Chopper Motorcycle Parts

- How complicated would it be to turn an exsisting motorcycle into a chopper?
I'm want to turn a bike that I have lying around into a chopper just for a hobby. It's a 79 Honda CX500 custom. Just wanted to know if there was some documentation I could buy as a guide instead of doing alot of the guess work myself.

A The term Chopper came from back in the day when someone would take a basket case bike. Rebuild it by Chopping up other bikes for parts and Bobbing the fenders a lot of the old school chops only had a rattle can paint job. Chopping a bike is mainly changing parts out (now days) If you have the know how and the tools you can do it. now if you want to go big time you can get in to some frame and body work. So I would say it is not that hard. This is something the old school guys did in the garage at there house in the old days.

- How do I determine what size motorcycle will give me the power I need, but still be easy to manuever/hold up?
I am a fairly large man weighing 250 lbs and standing 6 feet tall. I've always heard that it's dangerous to buy a motorcycle that doesn't have enough power for your body weight, but I also know that too much power can get away from under you fairly quickly. Oh, this would also be my first road bike. I had a dirt bike when I was a teenager, but that was years ago. So I know how to drive some, but I don't have any road experience. I'd like to hear from some experienced riders if possible.

A manuerverability is nothing to do with weight, it is to do with frame geometry. I am 145 lb 6'3" and I throw around a 588lb bike plus pillion. and I do it easily. I scrape pegs, pillions boots and very occasionally my elbow (if i'm a little too aggressive and forget to tuck it in), I slide the bike into corners no problems at all. It just requires a good understanding of the physics of riding. I'm flat out bench pressing 80 lb. Naked bikes (not choppers, road bikes like honda hornet or bmw r1150r, bmw k1200r, ducati monster) all have wide bars, short wheel base, low centre of gravity, upright riding style. This all gives you maximum agility. These bikes will beat any sports bike throught the mountain ranges. As for power. Again, this has nothing to do with engine size. There are 250cc bikes that will flog a 1400cc bike. Again naked bikes have a more sensible gear range, that makes them a lot more comfortable and fun to ride compared to a sports bike. Test ride the above 4 bikes plus a susuki GS500. This will give you a good idea of the broad spectrum of price and power available in the naked market. These bikes are also cheaper to insure, repair and maintain than sports bikes