[2] He drew the design for the Chopper on an envelope as he travelled home from the US, in 1967, inspired to replicate the design of Peter Fonda's character's motorbike in the film Easy Rider.
Oakley was married to Karen Francis from 1992 until his death from cancer at age 85 in 2012.
[1][3] Oakley was born on 27 April 1927 in Netherfield, Nottinghamshire, a small town three miles (5 km) east of Nottingham.
[4][5] Leaving education at 15, Oakley joined the Raleigh Bicycle Company as a trainee draughtsman, producing fuses and turning-out cartridges; war-effort duties that diminished his early involvement in bicycle engineering.
Intrigued by aircraft, he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1941 and later obtained a qualification in mechanical engineering from the University of Nottingham.