Advice - oz chopper builder / regulations (WA)

  • ghostwolf59
    ghostwolf59
    6 years ago
    Hi folk
    Let me lay it out there from the start ... Im coming from a Swedish chop culture that is noticeable more liberated compared whats going on in Australia.
    Miss seeing these sweet chops on the road here and have to say its getting a bit boring with more or less stock bikes on the road (sure some tweaks here and there, but a far cry from what I am used to).
    So, I have slowly built up an urge to build something based on what I am used to (bringing my son into the project so he can learn) but my(!) ideas and whats acceptable in oz may not necessary go hand in hand - so looking for some advice on this

    1. just how radical can you go? - This is sort of where Id like to go...
     

    But I rarely seen any real long fork/bare minimal chops around so wonder if oz (WA in particular) pretty much banned projects like this?

    2. Starting from nothing (dont want to chop my 1981 FLHC for this :) - whats the best option?
    2.1 like get a frame with title that can take an older motor (shovel ideally) - (One guy on the net claimed that bikes before 1974 or so dont need a title since there no nbr on the frame (came across as somewhat weird) - a title is after all a title and I know guys in the old country that have paper on 40th harleys - so surely oz must have paperwork on older bikes as well (even if that is just on the frame)
    3. While on the paper subject... Buying a for example 1974 frame that comes with a title, would that allow me to build my own thing around it or do I need to get a bunch of gov signoffs and fill in 100 mile paper work before I can get it registered - assuming legit paper work would allow me to build something based on the era without being forced to apply todays regulations on it

    4. Checked some forums about importing projects and it seem a bit of a hit/miss and costly - what would be the best starting point on this ? my thoughts were getting the frame or rolling chassi (with legit paper/title) - problem is that theres hardly anything available in oz for older bikes, hence looking for the import option

    I am fully aware this project (if its ever taking off) would be potentially costly, so no real need to address that side of things - more interested in the regulations (if its even possible in oz (WA) to get a "real" chopper on the road and good places to shop around for a project without being burnt with something you never can get registered due to any number of issues

  • carbon fibre
    carbon fibre
    6 years ago

    I'm in WA, fyi.

    I bought a 65 Pan in from the states, and because it had a 61 engine in it and the USA title their bikes on engine number, I had to register it in WA as 1961 Pan.

    Even though I had a brand new S&S P93 engine in it, with it's own unique engine numbers, before I could leave the rego depot, I had to stamp into frame the 1961 engine number, was my choice where to put it, just had to be done for WA rego purposes.

    I plan to build a chopper at some stage, my plan is to use the original 61 PAN cases I have, build the bike, never rego it. Use my current plate of my 65/61, lol, and if I get stickered I'll just take the 65/61 in to get it removed. 

    In this case it helps that I have more than 1 bike and get the same number onto two bikes legit, sort of. does this make sense, hope not. LOL.




  • El Skitzo
    El Skitzo
    6 years ago

    If you're going to build a Chopper in WA from the ground up using a custom frame you're going to have to read up and learn all about ICVs (Individually Constructed Vehicle) as that is what you're Chopper will be in the eyes of the transport department of WA.

    As an ICV you'll need to fully comply with the ADRs (Australian Design Rules) of the day,  being 2017 right now, regardless of the year of manufacture of the engine. The ADRs spell out very specifically what you can and cannot do, and the measurements of everything you must comply with, in terms of frame, handlebar width and height, how far the front and rear fenders have to cover the wheels, all the lighting, indicators, reflectors, license plate position, exhaust volume, mirror surface area, ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING! And as mentioned above the big killer to your Sweedish Chopper dreams (and my same dreams) is the 550mm rule. This is a hard and fast rule in WA for all motorcycle regardless of ADRs or year of manufacture, with NO exceptions PERIOD.

    You'll also need to get an accredited engineer involved in the project as they will have to sign off on every aspect of the bike before you can take it to the transport department for licensing inspection. They have to brake test the bike, noise test the bike, sign off on welds all over the bike, or if the frame doesn't have an MSO they'll have to approve the frame (good luck with that).

    The easier paths (both of which I have taken), is (A) to buy a bike already licensed and then change it to suit your style, or (B) build a bike using a recognised vintage frame (I'm starting a Chopper build with a 1965 Triumph frame) that you know will be licensed as a vintage bike so you avoid all the ADRs rubbish like indicators etc, but in all cases you cannot escape the 550mm rule in WA unfortunately.

  • Ferrett62
    Ferrett62
    6 years ago
    People have probably tried over the years but to change anything in the nanny country would cost more money than most people have and take a lifetime. It is a free country as long as it fits into a very narrow vision of someone else's idea. Never knew we elected these people to tell us how to live, I always thought they were there just to make it possible.