Jesse Srpan of Raw Iron Choppers in Chardon Ohio, is moving fast in the custom building arena. He began his
career about five years ago building Mini Chops and quickly moved into the massive metal. We first met Jesse in
Daytona a few years ago. At that time he was building
some really cool mini choppers. His bikes
have been featured in American Iron,
V-Twin and Ridin'on along with mags
from Germany, France, and Japan.
Jesse's Mini Chop took 1st place at the Rats Hole and was in the professional class in the Donnie Smith
invitational bike show. That's quiet an accomplishment for someone who is still as young as Jesse, but his
skill's show all the maturity of a seasoned builder.
career about five years ago building Mini Chops and quickly moved into the massive metal. We first met Jesse in
Daytona a few years ago. At that time he was building
some really cool mini choppers. His bikes
have been featured in American Iron,
V-Twin and Ridin'on along with mags
from Germany, France, and Japan.
Jesse's Mini Chop took 1st place at the Rats Hole and was in the professional class in the Donnie Smith
invitational bike show. That's quiet an accomplishment for someone who is still as young as Jesse, but his
skill's show all the maturity of a seasoned builder.
Jesse starting building bikes in 2003 and said his influence comes from Jesse James and West Coast
Choppers. "At Raw Iron Choppers, we build all our bikes from the ground up and they are all one of a kind" Dont
let the name fool you though, they build more than just choppers. If you can dream it, they can build it! Jesse's
philosiphy is "Its about being creative, different, and doing what you love, and the ambition and drive to see it
through."
If it has two wheels and a motor there are no limits.
Choppers. "At Raw Iron Choppers, we build all our bikes from the ground up and they are all one of a kind" Dont
let the name fool you though, they build more than just choppers. If you can dream it, they can build it! Jesse's
philosiphy is "Its about being creative, different, and doing what you love, and the ambition and drive to see it
through."
If it has two wheels and a motor there are no limits.
Talk about dedication, Jesse said he has around 2500 total hours in the building of this bike, with 350 hours
in the body work and paint alone and another 80 in the electrical system. That,s a little more than a years
worth of 40 hour work weeks.
The long hours paid off for Raw Iron Choppers, They took first place at the Dave Perewitz custom paint show
in Sturgis for best candy paint and first for Radical Chop at the Bruhaha Classic Bike Show.
in the body work and paint alone and another 80 in the electrical system. That,s a little more than a years
worth of 40 hour work weeks.
The long hours paid off for Raw Iron Choppers, They took first place at the Dave Perewitz custom paint show
in Sturgis for best candy paint and first for Radical Chop at the Bruhaha Classic Bike Show.
A new day at Raw Iron Chopper.... Getting Radical!
This project begins with a RMS Chopper frame with a 42 degree rake at the neck and a holster in the rear for a
fat 300. The front end is a Meanstreet "Hornet" legs and tubes and a seven degree triple tree to finish the front
with a 49 degree total rake. The soul of the bike will be an S&S 133 and a Baker Right Drive six speed. Thats a
bit of a jump from the 200cc Tucumsa on his Mini Chops. All this will sit atop Xtreme machine "Outburst" rims
and Metzler's 880 tires, Nice! The foot pegs, mid-mounts and grips are from PM.
fat 300. The front end is a Meanstreet "Hornet" legs and tubes and a seven degree triple tree to finish the front
with a 49 degree total rake. The soul of the bike will be an S&S 133 and a Baker Right Drive six speed. Thats a
bit of a jump from the 200cc Tucumsa on his Mini Chops. All this will sit atop Xtreme machine "Outburst" rims
and Metzler's 880 tires, Nice! The foot pegs, mid-mounts and grips are from PM.
So much for the shopping list, thats where the stock stops. from here its all custom. The frame is modified for
a drop seat, this gives the bike a really cool look. Then the whole bike will be sheet metal with a uni-body
technique for a real streamline look. Jesse hand beat all the metal on a sand bag then on and english wheel
to smooth to perfection. As on all Raw Iron Choppers the handle bars will be custom fabricated to fit the style
of the bike as is the custom seat. The paint was done by Larry Medwig and is a GM orange with two coats of
candy on top, this gives the bike its rich glow.
a drop seat, this gives the bike a really cool look. Then the whole bike will be sheet metal with a uni-body
technique for a real streamline look. Jesse hand beat all the metal on a sand bag then on and english wheel
to smooth to perfection. As on all Raw Iron Choppers the handle bars will be custom fabricated to fit the style
of the bike as is the custom seat. The paint was done by Larry Medwig and is a GM orange with two coats of
candy on top, this gives the bike its rich glow.
Jesse tells me "Despite the economy Raw Iron Choppers continues to grow and are currently building two
customs that are going in a compleatly different direction from what we usually build. We are pretty excited about
that." From what I have seen, my guess is that they will be a little more than radical.
customs that are going in a compleatly different direction from what we usually build. We are pretty excited about
that." From what I have seen, my guess is that they will be a little more than radical.
For more about Raw Iron Choppers go to www.rawironchoppers.com
Raw Iron Choppers
By Bill Scheetz
