Our service department bike of the week goes to a proud owner of a 2007 Thunder Mountain Custom Chopper. While the chopper craze might have gotten its start with the release of the 1969 film Easy Rider, customizing a Harley will never fade away. Unfortunately, public demand may have decreased, but you can find deals on choppers that once may have cost upwards of $100,000 for less than $20k now.
This owner picked up this chopper from Key West Florida. Anyone who has had a Harley Davidson knows the combination of sun and salt air exposure can corrode metals ten times faster. Let’s just say, when this chopper came in for a facelift it had been severely blemished. The chrome was just flaking off and the paint had been abused by the sun’s rays for years.
With plans of a full frame-up transformation, we were eager to bring new life to this two wheeled scoot. Starting with a full teardown to the frame allowed us to identify other hidden issues. Old control cables, bad wheel bearings, dry rotted tires, these all would have to be addressed when reassembly took place. The owner wanted an entirely new look, one to try and mask the years of environmental weathering. We helped with this by powder coating. This was removing all pitted chrome parts and sending them out for that glossy black look.
Next, we had to contend with the paint. Our own detail department took control of this task. Wet sanding out all the light surface scratches to compound buffing back its glossy luster. We were able to give this old salt hog another fresh start.
What this owner wanted was exactly what we delivered. His expression was priceless when he saw his chopper reassembled for the first time. He kept saying, “I can’t believe this is the same bike.” I did leave out one small detail in this short story. Ironically the technician/builder who once was on one of the most watched chopper tv shows again lent his hand on this “Chopper build”. Thanks Rick Petko!!
If you would like to see this Thunder Mountain Chopper, stop by here in the service department where it will be on display for one week.
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