California-based Big Bear Choppers introduced the Paradox custom cruiser in 2008, just before the market for high-end custom machines collapsed. The model was carried over for 2009.
The 2009 Paradox came with the company’s proprietary 1,638.7cc, air-cooled, V-twin, four-stroke engine made by S & S, but buyers had the option of having it built with either the S & S 100 Smooth EFI Evolution engine or the EFI X-Wedge engine. Depending on which engine was used, it has either EFI induction or a carburetor, and a pushrod overhead valve configuration. Both engines are paired with a Baker Drivetrain six-speed manual transmission with overdrive, which was installed on the right side for improved balance. The Performance Machine disc brakes have four-piston calipers in the front and rear. The telescopic front fork was one of the few Big Bear Choppers bikes to be air-adjustable. A Progressive twin-sided swing arm provided the rear suspension.
Sheathed in sculpted 12-gauge sheet metal, with close-fitting fenders and a fiberglass down tube cover, the Paradox has an elegant, futuristic look. It’s also designed to have a low center of gravity, and the 20-inch seat puts the rider close to the ground. This configuration allows riders to take full charge of the ten-foot-long machine with its 44-degree rake and wide front and rear tires. The cruiser was the first Big Bear Choppers machine to use a 23-inch front wheel and a 20-inch rear. It clears the ground with just inches to spare, so while the wide tires give it plenty of stability, it’s still easy to bottom out on this bike.
The Paradox came in the same color options available for all Big Bear Choppers bikes: black cherry, candy-red metallic, charcoal metallic, electric blue, firecracker red, gloss red, orange pearl, satin or gloss black, and silver metallic. Buyers always had the option of ordering unpainted parts and building their own bikes, which is now the only way to buy a new Big Bear Choppers machine.
A spectacular-looking cruiser, the Paradox generally received high marks from reviewers for its drivability and comfort, with well-placed controls and foot pegs, sensible digital instrumentation, and noticeable power.