The Big Bear Choppers Athena is a unique looking chopper built at the Discovery Channel Biker Build-Off televised competition. The motorcycle was so successful that the guys from Big Bear Choppers decided to launch it into production.

At the heart of the bike lies a strong engine which cranks out 115.8 hp and 122.8 lb/ft of torque and is mated on a modern, six speed overdrive transmission.

Athena’s frame features a unique design which allows for an ultra low seat height. Due to the ingenious position of the seat the motorcycle feels and handles unbelievably balanced. Moreover, the rear wheel is mounted on the company’s patented Devil’s Tail swingarm which further improves the bike’s handling abilities and stability.

The frame is designed and manufactured in house by Big Bear Choppers and every frame component is CNC manufactured with maximum precision.

Hit the jump for more information on the 2013 Big Bear Choppers Athena.

2013 Big Bear Choppers Athena

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Big Bear Choppers Athena
  • Engine/Motor: BBC-S&S V111™ Carb Evolution
  • Horsepower: 115
  • Torque: 122
  • Transmission: 6 Speed Manual
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Overview

It’s a hand massaged, forward thinking design, and built on the Discovery Channel Biker Build-Off televised competition. It was great winning the competition, but it didn’t stop there... we ‘tooled up’ the innovative design and turned the famous one-off Chopper into production along with a ProStreet sibling. An industrial hot rod drilled holes in the stretched frame with the Devil’s Tail™ swingarm with rear fender to match and an exclusive unique fuel tank are some of the design features that make the Athena Chopper an encounter you’ll never forget. The sunken seat allows you to be positioned inside the chassis, adding to the unique sensation of riding low to the ground with a lower center of gravity. The V111™ low vibration powerplant adds to the reliably of the motorcycle with a high comfort level of the rider without sacrificing power and price. So you can have your cake and eat it, too.

Design Features

-Proprietary patented mid-section stretch in the frame for better weight distribution and handling

-Impressive Chopper style tall neck height with an obtainable yet appealing 40° rake

-Very low seat height of 20” that enhances the riding senses and enables low speed confidence

-Unique radius dual downtubes and stretched backbone for an excellent chopper style geometry

-Trick 'hot rod' hole drilled outer skins on downtube, oil tank and rear fender struts

-Creative large capacity fuel tank that meets seamlessly into the seat

-Exclusive hand crafted rear fender design

-Patented oil tank holds 5 quarts of oil for engine optimization

-Custom patented Devil’s Tail™ exclusive swingarm

-Comfortable handlebar design

Component Features

-V111™ Low Vibration Polished Engine at

122.8 lbs. of Torque

-6-Speed Right-Side Drive Polished Transmission

-BBC Enclosed Primary Drive

-Forged Billet Wheel Choice with 21” Front and

300mm Rear Tire

-4-Piston Brakes with Rear Belt Drive-Side™

Brake System

-Chrome Frontend with Hidden Axle Design

-Chrome Foot and Hand Controls

- Chrome Digital Dash

-Chrome Radius Tuned Exhaust

Factory Options

-Optional Redemption Tank

-117" X-Wedge™ Engine

-Springer Frontend

-BDL Open Belt Drive

-Wheel Design Choice

-Chrome Wheels and Brake Calipers

-Standard or Custom Paint Scheme

Specifications

Options 1 : BBC-S&S V111™ Carb Evolution

Reliability, power and comfort... the best of all worlds. And when we say reliability, we not only mean the life of the engine, but the life of motorcycle and everything that's bolted to it. Branded as V111™,' this internally reformed 111 cubic inch engine boasts a healthy 122.8 lbs. of torque at the crank. With a configuration of a 4 1/8” bore and 4 1/8” stroke, proprietary compression ratios, redesigned cam timing, and reciprocating weights all result in an incredibly smooth running engine while meeting all the strict legal requirements. While looking like any other S&S Super Sidewinder engine from the outside, the essence of this new engine is the low vibration. High engine vibration is an enemy to both the rider and the motorcycle. The effects of high engine vibration may cause premature rider fatigue as well. Eliminate engine vibration and you will eliminate potential problems.

Finish

Polished Case & Chrome Covers.


