HOT WHEELS CHOPPER

     Hot Wheels goes to Bike Week! Hot Wheels attended its first ever, and then second, Bike Week at Thunder on the Strip in Geneva-on-the-Lake, OH, in 2021 and 2022. It was fun to enter into the bike show, put on by Reasons to Ride Ohio.     Also pictured is the 2021 Vulcan 650s Cafe, 2004 Honda Rebel 250, and 2000's era El Diablo Mini Chopper. If anyone has more information on the gold bike, feel free to comment below! 

  While the saddlebags were shipping, it seemed time to do something about that god-awful shape to the exhaust pipe. It looks so much better straight and wrapped!

   This bike needed a LOT of work when it first came in. The exhaust was cherry hot within minutes of starting, the tank was leaking, the wiring was completely messed up, and the previous owner had "put the carb in a soup"- it was barely running. First up was an attempt at a total carb rebuild. Once that was completed, it was discovered that Chinese carburators were incredibly cheap nowadays! So, on with the brand new carb it was!   Then it was on to fixing the fairings- the side pieces were the first to go. Replacing them with saddle bags was definitely the move to make- it was just a matter of finding ones that would fit the 3/4 scale.    This was also the time to do some much needed routine maintenance- oil change, check the chain, everything - the full treatment. The headlights turn signals, mirrors, and brake light were all replaced. A lot of the parts got new paint, and all of the unpainted metal was polished. The fins on the engine were polished to stainl...

   So just how does this bike compare to the real deal? Well, it is the real deal! This bike is fully street legal. However, there is still the question of, "Just how small is that thing?" Here, Hot Wheels is pictured next to a full size custom BMC chopper on an '04 Harley Davidson frame. As you can see, Hot Wheels is just as long, at approximately seven feet! The difference? Well.... See for yourself!    Hot Wheels has a 69" wheel base, 23" seat height, 14" back rim, and 15" front rim. Hot Wheels weighs 260 lbs. 

   This is where it all began. Here we have the "original" form of the Hot Wheels Chopper! Sold through select online ATV and Motorsports dealers between 2010-2018, this chopper was manufactured in China under several different names. The version the Hot Wheels was built on is a 2010 Dongfang Villain 250cc.    Over time, this bike was produced with many different attributes, including a frame that resembles a lightning bolt at the down tubes. This bike was advertised with a top speed 75-80 mph.    Stock photo courtesy of Belmonte Bikes.