Bobber Pics!!

FloridaSteve · 09-30-2007, 06:40 PM

There was a little debate over the historical differences between Cafe bikes and "Bobbers" over in the cafe racer picture thread. Someone suggested a Bobber only thread so here it is.... I'll get it started with my friend Brians beautiful Indian.. Oh and for the record, I looked and didn't find a Bobber only thread. let me know if I missed it. There's a vintage and classic one but nothing bobber specific.

davorallyfan · 09-30-2007, 07:50 PM

Pardon my antipodean ignorance but what is a "bobber"

Is it an old bike with baloon tyres and with no rear suspension.

Do they have a specific purpose?

Thanks.

FloridaSteve · 09-30-2007, 08:10 PM

Pretty decent definition from Wikipedia:

Quote:

History

In post-World War II United States, servicemen returning home from the war started removing all parts deemed too big, heavy, ugly or not absolutely essential to the basic function of the motorcycle, such as fenders, turn indicators, and even front brakes.

The rest came down to taste. The big tires were what bikes came with in those days so the bobber "look" carries over to the more modern interpretations,

FXRocket · 09-30-2007, 08:11 PM

After WWII US servicemen came home and purchased surplus bikes form the Army. When it came to racing and performance the easy thing to do was to bob the fenders (remove the lower half of the rear hinged fender) and remove any superfluous junk that really did nothing. Throw away the fenders, horn, and whatever else you could find. Hence the name "Bobber" ... It was even the precursor to the word "Jalopy" I believe.

Not to be confused with the "Chopper" that came along later, that usually involved more cutting on suspension and frames etc..

This is as close as I get to a bober...

Black Ice · 09-30-2007, 08:32 PM

True. A "Bobber" is a bike that has been stripped of anything that doesn't contribute to the operation of the motorcycle. If it's not absolutely necessary to make it run, it's outta here.

"Choppers" evolved out of the "Bobber." When folks were building Bobbers, they added slightly extended front ends for the sole purpose of having more ground clearance; a firmer, more responsive fork; and better handling all around. Then Bobber Bob decided to extend his springer twice as long--from 3" to 6". Then Dangerous Doug countered with a 9" over...and then it just got ridiculous.

The best way to describe it is that Bobbers are more performance-oriented, whereas Choppers are more style-oriented. The line blurs as they approach a common branch on the MC Family Tree.

AlKay191 · 10-01-2007, 07:14 AM

BRAVO !
Its about time that BOBBERS got some recognition. They are IMO, very important link in motorcycle evolution chain. I've had a few choppers and bobbers back in the early 80s and still have great memories of them and that era. I remember buying a complete, but barely running '65 CL77 Dream chopper for $300. Rigid frame with 12in over forks! I don't think I've ever paid more than $200-300 for a Limey basket case...

Not mine, but very close to '67 Bonnie bobber that I built from a basket.

Mista Vern · 10-01-2007, 08:02 AM

This is gonna be a fun thread - thanks!!

305racer · 10-01-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlKay191

BRAVO !
Its about time that BOBBERS got some recognition. They are IMO, very important link in motorcycle evolution chain. I've had a few choppers and bobbers back in the early 80s and still have great memories of them and that era. I remember buying a complete, but barely running '65 CL77 Dream chopper for $300. Rigid frame with 12in over forks! I don't think I've ever paid more than $200-300 for a Limey basket case...

Not mine, but very close to '67 Bonnie bobber that I built from a basket.

I see your over here stirring up the pot

I wonder if chucking the rear suspension in favor of a bolt on rigid makes it go faster?

zilla · 10-09-2007, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlKay191

BRAVO !
Its about time that BOBBERS got some recognition. They are IMO, very important link in motorcycle evolution chain. I've had a few choppers and bobbers back in the early 80s and still have great memories of them and that era. I remember buying a complete, but barely running '65 CL77 Dream chopper for $300. Rigid frame with 12in over forks! I don't think I've ever paid more than $200-300 for a Limey basket case...

Not mine, but very close to '67 Bonnie bobber that I built from a basket.

Beautiful bike!

rtwdoug · 10-01-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Ice

Then Dangerous Doug countered with a 9" over...and then it just got ridiculous.

oops, guess thats me

I picked this one up recently from a guy needing $. '51 pan. gonna redo it this winter & tour europe on it next summer.

But, this IS a bobber thread, so here is my '64 XLH

Doug

Burtonridr · 10-01-2007, 11:56 AM

rtwdoug · 10-01-2007, 12:01 PM

saw this Dnepr bobber at a bike rally this weekend in Bulgaria. Its ratty, but cool (needs to lose the front fender tho)

best thing about it was his license plate tail light setup. seems the lite & mount broke off awhile back, so he mounted the tag to the back of his WW2 helmet, & a battery operated bicycle tail light.

sonic reducer · 10-10-2007, 08:36 PM

thought I'd post my POS on here that I built last winter. dunno if it is a "bobber" but it is damn close, in spirit at least. it weighs 275lbs with 2 gallons of gas and has about 30-35hp. began life as a GN400, basically a zuk DR400 with a few street things. its kick only, 6V electrics w/CDI, no battery

and kick only. Ive got it starting first kick without using the decomp.
the exhaust is made from part of a subaru exhaust, the maple seat is cushioned by a jeep YJ spring.
this winter it's getting torn down for cleanup of some things Im not happy with, a real headlight, a new way nicer(comfortable, leather) seat, and hope to shed at least 5 lbs off it.

