Feature Scooter: Copper Chopper
TUV compliancy was not on Klaus Kubek’s list of priorities for this epic scooter build, but a beer holder was… we like Klaus, we like Klaus a lot.
TUV compliancy was not on Klaus Kubeks’ list of priorities for this epic scooter build, but a beer holder was. We like Klaus, a lot
COPPER CHOPPER
Atime-honoured nugget of wisdom that stands up to scrutiny time and time again is: ‘No matter how bad things appear, there are always some who are worse off.' Despite a host of supposedly ‘green credential' inspired legislations here in the UK, with a number of laws aimed at legislating two-stroke machines off the road via stringent emission restrictions, do spare a thought for fellow scooterists who ride in Austria. For many decades they have been subject to complying with ultra-restrictive TUV laws. In the wake of climate change awareness, along with all its future implications coming to the fore, support for Green issues has grown immensely. Of course, aspiring to a cleaner, greener
planet for future generations to enjoy is something we all should aim for, though I can't help thinking that imposing legislation that restricts the choices of the individual, alongside the non-standardised recycling requirements implemented by local councils in the UK, is akin to pissing in the wind. And I've yet to be convinced that European emission restrictions, which have, over time, resulted in stopping the sale of new two-stroke machines across Europe, are a necessary requirement in the greater green scheme. So, what about this TUV then?
TUV or not TUV, that is the question
Klaus Kubek is a scooterist based in Austria. Embarking on this custom project, he had two basic choices to aim for with his creation. Either to build a scooter that was fully compliant with his country's TUV laws, or aim to build the most radically engineered machine possible and consider the options after completion. Klaus selected the latter, a decision that was in part already made for him, albeit way back at the turn of the millennium. Despite not complying with his native TUV requirements, Klaus' Vespa-engined bespoke chopper comes with green credentials of its own, insomuch as the frame was originally made by the former president of his scooter club over 20 years ago. It was given as a present to Klaus after the president's retirement from the scooter scene. Klaus explains: “Tschitsch, the ex-president of my scooter club,
started working on this frame in the middle of the 90s. His plan was for the rear suspension to accommodate suspension as would be found on a PX or Sprint Vespa. I can't remember the exact date, but I think it was in the year 2000 when Tschitsch decided to leave the scooter scene. He gifted me the chopper frame as at that time I was the only member of the scooter club who had the enthusiasm to work on and customise scooters. It really was an honour for me to inherit the frame, although the direction originally planned didn't fit with my vision of a cool Vespa chopper. My intention was to make it as low as possible, which required having the rear suspension moved centrally. This was done by putting my old touring PX engine into the frame, and welding on mounts to take an adjustable central suspension unit, which can be changed to make riding more comfortable to suit road conditions. When I took the finished chopper out for the first test ride I could feel the front tyre touching the mudguard, so I set the suspension to its hardest setting position. It's the most extreme ride I've ever built. A bike with zero suspension will break the teeth in your mouth. After riding it for 10 km I was feeling like an old man. Since that first
test ride I've made modifications to the suspension, added a safety splint, adjusted the front fender so the front tyre no longer touches it, as well as adjusted foot-pegs and positioning of the kickstand, which has made it a bit better to ride.”
Opening time
Klaus is no stranger to the pages of Scootering magazine, as his main scooter, a Mansonia GTR 125, was a feature scooter in the March 2003 edition. He has clocked up countless miles on that scooter, as well as treating it to many changes and upgrades over the years. His philosophy is that no project is ever truly finished, as breaks, new ideas come along, and changes are made as the desire to improve continues. “When you start on a project you need time, time and more time. I have so many ideas for details to improve the looks and the performance of my scooters. When I have time, or need time out, I go into my garage, open a bottle of beer, look at my rides, think and plan. For me, that is the perfect therapy. I spent lots of time planning as well as working on this cool Vespa chopper in my garage.” Providing the power that drives his lowrider chopper is what started life as a p200, but is now a 210cc Malossi top end kitted motor with a number of non-standard items fitted, including the one-off exhaust system, which was also manufactured by Klaus. On the subject of the power and handling of his creation, Klaus says: “It's powerful enough, but the handling is awful; after five kilometres you start to feel it in your back.”
I’ve got a pocket full of pretty green
Klaus is up-front about the fact that his Vespa chop creation has a lower than zero chance of complying with Austrian TUV laws. His ‘spoof' plate, mounted on the rear right-hand side, states ‘No time for TUV, no money for cops' and speaks volumes. He adds: “In Austria, there is no chance I'd ever get registration for legal road use. I take my chopper to scooter runs by trailer or van, then ride on the ride out if it's safe to do so. It's a show scooter that looks cool and runs well, but isn't practical or comfortable to ride over more than short distances.” Needless to say there are an abundance of one-off and unique elements to his chopper, including the beer bottle holder mounted on the side of the patina fuel tank. The front wheel
was sourced from an old pit bike. Until very recently Klaus' custom chopper creation was initially referred to as Vespa Chopper. However, he's settled on naming his creation Copper Chopper as its unquestionably a scooter Chopper as well as having several copper parts fitted which, colour-wise, blend nicely with the patina fuel tank. While not being too practical for road use, especially where anything over 10km applies, Klaus' low rider, radically engineered custom Vespa chopper is a work of art. Something the judges at Scooterist Meltdown custom show earlier this year agree with, as Copper Chopper picked up its first award in the Best Engineering category. Granted, scooter choppers, especially the more extreme examples, are not to everyone's individual taste. However, even if chops don't float your boat, the amount of engineering skill and execution that's gone into Copper Chopper is superb. Arguably, despite its non-compliance with Austrian TUV laws, it has more than a few green credentials, the frame, fuel tank, front wheel and bespoke copper parts all having been re-used in its manufacture. Let's not forget what colour copper tends to turn human skin to after coming in contact with the metal either! A mean, lean, bespoke machine that could be perceived as ‘green'? Words: Sarge Photographs: Thanks to Herbert, Franky and Franz Huber