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...
(http://www.salinasboys.com/Projects_page/Beautiful%20Loser%20bike/BL5b.jpg)
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?
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..
I dont remember it but hte gs is too modern a bike to look right.
just look at this thing though:
(http://www.salinasboys.com/Projects_page/Beautiful%20Loser%20bike/BL6b.jpg)
really low (fork internals cut down to lower bike), spoke wheels, clean lines. its the motorcycle equivalent to a slammed and dechromed hot rod.
oh yeah, its got 104 hp and weighs 300lbs.
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.
Quote from: pantablo on January 16, 2007, 01:30:03 AM
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.
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
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.
+1 on the CB750. Any of the old CBs make great cafe racer/bobber bikes. Also, the Norton Commando and Yamaha XS650.
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on January 16, 2007, 09:36:23 AM
+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
+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...
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.
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:
(http://home.brisnet.org.au/~jmiller/honda/cb4004/400%20rear%20side.jpg)
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.
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
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.
Pablo...
Do it to a V-Max.
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
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
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.
its NOT a chopper.
what do I have to do to build one like that bike!
He's not makin' a chopper, Sweets. He's makin' a bobber.
Edit: Pablo beat me to it!
Quote from: seshadri_srinath on January 16, 2007, 11:55:59 AM
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.
I checked savages and viragos. both seem too raked out for a bobber-they're better suited to a chopper project.
Well ... a bobber has no rear fender or anything after the riders seat right ...
Like this ...
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ironbikers.it/special/kustom-drag-bobber/kustom-drag-bobber-02.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.ironbikers.it/ironbikers/modules.php%3Fname%3DNews%26file%3Darticle%26sid%3D67&h=600&w=800&sz=330&tbnid=f_b1J8EAPdh1CM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbobber&start=3&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=3
Yea the savage has that already. The rear fender is unboltable, the rail with sissy bar goes with it, and the frame ends with the riders seat really.
I had a savage bobber last week ... OK OK more work needed ... but yea.
Cool.
Srinath.
^^ that is indeed a very nice bike, but a chopper in my book. the raked front isnt somethign I see on a true bobber. but that bike has the classic bobber tail-slim fender, etc...
OK ... I think I know what you're talking about ... you might want to try de raking a savage ... its actually got a huge protrusion in the frame where it has been raked. Maybe de rake ... or fine ... do some other bike ... if its shorter wheelbase and not raked out ... it should steer OK ...
Cool.
Srinath.
Veeeeeee Maaaaaaaaax
If you chopped down a springer front end, you wouldn't need to de-rake it.
Quote from: pantablo on January 16, 2007, 12:06:46 AMNo, the gs is not a good candidate so dont even...
Which GS are you talking about?
Here's a GS (Click for big):
(http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/RVertigo/MotosPhotos/th_GS1000c.jpg) (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/RVertigo/MotosPhotos/GS1000c.jpg) (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/RVertigo/MotosPhotos/th_GS1000a.jpg) (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/RVertigo/MotosPhotos/GS1000a.jpg) (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/RVertigo/MotosPhotos/th_GS1000b.jpg) (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/RVertigo/MotosPhotos/GS1000b.jpg)
It's a GS1000... I don't recall the exact year ('78 or '79).
Pretty much any of those 60's-70's bikes would work... So, if you're looking for something light and nimble, get a smaller one... Like a 400 or something... And if you're looking for something beefy, get a bigger one... 750-1000. :thumb:
All the UJM makers (H#nda, Kawi', 'zuki) have a year/model that's good for it...
:thumb:
Just find one with tank, frame, and rake that are close to what you want.........
Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on January 16, 2007, 02:58:54 PM
Veeeeeee Maaaaaaaaax
Dude ... to begin with ... that damn thing handled like an overloaded wheel barrow ...
And bobbing it will make it less stable and less agile if it was even possible ...
You do know that Peetey pablo is doing it right ... you can bet its going to be pussied up ... so I am just giving him the least distance to being pussied ... so when we all decide its pathetic, it can be reversed to stock.
Cool.
Srinath.
Quote from: seshadri_srinath on January 16, 2007, 03:54:57 PM
You do know that Peetey pablo is doing it right ... you can bet its going to be pussied up ... so I am just giving him the least distance to being pussied ... so when we all decide its pathetic, it can be reversed to stock.
Cool.
Srinath.
oh you are SO looking at a BAN...
How about a KZ750 twin?
If you really want a solid project... find a crashed sporty or buel and pick up an aftermarket frame. I've seen frames sell for as little as $450 or you can pick up a roller for 2-3 grand..
Check this place out, a little pricier than ebay but good for some ideas..
http://www.suckerpunchsally.com/
No one liked that GS1000? :dunno_white:
I just about wizzed right in my pants when I saw how cheap they were selling it...
It's true the Yamaha 650 has been done alot, but it's a great platform and cheap. I once picked one up for 50 bucks and then gave it to my brother.
Here's some nice bobbers done from them.
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b244/jakedechant/hardtailbobber.jpg)
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b244/jakedechant/yamaha650bobber.jpg)
not a bad cafe--lose the front fender and you have a bobber.
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b244/jakedechant/yamaha650cafe.jpg)
As far as cafe's go, I almost went for this bike instead of the GS.
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b244/jakedechant/gb500.jpg)
Jake
Quote from: fettcols on January 16, 2007, 06:30:38 PM
http://www.suckerpunchsally.com/
this is the closest I saw there:
(http://www.sinwear.us/images/Img184.jpg)
the key I am seeing is that the frame line is carried over the top edge of the tank, instead of the bottom like on the choppers, and the forks arent lengthened/raked out. handlebars are dragbar-like as well. this keeps the proportions of the bike low.
now this is starting to get there. the lines are flatter than a chopper and there's a simplicity to it (I think the parallel twin helps that).
