Bobber

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  • James England
    XS-XJ Super Guru
    • Oct 2010
    • 3039
    • North of England

    #1

    Bobber

    Could someone please tell me what exactly a 'bobber' is. I've seen it mentioned a few times. Could someone define what one is? Maybe a few points it has to have in order to be one? Or things it shouldn't have?
    XS1100F 1980 European model. Standard. Dyna coils. Iridium plugs. XS750 final drive (sometimes). Micron fork brace. Progressive front springs. Geezer regulator/rectifier. Stainless 4 into 2 exhaust. Auto CCT (Venturer 1300) SOLD. New project now on the go. 1980 European model.
  • DiverRay
    Moderator
    • Nov 2004
    • 7603
    • Star, IDAHO

    #2
    The "old" form is a motorcycle that has had the big fenders, and most everything else removed or cut to save weight. They used to "bob" HD and Triumph bikes so they would make better dirt bikes, or just for racing on the street from bar to bar.
    Ray Matteis
    KE6NHG
    XS1100 E '78 (winter project)
    XS1100 SF Bob Jones worked on it!

    Comment

    • James England
      XS-XJ Super Guru
      • Oct 2010
      • 3039
      • North of England

      #3
      So, is 'bobber' a relatively new word for it then? I've never heard it before although I see it's used in the UK too now......

      We used to call bike cafe racers because they were supposed to be used for zooming between cafes...
      XS1100F 1980 European model. Standard. Dyna coils. Iridium plugs. XS750 final drive (sometimes). Micron fork brace. Progressive front springs. Geezer regulator/rectifier. Stainless 4 into 2 exhaust. Auto CCT (Venturer 1300) SOLD. New project now on the go. 1980 European model.

      Comment

      • motoman
        Master of XSology
        • Aug 2005
        • 8413
        • Grand Junction, Colorado

        #4
        A bit different than the cafe style, which came from your part of the world originally and caught on here mid to late sixties-early seventies. Some members here have some pretty sharp looking xs bobbers and am sure would gladly post a pic. for ya.
        81H Venturer1100 "The Bentley" (on steroids) 97 Yamaha YZ250(age reducer) 92 Honda ST1100 "Twisty"(touring rocket) Age is relative to the number of seconds counted 'airing' out an 85ft. table-top.

        Comment

        • b.walker5
          XS-XJ Guru
          • Feb 2009
          • 1745
          • Invercargill, New Zealand

          #5
          Hi James.

          In my view "Bobber" is code for taking a perfectly good and functional bike and butchering it beyond all original recognition to turn it into a perfectly un-rideable, and sometimes hideously ugly, example of somebody's fertile imagination.

          I stress the point that this is "My View" and I fully accept it's not a widely shared view, however we are all individuals and 'each to their own'. Sometimes I admire the skill and craftmanship that goes into some of these 'creations' but for the most part I'm left wondering "why the fcuk did they do that???"

          Google 'Bobber' and you'll see plenty of examples, some good and some appalling. Up to you to decide if you like them or not.

          1980 SG. (Sold - waiting on replacement)
          2000 XJR1300. The Real modern XS11. Others are just pretenders.

          Woman (well, my wife anyway) are always on Transmit and never Receive.

          "A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be" Albert Einstien.

          Comment

          • BA80
            Doctor of XSology
            • Oct 2010
            • 9980
            • Tulsa, Ok

            #6
            Yeah, Here's a really ugly one

            This is the one that Montreaux_Blue (RIP) used to ride before he bought the Limey Accent bike from Karla Jones.



            A long ways from a butchered and hidious. That thing hauled a$$ too.

            I used to give him a hard time about it not having a back seat.

            Guess I should throw a pic of Limey in here too........just because...

            Greg

            Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

            ― Albert Einstein

            80 SG Ol' Okie;79 engine & carbs w/pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, Custom Mac 4 into 2 exhaust, ACCT,XS850 final drive,110/90/19 front tire,TKat fork brace, XS750 140 MPH speedometer, Vetter IV fairing, aftermarket hard bags and trunk, LG high back seat, XJ rear shocks.

            The list changes.

            Comment

            • DGXSER
              Doctor of XSology(Deceased)
              • Nov 2008
              • 12001
              • Cincinnati, Ohio

              #7
              Chpper used to mean a bike that was cut up and changed dramatically, bobber was one that got parts removed to lighten it up, not so much cutting "chopping". Now days seem to use the terms pretty interchangably.
              Life is what happens while your planning everything else!

              When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.

              81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
              80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection


              Previously owned
              93 GSX600F
              80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
              81 XS1100 Special
              81 CB750 C
              80 CB750 C
              78 XS750

              Comment

              • crazy steve
                XS-XJ Guru MODERATOR
                • Jan 2009
                • 7932
                • Beautiful outer Yelm, WA

                #8
                Don's got the closest definition so far...

                A 'bobber' is a bike that's had stock parts removed/cut down for both less weight and sometimes a styling statement. Sometimes lowered, stock forks, usually single seat. You can 'bob' a bike and still retain all of the original bikes' ride/handling. Kind of the US version of a cafe bike...

                A 'chopper' is just that; a bike that's been seriously 'chopped' on, usually hardtail, extended forks, sometimes a big rake. Here, you're willing to sacrifice ride/handling for 'the look'.

