New Bikes 2010: Big Dog Chopper

This far into the season, we'd expected most manufacturers to have firmly announced their 2010 lineups. But in an unexpected sign of industry optimism, the new metal keeps dropping. Witness:

As proof that boutique brands haven't been immune to the market downturn, Big Dog Motorcycles recently rolled out its lowest-priced bike to date. Factory-custom makers have been hit hard, and in this economy, price points mean a great deal.

But the 2010 Big Dog Chopper isn't just skin and bones. It still gets a 111 cubic-inch S&S; engine connected to a Baker six speed transmission. As you might expect from a Big Dog bike, there's a stretched-out front with a 42 degree rake and a meaty rear-end emphasized by 250mm rubber. High-end bits abound, with a chrome handlebar and forward foot controls, snazzy machined aluminum wheels, and a whole new handlebar-mounted dash. The few photos we've seen show the Chopper with a monochromatic paint scheme. The newest Big Dog will be priced somewhere in the $21,000 range and is scheduled to start production sometime in May, 2010.

For more info, go to: www.bigdogmotorcycles.com.