Читать книгу The Dodo Collection - Steve Stack - Страница 39

Raleigh Chopper

The Chopper was, without any shadow of a doubt, the bike of the 1970s.

Designed to echo the look and feel of a chopper motorcycle (think Easy Rider), it was the coolest bike on the streets. It was also the most impractical.

The laid-back aesthetics led to an unstable ride, especially at speed. The high-backed saddle was great for giving ‘backsies’ but that made it even more accident-prone and, if you ever dismounted at speed, the gear stick was strategically placed to castrate the male rider. The rear wheel was larger than the front and the high handle-bars made few riding positions comfortable for more than a few minutes.

All that aside, it became a cultural icon and was the ubiquitous mode of transport for the suburban ’70s teenager.

By the time the 1980s came round, the Chopper was overtaken by BMX culture. The appetite for bunny hops, 360s, and half pipes rendered the Chopper obsolete. That, and the desire to cycle for more than half a mile without killing yourself.

Believe it or not, the Chopper was relaunched in 2004 with a tweaked (for which, read ‘boring’) design. The seat had been lowered to discourage passengers and the gear controls were moved to the handlebars. Sensible, but dull. It has not made a significant impact.

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