What makes a bobber motorcycle

Style took priority over performance and therefore, Bobbers took a back seat for a while. The fundamental difference between a Chopper and Bobber is that generally a Chopper has a completely custom frame or an extremely modified stock frame.

The Chopper is the extreme version of the original bobber and will often sacrifice performance details like handling to achieve their look. Triumph saw a resurgence after bringing back the Bonneville in which gave an ideal platform for customisation. Slowly bikes were put into production that were released as Bobbers which caused some controversy as to what the actual definition of a Bobber is; as it all began with riders doing their own customisation rather than the manufacturer.

However, the style won over many riders who saw these bikes as homage to the old school Bobber. In Harley released the Street Bob which slid right into the Bobber niche. More recently and evidence that Bobbers are still revered by bikers was the release of the Indian Scout Bobber and the Triumph Bobber.

I look at these a little later on in some depth. Fancy the Bobber style without having to do the work yourself? Although the Street Bob comes standard ready for 2-up riding, the black seat and pillion pad are very subtle and stick within the remit of keeping the low-down riding position. People were getting more creative with their bob-jobs. Bobbers became ever more detailed with chrome plating, upholstery, or other finishes. By the mids, the U. The bobber motorcycle customizations evolved throughout the 50s and 60s.

The bobber was the best of the best when it came down to custom motorcycling. Riders who wanted something totally unique and different stuck to bobbing their motorcycles. The bobber had become a style-setter with many market brands taking bobber influence into their new motorcycles.

A chopper favored style over functionality, which the bobber put speed and performance ahead of style. Many brands began to make their motorcycles much faster as well. By the mids, most Japanese and European performance bikes would outperform all but the fastest bobbers.

Although bikes were starting to be made much faster, riders who wanted custom bikes still did bob-jobs on their motorcycles. For many designers, a motorcycle transforms into a bob-job if the frame of the bike is modified as well, normally by making the whole bike shorter.

Ever since the first bob-job hit the streets, this distinctive motorcycle design has been a popular choice for bikers who want to be unique.

By the design of early Harley-Davidson J model V Twin, it was inevitable that they would someday become bobbers. These were heavy-duty motorcycles designed more for comfort and long-distance touring than flat-out performance. So, riders were forced to modify their bikes. Motorcycle enthusiasts found out that they could make their bikes lighter, faster, and much easier to work on and maintain if they removed the unnecessary weight.

The most disposable parts were fork tins, saddlebags, crash bars, exhaust pipes, and fenders. Regardless of the parts that were removed, one thing is clear, motorcycle riders in the s and s were doing what passionate riders were doing.

These motorbikes with removed parts came to be known as bobbers or bob-jobs. They were the sport bikes ridden by stunt riders, racers, and badass bikers. But as the era wore on, more and more specialized bikes from Europe and Asia began to dominate the industry. Once modifications were no longer based on increasing performance, the focus was turned to enhancing style. Bikes became longer, leaner, lower; in other words, they became bob-jobs.

These days, people are spending large sums of money to buy motorbikes that recreate these old school bob-jobs. If you are new to customized motorcycles, you are probably wondering what makes a motorcycle a bobber. A bobber is a customized motorbike that has been stripped off all the extras and made to appear simple.

A bob-job is a minimalist that has a superior power to weight ratio, translating to better performance. Normally, the fenders at the rear end are made smaller and the fenders at the front are removed. The main difference between a bob-job and a chopper is that a bobber is normally designed around a standard frame, while a chopper frame is often cut and welded to suit. The US is still the fatherland of bob-jobs, although they have been embraced by other cultures looking for a unique mix of attitude and power.

Choppers; on the other hand, are the boldest class of motorbikes in the world. They have a combination of eccentric features integrated into a highly customized design. For a bike to be regarded as a chopper, it must have undergone a major makeover near the steering and to the front end to provide enough room for the very long fork combined with the pulled-back handlebars and a smaller front wheel.

The Street Bob motorbike was a made-over Dyna, which represents the blue-collar workers of America. Riding through the twisty mountain roads you will find the bike to be a whole lot of fun. You can throw out around corners with ease. The bike feels light and agile and it is incredibly easy to forget that you are riding a near seven hundred pounds cruiser.

The mini-bars are controversial both in styling and positioning. The front setup sorts most bumps, leaving you only to feel the largest of shocks and exceptionally improving handling. The Street Bob single disc brakes feature a four-piston fixed caliper up front and a two-piston floating unit at the rear.

This unique setup is both progressive and instantly powerful when the need arises. These seats were removed to lend to the lighter ride. The seat, too, will likely not be a permanent feature on your bike. Despite their similarities, these two bike types are different breeds. As mentioned, bobber motorcycles are motorcycles that have been reduced in size and weight for the sake of speed. Comparatively, chopper motorcycles are almost entirely custom-made.

The line between a bobber and a chopper often depends on the person doing the modifying. Bobbers and choppers may have some crossover, but bobbers and cruisers are two different species entirely. Interested in some cool motorcycle accessories?

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