bobber project questions

[pantablo]

so, if you were to build a bike that was like this one, what bike would you start with and what would you have to do with it? No, the gs is not a good candidate so dont even...


this is a custom bobber by salinasboys.com and costs about $60,000 if I recall...this bike lost a Biker Build-Off on Discovery channel.

I love the looks. I'd do 'rat bob' though...
doesnt have to be a vee twin, prefer it not to be.

How would YOU build one?

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

If you recall my thread from several months ago, I wanted to make the GS a bobber.. not quite as nice as that, just a basic GS frame with a bobber tail..

[pantablo]

I dont remember it but hte gs is too modern a bike to look right.

just look at this thing though:


really low (fork internals cut down to lower bike), spoke wheels, clean lines. its the motorcycle equivalent to a slammed and dechromed hot rod.

[pantablo]

oh yeah, its got 104 hp and weighs 300lbs.

[dgyver]

There was a GS450 on ebay last year that someone had done something similar. Sadly, I did not keep a pic of it. It really did look good. I think the teardrop tank makes the look.

[poolshark]

oh yeah, its got 104 hp and weighs 300lbs.

THAT weighs only 300lbs? Pray, how?

If you want a more modern, cafe-style bobber, go with a Honda CB750. Reliable, decent technology, available: kind of the like the Honda Civic for the cafe world. If you want an older school bobber, ala The Wild One, go find yourself a beat up HD knucklehead.

[3imo]

The issue is money.

If money isn't a problem, I would go with a new frame.  Any chop shop in your area will sell you a Bobber frame $1000 - $3500.  Depending on how custom you want.
Most shops I've went to have ther own proprietary designs, so be sure to pick a frame first, then check your dimensions on a motor and drivetrain.

Being as broke as the next guy, I would opt for a chop of my own design.  I am quite fond of the Old CB750's myself, and they can be had for cheap, plus a slew of parts to play with. Old harley softtails frames would work too, but I have yet to find one in decent condition for a decent price.

Is it fair to say the GS frame cannot be chopped into a Bobber?  I don't think so.  Alot of welding, patience and trial and error could get a GS frame molded into a good bobber.

Hmmmmm....maybe my new streetfighter could be a bobber....hmmmmm

[cafeboy]

Just go to the book store and get the book (How to build a cheap chopper) it's full of great stuff and how to's and what is good to use.

[Alphamazing]

+1 on the CB750. Any of the old CBs make great cafe racer/bobber bikes. Also, the Norton Commando and Yamaha XS650.

[poolshark]

+1 on the CB750. Any of the old CBs make great cafe racer/bobber bikes. Also, the Norton Commando and Yamaha XS650.

Good luck finding a Norton. The ultimate cafe racer?
Vincent Black Shadow engine + Norton featherbed frame = *drool

[scratch]

+1 on the XS650, but it's been done a million times.  An XS850, or the XS1100, would be neat.  But the first thing I thought of when I saw the picture Pablo posted, I thought VLX600, or the late '90's 750 Magna.  Maybe an '85-86 Yamaha XJ700 or 700X Maxim.

Or, just get a hardtail frame and throw in a 250 Rebel motor (I've seen this).  I've also seen a BSA custom in a hardtail frame; I'd be a little more partial to an XV750-1100 Virago motor in a hardtail frame, though.  Hmmm...an '83 XJ920 Virago/Black Shadow bobber...

[coll0412]

You can do it for a lot cheaper than $60,000. In fact that bike is listed on their websites for 38,000

If you want to do it yourself I would say $20,000 is a realistic amount.

Alot of chopper shops, sell there frames alone, or you can by a rolling chassis for a decent chunk of change. Get a prebuilt motor(S&S) and tranny and some custom paint and your there.

Not to make fun of these guys, but a custom bike is really not that hard, especially if you buy the tank and fenders and modify them.

[pantablo]

well, I've discovered that many confuse or lump together bobbers with choppers. A chopper has a distinct upward thrust to the top of the frame where the bobber doesnt. I dont like choppers but love bobbers.

I like cafe racers too, and when I was looking at first bikes was seriously looking at 75 honda cb400's to do this to:


but thats also a different look...although I'd consider it. If I did that I'd get rid of that rear fender though...


oh, and I checked-that Salinasboys bobber is only $38,000...Chopper shops that sell frames, from what I see sell chopper frames, not bobber frames.

[coll0412]

Okay, since the frame is a bit different it might be hard to find a off the shelf frame, but I am sure someone could build one for you

[The Buddha]

Easy chop - IMHO ... Savage 650. It has to be light cos the length and the rake will prevent it from being rideable if it weighs a ton ... and No that thing does not weigh 300 lbs. Maybe the frame alone (no motor or transmission) weighs 300.
I dont think any 4 cyl will look right chopped. The motor on a CB750 is too wide as is the maxim or the GS750 series. Virago 7/11/s as well as other jap V twins work fine. As do parallel twins or singles.
I'd definetly start with a savage. A vulcan front end with a sliced and raked out neck is all it would need. Someone in statesville NC has one. Might talk to him and run and look at it cos its like 30 miles away ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Alphamazing]

Pablo...

Do it to a V-Max.

[manofthefield]

I'd go with an XS650... in fact I want to do one or buy one some day.  I like it cause it's not a v-twin or I-4 and it's japanese reliable (though I wouldn't mind a v-twin either).  They're fairly cheap, especially if you do a rat bob.  Yeah, a few people have done them before, but that means there are some parts ready to buy to  put one together.  There is support in a few forums I believe and there is a parts site that has XS650 bobber parts called MikesXS or something

[pantablo]

sorry, his blue bobber is the "sub 300lb bike...very similar though. read the review in upper right.

http://www.salinasboys.com/project_sb_bobber.html

[The Buddha]

Ok That blue crap ... unless the tires and tank and oil tank and frame and forks are filled with helium ... isn't under 300 lbs either.
Lets see, harley motor and tranny weigh 250 dry. Add in oil, forks and some minimal stuff its 300. You're not even going to get wheels in for 300. I'd be surprised at anything under 450 and that is a remarkably light harley.
And peetey pablo ... a chopper needs to have a light motor ... and overall be very light, else it will not be steerable.
Cool.
Srinath.

[pantablo]

its NOT a chopper.

what do I have to do to build one like that bike!