A perfect example of just such a company is Chop Machine in Toledo, Ohio, with owner Mike Schrickel at the helm. Together he and his crew have designed and constructed retro-style chops straight out of the ‘70s with no apologies needed. They are all done that nice that they look like they’re sensibly flavored with the ‘70s style without dancing in a theme bike contest. I can use one word to describe them and that’s authentic. And no, I’m not using the word like the slang it’s become recently to describe anything, but the real dictionary version. Yup, authentic in style, grace and intent without having to wear some kind of mechanical period costume that shouts, “Hey-look at me! I’m doing a bad mullet version of Old School.”

  Frankly, the crew at Chop Machine has got its sh*t together and just builds gorgeous bikes that you just appreciate for what they are. That same design aesthetic seems to permeate the whole state and region as I don’t think of Ohio as custom bagger country, but I do think of it as one-off Old School-style bikes built by young builders. Bit of irony going on there, but I’m glad young builders are keeping yesterday’s chopper at the forefront of where this is all headed after the bagger craze calms down. History always repeats itself and this type of build is drenched with chopper history. 

  In case you’re wondering what I’m referring to, take a look at these Chop Machine bikes Barnett’s Magazine Online has previously featured. They’re all Sportys, they’re all different and they’re all beautiful. Bikes like their Chop ‘Til You Drop Sportster or their Black On Black Sporty or their Smokin’ Sporty or surprise-surprise, another Sporty we called Straight Outta Toledo. All are good looking rides that are made to do just that ─ ride. Motorcycles started out as a blue-collar hobby (or addiction) and Chop Machine holds true to that historical fact too with knockout builds a blue-collar guy would be thrilled to own. They’re not only good to look at, they’re good to go. 

   The gem of a bike in white that Jack Cofano caught at Smoke Out 17 is a quiet killer of a bike. The elegant white finish and the sharp cleanliness of the design immediately got my motorcycle lust gland in high gear before I even noticed the drive train. Yes, it’s another Sportster-based build but this shining jewel of an Evo engine is decked out in a blingfest of finned engine covers everywhere you look. Combine that with the polished fins of the black engine and you’ve got a playground for sunlight that could burn out a retina. Especially on the right side where the twin exhaust pipes mimic the frame lines with a bit of ‘70s drama. Not too much and not too little ─ just traditionally right in a modern tasteful way. 

   I wouldn’t be surprised if this starkly exquisite rigid frame was courtesy of Led Sled Customs in Dayton, Ohio, as Chop Machine tends not only to favor Ohio businesses, but Pat Patterson’s Led Sled Customs in particular. Previously they’ve used Led Sled chassis on many other builds so it would be a surprise if they opted out of a good thing. One thing that’s for certain, the proportions are right and I hate to say it, but a lot of Sporty builds are often missing a certain something. That “something” usually is not getting the dimensions completely comfortable to the eye. On some builds the rear wheel is too tucked in or the bike is too short or too tall or both. Here it couldn’t be better. 

   On something this Old School-simple overall, wheel choice is a big part of the design and Mike’s choice of Invader wheels in traditional sizes is the right choice. If it were possible for the graphic of the stereotypical Italian pizza chef with the winking eye and pencil-thin mustache who’s looked up from many a pizza box to see this wheel-set choice, he’d definitely give it his “okay” hand sign of approval. Tire choices are classic in size and tread patterns too. Out back the only brake to be found on board this ride is a manly four-piston caliper grabbing its own rotor and not a sprocket. When the only brake is a tiny sprocket brake like many others I’ve seen, I tend to lose interest quickly as I know it wasn’t really intended to be ridden except by the fool-hardy.

  The extended forks are also part of the clean scheme with not only being shorn of any lugs or mounts, but with machined lower legs that continue the ribbed theme of the engine. Nice way of tying things together and it’s not a billet add-on trying to look cool.

That’s the way the rest of the details are too like the mini apes, the Bates-style headlight and the beautiful, not-too-over-the-top sissy bar that any traditional chopper requires. Some things you can’t skip and a neo-retro chop deserves a signature sissy bar. By the way, the foot controls that look like that’s all they’re trying to do seems to be historically correct to from what I’ve seen over the years.

  Bodywork is minimalist and that’s the way they were even if nobody thought about being a minimalist. They just had what they needed and what they had was simple, clean and stunning at the same time. In this case it’s a peanut tank and I’m going to guess more specifically a Low Brow Customs Original P-Nut tank with twin caps. Why did I pick Low Brow you ask? They’re in Ohio. Meanwhile the cylindrical oil tank of whatever Ohio manufacturer neatly wraps around the seat tube where it’s tightly tucked into place. Out back, a real tire-covering, wrap-around fender does what a fender is supposed to do (and look like) and fends of road crap. Sometimes the best solution to a design problem is to do what actually works and that’s the case here. Like a ’32 Ford grill shell on a hot rod, sometimes you can’t beat the old tried and true.

   The creamy white paint was a genius move especially since it blends the fame and bodywork as one. This way the lines of the bike speak uninterrupted. You see what goes where and why without stopping the flow of the design. It’s like you’re seeing into the bike and able to check out its bones without having to get past a paint job that is trying to grab all your attention. I especially like the lack of graphics other than the very classy decal set on the tank by Joe at Ogiven.com. A great way to keep things simple yet classy and still be on the cheaper side of ornamentation without looking that way. Decals might be a nasty word to some, but done right I think they’re right up there with my favorites, classic cast metal Harley tank badges.

   All in all, Chop Machine has knocked it out of the park aesthetically and artistically. It’s just the right amount of Old School retro built in the same way using the same techniques but with a more knowledgeable modern twist. No CNC machine was fired up in the making of this bike and it shows. Traditional, classic, retro, Old School or whatever term you might use to describe this bike is inconsequential and unnecessary. This is one fine Sporty chop for the ages.

  If you want to see what Chop Machine is up to or even contact them, you’ll have to find them on Facebook or Instagram as they don’t believe in web sites. No big deal, that’s just the way these boys from Ohio deal with things.