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Heiden, who operates his own landscaping business in Denison, started working on the bike during his sophomore year at Sioux Falls University.
He collected parts for the bike for three years before beginning the construction.
The engine in the chopper came from his father's bike. Heiden bought the frame and wheels.
Other parts were hand-me-downs acquired from friends and at swap meets.
His uncle, John Heiden, painted the bike.
At one point, the pieces for the bike sat in the basement of the house Heiden lived in during college.
His roommates, who weren't into bikes, thought the money could be better spent on other things.
But Heiden persevered, and worked a lot of less-than-desirable jobs just to be able to buy the parts for his bike.
"The bike handles good. It rides smooth, without any suspension," said Heiden.
As for the style he selected, Heiden took his inspiration from Billy Lane of Choppers, Inc.
"I like his bikes. It's something simple, easy and affordable, and this is what I came up with," Heiden said, pointing to his bike.
Heiden can't guess how much money he has in the bike, let alone the amount of labor he and his father put into the project.
"It's worth a lot more to me than any price," he stated. "It's not worth half as much as the other bikes here (at the 'Biker Build-Off'), but to me, it's worth quite a bit. It would be a sad day if I ever had to sell it."
