loudness standards.
After the initial shock I immediately remember why we all loved choppers so much. Riding a rolling earthquake is as visceral as it gets. While looking like any other S&S Super Sidewinder engine from the outside, the essence of this new engine is the low vibration. Branded as V111, this internally reformed 111-cubic-inch engine boasts a healthy 122.8 lbs. of torque at the crank. With a configuration of a 4 1/8-inch bore and 4 1/8-inch stroke, proprietary compression ratios, redesigned cam timing, and reciprocating weights all result in an incredibly smooth running fire-breathing powerhouse, while meeting all the strict legal requirements for even California.
Quite honestly this bike is actually very manageable at speed. It is after all a Big Bear Chopper and anyone who owns one will attest to the high standards of quality materials and craftsmanship they are known for. I had the Redemption pushing triple digits without any shake or stability issues. The 22-inch overstock Springer front end with a 48-degree rake chassis handles commendably. Around town one quickly learns to lean and steer to turn. In other words the super low center gravity and low seat height coupled with the overall length make slow speed turning an elegant ballet of man and a mighty motorcycle locomotive. Surprisingly I don’t recall scraping the frame once in high or slow speed turns. What you need to watch for dips or inclines, these can be tricky.
BBC uses the Baker overdrive 6-speed. This Detroit built tranny is designed and manufactured to comfortably handle the power from monster performance engines. The Redemption also incorporates a newly designed proprietary primary built tough with a very sleek, new-generation styled aesthetics coupled with a cool BBC branded inspection cover. This primary drive is approximately 200% stronger than most other manufacturer’s primaries with its machined forged aluminum inner and outer cases.
The dense aluminum material makes for a unit that does not flex under heavy torque, and absorbs most engine vibration. BBC claims another attribute sets their primary drive ahead of the curve. It’s the triple seal design on the main shaft, as opposed to an industry standard single seal, insuring virtually no leaks. The starter motor shaft accessory plate is removable for an easy starter installation. The internals utilize an easy-to-replace standard type clutch basket and a compensating sprocket for a smooth power transfer.
The Softail progressive suspension offers 3 inches of travel, while affording a comfortable perch. BBC has always touted ridable choppers, and they are. In fact the highway is where the rubber meets the road. The redemption is home here. The high tank and headlight serve almost as a windscreen. The Baker 6-speed tranny and monstrous 111 settle in at 75 mph and all the moving parts seem to mesh. I truly wish I had more tour time and less traffic time with the Redemption. But alas this is Los Angeles, and yes lane splitting on the 405 was inevitable. Again, as long as you’re moving maneuverability wasn’t and issue. Although I can attest that the apehangers are at the exact rear view mirror height of large SUVs, which adds excitement to the commute.
The paint by Buckwild is just astounding, with the frame and engine beautifully powder coated, and the S&S powerhouse has diamond cut fins sparkling against a deep red leather seat.
All in all, if you want the Arnold Schwarzenegger of Choppers look no further. I showed off the Redemption at a few local bike nights and won top honors hands down. Bikers love choppers, and they wish they still had one. Soccer moms and little league dads love choppers. They wish they had the balls to ride one. Even college kids gawk in awe. They wish they could afford one, or had the knowledge to build one. If you happen to be one of the lucky few who has one, you know that the road to redemption is exhilarating. Nothing says “Freedom” more than a chopper.
Finish Polished Case & Chrome Covers
Displacement 111″
Bore X Stoke 4 1/8″ X 4 1/8″
Horsepower 115.8 bhp
Torque 122.8 lb/ft
Induction S&S Super E Carburetor
Air Cleaner S&S Tear Drop
Oil Pump S&S High Volume
Warranty 2 Year / 20,000 Mile
Reliability, power and comfort… the best of all worlds. And when we say reliability, we not only mean the life of the engine, but the life of motorcycle and everything that’s bolted to it. Branded as V111™,’ this internally reformed 111 cubic inch engine boasts a healthy 122.8 lbs. of torque at the crank. With a configuration of a 4 1/8” bore and 4 1/8” stroke, proprietary compression ratios, redesigned cam timing, and reciprocating weights all result in an incredibly smooth running engine while meeting all the strict legal requirements. While looking like any other S&S Super Sidewinder engine from the outside, the essence of this new engine is the low vibration. High engine vibration is an enemy to both the rider and the motorcycle. The effects of high engine vibration may cause premature rider fatigue as well. Eliminate engine vibration and you will eliminate potential problems.
Engineering is the applied science of acquiring and applying knowledge to design, analysis, and/or construction of product. You can’t produce a great motorcycle without great engineering. And we’ve got a great engineering team and processes! The reliability, comfort and esthetics are only as good as the complete engineering of the vehicle. So in our efforts of providing our customers with an absolute motorcycle, meaning everything a motorcycle is; from performance, to design, with comfort and overall reliability, our engineering processes and staff run at high standards, efficiently and effectively. In all elements of engineering, e.g. manpower, methods, machinery and materials, our talented team uses well thought out methods with some of the finest equipment using premium material for every application.
Finish Polished Case & Chrome Covers
Displacement 111″
Bore X Stoke 4 1/8″ X 4 1/8″
Horsepower 115.8 bhp
Torque 122.8 lb/ft
Induction S&S Electronic Fuel Injection
Air Cleaner S&S Tear Drop
Oil Pump S&S High Volume
Warranty 2 Year / 20,000 Mile
Between the EFI and the carbureted V111™, there isn’t going to be much of a difference in performance, provided you maintain constant ambient conditions (humidity, temperature, elevation, etc.). This is where the beauty of the closed-loop EFI system comes into play. The system is continuously monitoring the engine, and tuning itself to optimize performance for that given scenario or environment. So, while you might not be able to notice power difference between the EFI and a carbureted engine, once you take that bike up the mountain, or get a day that’s significantly hotter than the day it was tuned, that EFI engine will easily outperform the carbureted engine (unless you want to take a supply of different jets with you on the ride).
Company Info:
Address: 1331 RIVERVIEW DR
Phone: 909 478 7788
E-mail: info@bigbearchoppers.com
