West Coast Choppers and Orange County Choppers are two of most recognizable names in the world of custom-made motorcycles. Both even have hit t.v. Shows.

But as Maggie Crane found out in today's Maggie Monday, a local chop shop -- the legal kind -- is becoming popular here in Southwest Florida.

Maggie found out some interesting history to how the big bikes got their start. World War II vets returning home, looking to add a thrill to their lives stateside would buy surplus military motorcycles and chop them up -- taking off anything that wasn't absolutely necessary to make the bike work. So parts like windshields, fenders, and even turn signals went by the wayside.

And the popularity of choppers has only grown.

Meet Bob.

"People know me as Boston Bob. I don't even have to say a word!" Bob Poirier, Strictly Choppers owner, says.

And, his son Bob.

"We'll give this a little more curve in here," Bob Poirier Junior says.

The Boston transplants began this chop shop four years ago, making strictly choppers.

"You have to be cool to ride a bike!" Bob says with a laugh.

A chopper is a motorcycle that's been busted down to the bare-bones minimum.

"I just have a headlight and break light and a license plate on it and that's it," Bob says. "I don't have a speedometer, odometer -- anything."

These types of bikes are typically bigger, flashier and completely custom.

"Every one is unique. They're all different," Bob Junior says.

Each bike is custom built for the rider, so from the placement of the pedals to the height of the handle bars -- each measurement is specific to the new bike owner.

"We can chop a frame up, make it longer, make it taller -- the sky's the limit on these things," Bob Junior says.

The Bobs build bikes from the ground up.

"It's a vision," Bob Junior says. "You have to have it in your mind what you want to do and stuff changes as you're going through it."

Bob is building his own new bike.

"It makes me feel safe -- I built it and know it's put together right," Bob Junior says. "When I build a gas tank, it starts as a flat piece of steel and when it's done, it has shape to it -- it just looks like something at the end of the day."

His work is an imperfect precision.

Bob works and welds the sheet metal into something he can use, so each hit of the hammer gets him closer to his custom design. Once the pieces are in place, Bob melts steel onto steel to seal the seams of his gas tank.

"When the welding is all done, it'll be airtight so gas won't leak out of the tank," Bob Junior says.

It'll take about two months before his chopper is road-ready.

"It's not about being tough and cool anymore, it's just enjoying yourself, letting your hair down," Bob says.

Bob says the freedom he feels on the back of a bike is good for his health.

"I saw a commercial that said you never see a motorcycle in front of a psychiatrist's office. It's true, it's a stress release!" Bob says.

Not to mention, these two-wheel rides get great gas mileage.

"My chopper gets at least 35 miles to the gallon," Bob says. "That's great on anything these days."

If you've got a broken bike or want one built, you can contact Bob and Bob Junior at Strictly Choppers in Naples. The phone number is 239.253.5990 and the business's website is strictlychoppers.com.

If you have an idea for a Maggie Monday, send Maggie an email at maggie.crane@winktv.com.