(http://ratbike.org/photos/y250triumph.jpg)
here's what i'd like to do to the wife's bike once she's ready to move up to something else
its a savage, those vigi's look cool too.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/fivepointsskates/Motorcycle/DSCN1972.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/fivepointsskates/Motorcycle/DSCN1969.jpg)
Here's a couple nice ones... I'm a fan of dragbars.. I would like to see these things with the larger and longer 04+ tanks. The only the one thing that bothers me about a lot of these things is the hardtail frames. That and forward controls are just kind of unnatural for me.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/fettcols/Img393.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y29/fettcols/Img222.gif)
Quote from: papiocho on January 17, 2007, 04:20:15 AM
here's what i'd like to do to the wife's bike once she's ready to move up to something else
its a savage, those vigi's look cool too.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/fivepointsskates/Motorcycle/DSCN1972.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/fivepointsskates/Motorcycle/DSCN1969.jpg)
Thanks for putting up that pic ... oddly ... that is almost unmodified. The bars are different, the rear fender is probably a trimmed stocker. The seat is also a shaved or modded stock. The rest is almost untouched.
Mine is 1/2 way there already. I didn't do the rear fender ... and did something else for the bars. Seat I may go the other way ... thicker and more height ... instead of less, cos its already knee sprainingly low. I may do fender later this year ... but otherwise I am nearly there.
Cool.
Srinath.
I like the bobber look. My hubby is converting his V-Star (not sure what year) to a bobber. He's fabricating the fender himself, got the springs for the seat yesterday and ordered the seat and license plate holder. He's gonna to try to get everything done, including the paint job, before we go to Myrtle Beach for the Spring Rally...we'll see
Quote from: pantablo on January 16, 2007, 02:22:27 PM
I checked savages and viragos. Both seem too raked out for a bobber-they're better suited to a chopper project.
'87-90-something Viragos had a 27 degree rake, same as a stock FXLR Low Rider.
Also, rake changes with preload, so suspension set-up is pretty important, too.
Aaaah ... the V-star ... Classic example of how they took a semi flawed bike (a virago) screwed up what was not broken (open drive shaft that will rust is a masterpiece), ignored the minor problems (eating sparkplugs every 3 months), and set up the catastrophic problems (black box failure and starter clutch failure) so that you cannot get at them that easy. And yea made it look pretty ...
Anyway chopping or bobbing that damn thing is going to be darn near impossible ... I'd like to see pics, both now and when finished.
Cool.
Srinath.
Quote from: seshadri_srinath on January 17, 2007, 11:39:10 AM
Aaaah ... the V-star ... Classic example of how they took a semi flawed bike (a virago) screwed up what was not broken (open drive shaft that will rust is a masterpiece), ignored the minor problems (eating sparkplugs every 3 months), and set up the catastrophic problems (black box failure and starter clutch failure) so that you cannot get at them that easy. And yea made it look pretty ...
Anyway chopping or bobbing that damn thing is going to be darn near impossible ... I'd like to see pics, both now and when finished.
Cool.
Srinath.
OK - so far he has removed the rear fender subframe. He's going to work on the rear fender first. If I understand correctly, the fender has to be molded and mounted to the swingarm and then he'll work on the seat.
But here is what his bike looks like - that's my GS in the back:
(http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g74/Jackiei26/DSCF0181.jpg)
Nice apes ... how does it handle ... I'd love apes ... they aerate your armpits. And those that get to follow me ... its their problem ...
Now that rear fender is plastic on that thing isnt it. Well since it goes up and down with the swingarm ... its better in plastic for that purpose ... unfortunately it doesn;t help your purpose.
Cool.
Srinath.
Oh I almost forgot. To be a real bobber it absolutely needs a kickstarter.
eff that.
Quote from: pantablo on January 18, 2007, 02:16:23 PM
eff that.
Aww, come on. Harley's can be tough to kick, but any relatively low displacement parallel twin should be a breeze. Heck, if you can't kick it, just push-start it.
I've kicked a 750... It's not that bad... Unless you forget to actually turn it on. :mad:
That XS 650 yam was a beeatch to kick and start if it was cold, almost have to kick it till warm ... but once warm it was a snap. First kick.
Cool.
Srinath.
one of the worst bikes I ever kicked was my brother's XR600 that had a broken compression release lever. At the time I was about 155 and I jumped on that thing and it actually threw me off the bike .
Quote from: jake42 on January 19, 2007, 06:32:21 AM
one of the worst bikes I ever kicked was my brother's XR600 that had a broken compression release lever. At the time I was about 155 and I jumped on that thing and it actually threw me off the bike .
HAHAHAHAHA... I get the best mental image of that...
Quote from: jake42 on January 19, 2007, 06:32:21 AMone of the worst bikes I ever kicked was my brother's XR600 that had a broken compression release lever. At the time I was about 155 and I jumped on that thing and it actually threw me off the bike .
Yeah... Sometimes they kick back. :icon_confused:
very nice xs650.
(http://www.650motorcycles.com/HansProst04.jpg)
good start to another:
(http://www.650motorcycles.com/TannerPortland1.jpg)
I like that first XS, considering it uses the front end and wheels from my other bike 8). Bet the exhaust gets the rider pretty warm, though.
(http://jjvphotography.com/images/falsealarm/badass.jpg)
an old KZ750 this was a pain to kick. and it had induvidual pipes from each exhuast outlet running under the bike LOUD!!!
Damn Jah... Get some tires with tread on 'em. :cookoo: