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The Monster Chopper is a one-off custom build from Grind Hard Plumbing Co., not a production motorcycle. Its enormous 46-inch front wheel and raised axle prompted the builders to try hydraulic steering; an early gravity-powered test exposed slow response and difficult handling, but the project continued.
What is the Monster Chopper?
Grind Hard Plumbing Co., a build team in northern Idaho, built the oversized chopper around a KTM 1190 Adventure V-twin, a steel-tube trellis frame, single-sided swingarms and two 46-inch wheels fitted with mud tires, according to New Atlas’s January 16, 2024 report. The article described the engine as making “somewhere around 150 hp”; that is an approximate figure in the report, not an independently verified dyno result.
Why does the Monster Chopper have hydraulic steering?
The giant front wheel and its elevated axle made a conventional telescopic fork and direct steering arrangement unsuitable for the build’s geometry, New Atlas reported. Instead, the team routed hydraulic lines along the front swingarm assembly: turning the handlebars actuated a drive piston, which moved fluid to a slave piston near the wheel hub.
The layout was an engineering experiment, not a validated steering system for a production motorcycle. It was intended to connect the controls to the unusually high front axle and turn the massive wheel; the initial tests showed the separate challenge of getting a useful steering response.
#1 Best Overall
- Official Die-caste replica of the Compatible with KTM 450 SX-F motorcycle.
- Compatible with Red Bull KTM #7 Aaron Plessinger 58363
- Model Year: 2023.0
- Material: Plastic
Hydraulic layout and conventional steering
| Design question | Hydraulic arrangement on the build | Conventional fork and direct steering |
|---|---|---|
| Can the controls connect to the elevated front axle? | The builders routed hydraulic lines along the front swingarm to a slave piston near the hub, as described by New Atlas. | New Atlas said a conventional telescopic fork and direct steering arrangement did not suit this build’s geometry. |
| How is the massive wheel turned? | A handlebar-actuated drive piston moves fluid to the slave piston. The report describes the mechanism but does not quantify its steering force. | The report does not provide a controlled comparison or specify a conventional setup’s steering force for this motorcycle. |
| What was the steering response? | The first narrow lines caused slow, heavily damped response; larger lines were fitted before the hill test. | No measured response comparison is reported. |
Did the Monster Chopper’s first test ride work?
Only partly. During early experiments, narrow-gauge hydraulic lines made the steering slow and heavily damped. The team installed larger lines before builder Ethan Schlussler tried a gravity-powered ride down a nearby hill; the engine was not connected yet. The bike remained difficult to lean and steer and hit a fence post. New Atlas reported that the machine was undamaged and the project continued. This was an early prototype test, not proof of finished-road handling.
Schlussler summed up the uncertainty to New Atlas: “Is it going to perform well? Almost certainly not. But it’ll be really entertaining to try.” An unnamed team member joked that the initial delay was “the closest thing to Bluetooth steering I’ve seen in my life.”
Rank #2
- KTM 450 SX Racing, diecast motorcycle vehicle in Orange
- Rotating rubber tires, Working kick stand, Adjustable handle bars and front wheel
- Made of die-cast metal with plastic parts
- 1:18 scale; Measures approximately 6" long x 3" tall
- Not for children under 13 years old; Great for collecting
What happened after the early steering test?
Tubi’s episode catalog lists later installments covering a steering rebuild, exhaust and intake work, a custom tank and seat, first start, first drive, hill climbs, work toward street legality, Sturgis and later rides. The listing shows the build progressed beyond the initial test, but it does not independently establish exact final specifications, current road-registration status or the machine’s present condition.
The catalog is a place to look for the build series; availability may vary by region, so check Tubi where you are.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- Die-cast style motorcycle model produced by New Ray Toys.
- Modeled after the 2014 Superduke R 1290 motorcycle.
- 1:12 scale replica suitable for display or collection.
- Detailed miniature design intended for indoor display use.
- Compact collectible model for shelves, desks, or display cases.
Rank #4
- Two wheels don't just carry you forward. They remind you who you are. This Chopper motorcycle model captures that feeling—a tribute to the freedom that lives beyond the road.
- Electroplating painted parts reflect more than light. They reflect the soul of classic bikes. It’s the shine that belongs in every garage and every rider’s memory.
- The low frame and tall handlebars say one thing: this motorcycle has attitude. Every curve and angle was shaped for those who ride to stand apart, not blend in.
- Features a V-type engine with moving pistons. Turn the wheels and see the pistons move. In that motion, the spirit of the motorbike comes to life.
- It’s a gift that speaks without words. For those who hear engines like poetry and see chrome as a badge of belief, this is something worth holding onto.
Rank #3
- Brand new box. Detailed exterior. Real rubber tires. True-to-scale detail. Wheels roll and steer. Officially licensed product. Manufacturer's original unopened packaging. Made of diecast metal with some plastic parts. Approximate dimensions: L-7, W-3.25, H-4 inches.
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