Brass Balls 69 Chopper

Of all the ‘mainstream’ US custom builders, Darwin Motorcycles is one of the few that produce the kind of bikes we like. The latest model under the Brass Balls brand is called the 69 Chopper—a reference to the year, we’re told—and it’s based on the machine that came third in the Production Class at last year’s AMD World Championships. What’s good about it? Firstly it’s compact, and secondly it apparently handles extremely well. The super-clean styling seems to take cues from the Japanese custom scene—and transplant them firmly back into America. The 69 is packed with components from Leroy Thompson...