Wondering what kind of bikes I should be looking out for to build a budget bobber. I might be able to pick up a '67 BSA for cheap. I'm new to bikes...what are some models to be on the look out for. I've seen alot of older "enduro" bikes...wondering if they'd be worth a shot or not... Also...what would it take to convert a stock bike, let's say it's that '67 BSA, into a bobber style? How do you get it lowered...rake? forks? bars? tank? school me
theres a cool website called greasykulture.com and on that website you'll see some good examples of bobber bikes. choppers are cut down bikes with big handle bars and long front ends mainly. bobbers are a cut down bike with diff. fenders and bars stock rake and front end shorter and better handling. more of a 50's style chop. i dont no if my expanation made sense but it worked for me brian
Check out Hank Youngs stuff (Youngchoppers.com), very creative mixing of traditional race style bobbers with HotRod influence....frankly, the best stuff around as I can see. If you really want "period" style to influence your bike center your reasearch on pics of the Board Track Racers and the later Forties 1% guys (like the BoozeFighters). When you look at the early stuff it's more about simple function and loosing wieght rather than style.
check out http://www.robtimko.com/choppermentary/ thats my panhead bobber build. a little more pricier than a BSA but should give you a general idea. a 67 BSA would be PERFECT and cheap too!! could built the coolest bobber for under 1000.00 EASY (thats with paint, etc, etc. etc, and still have a bunch of money left over for lots of beer!! AND maybe a spare motor!! hahaha greasyculture is a great website. also check out the Horse backstreet choppers magazine messageboards (they have 3, tech, swap, and backtalk) go to www.ironcross.net i think for the boards. p.s. no need to get it "lowered" just look for a nice rigid frame...they are a dime a dozen. (about 100$) for bars...5$ for a tank, depending on what you want, anywhere from 20-70? forks, depends on how long, how much rake etc...usually bobbers are stock rake and stretch so a stock bsa front end or a stock length springer would be cool. lots of parts out htere for BSA/trumps. BTW - if you want to pass on the 67 BSA let me know...im looking for a 650 trump unit motor pre70 or a BSA. -Rob
bobber is easiest, get the bsa, weld on a hardtail or get a hardtail frame. Leave the rake the same stock front end. Drag bars, pull front fender off "bob" the back one. THrow on a solo seat and call it good.
Bobbers were built by returning solders after WWII. While in Europe they were introduced to the lighter and quicker British bikes. Returning home, they took their oversize Harleys and remover all the excess, crash bars, large seats, lights and fenders. Many install the taller 19" or 21" front wheel from a Euro race bike to get the frame off the ground for a little dirt road riding. I like the look of the British bobbers we see today, but I believe the earliest bobbers were H.D.s........That's not to say any bike can't have "the look" because I have seen many non-Harley bobbers that I would be thrilled to ride..............
British bike into a bobber....slighty later than "bobbers"...about 1960 or 62...there was a very cool style trend in bikes that I call the "LA look". Triumph or Beeser, rigid frame, stock forks, mildly hopped motor. They had real style. Typically lots of chrome, all-chrome forks with shrouds insted of exposed fork tubes, chrome stock tank, eighteen on the back with twenty-one on the front, white Bates solo seat, white grips. Lotsa chrome was the key, even brake drums and fenders. No front fender, rear fender cut down from a connie kit. Stock bars. It was a real stylish and special look... Wish it would come back. A weld on hardtail for the 67 Beeser would be right, as long as it isn't extended. I think you should go for it.
Disastron, you just pretty much described my Triumph. Other than the 18" wheel on back and chromed stock tank. I agree that the term "bobber" really doesn't apply to any bike that has had a hardtail section bolted or welded on, be it British or other wise. I think "chopper" if the frame has also been raked or stretched and/or extended forks have been added, or "custom" if the frame is otherwise stock other than the hardtail section and the forks are not extended...is more applicable. True "bobbers" are simply stripped down, but otherwise stock bikes in my opinion. We could argue this shit all day long though...so what it boils down to is this: build what you think looks good, and don't worry about what to call it.
Forgot...for Triumph motors, the finned top end oil gallery, finned primary cover casting, and the ultra-rare finned timing cover made in LA in the early 60s. Lucas RR T2 racing magneto for the pre- units For the BSA twin motor, finned later-model rocker cover, Amal velocity stacks, Barnes flat track primary (if your'e not runnin an alternator). Sometimes you see these bikes on album covers, or movies or books about Hollywood. Do your research and you'll find a perfect look for that Beeser, it'll be a real cool machine. Don't forget the three vital questions that the Moto Mutts MC always ask before they ride anywhere- "Is my hair cool?" "Is my bike cool?" "Do I have gas?"
