Their knowledge of the road and mechanical know how shows through in the completeness of their kits and the extra effort put into making the same parts available to all builders come together a little better for Big Bear customers.  As I count from their website, www.bigbearchoppers.com, there are six models available. Four of these models have two versions so the total count moves up to ten styles to choose from for the do-it-yourselfer.  Now onto the business savvy.  I’ve read articles in just about every magazine about Big Bear Choppers.  They’ve made the effort to stay high profile which is good for the consumer. They now have a reputation at stake which should translate into good customer care.  Also, the Alsop’s have taken the kit bike world to a higher level by making sure their completed bikes meet DOT standards and are totally legal.  The reward for the money spent testing and meeting various legal standards is a manufacturer’s license which elevates a Big Bear Chopper out of the special construction paperwork nightmare.  Banks will loan money for the kits since their values are posted in the NADA and Kelly price books and insurance companies will talk to you.  The Alsops should be congratulated for getting all these certifications, they will save their thousands of customers tens of thousands of hours of bureaucratic wrangling.

Which brings us to the bike here. Over 95% of Big Bear Choppers are sold in kit form, ready for the new owner to paint and assemble.  A few customers, however, want to buy the bikes assembled with upgrades and the paintwork done. This is a premium service and the wait is about six months with an additional cost of about $7,000.  But the end result is an exotic custom that showcases not only Kevin and Mona’s ability to assemble a nice group of parts, but also Kevin’s hidden desire to take part in the one-off custom bike building world.

Completed for a total of approximately $45,000, this red and white softail style bike started with a Devil’s Advocate ProStreet kit.  The basic, unassembled kit begins at $23,900. Foose 3D wheels with matching rotors and pulley were specified by the owner along with a 280 rear tire and Baker six speed RSD transmission.  Numerous upgrades including a driveside brake, PM contour controls and slick paint by Rock and Roll completed the build.

From budget bikes to high line customs, Big Bear Choppers should be considered by those wanting to build a bike without the hassle and machining necessary when using parts gathered from a wide variety of companies.  The Alsops have designed their kits to provide the buyer with the pride and satisfaction of building and painting one’s own bike.  And they’ve simplified the process so their customers do not need to be machinists or DOT legal secretaries to get their bikes completed, licensed, insured, and on the road.