Back in 2003, Warren Thompson hit a few bumps on the road to opening his own custom bike shop. He had to sue a rival over the rights to his shop's name, San Diego Choppers, and shortly thereafter he hit some hurdles with the EPA.
By the time the smoke from that conflict cleared he was low on money and lower on morale. The dream looked like it would fade into oblivion, but he picked up his courage, rolled up his sleeves, and got to work on his first ground-up custom anyway.
For any new builder, their first top-to-bottom custom creation is their business card; it's the litmus test by which prospective customers judge their talent and imagination. Warren knew that going in and took it very much to heart with this machine, the Weapon. His overall plan of attack called for a rigid chopper with a ton of his own fabrication in it.
Warren went for unique with this bike, and he got it. With 10 inches of stretch in the backbone and 8 inches more in the downtubes, it's anything but small. Add in the 19-inch extension in the forks and this bike has some serious length to it. What isn't big and obvious is the "rear suspension." Although Warren went with a rigid frame, he cannibalized the shock absorber from his mountain bike and tucked it under the seat to take some of the ump out of road bumps. The frame's extreme dimensions gave Thompson a huge bike, and while he utilized a sizable motor to match, he resisted the temptation to get radical with it; the Weapon's powerplant is a 110-inch RevTech V-twin with matching six-speed transmission.
However, the big profile is just the tip of a bigger iceberg; it may get your attention, but it's Warren's metalwork that keeps it. He went to town throughout this chopper, from the cross-shaped gas tank and smooth fenders to the air scoop and the exhaust pipes that twist around the motor to the primary side of the bike. Warren went the extra mile and hid the battery and oil tank down low (you can see the oil dipstick on the right side near the transmission). The details don't end there, though. Once your eyes have drunk all of this in, you begin to see the snakes; specifically the viper-headed footpegs and the trick snake eye brake lights, fangs and all.
It's a mixture of ideas that've floated inside his melon for a good long time. "To be able to finally make them was awesome," Warren told us. He's had some help along the way, though. Los, a longtime riding buddy, asked him if he needed help one day. Warren was glad for that, and since then they've worked it out to where Los runs the merchandise and apparel side while Thompson keeps his butt in the shop conjuring up new ideas. It's taken San Diego Choppers a few years to get going, but they're deeply committed to making Warren's dream come true. Los isn't the only one pitching in, though. It seems Warren's sons and daughter plan on working for their dad as well. With that much support, he should be able to handle any new hurdles that jump up in his way.