Well I thought it was a bobber but now I find out it's gonna be a custom. Maybe it's a bustom. Mines an '80 model Triumph in the mockup stage. Narrowed the $ 11.00 trailer fender yesterday. Gotta move that seat south a little. Trying to find spokes for 16" rims that will work with my disc brake hub. Dan
Maybe it's not a bustom... maybe it's a "theme bike" just like Pauley builds. It could be the Pink Floyd british bustom. Should I make the temporary fender support permanent? Dan
A bobber is a stock "dresser" motorcycle with all the extra"stuff" that makes it a "dresser" and doesn't serve a function of making it go or stop "bobbed" off of it. The MINUTE you encounter the concept of "Weld on" something or "Rake out" the frame or "Swap on" a different anything, you just moved from the definition of a BOBBER to the definition of a CHOPPER. The onl thing you do when you "make" a bobber is remove parts from an otherwise stock bike. There's nothing wrong with building a chopper. it's a much more relaxed endeavor since it isn't hung up by ANY definitions...
I'm probably but I was of the impression from looking at what people are calling bobbers that a bobber was what we called a fat bob when I was comming up. Just your basic stripped down dresser. I guess you were doing a Limey it wouldn't necessarily have fat tanks, just have the garbage stripped off. I wouldn't think that a Cafe Racer would count, but what do I know.
[ QUOTE ] British bike into a bobber....slighty later than "bobbers"...about 1960 or 62...there was a very cool style trend in bikes that I call the "LA look". Triumph or Beeser, rigid frame, stock forks, mildly hopped motor. They had real style. Typically lots of chrome, all-chrome forks with shrouds insted of exposed fork tubes, chrome stock tank, eighteen on the back with twenty-one on the front, white Bates solo seat, white grips. Lotsa chrome was the key, even brake drums and fenders. No front fender, rear fender cut down from a connie kit. Stock bars. It was a real stylish and special look... Wish it would come back. A weld on hardtail for the 67 Beeser would be right, as long as it isn't extended. I think you should go for it. [/ QUOTE ] Here you go! Sam. p.s. Brian, can we get a pic of your bike?
No chrome tank... but the FRAME is chromed! And I think it has a 20" front wheel instead of a 21"er... But the rest is spot-on your description! Sam.
Okay very interesting post guys. being Bikeweek and all here in PHX. So I guess my friends who drive 'Bobbers' Are actually driving Choppers. both have welded or bolted on rear ends. And both very different.
Sam, I'll be doing a post tonight after work with the buildup of my bike. It's still got some little stuff I need to finish and I had to order a new chain for it, but it's pretty much finished cosmetically. I know I sound picky...and I might be my own worst critic, but I think that pic that Flt-Blk posted is the bike's worst angle. Oh well.
sam, thanks for the great photo. Noticed the white Harly kicker pedal and foot rests. One big difference between choppers and older "custom" bikes- choppers have forward foot controls. A nasty invention. Always wanted to build an LA style custum Trumpet but...all my gang when I lived up north rode Ducatis, Guzzis, newer Hondas. Just a few of us die-hard Brit boys. So my focus was always to make my Triumph lighter and faster, I did a pretty good job of keepin up with them. I guess if your a hard riding guy then choppers don't hold much interest. Triumph 363 pounds, 54 HP = Jap bike with 75 HP...they can be heavy pigs. Pretty cool seeing all the Triumphs on this board. Up where I came from, the car guys and bike guys never mixed...on our jackets some of us had, "CARS R COFFINS"
[ QUOTE ] A bobber is a stock "dresser" motorcycle with all the extra"stuff" that makes it a "dresser" and doesn't serve a function of making it go or stop "bobbed" off of it. The MINUTE you encounter the concept of "Weld on" something or "Rake out" the frame or "Swap on" a different anything, you just moved from the definition of a BOBBER to the definition of a CHOPPER. The onl thing you do when you "make" a bobber is remove parts from an otherwise stock bike. There's nothing wrong with building a chopper. it's a much more relaxed endeavor since it isn't hung up by ANY definitions... [/ QUOTE ] DITTO!
Thanks for the info guys. Brian...saw your sick bike in the bed of the truck at Carl's Corner...loved it! Since I've sold the Model A, it's time for a new project. This time I'll finish it, but on a tighter budget. I'd like to get a bike and build a rideable custom out of it. The "bobber" style seems the easiest way to go, as well as the cheapest. You certainly don't see many bobbed bikes everywhere, so it'd be cool to have something a bit different. I'm still trying on the '67 BSA...Maybe I'll have it in a few weeks when I go to Corpus Christi to meet the guy from Cali who's buying the "A". I just want a bike...and I need to find a cheap bike before I get tempted to buy another Ninja. Anyway...keep up the cool suggestions & pics...it gets me hard.
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