Big Bear's Kevin Alsops' goal was to build a bold, slick bagger that was different than any other on the market. Well, mission accomplished! Big Bear Chopper's 2008 Grand Touring X-Wedge (G.T.X.) will make every rider do a double take. When you first glance at its stretched-out frame, its innovative lines, smooth fiberglass bags and extended wheelbase, it takes a second to realize, "Hey, this isn't your old man's  bagger." That's the key to ranking Big Bear's Grand Touring X-Wedge at the top of the cool factor. So when you've made a name for yourself by building more traditional choppers and Pro Street platforms, why mess with the recipe for success that got you where you are today? When your web address claims that you build "The Best Bikes on the Planet," you'd better put up or shut up. Big Bear Chopper's "puts up". With rising gas prices, baggers are a hot commodity right now. This boils it down to a simple case of supply and demand. Baggers are in demand, so why not add to the supply? Especially if you're offering a bagger unlike any other every made. Common sense, right?

A big part of the appeal of Big Bear Chopper's new bagger is how cleanly the bags integrate into the design of the bike. Instead of looking like suitcases have been strapped on its sides, the BBC's G.T.X's fiberglass saddlebags don't detract from it's smooth, slick lines. In truth, they compliment the bagger's symmetry and style. The top of the compartment is cut to mirror the shape of the pillion and the long, deep bags are color matched to the tank and trim. The bags obscure the tubular swingarm, but unless you're trying to put your fat 300mm rear on display with a single-sided swinger, then out of sight, out of mind. In addition to providing much-needed touring-style storage space, the brake and turn signals are integrated into the tail end of the bags, adding practical function to the bagger's sculpted form.

Another innovation Alsop worked on with on the 2008 G.T.X. is the rider position. The 115-inch bike, gives plenty of room for Big Bear Chopper's to place the rider centrally on the bagger. The first step was a midsection stretch after the tranny, adding 12 inches to the frame. The rider's position is slightly more forward than a drop-seat bike, but the design places the passenger directly on the frame instead of over the 300mm back tire. The result is two-fold. Obviously, more weight is moved to the front of the bike, but more importantly, it lowers the bagger's center of gravity. Overall, BBC's produced a better handling bagger .

Stretching the frame and pushing the fat rear tire back created space for an auxiliary 2 gallon fuel tank right under the seat. It connects to a standard 3 gallon backbone-mounted cell via 1/2-inch fuel lines. The stretch also left room for mounting a large BBC oil tank with a capacity over 5 quarts. Additionally, this area houses the G.T.X.'s horizontally-mounted Progressive Suspension dual shocks down low, neatly tucked out of sight. Big Bear then fabbed up special side plates for this revolutionary bagger that will keep the uninformed guessing as to what is concealed under that seat.

And while Big Bear Chopper's innovations under the seat are out of sight, the G.T.X. leaves its powerplant prominently and proudly on display. While the first ten bikes to roll out of production will have BBC's tried-and-tested S&S 100 SMOOTH Evo-style engine with EFI, the next batch of ten will be running S&S's brand spankin' new X-Wedge EFI mill. The X-Wedge Big Bear decided to roll with will boost the 100 cubic inches of the SMOOTH's displacement to114 ci. The X-Wedge shifts away from the traditional 45 degree V-Twin configuration as the triple cam mill is set at 56.25 degrees. The revolutionary X-Wedge includes three belt-driven camshafts, a completely new internal oil pump, and a one-piece crankshaft. S&S aimed at providing an engine that met the increasing EPA limitations on emissions while simultaneously providing more power and more torque in a smooth running package. For a long time, custom builders were able to skate under the EPA's radar, but this isn't the case any more. And though Big Bear got its start doing repairs and building one-off customs, its move as primarily a production house brings along greater scrutinization by the powers that be. Big Bear is wise in its decision to utilize the lump in its latest creation. Its environmentally-friendly billing is definitely a positive selling point for this bagger.

Power is provided by an industry-standard Baker right-side-drive, six-speed connected to a wet BBC primary drive. The 2008 G.T.X.'s final drive is chain. Four-piston brakes on a 21-inch Big Bear Chopper's custom wheel provide stopping power up front while a BBC four-pot BrakeDrive system puts the clamps on the 18-inch rear wheel's action out back. Riders will engage the brakes with a squeeze of the BBC hand and foot controls. Maintaining control will be courtesy of two piece, clip-on style handlebars that will direct an inverted fork with 43 degrees of total rake (36 degree rake angle plus 7 degrees on the triple tree). Big Bear Chopper's 2008 Grand Touring X-Wedge. Bagger's will never be the same.

MSRP: $34,900.00 

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