Bobber build ideas

[apexhost]

Hi all,

I am new here and new to building bikes.

I am planning on building a bobber style bike from scratch using as much new stuff as I can.
I have built many things over the years and consider myself good at welding/electronics and general shit like that. I have never built a bike so I am reaching out to all you that have for ideas on what I should do.

Note the bike will be used for advertising/marketing/show and not really a rider, although I will ride it :)

Here is a rough list of what I like to give you an idea of my direction.

Bobber style.
Rigid or Soft tail type frame with 30-35 Deg rake
Springer style forks/front end
200-250 rear wheel chain drive.
Evo/Shovel or panhead style engine with 5 or 6 speed trans
No ape hangers, like em low.
Chrome everywhere.

I prefer to build as much of it as I can myself not so much to save $ although it counts but mainly because I love to make shit.

I am open for ideas and photos etc of what I should look for and also ideas on engineering requirements etc etc.

Dave

[Redmohawk]

Not to limit your motiviation Dave but you do know this is a forum for Streetfighters ? I'm all for bobbers choppers etc just a little supprized you thought here would be your best bet for advice is all. There is not alot of love for motors of the HD variety here really.

[Tony Nitrous]

Red's right.

I read the list of bits and spec you want and cringe.
You want to build a piss poor bike that your not fussed about riding ?

Is this a wind up ? Fishing for a bite maybe ?

[apexhost]

Oh sorry guys, obviously in the wrong place.
As I mentioned it is a marketing/show bike so it does not matter if it is "piss poor".

BTW, the "Bobber" was originally an early model bike stripped down to just the bear essentials.
I thought (obviously wrong) streetfighers were similar.

I know that Streefighters are stripped down/modified for pure power and I now understand where you are coming from.

Thanks
Dave

[xa-mont]

you're just up the road from me Dave. I live in Bairnsdale.

I'm not much of a HD fan myself, but if you need a hand with anything building it i'm happy to help out.

[Gix11]

Tony, all good mate, Dave is a friend of mine.
Hey Dave, the Harley motor is not something that we really care for mate and will get shot down around here. Are you set on a Harley motor of have you considered a Jap motor?

The closest thing to Bobbers we'd consider would be the Cafe Racers:
http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/showthread.php?25996-Kawasaki-Cafe-Racers
http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/forumdisplay.php?77-Cafe-Racer-Gallery

We could still give advice on parts and things though. Check these photos as well as you could guarantee someone on here would know something about one of these: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=gsxr+bobber&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=STwgU-3aEY6hlQWcqYHgDA&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=966

[Gix11]

Trav: You'd get on well with Dave mate, you should catch up some time.

[apexhost]

Hey Trav, thanks for the offer, will probably need as much help as I can get.

Thanks for the tips Si
I am open to any engine really just throwing ideas out.
I was originally going to do a cafe racer but the target market is not similar.
So what would be a good engine do you think for this?
Remember the bike will be going to poker runs and a lot of meets (were there is lots of HD) for fund raisers and events. I dont really have the choice of the events.

I am a long time Jap fan and have had a few of them myself but this is not about riding or personal taste.

Thanks again
Dave

[xa-mont]

What about a muscle bike motor. V max, mt01 etc.?

[ALBI]

mate go for broke on the evo for sure , wouldn't use a shovel motor to old mate , id go for a usd fork .

[Tony Nitrous]

My choice would be oil cooled GSXR1100 / Bandit 1200 motor.
Look OK, go OK. If performance isn't that important then maybe
a similar looking GSXR750 engine?

If you want to turn heads use a Hayabusa lump but they aren't cheap or pretty
but they have an image that shouts "FAST as F#CK"

Use to see a hardtail ZZR1100 in Wolverhampton that had flat bars long diamond shaped
tank with an RD125LC fairing. That turned heads, went OK and looked nasty.

a HD motor will only impress men with lace up leather jeans and bandana's.

[hutch]

welcome mate I would use an aprilia rsv motor v twin?

[xa-mont]

I have experience with Aprilia RSV engines, so I can help with that.

[apexhost]

Thanks for all your ideas, I will do some research on all of them and come up with a plan of some sort

Dave

[Gix11]

Jap motor, sportsbike running gear and bobber styling. All boxes ticked here:

5456

[fimpBIKES]

looks like brake dive would result in instant death

probably belongs in that other thread where monstrosities go to die...

[GammaBoy]

Preload is probably wound all the way in...

[Neo Dutch]

This is a bobber ...
http://www.knucklehead-bobbers.com/1939_knucklehead/images-hd0111/bcbc_3hkb3-468x395.jpg

So is this ...
http://www.fotothing.com/photos/494/49450fdaa0b330fef3fba47d481117eb.jpg

and this ...
http://lisathatcher.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/linda_lovelace_academy_awards_after_party_1974_3m1 lfsj-sized.jpg

This is not, and never will be a "bobber".
http://www.bikez.com/pictures/flyrite choppers/2010/31549_0_1_2_bobber_Image credits - Flyrite Choppers.jpg

[Gix11]

I've got to admit, I have no idea of the definition of a Bobber Neo as it's not something I've ever liked. Could you define it for me and the others that are unsure? I'm seeing the forks and seat are a theme.

[ALBI]

Si a Bobber was a bare bones , cut down , diet enfused Harley that world war 2 troops would get back from service and have money to spend , they would remove all the crap and be bare bones rides that were labelled bobbers and then later turned into hard tails and small fuel tanks .

[Redmohawk]

Shit Si now you've started the whats a "Bobber" thread on a streetfighter forum lol

[GammaBoy]

Bobbers were so named for the shortened or "bobbed" mudguards... but yeah - traditionally they're a stripped down mil-surplus harley.