In this article
- The history of Big Dog Motorcycles
- The golden years of the American chopper
- 2004: ten years of Big Dog
- Our 2004 Big Dog Chopper with S&S 107ci
- The Full Polished package
- 2004 Big Dog Chopper specifications
- Yellow custom paint
- What did a Big Dog Chopper cost new?
- Why did Big Dog Motorcycles disappear?
- Big Dog Chopper for sale: on its way to Europe
- Finding special motorcycles in America
- Frequently asked questions
The history of Big Dog Motorcycles
Big Dog Motorcycles was founded in 1994 by Sheldon Coleman in Wichita, Kansas. Coleman had a passion for American V-twins and saw opportunities in a market that was growing fast at the time.
In the nineties more and more riders were heavily rebuilding their Harley-Davidsons: long front forks, wide rear tyres, special wheels, custom paint and big engines. Having a complete custom built, however, was expensive and took a lot of time.
Big Dog took a different approach. Instead of rebuilding existing bikes, the company built complete motorcycles that already had the look of an exclusive custom straight from the factory. That concept is called a factory custom or production custom.
For this Big Dog used parts from well-known American manufacturers, including engines from S&S Cycle. The result: American V-twins with a clear character of their own.
The golden years of the American chopper
Between roughly 1998 and 2008 American custom culture reached a peak. TV shows such as American Chopper made building special bikes popular with a wide audience. Builders tried to outdo each other: forks got longer, rear tyres wider and engines bigger.
Big Dog played a big part in that. Where a standard Harley-Davidson still needed a lot of modification, at Big Dog you bought a bike that was already finished in full custom style. The company grew into one of the best-known American factory custom builders and built around 25,000 motorcycles in total.
2004: ten years of Big Dog
Our Big Dog comes from a good production year: in 2004 the brand had existed for ten years and was firmly established in the American custom world.
In those years the line-up included the Chopper, Mastiff, Bulldog, Boxer, Pitbull and Ridgeback, each with its own look. The Pitbull and Ridgeback were true hardtails without rear suspension. The Chopper has a frame with hidden rear suspension (hidden shocks).
That’s a nice detail of our bike. At first glance the rear looks like that of a classic hardtail, but this Big Dog does have rear suspension. So you get the line of a traditional American chopper with more riding comfort.
Our 2004 Big Dog Chopper with S&S 107ci
During our search for special motorcycles in America we came across this yellow 2004 Big Dog Chopper. A bike you simply can’t miss: the long front end, the low frame, the huge rear tyre and the paint stand out immediately.
The heart of the bike is an S&S 107 cubic inch V-twin, good for about 1,753 cc. S&S Cycle has been building powerful V-twin engines and performance parts since 1958 and is hugely popular with American custom builders and Harley fans.
Our Big Dog has an S&S Super G carburettor and a traditional air-cooled V-twin. With its large displacement, strong torque and characteristic sound, this engine suits the extreme look of the Chopper perfectly.
The Full Polished package
What makes this Big Dog extra special is the Full Polished Motor and Transmission package: various aluminium parts of the engine and gearbox are mirror polished. Together with the chrome, the wheels and the custom paint, that gives exactly the look Big Dog was known for in the 2000s. This was not a bike for someone who wanted to ride around unnoticed.
2004 Big Dog Chopper specifications
The dimensions and drivetrain data are based on the factory specifications of the model.
| Make | Big Dog Motorcycles (Wichita, Kansas) |
|---|---|
| Model | Chopper |
| Year | 2004 |
| Engine | S&S V-twin, air-cooled |
| Displacement | 107 ci / approx. 1,753 cc |
| Bore x stroke | 4.00 x 4.25 in |
| Carburettor | S&S Super G |
| Finish | Full Polished engine and transmission |
| Transmission | Baker 6-speed |
| Final drive | Belt drive |
| Front wheel | 21 inch |
| Rear tyre | 250/40-18 |
| Rear suspension | Hidden shocks |
| Wheelbase | Approx. 198 cm (78 in) |
| Seat height | Approx. 63 cm (25 in) |
| Dry weight | Approx. 290 kg |
With its length and low seating position the Big Dog Chopper was an impressive sight. The wide 250 mm rear tyre was an important part of the design at the time.
Yellow custom paint
Besides the technology, the look stands out most. The bike is bright yellow with purple, green and silver graphics that run across the tank and fenders. That gives the whole bike a coherent custom look.
Together with the polished S&S V-twin, the chrome and the long fork, this is a typical example of the American custom style of the early 2000s. In the photos the bike looks very good for its age. As with any bike over twenty years old, a proper check of the technical condition remains important. In our video we show the bike in detail, so you can get a good picture of the specification and visible condition yourself.
What did a Big Dog Chopper cost new?
A Big Dog was certainly not a cheap bike. In 2007 the Chopper was listed at 28,700 dollars in the US price list, and in the years before the model was also well above 25,000 dollars. That was a lot of money, especially since many Harley-Davidsons were cheaper. With options, special finishes and custom paint the price went up further. Big Dog aimed at riders who deliberately wanted something different from a standard production bike.
Why did Big Dog Motorcycles disappear?
After years of growth the market changed. The 2008 financial crisis hit the American motorcycle industry hard, especially makers of expensive customs. Demand for exclusive bikes dropped and in 2011 the original Big Dog company stopped.
That ended a special period in the American motorcycle world. The name didn’t disappear completely: Big Dog later became active again and there is still an enthusiastic group of owners and fans. The models from the successful years in particular have a permanent place in American custom history.
Big Dog Chopper for sale: on its way to Europe
We bought this 2004 Big Dog Chopper 107ci in America. The bike is on its way and is expected in Rotterdam at the end of November 2026. It is a showroom bike without signs of use, with 30,000 miles, a Baker 6-speed and a custom seat. The price is $8,500 including shipping to the port of Rotterdam. All the details, photos and the video are on the page of this Big Dog Chopper.
Interested? Send us a WhatsApp for more photos and all the details. In the video above you see the bike in detail. Wondering how inspection and costs work? Read what to check before registering a US motorcycle and what importing from America costs.
Finding special motorcycles in America
At Harley’s Enzo we find and buy special American motorcycles. We travel through the United States and visit private sellers, collectors and auctions. Our speciality is Harley-Davidson, but we also buy classic bikes, American V-twins and special customs like this Big Dog.
Looking for a specific year, a special Harley-Davidson or an American motorcycle that is hard to find in Europe? Then we find, assess and buy it for you in America and arrange the transport. On our YouTube channel you can see which bikes we come across on the road, how we inspect them and which special ones make the crossing.