2002 Chopper Works Mirage Custom - Chopper Works

Pretty much everyone who owns a custom motorcycle has followed a similar path obtaining the bike of their dreams. That path usually starts with a reasonably priced used Harley that they add a couple of bolt-on parts to along with lots of chrome. Once the luster of that bike wears off, they head to the local H-D dealership and pick up the model that they really like, at that time. After spending a few years and dollars trying to make the bike look less like every other slightly custom H-D, they finally decide to have a completely custom bike built.

This was the case with Chris Thomas of South Yarmouth, Massachusetts. After putting a lot of time and money into his Dyna, Chris realized that he was never going to get the bike to the custom status he desired. So, after taking a look at his friend's bike that was built by the guys at Chopper Works in Derry, New Hampshire, Chris took a trip to Derry to talk to them about building him the ultimate in custom bikes: a chopper. Chris spent a good portion of the day hanging with Chopper Works owner Rich Borriello, and at the end of the day, they had finally come up with a rough sketch of what Chris wanted his chopper to look like.

Rich started the project with one of his own Mirage 250 Softail frames, and to get the chopper dimensions that Chris wanted, Rich added 5-1/2 inches to the backbone along with another 5 in the downtubes, giving the frame 43 degrees of rake at the neck. Next, Rich made sure that Chris' chopper would always be leading the pack with the addition of a set of Forking By Franks 10-inch-over tubes set in H-D Deuce lower legs. He secured the assembly to the neck with a set of Perse Performance 5-degree triple-trees, giving the bike a total of 48 degrees of rake. To handle the bumps out back, a Legend Air Ride suspension system was secured between the swingarm and frame. Rich was able to get the frame up and rolling by adding a pair of Extreme Machine wheels. The front measures in at 21 inches, while the rear is an 18x8.5-incher; both are covered in Metzeler rubber, with the rear being a 240. To handle all the stopping duties, Rich used a pair of Extreme Machine rotors at both ends of the bike, with a Hawg Halter caliper grasping the front and a PM caliper working the rear.

During the initial design meeting, Chris made it perfectly clear that he wanted his ride to feature triple-digit displacement. When it came time to set a motor between the framerails, Rich had just come across a very reasonably priced 120ci Merch Performance motor that fit the bill perfectly. When the 120 arrived, Rich temporarily bolted it into place, then added a Mikuni carb, a Force Winder air cleaner, a Crane ignition, and a set of Grumpy's pipes. Backing up the motor is an equally stout Baker six-speed trans, a Rivera 3-inch open beltdrive, and Pro Clutch.

Rich's next step was to get some sheetmetal on the chopper. Starting up front, a Fat Katz fender was trimmed and modified so that it could be secured to the Deuce lowers. Then, Rich mounted one of his Chopper Works rear fenders so that it would barely rest above the tire when the suspension was completely lowered. To match the extended length of the backbone, a stretched Fat Katz gas tank was bolted into position, and then the final piece of sheetmetal added was a Chopper Works oil tank.

When the mock-up was complete, the chopper was torn down, then the frame and sheetmetal were given to Chopper Works' in-house painter, Jim Fugge, for some color. After Jim had the pieces prepped and molded, he covered them in several layers of his own mix of House of Kolor Orange. When the orange was dry, he finished up with some reddish-orange flame graphics.

Rich began final assembly by adding a set of his own handlebars and 5-inch risers to the triple-trees. The ends of the bars received Ness controls along with a Chopper Works mirror secured to the left side. Rich bolted a set of Legends forward controls down below for Chris' feet to work, as well as a set of matching passenger pegs. Lighting is handled by a Headwinds headlight and a Ness side-mount taillight/license mount. After 16 weeks of building, Rich secured the Danny Gray seat to the frame and called Chris to let him know his bike was complete.

When Chris arrived and saw the bike, he immediately knew that he finally had the custom bike he had always wanted. As soon as he fired it up, he grinned from ear to ear, thinking about all the attention his chopper would attract, no matter if it was racing down the street or resting in the parking lot of his favorite watering hole.

Specifications
General
Owner: Chris Thomas
Year/Make: '02/Chopper Works Mirage
Fabrication: Chopper Works
Assembly: Chopper Works
Build Time: 16 Weeks

Engine
Size/Type: 120 Merch
Cases: Merch
Flywheels: Merch
Rods: Merch
Pistons: Merch
Cylinders: Merch
Heads: Merch
Cam: Merch
Carb: Mikuni
Ignition: Crane Hi-4
Pipes: Grumpy's

Transmission
Year/Type: '02/Baker six-speed
Case: Baker
Gears: Baker
Clutch: Rivera
Primary Drive: Rivera

Frame/Suspension
Year/Type: '02/Chopper Works Mirage
Rake: 43 degrees
Stretch: 5-1/2 out, 5 up
Swingarm: Chopper Works
Rear Suspension: Legend Air Ride
Forks: Forking By Frank/H-D Deuce
Extension: 10 over
Triple-Trees: Perse Performance