My first day with the Atom Bomb Chopper. Back in the early eighties I took a four-foot sissy bar and wedged it around the head tube and bolted it to the fork dropouts of a Murray Eliminator.  I had no Idea what I was doing or how flimsy the set-up was. Move forward to today, I went on the web to see if the model bike I had was for sale. I put in the word "chopper" and was surprised to see how far chopper bicycles have come. I went on e-bay in June and searched for "chopper" and found a listing for the "Atom Bomb Chopper" by Kyle Watson. I decided that the price was good for the quality of the bike based on a few e-mails to the seller.  I had seen some high-end Mountain bikes that I wanted and they ran about $5,000 to $6,000. Since I'm not a pro rider, I thought that the chopper was just the right price for what I wanted. After winning the bike, I was asked for my measurements and given a date to expect the bike. When the crate arrived, I was shocked by the size. It was very well packed and easy to unpack.  The next weekend Jim Wilson helped me to assemble the bike. The parts are made to an exact fit and the finish is top notch. It took us a little grease and time but finally we got the bike together.  The finished bike is nine feet six inches long and sixty-five pounds. We took the bike out (good thing Jim's building has a big elevator), we went over to a park in Manhattan and Jim took a few pictures. I unfortunately had to start home so I would have daylight for the ride. I live a little over ten miles from Jim and I hadn't ridden a bike in eight years. The bike took a little getting used to, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. As I rode, I could feel that even though the bike is heavy, the way it's geared, it just wanted to move. The bike is smooth and easy to ride. The slight flex of the frame cushioned the ride and the seat (steel) is surprisingly comfortable. After an hour and a half ride I can say the seat is no less comfortable than an MTB seat. To save time I took a short cut and crossed the Williamsburg bridge; when I got to the other side I realized I had never been in this part of Brooklyn. So I rode in the general direction of my house. One thing I forgot is that the neighborhood that I had to go through was East New York. It's not the best place to ride but the bike was so unique that people just yelled, "cool bike." People in cars pulled up next to me and would ask about the bike. One thing that made me laugh was one guy yelled "West Coast in the house!" I look forward to many great rides on this bike. I was sad when I got home, I wanted to ride more, but it was getting late. It's one GREAT BIKE! My thanks to Kyle Watson and Dave Goeppner of Vision Artist Group, LLC for having this bike available and to Jim Wilson, who has helped me with both the final assembly of the bike and with so many other chopper-related things. Long bikes rule, Scott

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Following minimal assembly (fork and handlebar mounting), Scott and A-Bomb posed for a portrait to commemorate the occasion. Then we headed out for Union Square Park, for Scott's.pre-street acclimation practice around the park's parking lot..

My first day with the Atom Bomb Chopper. Back in the early eighties I took a four-foot sissy bar and wedged it around the head tube and bolted it to the fork dropouts of a Murray Eliminator.  I had no Idea what I was doing or how flimsy the set-up was. Move forward to today, I went on the web to see if the model bike I had was for sale. I put in the word "chopper" and was surprised to see how far chopper bicycles have come. I went on e-bay in June and searched for "chopper" and found a listing for the "Atom Bomb Chopper" by Kyle Watson. I decided that the price was good for the quality of the bike based on a few e-mails to the seller.  I had seen some high-end Mountain bikes that I wanted and they ran about $5,000 to $6,000. Since I'm not a pro rider, I thought that the chopper was just the right price for what I wanted. After winning the bike, I was asked for my measurements and given a date to expect the bike. When the crate arrived, I was shocked by the size. It was very well packed and easy to unpack.  The next weekend Jim Wilson helped me to assemble the bike. The parts are made to an exact fit and the finish is top notch. It took us a little grease and time but finally we got the bike together.  The finished bike is nine feet six inches long and sixty-five pounds. We took the bike out (good thing Jim's building has a big elevator), we went over to a park in Manhattan and Jim took a few pictures. I unfortunately had to start home so I would have daylight for the ride. I live a little over ten miles from Jim and I hadn't ridden a bike in eight years. The bike took a little getting used to, but I got the hang of it pretty quickly. As I rode, I could feel that even though the bike is heavy, the way it's geared, it just wanted to move. The bike is smooth and easy to ride. The slight flex of the frame cushioned the ride and the seat (steel) is surprisingly comfortable. After an hour and a half ride I can say the seat is no less comfortable than an MTB seat. To save time I took a short cut and crossed the Williamsburg bridge; when I got to the other side I realized I had never been in this part of Brooklyn. So I rode in the general direction of my house. One thing I forgot is that the neighborhood that I had to go through was East New York. It's not the best place to ride but the bike was so unique that people just yelled, "cool bike." People in cars pulled up next to me and would ask about the bike. One thing that made me laugh was one guy yelled "West Coast in the house!" I look forward to many great rides on this bike. I was sad when I got home, I wanted to ride more, but it was getting late. It's one GREAT BIKE! My thanks to Kyle Watson and Dave Goeppner of Vision Artist Group, LLC for having this bike available and to Jim Wilson, who has helped me with both the final assembly of the bike and with so many other chopper-related things. Long bikes rule, Scott

JimW.

As soon as we got to the park, we ran into Nick and Josh of the newly-forming SCORCHERS NYC chapter. They'd been invited to be present for the A-Bomb assembly, but hadn't got back from a car show in time to make it. Note gawking couple. New Yorkers aren't quite as blase' as they'd like everyone to think, at least where incredible choppers are concerned.

A week or so later, Scott rode the A-Bomb back across the river to Manhattan, so I could shoot a photo of its head badge, to go on Kyle's interview page. In that short amount of time, Scott had already started individualizing it further. Now it sports a new 26" alloy rim with SS spokes, and Dyno Fireball rubber. There are those who really like smaller donuts on chopper fronts, and those to whom it just doesn't seem right. Scott discovered that he was in the latter group.. That's what makes horse races, innit? Looks great either way. JimW.