Custom motorcycle building is an art that requires craftsmanship in many skills, at least as it is practiced by Chica, owner-operator of Chica Custom Cycles in Huntington Beach, California. Chica’s first language is Japanese, and the bulk of his creations are sold to motorcycle riders in Japan. It is ironic that most of the motorcycles Chica designs, fabricates, assembles and sells look more like American choppers from the late 1960s to early 1970s than today’s so-called custom motorcycles, which are supposedly the direct descendants of these types of vehicles. Chica knows what he likes, builds what he wants and everything gets sold. Occasionally he is commissioned to build a bike, but mostly his bikes are unique creations. He is known for simple, clean styling with obvious identifying attributes not seen on any other motorcycle. Chica builds custom choppers like nobody else builds custom choppers.

Digger, the bike shown here, is a perfect example of classic American chopper influence with the Chica twist. The heavily modified Santee rigid frame has been subjected to no small amount of gooseneck, something not common today, combined with an aggressive neck rake angle. A Chica-modified (9 full inches of extension) Paughco springer is steered via graceful pullback handlebars. The front wheel is a 19-inch laced wheel with a chunky Avon rubber donut mounted. The internal expanding-shoe front brake is virtually worthless above 30 mph, but can at least hold the bike at a stop on a hill. Not too much hill though. A minimum amount of molding keeps the frame lines clean. A special support strut coming from the top motor mount, curving down into a lateral brace uniting the two front down tubes prevents the sometimes fatal frame failures seen with less well engineered goosenecks. The semi-custom seat is from Burke Custom. A stretched and channeled Sportster-style gas tank is draped over the top frame rail. The shallow tunnel allows an integrated look while maintaining enough gas capacity for a decent length ride.

A clean, classic profile says American chopper like no other can. The Harley-Davidson Softail has tried to emulate this traditional style without success. It won’t look rigid unless it is. he oblique view emphasizes the extended front end and rake, looking like a cheetah on steroids.

No less classic is the right side, with dual custom Chica exhaust pipes and long pull-back bars in the 1970 style.