Forgive my ignorance, but what the hell is a bobber. I know three kinds of English 1) British English,2) Australian English 3) general english , but never heard of a bobber ? Sounds like something masochistic you are going to do to this machine of yours
They have all the parts you need including a bobber frame and some over the top examples of what you can do.
Secondly, there were many frames produced in the 70's, that sometimes appear for sale on the interweb. Santee is one brand that seemed popular. Most are described as Chooper frames but with minor mods you may find it suitable.
Thirdly, there is a bolt on hard tail that is available. This option allows you to keep your Honda front end and allows for a much cheaper build. http://www.tcbroschoppers.com/id27.html
I might add that if it is a bobber you are after then i thnk that you are starting from the wrong place. one of the characteristics of a bobber is that they tend to be very narrow bikes. A large in line 4 has a much greater width than a old v twin. Secondly, bobbers tend to have a retro look for example, using Indian or HD engines. Th cb750 might be nearly 40 years old, but was 30 years ahead of time and the modern engine still looks like the CB750.
To answer the final question, What is a bobber, Im not brave enough to answer that as it seems to be controversial. Id suggest a bobber is a bike with a hard tail, a rake of 35 degrees or less with a retro style. The distinction between a chopper and a bobber is that Choppers tend to have an extreme rake, seating position and very high or low handle bars. Bobbers tend to have an appearance and seating position based on the American and Brittish bikes of the 1950's.
To the casual observer a bobber looks like a restored bike when they are usually new.
A Bobber is a bike with stock rake. Stripped down. spring solo seat . May have a rigid frame.
A chopper in the USA is raked out a lot.... 36º or more. Many hand crafted parts. Sky is the limit.
A chopper in England is any motorcycle-even a stock bike can be called a chopper.
A street tracker is a short track or 1/2 miler racing motorcycle with lights for use on the street.
It may have a custom frame. Suspension front and rear.
A street fighter is a street bike stripped down and can have a custom frame with dropped neck.
A digger usually has a custom frame with extended neck that is low, and raked out a little.
Small gas tank and rigid frame. Low stance.
Well, Imagination... Patience... Hacksaw.... Welder and a willingness to leave off anything that isn't absolutely necessary.
Decide if you want to go rigid with a hardtail, or stock-ish sprung rear suspension.
I recommend checking out the DOHC Chopper forum DeucesWild @ http://deuceswild.yuku.com/ I am registered there as Hoosier Daddy as well but seldom visit anymore. Good bunch who like to cut up their DOHC's.
To each his own, but do me a favor and stay away from ape-hangers and a peanut tank... a stock CB750C (Custom) tank tank is similar in shape and fit the frame... and to me Drag bars are friggin COOL!
81 Honda CB750C - Current Project
67 BSA Spitfire MkIII - Next Up (Full Resto)
81 Honda GL1100 - Bob / Cafe´
80 Suzuki GS750L - Bratstyle
72 Honda CB450K5 - Basket Case
73 Honda CB350F Cafe' (Gone but not forgotten)
Don't wait for opportunity to knock... kick the door down and drag the old harlot in!
This is my bike, I consider it a bobber style. 34 degree rake, 0 up in the back backbone, 0 stretch rigid frame. Springer front end, spring seat, and drag bars. This is what I consider a bobber. Oh and before anyone asks that is me with Angie from the Full Throttle Saloon, what a lucky man I was that day!!!
I know enough to get me in trouble.
1981 Yamaha XS650 Special(current cafe, code name El Diablo Rojo)
1981 CM400C, completed project (code name Home Wrecker)
1981 CB750K, completed project (code name Winter Blues)
SOLD 9-21-2013 gone but certainly not forgotten.
2009 USA Choppers Bad Boy, rigid frame custom chopper.
A bobber?
I've understood it was mainly chuckin' the rear shocks,
cuttin' off the rear half of the bike,
and going with the sloped rear rigid frame.
Barelycomp has it going on.
I'd look at that bike as a bobber.
Go any longer with the springer front end,
and leave the shocks on, it's a chopper imo.
Here's one, from start to finish.
FXDC, aka Hacksaw, has been chopping and bobbin since the 70's.
I might add that if it is a bobber you are after then i thnk that you are starting from the wrong place. one of the characteristics of a bobber is that they tend to be very narrow bikes. A large in line 4 has a much greater width than a old v twin. Secondly, bobbers tend to have a retro look for example, using Indian or HD engines. Th cb750 might be nearly 40 years old, but was 30 years ahead of time and the modern engine still looks like the CB750.
To answer the final question, What is a bobber, Im not brave enough to answer that as it seems to be controversial. Id suggest a bobber is a bike with a hard tail, a rake of 35 degrees or less with a retro style. The distinction between a chopper and a bobber is that Choppers tend to have an extreme rake, seating position and very high or low handle bars. Bobbers tend to have an appearance and seating position based on the American and Brittish bikes of the 1950's.
To the casual observer a bobber looks like a restored bike when they are usually new.
BY THE WAY I CLICKED ON NO go look at this "anything"ONLY ME here
I AGREE with this quoteBUT
YA-NO me,not afraid to step on toe's I've owned plenty of Harley's and always called my Lil bike's (triumph 650 2cyl./cb 650 4cyl./ kz 750 2cyl.) "BOBBER's",
When you ride a bigg touring bike all day and all the time these Lil 2cyl. handle so easy ,all around
can be funner and faster for short trips(bar hopping / twisty & switch backs).
With that said Then they don't have : saddle bags/tour pak's(trunks)/windshields,most all have no rear piloin(seat).SO less is better all around
CHOPPERS are just for show and mostly seen in shows cause they don't ride them,
JUST go to a show and ask a owner,then check the tread on rear tire,
1977 CB750 F2 Super Sport
<LET THOSE WHO RIDE DECIDE><RIDE TO LIVE-LIVE FOR JESUS>
Native American from central Cal, Kickstand UP in S.W.Missouri,
Hey, it's a grey area. Another sweet looking ride.
Lincon/Highway has that curved, sloped frame thing going on.
I don't even see shocks on that, and it does have that bobber look.
Does a set of bumpsticks make it a chopper?
Not according to these guys.
if you read and believe this, bobbers didn't really alter frames.
They went for fast as possible with least amount of coin.
It was the Americans with the choppers that did the altering
and adding bling.
Grey area for sure.
Hey, anytime I get around this cafe/bobber talk, a video clip comes to mind.
What say we go for a quick spin?
Locked
BUT
I've owned plenty of Harley's and always called my Lil bike's (triumph 650 2cyl./cb 650 4cyl./ kz 750 2cyl.) "BOBBER's",