Displacement

111"

Bore X Stoke

4 1/8" X 4 1/8"

Horsepower

115.8 bhp

Torque

122.8 lb/ft

Induction

S&S Super E Carburetor

Air Cleaner

S&S Tear Drop

Oil Pump

S&S High Volume

Warranty

2 Year / 20,000 Mile


Options 2 : BBC-S&S V111™ EFI Evolution

Between the EFI and the carbureted V111™, there isn’t going to be much of a difference in performance, provided you maintain constant ambient conditions (humidity, temperature, elevation, etc.). This is where the beauty of the closed-loop EFI system comes into play. The system is continuously monitoring the engine, and tuning itself to optimize performance for that given scenario or environment. So, while you might not be able to notice power difference between the EFI and a carbureted engine, once you take that bike up the mountain, or get a day that’s significantly hotter than the day it was tuned, that EFI engine will easily outperform the carbureted engine (unless you want to take a supply of different jets with you on the ride).

Finish

Polished Case & Chrome Covers

Displacement

111"

Bore X Stoke

4 1/8" X 4 1/8"

Horsepower

115.8 bhp

Torque

122.8 lb/ft

Induction

S&S Electronic Fuel Injection

Air Cleaner

S&S Tear Drop

Oil Pump

S&S High Volume

Warranty

2 Year / 20,000 Mile


Option 3 : BBC-S&S 117 SMOOTH™ EFI X-Wedge

Starting with a clean sheet of paper, the S&S Product Development team went to work building an engine that will conform to 2010 EPA standards and still deliver the power you expect from a v-twin. The BBC exclusive and proprietary 117ci is delivering just shy of 100 horsepower and 113ft/lbs of torque at the crank. This brand-new engine features three belt driven cams for quieter operation, a 56-degree v-angle for smoother running and no notched pistons, a crossflow head that is fit with direct injectors, side-by-side rods and a solid, one-piece crank. The new X-Wedge is technically advanced and the key to keeping you riding air-cooled, pushrod v-twins as the eMisions laws tighten up forcing water-cooling on some other engines.

Branded as '117 X-Wedge SMOOTH™,' and while looking like any other S&S X-Wedge engine from the outside, the essence of this new proprietary exclusive engine is the low vibration, due to it being internally reformed. High engine vibration is an enemy to both the rider and the motorcycle. The effects of high engine vibration may cause premature rider fatigue as well. Eliminate engine vibration and you will eliminate potential problems on the motorcycle.

Finish

Polished Case & Chrome Covers

Displacement

117"

Bore X Stoke

4.125" X 4.25"

Horsepower

97 bhp (at the crank)

Torque

113 lb/ft (at the crank)

Induction

S&S Closed-Loop Electronic Fuel Injection

Air Cleaner

S&S Tear Drop

Oil Pump

S&S Dual Gerotor Pump

Warranty

2 Year / 20,000 Mile


Transmission

Brand

Baker

Finish

Polished Case & Chrome Covers

Drive

Right Side

Gears

6-Speed Overdrive

Warranty

2 Year / 24,000 Mile


Drivetrain

Keeping with the mindset of making form and function coexisting, this newly designed proprietary primary is built tough and reliable along with a very sleek, new generation styled aesthetics with a cool BBC branded inspection cover. This primary drive is approximately 200% stronger than most other manufacturer’s primaries with its machined forged aluminum inner and outer cases. The dense aluminum material makes for a unit that does not flex under heavy torque, and absorbs most engine vibration.

Another great attribute that sets this primary drive ahead of the curve is the triple seal design on the main shaft, as opposed to an industry standard single seal, insuring virtually no leaks. The starter motor shaft accessory plate is removable for an easy starter change-out. The internals utilize an easy-to-replace standard type clutch basket and a compensating sprocket for a smooth power transfer.

Primary

Drive BBC Enclosed Primary

Finish

Polished

Final Drive

RSD Belt


Electrical

We teamed up with Wire-Plus, the industry's leader in motorcycle electronics, to design a wiring harness with no compromises. Combine this harness with the high-end brand name electrical components like the Spyke charging system and the Crane ignition, and we're sure your seat time will be long. You won't be on the side of the road kicking rocks.

Wiring Harness

BBC-WirePlus

Charging System

BBC 40 Amp

Ignition

S&S

Coil

80,000 Volt Mini

Starter

Polished Case & Chrome Covers

Battery

Extreme Magna Power AGM


Frame

The Athena frame starts out in the same jig as the Sled, but has obvious design touches with the Hot Rod holes drilled out of the outer downtube sleeve and rear fender struts. This frame design is unique in that it has an extra stretch in the mid section of the frame behind the transMision. This allows for a low seat height from the oil tank being located behind the tranny as opposed to hanging on top of it.

