Welcome to Choppers Cycle Parts!
My name is Chopper—or Yale—and motorcycles have been my lifelong passion. From as early as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to the rumble of a bike. My mother used to tell me that at just two years old, I would wait by my bedroom window, eager to hear our neighbor start his old Harley. That excitement never faded, and not a day has gone by where motorcycles weren’t on my mind.
In 1966, I bought my first bike—a Honda 50 Cub—thanks to the famous slogan, “You meet the nicest people on a Honda.” But it wasn’t long before I craved something bigger. By 1969, I had upgraded to a 1967 BSA Lightning. That same year, Easy Rider hit the big screen, and I knew right then that I had to get myself a Harley.
In 1970, I walked into Canadian Motorcycle Sales and laid eyes on one of the first choppers built in Winnipeg. A guy named Right On Joe came up to me and said, “Stud, this bike is for you.” It was a 1954 Harley Panhead with a 10-inch-over springer front end, 1940 Ford radius rods, a peanut gas tank, a king-and-queen seat, organ-pipe exhaust pipes reaching above the passenger’s head, a suicide clutch, and a jockey shift. It was perfect.
Joe had Shorty Hoffman wheel it outside and walk me through the ritual of starting it—retarding the distributor, three kicks with the ignition off, then flipping the switch and kicking it to life. Shorty took me for a ride, and that was it—I was hooked. Fifty-five years later, I’m still just as wired to building and riding Harleys.
This was the beginning of a lifelong journey into the world of custom motorcycles—building, repairing, restoring, and racing Harley-Davidsons. I’ve been fortunate to be part of Hamsters USA, a custom motorcycle group, and have spent more than five decades riding and wrenching alongside lifelong brothers.
The People I’ve Met & The Rides I’ve Been On
One of the greatest blessings of this journey has been the incredible people I’ve met along the way. The motorcycle world is more than just machines—it’s about brotherhood, friendships, and shared experiences on the open road.
Over the years, I’ve ridden across Canada and the United States, covering thousands of miles through some of the most scenic and iconic roads. I’ve been attending Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and Daytona Bike Week since 1980, and I still make the pilgrimage almost every year. These events have given me the opportunity to meet riders from all over the world—some of whom have become lifelong friends.
There’s something about the freedom of the road, the wind in your face, and the shared love of motorcycles that creates an unbreakable bond. Whether it’s a cross-country trip, a local ride with friends, or a solo journey to clear my mind, every mile tells a story.
My Journey in the Motorcycle Business
My business journey began in 1970 when I opened my first custom shop, Choppers Cycle Parts, with my close friends Joe Schab and Gerhart Neeth. We had a lot of fun, but our youthful love of partying sometimes got in the way of business. After a year, we closed up shop, but my passion for motorcycles never faded.
Back then, getting custom Harley parts wasn’t easy. Harley dealerships stocked only their own parts, and ordering custom pieces by mail meant waiting six weeks or more. From the start, my mission was to give fellow riders quick, reliable access to the parts they needed.
With my brother Dan Roche, I made frequent trips to the U.S., especially Minneapolis, to source Harley bikes, parts, and accessories. We attended swap meets at the Minneapolis Armory, built friendships with Midwest riders, and even bought take-off parts from Harley dealers. There was always a bit of fun involved, but business always came first.
After closing Choppers Cycle Parts, I continued selling parts and building bikes from home until 1978, when I opened Cycle Tramps. This time, with a sharper business focus, the shop thrived. After two successful years, I decided to sell it and go back to working from home.
Taking Choppers Online
In 1999, when the internet was still in its early days, I saw an opportunity to bring my passion online and launched chopperscycle.com. With the help of my friend Mike Fodey, we built the business from the ground up, and it quickly took off. Soon, we were shipping Harley parts and accessories worldwide. We even expanded into the U.S., opening a sales office and warehouse in Las Vegas.
In 2007, after years of success, I sold Choppers to focus on new projects.
Yale Custom Cycles & Beyond
In 2010, I opened Yale Custom Cycles (YCC), a custom service and parts shop, which I ran with my daughter, Tamara. She is one of the most knowledgeable Harley parts experts I know, and working alongside her was one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. We ran YCC for six years until we closed when our building was sold.
The Return of Choppers Cycle
Now, in 2025, I’m thrilled to announce that chopperscycle.com is back! This time, we’re not just about custom and aftermarket parts—we’re offering a wide selection of Genuine OEM Harley Parts, Custom, and Performance Parts & Accessories at discounted prices.
Whether you’re looking to personalize, repair, restore, or upgrade your Harley or custom motorcycle, we’ve got you covered.
Feel free to reach out—I’d be happy to help with any questions you have.
Ride safe, and thanks for stopping by.
Chopper
Choppers Cycle Parts – Your Biker’s Source for Customizing, Repairing, Restoring & Performance Upgrades for Harley-Davidson & Custom Motorcycles.