sonic reducer · 10-10-2007, 08:38 PM

another

sonic reducer · 10-10-2007, 08:41 PM

last for now

09-30-2007, 06:40 PM	#1
FloridaSteve ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2006 Location: Jacksonville Florida Oddometer: 2,070	Bobber Pics!! There was a little debate over the historical differences between Cafe bikes and "Bobbers" over in the cafe racer picture thread. Someone suggested a Bobber only thread so here it is.... I'll get it started with my friend Brians beautiful Indian.. Oh and for the record, I looked and didn't find a Bobber only thread. let me know if I missed it. There's a vintage and classic one but nothing bobber specific. __________________ My Blogs: Higher Resolution Photo Album Motorcycle Photo of the Day 2-Stroke-Biker-Blog FloridaSteve screwed with this post 12-26-2007 at 07:22 PM

09-30-2007, 07:50 PM	#2
davorallyfan Commonist Joined: May 2005 Location: Capitalist Oddometer: 14,120	Pardon my antipodean ignorance but what is a "bobber" Is it an old bike with baloon tyres and with no rear suspension. Do they have a specific purpose? Thanks. __________________ 7th Day Adventourist. Terrafied -If you get it wrong you'll get it right next time-

09-30-2007, 08:11 PM	#4
FXRocket Phoneticide Squad Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Hoosier Oddometer: 5,303	After WWII US servicemen came home and purchased surplus bikes form the Army. When it came to racing and performance the easy thing to do was to bob the fenders (remove the lower half of the rear hinged fender) and remove any superfluous junk that really did nothing. Throw away the fenders, horn, and whatever else you could find. Hence the name "Bobber" ... It was even the precursor to the word "Jalopy" I believe. Not to be confused with the "Chopper" that came along later, that usually involved more cutting on suspension and frames etc.. This is as close as I get to a bober... __________________ If you say "Gullible" slowly it sounds like "Oranges".

10-01-2007, 08:02 AM	#7
Mista Vern Knows all - tells some. Joined: Dec 2005 Location: McMinnville, Oregon Oddometer: 12,874	This is gonna be a fun thread - thanks!! __________________ Remodeling. Please check again later.

10-01-2007, 11:56 AM	#11
Burtonridr Wanderlost Joined: May 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Oddometer: 3,661	__________________ Have beer, will fly "This forum requires that you wait 30 seconds between posts. Please try again in 1 seconds."

09-30-2007, 08:32 PM	#5
Black Ice Sovereign Individual Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Central AZ Oddometer: 700	True. A "Bobber" is a bike that has been stripped of anything that doesn't contribute to the operation of the motorcycle. If it's not absolutely necessary to make it run, it's outta here. "Choppers" evolved out of the "Bobber." When folks were building Bobbers, they added slightly extended front ends for the sole purpose of having more ground clearance; a firmer, more responsive fork; and better handling all around. Then Bobber Bob decided to extend his springer twice as long--from 3" to 6". Then Dangerous Doug countered with a 9" over...and then it just got ridiculous. The best way to describe it is that Bobbers are more performance-oriented, whereas Choppers are more style-oriented. The line blurs as they approach a common branch on the MC Family Tree.

10-01-2007, 07:14 AM	#6
AlKay191 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2006 Location: On Florida beach or roaming the country Oddometer: 280	BRAVO ! Its about time that BOBBERS got some recognition. They are IMO, very important link in motorcycle evolution chain. I've had a few choppers and bobbers back in the early 80s and still have great memories of them and that era. I remember buying a complete, but barely running '65 CL77 Dream chopper for $300. Rigid frame with 12in over forks! I don't think I've ever paid more than $200-300 for a Limey basket case... Not mine, but very close to '67 Bonnie bobber that I built from a basket.

10-01-2007, 12:01 PM	#12
rtwdoug prominent underachiever Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Alabamski Oblast, Redneckistan Oddometer: 3,024	saw this Dnepr bobber at a bike rally this weekend in Bulgaria. Its ratty, but cool (needs to lose the front fender tho) best thing about it was his license plate tail light setup. seems the lite & mount broke off awhile back, so he mounted the tag to the back of his WW2 helmet, & a battery operated bicycle tail light. __________________ 2011 Magadan (I hope!) (03 Harley 1200 Dirtster) 2010 Europe & the Middle East (75 Harley Bobber) 2009 Around the World ('62 Harley Chopper) 2008 Europe (TDM & Guzzi Falcone) 2007 Europe (TDM850) 2006 Around the World ('48 Indian Chief) 2005 Europe & N Africa (KLR650) 2004 Europe (KLR650) www.motosapiens.org My bike hotel in Bulgaria. ADVriders get 1st beer free!

10-10-2007, 08:36 PM	#13
sonic reducer Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle WA Oddometer: 196	thought I'd post my POS on here that I built last winter. dunno if it is a "bobber" but it is damn close, in spirit at least. it weighs 275lbs with 2 gallons of gas and has about 30-35hp. began life as a GN400, basically a zuk DR400 with a few street things. its kick only, 6V electrics w/CDI, no battery and kick only. Ive got it starting first kick without using the decomp. the exhaust is made from part of a subaru exhaust, the maple seat is cushioned by a jeep YJ spring. this winter it's getting torn down for cleanup of some things Im not happy with, a real headlight, a new way nicer(comfortable, leather) seat, and hope to shed at least 5 lbs off it. Attached Images

10-10-2007, 08:38 PM	#14
sonic reducer Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle WA Oddometer: 196	another Attached Images

10-10-2007, 08:41 PM	#15
sonic reducer Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Seattle WA Oddometer: 196	last for now Attached Images

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