Choppers (Drive. Ride. Fly.)

When a motorcycle has been built from the ground up, stripped of anything not needed for speed, power, and striking looks, and draped in rich colors and chrome, it has been transformed into a chopper. What was once considered an outlaw ride has now become a luxury item and a mainstream obsession. In "Choppers: Heavy Metal Art, author Mike Seate explores the many styles of choppers and bobbers and the builders behind them. The book is divided into several sections based on style or type of chopper, with each section devoted to the builders who follow a similar style and philosophy. Some builders are established names in their field, while others are up-and-comers rocking the chopper world with their far-out ideas and new spins on a classic style. Photographer Michael Lichter, who has photographed choppers for "Easyriders and several other magazines for nearly three decades, provides stunning studio images of the featured machines as well as portraits of their creators. Raked, lowered, and tricked out, Choppers: "Heavy Metal Art belongs to anyone who loves chopper style!