                You do see the terms used rather sloppily, and there can be bikes that would fit either catagory, but that's basically it...
                Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

                '78E original owner - resto project
                '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
                '82 XJ rebuild project
                '80SG restified, red SOLD
                '79F parts...
                '81H more parts...

                Other current bikes:
                '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
                '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
                '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
                Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
                Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

                Comment

                • Shacknasty
                  XStremely XSive
                  • Feb 2011
                  • 379
                  • SFV-SoCal

                  #9
                  I have come to dislike the term "bobber', in fact, I have a hard time even writing it. The old dudes that came home from WW2 and took all the unnecessary weight off their bikes and bobbed the fenders to make them go faster never used the moniker "bobber'. They called their bikes "cut-downs" or sometimes "bob-jobs".

                  Between dufus hipsters calling every bike with flat black paint and red wheels a "bobber" and throwing around the phrase "old school", sometimes I just wanna puke!

                  Comment

                  • 11Rider
                    XStremely XSive
                    • Aug 2010
                    • 331

                    #10
                    Originally posted by DGXSER
                    Chpper used to mean a bike that was cut up and changed dramatically, bobber was one that got parts removed to lighten it up, not so much cutting "chopping". Now days seem to use the terms pretty interchangably.
                    ^^^^That's the answer^^^^
                    '79 XS11 Special, fork gaiters, Uni pods, 45 pilots, 140 mains, ditched the octy, solo seat, T kat fork brace

                    Purrs like a kitten, runs like a scalded cat

                    Comment

                    • b.walker5
                      XS-XJ Guru
                      • Feb 2009
                      • 1745
                      • Invercargill, New Zealand

                      #11
                      Originally posted by BA80
                      Yeah, Here's a really ugly one
                      Looks like I struck a nerve. Perhaps I should have ended my post with "Let the Games Begin".

                      I did state, if you care to read, that it was "My View" and that it was not 'widely shared'. Sorry Greg, but i make no apology for having an opinion, and whats the point of having an opinion if it cant be expressed. You know, 'freedom of speech' and all that stuff.
                      1980 SG. (Sold - waiting on replacement)
                      2000 XJR1300. The Real modern XS11. Others are just pretenders.

                      Woman (well, my wife anyway) are always on Transmit and never Receive.

                      "A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be" Albert Einstien.

                      Comment

                      • fredintoon
                        Master of XSology
                        • Mar 2004
                        • 6795
                        • Saskatoon SK

                        #12
                        Originally posted by James England
                        Could someone please tell me what exactly a 'bobber' is. I've seen it mentioned a few times. Could someone define what one is? Maybe a few points it has to have in order to be one? Or things it shouldn't have?
                        Hi James,
                        a bob is a short haircut.
                        From the 1920s:-
                        If skirts become much shorter, said the flapper, with a sob,
                        I'll have two more cheeks to powder and a lot more hair to bob.
                        Fred Hill, S'toon
                        XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
                        "The Flying Pumpkin"

                        Comment

                        • James England
                          XS-XJ Super Guru
                          • Oct 2010
                          • 3039
                          • North of England

                          #13
                          Originally posted by fredintoon
                          Hi James,
                          a bob is a short haircut.
                          From the 1920s:-
                          If skirts become much shorter, said the flapper, with a sob,
                          I'll have two more cheeks to powder and a lot more hair to bob.
                          Thanks for answering my question. All the others kept talking about motorbikes and I couldn't understand why!
                          XS1100F 1980 European model. Standard. Dyna coils. Iridium plugs. XS750 final drive (sometimes). Micron fork brace. Progressive front springs. Geezer regulator/rectifier. Stainless 4 into 2 exhaust. Auto CCT (Venturer 1300) SOLD. New project now on the go. 1980 European model.

                          Comment

                          • James England
                            XS-XJ Super Guru
                            • Oct 2010
                            • 3039
                            • North of England

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Shacknasty
                            "cut-downs" or sometimes "bob-jobs".
                            That rings a bell actually. I remember the phrase from the 60's.
                            XS1100F 1980 European model. Standard. Dyna coils. Iridium plugs. XS750 final drive (sometimes). Micron fork brace. Progressive front springs. Geezer regulator/rectifier. Stainless 4 into 2 exhaust. Auto CCT (Venturer 1300) SOLD. New project now on the go. 1980 European model.

                            Comment

                            • James England
                              XS-XJ Super Guru
                              • Oct 2010
                              • 3039
                              • North of England

                              #15
                              Thanks folks. I am now fully enlightened! I must say, Montreux Blue's bikes do look good, even given my penchant for 'standard' bikes. Looking at the work, attention to detail and love that obviously went into them both (especially Limey), I felt sad that this person whom, I've never even met is no longer with us.

                              Yes, I've seen some shocking butchery on bikes. Mind you, the same thing happens on houses here. Someone takes a lovely Victorian house and 'modernises' it by removing the fireplaces, putting plastic windows in and so on. I suppose bikes aren't immune from something similar.
                              XS1100F 1980 European model. Standard. Dyna coils. Iridium plugs. XS750 final drive (sometimes). Micron fork brace. Progressive front springs. Geezer regulator/rectifier. Stainless 4 into 2 exhaust. Auto CCT (Venturer 1300) SOLD. New project now on the go. 1980 European model.

                              Comment

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