Hey...... I built that!!!!!!! The color is 68 TR6R Riviera blue(factory color) with a little silver dust over the clearcoat. Looks awesome in person. What color is yours?
My bro's 42WLA 45 Flathead bobber, complete with sidecar. Well, the nieces have to ride somewhere! It has about 2-inch inlet valves, flow-relieved combustion chambers, big carb and WR race cams. Has been known to crack 100mph in solo trim and scare the hell out of Evo riders. Not bad for an old Flattie.
EyeDrag, Your work is freakin' beautiful! I have a friend with a Riv that same color - it just never grabbed me the way the black ones did. To me, part of bobbers is the "bad" look, and black works better (for me) than light blue. But seriously, your work is some of the best I've seen. I have a bobber project at the moment, but for the last year I've lived without a place to even change the oil in my KLR. No way in hell could I have a non-plated, project bike parked where I lived. However, I just got a new place with a roll up door and 20' ceilings (details are being hammered out this week). If it all works out, I'll be able to get my Guzzi cafe project on the road, and the XS 650 bobber. Mine will be black. And since I suck at bodywork, lumpy as well.
It doesn't matter how lumpy or what color they are, as long as you do it yourself and ride it. That is what matters. I am doing a very cool XS650 flat track bike right now and should have it finished next week. 750 kit, Kennedy frame, knock off hubs, 19" wheels, and all kinds of handmade stuff. It should scream. Building it for a buddy of mine here in NC. First XS650 I ever worked on. Pretty cool motors. JR
early 1960's front loop, +4" hardtail, 1968 Trophy motor, hunt mag, PSP hydraulic clutch, hayward belt primary, T140 running gear
YOu know what motor would be awesome for a bobber project? gs500 air cooled. Easier to source cheap parts than a xs650.
On the other hand, the rest of the bike doesn't lend itself to being bobbed - assuming you want an old look. The frame is from the wrong era. The XS motor looks like it came from the 50's & 60's, and the frame is also of that vintage. I'm sure a kick ass bobber could be built from one, but it'll be a hell of a lot more work if you don't like the looks of the GS frame. XSs are still out there.
slab sided matte grey twin? I had one, great bike, can't picture it as a bobber. The trumpets in this thread are my favourites
Just use the motor in a hard tail frame. I bet it fits good since it is smaller than the xs650 motor but same style parallel twin.
GS500 and earlier 450s are buletproof little buggers. I'm glad someone else likes 'em as much as I do! Here's my old racer that was turned into a streetfighter.
