I want to build a bobber
12-21-09, 03:15 PM
#1
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Park Ridge IL
Posts: 2,485
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I want to build a bobber
I have fallen in love with them!! A bobber is a bike modded to have that old school 1940's 50's look. This is done by adding different handle bars, eliminating the windshield, the front fender, putting in a smaller rear fender etc. For those of you that have done this yourself how challenging was it? Any suggestions on a bike to start out with? I was looking for a v star 650 or a honda rebel?
12-21-09, 03:39 PM
#2
Lexus Champion
I have no input for you (never even heard the term 'bobber' before), but that sounds like a pretty cool idea.
Do you have any pics of actual conversions? Those that you posted look like old school rigids.
Do you have any pics of actual conversions? Those that you posted look like old school rigids.
12-21-09, 04:21 PM
#3
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Park Ridge IL
Posts: 2,485
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
That's what the bobber conversion does XD. Some history about the bobber, WW2 vets came back to the states and wanted bike's. Nothing made in the U.S looked or felt like the euro bikes, so they created there own by basically stripping them and adding different suspension components.
< Yamaha V-Star 650
< honda shadow
12-21-09, 05:38 PM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
cool looking, but looks uncomfortable and lethal. 
Trending Topics
12-22-09, 07:24 AM
#12
Pole Position
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: PA
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bobbers are cool. I'd like to build one someday myself, but want to build a nice cafe' racer first.
The real idea behind a bobber wasn't so much that GI's were trying to replicate bikes they saw over in Europe, but more a matter of stripping as much weight off of the bike as possible to make it faster and lighter. One of the first things they would do would to be 'bob' or cut off as much of the rear fender as they could, hence the term bobber.
I've never built one myself, but know some people who have. How hard it is to do depends on what bike you start with, your personal skill level, how much money you wanna spend, and a whole lot of ingenuity (especially if you wanna go low budget).
I'd start with a bike that's air cooled, first and foremost. Last thing you want on a bobber is a big ol' radiator sticking out the front. A 650 Star is a good start, but I would personally look for an older Kawi Vulcan 800. If you want something easy, and are willing to spend the cash, you could also use a Sportster as a base. The aftermarket for HD is amazing, and you could pretty much order kits to convert a Sporty. The metric bikes are gonna be cheaper, but require a lot more inginuity and fabrication - though you won't see a clone of yours like you would with the HD's.
I've seen a few built out of Savage-650's, Honda Rebels, and such, but they just don't look right to me. I much prefer a bit more motor, as well as the look of a twin in a bobber frame. But thats just a personal preferance.
I would think the biggest challenge (no matter what frame you use) is going to be removing the rear suspension and converting the bike to a rigid. Lots of cutting, grinding and welding.
Search KawasakiMotorcycles.org, as there are a few guys who have built them out of VN-800's with some really nice results.
The real idea behind a bobber wasn't so much that GI's were trying to replicate bikes they saw over in Europe, but more a matter of stripping as much weight off of the bike as possible to make it faster and lighter. One of the first things they would do would to be 'bob' or cut off as much of the rear fender as they could, hence the term bobber.
I've never built one myself, but know some people who have. How hard it is to do depends on what bike you start with, your personal skill level, how much money you wanna spend, and a whole lot of ingenuity (especially if you wanna go low budget).
I'd start with a bike that's air cooled, first and foremost. Last thing you want on a bobber is a big ol' radiator sticking out the front. A 650 Star is a good start, but I would personally look for an older Kawi Vulcan 800. If you want something easy, and are willing to spend the cash, you could also use a Sportster as a base. The aftermarket for HD is amazing, and you could pretty much order kits to convert a Sporty. The metric bikes are gonna be cheaper, but require a lot more inginuity and fabrication - though you won't see a clone of yours like you would with the HD's.
I've seen a few built out of Savage-650's, Honda Rebels, and such, but they just don't look right to me. I much prefer a bit more motor, as well as the look of a twin in a bobber frame. But thats just a personal preferance.
I would think the biggest challenge (no matter what frame you use) is going to be removing the rear suspension and converting the bike to a rigid. Lots of cutting, grinding and welding.
Search KawasakiMotorcycles.org, as there are a few guys who have built them out of VN-800's with some really nice results.
12-22-09, 02:25 PM
#14
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Park Ridge IL
Posts: 2,485
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bobbers are cool. I'd like to build one someday myself, but want to build a nice cafe' racer first.
The real idea behind a bobber wasn't so much that GI's were trying to replicate bikes they saw over in Europe, but more a matter of stripping as much weight off of the bike as possible to make it faster and lighter. One of the first things they would do would to be 'bob' or cut off as much of the rear fender as they could, hence the term bobber.
I've never built one myself, but know some people who have. How hard it is to do depends on what bike you start with, your personal skill level, how much money you wanna spend, and a whole lot of ingenuity (especially if you wanna go low budget).
I'd start with a bike that's air cooled, first and foremost. Last thing you want on a bobber is a big ol' radiator sticking out the front. A 650 Star is a good start, but I would personally look for an older Kawi Vulcan 800. If you want something easy, and are willing to spend the cash, you could also use a Sportster as a base. The aftermarket for HD is amazing, and you could pretty much order kits to convert a Sporty. The metric bikes are gonna be cheaper, but require a lot more inginuity and fabrication - though you won't see a clone of yours like you would with the HD's.
I've seen a few built out of Savage-650's, Honda Rebels, and such, but they just don't look right to me. I much prefer a bit more motor, as well as the look of a twin in a bobber frame. But thats just a personal preferance.
I would think the biggest challenge (no matter what frame you use) is going to be removing the rear suspension and converting the bike to a rigid. Lots of cutting, grinding and welding.
Search KawasakiMotorcycles.org, as there are a few guys who have built them out of VN-800's with some really nice results.
The real idea behind a bobber wasn't so much that GI's were trying to replicate bikes they saw over in Europe, but more a matter of stripping as much weight off of the bike as possible to make it faster and lighter. One of the first things they would do would to be 'bob' or cut off as much of the rear fender as they could, hence the term bobber.
I've never built one myself, but know some people who have. How hard it is to do depends on what bike you start with, your personal skill level, how much money you wanna spend, and a whole lot of ingenuity (especially if you wanna go low budget).
I'd start with a bike that's air cooled, first and foremost. Last thing you want on a bobber is a big ol' radiator sticking out the front. A 650 Star is a good start, but I would personally look for an older Kawi Vulcan 800. If you want something easy, and are willing to spend the cash, you could also use a Sportster as a base. The aftermarket for HD is amazing, and you could pretty much order kits to convert a Sporty. The metric bikes are gonna be cheaper, but require a lot more inginuity and fabrication - though you won't see a clone of yours like you would with the HD's.
I've seen a few built out of Savage-650's, Honda Rebels, and such, but they just don't look right to me. I much prefer a bit more motor, as well as the look of a twin in a bobber frame. But thats just a personal preferance.
I would think the biggest challenge (no matter what frame you use) is going to be removing the rear suspension and converting the bike to a rigid. Lots of cutting, grinding and welding.
Search KawasakiMotorcycles.org, as there are a few guys who have built them out of VN-800's with some really nice results.