Bourget’s throws down the gauntlet with retro styling and patented oil-in-frame system
By Ed Maurer

To look at any of the Bourget’s Bike Works versions of rolling road art, you’d never notice what makes them so different from other factory-built choppers. Look again. Roger Bourget (that’s Bor-GET) designed and patented a revolutionary oil-in-frame/drop seat style chassis back in ’99 that’s been hard to beat. That design, as well as his (also patented) jackshaft design that allows the drive train to be centered on all his wide tire chassis, sets BBW apart from the rest. So it is with their Retro Chopper.

The Retro Chopper’s frame has a 47 degree rake with a six-inch stretch in both the backbone and down tubes. The bike has retro-styling in its 21-inch front fender and air dam, which are mounted to a uniquely molded and fully painted uni-body chassis that includes an integral coffin-style gas tank and old style rear section instead of a regular fender, keeping the package tight a rattle free.

Bourget uses S&S engines for their reliability and longevity. The Retro’s basic motor is a show-polished 113CID. The 113 competition package sports deck heads and a 600 cam. Power options include show polished S&S 117CID or 124CID mills and dual Mikuni carbs. Power to the wheel is through a six-speed tranny mated with Primo Brute 4 three-inch open belt clutch. Any of the standard BBW billet belt guards can be used. Bourget’s Bike Works wheels keep it on the ground with a 120-90-21 front tire on a 21” x 3.50” cross-style wheel and a 300 tire on a matching 17” x 12” rear.

Up front there’s a BBW (Notice how Bourget’s designs and manufactures its own parts? No run of the mill, off the shelf crap here.) billet and chrome springer front end, as it should be on a throwback style, BBW three-inch pull back chopper style handlebars and a Headwinds 41/2 inch headlight.

The Retro Chopper, which doesn’t look like anybody’s routine bike, can look as wild as you want. Options include Kandy colors and special graphics, a seven-inch longer rear end and seat, powder coated heads and cylinder and drive train in your choice of colors or even diamond cut heads and cylinders. Not bad for a factory job. Of course, it’s a factory with the heart and soul of a one-off builder.

One that knows exactly what the hell he’s doing.