This ingenious drop seat makes for a motorcycle that feels and handles unbelievably balanced and a blast to ride. The sunken seat allows the rider to be positioned inside the chassis, boasting more control and adding to the unique sensation of riding low to the ground. And our design patent on this frame helps us keep the motorcycle unique from manufactured copy cats. The patented Devil's Tail swingarm is a new creation that finishes up the bike with that custom one-off look.

The frame is the foundation of the motorcycle's aesthetics and reliability. All our frames are designed and manufactured in house in our San Bernardino facility. Every frame component (e.g. neck, side plates, tank mounts, tranny plate, axle adjusters, etc) are CNC manufactured with precision. Utilizing a 0.250 wall, 1.5” tube steel for the backbone and 0.160 wall, 1.125” tube for the rest of the frame, BBC uses the best steel possible for our frames. All frames are 100% TIG welded for a clean, strong and precise fusion. We think we make a statement about our confidence with a lifetime warranty on the frames we make.

Brand

BBC Athena Chopper (Pat. #D517451)

Type

Softail

Frame Tube

0.160" Wall DOM Seamless

Swingarm

BBC Devil's Tail (Pat. #D542191)

Backbone

Thick 0.250" Wall 3" Stretch

Downtube

0.160" Wall 6" Stretch

Mid Section

4" Stretch

Neck Rake

40°

Seat Height

20" from ground

Wheel Base

88" axle to axle

Overall Length

115" end to end

Weight

700 lbs approx.

Warranty

Lifetime of Original Owner


Sheetmetal

The Athena Series sheetmetal goes beyond the standard with it's hole drilled outer skins on the oil tank and the hand made sheetmetal molding the seat's wishbone tube into the fuel tank. Another aspect of the sheetmetal that stands out from the rest is the trick rear fender design that matches the patented Devil's Tail swingarm.

Like our frames, our tanks and fenders are designed and manufactured in-house. We produce the sheetmetal with the frame as a unit, then gets 'mock-up' before we hand it over to our painters or ship it out to the unassembled kit customers. We use heavy duty 12 gauge steel for our fenders and 14 gauge steel for the tanks. All tanks are pressure tested and the fenders are computer cut. We guarantee and warranty any leaks from the tanks and cracks in the fenders for your lifetime.

Fuel Tank

BBC Athena. 4.375 Gallons Carb, 4.25 Gallons EFI

Gas Cap

BBC Flush Mount Pop-Up

Oil Tank

BBC Athena (Pat. # D512677)

Rear Fender

BBC Athena 12 Gauge Steel

Front Fender

BBC Pointed 12 Gauge Steel

Warranty

Lifetime of Original Owner


Suspension

Designed and manufactured in-house, our fully chrome frontend is exclusively made for our motorcycles to be aesthetically cool and functionally bomb proof. The BBC logo branded 6° triple trees have what we call a 'smooth mount' design - you don't see the tube and axle nuts on top. And what we mean with the 'hidden axle' - it's a nutless type axle, making the finish smooth. With all our calculations with the frame and frontend, we've landed the front wheel in the sweet spot of the final trail measurement. This allows for a motorcycle with no frontend flop and high speed wobble.

And at the back, there's no better American Made shock to use than the industry's premier shock absorber, Progressive Suspension. The chrome pair of oil dampened shocks produce a good ride, which is just one more reason why our motorcycles out handle and beat the comfort of the other guys bikes.

Frontend

BBC Smooth Mount Hidden Axle

Finish

Chrome

Triple Tree Rake

Trail Length

3.75"

Tube Length

12" Over Stock

Rear

Progressive Suspension

Finish

Chrome

Travel

3"


Wheels and Brakes

Wheels

RC Components

Type

Forged Aluminum

Finish

Polished

Front Rim

21" x 2.125"

Rear Rim

18" x 10.5"

Front Tire

Avon Cobra 90mm

Rear Tire

Avon Cobra 300mm

Front Brake

P.M. 4-Piston Caliper

Rear Brake

BBC-P.M. 4-Piston Caliper


Accessories

Pipes

BBC Chrome Baffled Radius Design

Bars

BBC Athena

Hand Controls

Chrome OEM Style

Dash

BBC-WirePlus Raw Round Digital

Grips

BBC Chrome with Black Rubber

Foot Controls

BBC Chrome

Headlight

BBC Chrome

Signals

Chrome DOT Approved

Mirrors

Chrome DOT Approved

Seat

BBC Leather/Vinyl

Kickstand

BBC Mid-Mount

Cables

Goodridge Stainless Steel Clear Coated

Warranty

1 year from the Factory. 2 years in Europe.


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