-He lives and breathes for classic choppers
1960s choppers were in many ways the start of a genre and a style of motorcycle customization that is still going strong. Many well-rounded bikers would probably argue that a rigid frame and twin engine, preferably a Shovel engine from Harley-Davidson , are "State of the art". It was all the more fun to meet a young man, specifically Adrian Aslaksen from Sarpsborg. He is in his early 30s and has a passion for old and classic 60s choppers.
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There is no genre of customization that is as archetypal 1960s and 1970s American as a Harley chopper. The combination of a rigid frame with a Shovelhead engine is classic, and has its roots back to a time when an entire generation rose up in protest against society's petty bourgeois values, conservatism and modern imperialism. Chopper culture was definitely "counter-current", and the heavily tattooed and long-haired hippies rode their own style, both in their clothing and in their lifestyle.
War veterans, Easy Riders and free souls
In America, many of these young men who had participated in either the Korean War or the Vietnam War, returned with strong impressions, often with a feeling of having been involved in something wrong. The motorcycle, most often a chopper with a long fork that was stripped of all unnecessary parts, and the brotherhood in this part of the motorcycle community became a glue for many lonely war veterans. The fact that they did not fit into modern post-war society is reflected in a fantastic way in the film classic "Easy Rider". There, the two adventurers, played by Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda, really get a taste of the petty bourgeois and conservative values that were strong in America in the decades after World War II. On their journey to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, the two bikers get to know the resistance to their "free" lifestyle. The film ends tragically, we will say no more. Watch the film if you haven't already because here the Harley chopper has a central place in the story.
Father as role model and inspiration
Adrian Aslaksen from Sarpsborg is in his early 30s, and has thus grown up in a completely different time. Nevertheless, the interest in this type of bike and the stories behind them is strong, because as he says: "I have always had a love for old Harleys, and always wanted an Early-Shovel from 1966, which is the year my father was born, so when this bike was announced, I jumped at the chance almost the minute it came out." Adrian's father, Lars Aslaksen, is a motorcycle enthusiast who has built a number of choppers and cafe racers, and he has always been a great role model and inspiration for his son. "We share this interest and build bikes together," Adrian adds.
Small adjustments, perfect result
Adrian has replaced the rear fender, installed new handlebars and a new air filter on the carburetor. A dose of love to get the engine to work optimally was also needed, but otherwise it has been untouched since it arrived in Norway in the 1990s. The result is a contemporary machine that works well. He says that he has always had a desire to ride a Harley and enjoy a trip with his family since everyone has a motorcycle. But it was only three years ago that the real interest in old Harleys and customization came. Adrian also has a 1963 Panhead chopper, of course with a rigid frame that he built, and a Triumph chopper, and both bikes are built in the 1960s style. And, just to mention it; chopper is derived from the English verb "to chop" which means to chop off. And that is exactly what chopper enthusiasts do, they chop off the superfluous and let minimalism prevail, just like Adrian has done with his classic chopper.
