BOBBERS CATEGORY (C/N Bike Contest!)

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Al " Muddy" Therrien on August 31, 2010 at 1:03pm

This is my planetary ride, 1974 sholelhead 88" I built everything from the weld on hardtail, to the pipes, MODIFIED TRACTOR SEAT, fender, brass grips, cut down the primarys, also run at bike events with the knobby 19" tires front and rear. Modified s&s L series with original mushroom air cleaner.

Attachments:

• black ragtime 001.JPG, 940 KB
• Burn & Turn 003.JPG, 1.2 MB
• panhead engine 022.JPG, 1 MB

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dragoo-Huntaz Cyclaz on August 31, 2010 at 1:44pm

Some more info about my own built, which is named "One of Its Kind" :
This project started with an FLH 77 basis. The major aim was to build a simple, compact and tiny real bobber (=only minor welds to the frame, but no new or home-made hardtail...), despite of its original fat ass.
Kept the frame, engine and tranny, and built, modified or adapted the rest.
Many parts, such as handlebars, seat pan, sissy, licence plate holder, tank shift, pegs, 2-into-1 exhaust and many brackets are homemade.
Concerning some of the details :
- the rear light had been done out of an ex-MagLite, and includes a set of leds instead of the original bulb ;
- all fork components are new... but have been bought separately (for cost reasons), and then assembled ;
- the new rims (19" front and 18" rear) have been black-powdercoated before being mounted on hubs (NOS at the back, new at the front) ;
- the shift knob is a diamond in which a single blue led (indicating neutral) has been "hidden"... Very nice effect while riding at night !
;-D
- before being modified, the rear fender was an original Sporty front fender ;
- the transparent and phosphorescent kicker pedal comes from a BMX, and is assorted to the Baxter grips as well as to both tires ;
- I got rid of the former ignition+battery system, and replaced it w/ a Hunt magneto ;
- the cylinder oil tank also has transparent left+right sides ;
- also replaced the 77 swingarm and the japanese brake systems (front & rear) with a 72 swingarm+drum at the rear, and a brand new mechanical drum which has been adapted to fit this type of Springer fork ;
- oil lines are external and made of brass ;
- the air filter is a Paughco teardrop replica...
(the seat on pics is not the final one, because not finished yet)

It took me 10 months to build it, as I'm working in my building's underground, and no private place there :-/
The first run happened 6 weeks ago and everything is just right now. Gives me lot of fun.
All details are available here, or via www.dragoo-huntaz-cyclaz.com

MiK a.k.a. Dragoo-Huntaz Cyclaz, France

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wrong Gear on August 31, 2010 at 1:58pm

This is Moe'; as in Moe' Dollars Than Sense. It's a '62 TR6, which I just finished this spring after 2 years of long hours. I did all the work except the large powder-coating and some machining.

To achieve the look I was goin' after, I tried 4 different front ends, 3 oil tanks, & 3 seats. Five gas tanks were tried before I finally created the modified one shown. I wanted to retain the original stance and did not want a "store bought" hardtail so I designed the mega-strut using solid stock adapted to the original seat frame section & attaching to the stock shock tabs.

The engine is completely modified with a 750 kit, cams and other boring crap. There's a 16" rear and a 21" fatty up front. The springer is a modified 4 under to round out the squatty attire. It turned out to be a sweet little scooter.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Anderson on August 31, 2010 at 3:15pm

My bike is a 2000 Kawasaki 800 Drifter that I purchased and rode stock for several years. For those of you that don't know, the Drifter was Kawasaki's version of a retro “Indian” motorcycle, complete with large, valanced fenders and a huge fish-tail exhaust.
Like many projects, this one started out sitting in a comfortable garage chair looking at the bike. I knew that many post-war bobbers started out like this one, a full dress bike that someone started stripping off the unnecessary parts.
Out came the wrenches and the more parts came off, the better the bike looked.
I welded in steel rod to fill the seam around the lower edge of the gas tank. This made it look much “fuller”. I also fabricated up an adjustable rear lowering kit, drew out the graphics on a computer, had vinyl made up, painted the tank, applied the vinyl, clearcoated over and wet sanded to it the proper luster.
For the exhaust, I mocked it up using black plastic pipe from the lumber yard and then ordered in some mandrel bent pipe angles. Lots of cutting, fitting, grinding and welding and three days later, I had my pipes (all 22 separate pieces!). A little gas grill paint and they were done. The seat was an EBAY find that I built mounts for. I made up two different configurations of rear fenders, but decided it looked best without any fenders at all. An aftermarket, bat-mounted tachometer and many small touches and it was done.
I have been riding the bike for a couple of years like this and could not be any happier with it. Built in the spirit of post-war bobbers and the idea that “less is more” works for me.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ian solley on August 31, 2010 at 3:28pm

OK I entered a matching bike in choppers - this one is my Othello Tracker - again its alike a chopper bobber cross. Based upon a HD Streetbob, but with bespoke frae and metal and running on 23" rims - the bikes ride amazingly. I took thye pics at a local old BSA dealer and aged them to give it an arty look !

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James A. Willis on August 31, 2010 at 8:37pm

This bike is bad-ass. Damn nice photos as well!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Greg MacKinnon on August 31, 2010 at 3:40pm

78 Honda SOHC Pops 812cc, Custom swing arm frame, lots of copper, 53mm inverted front end, 21" front wheel, custom drum brake, Bike will be wired shortly and fired up for the first time.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Straight Pipe Productions on August 31, 2010 at 3:41pm

MY 1977 ironhead hardtail "Gold Dust" that i built built in my garage. I also did the body and paint, the bike took me two years to build. A few things like a 66' gto parking lamp lens turned into tail and brake light, Paint gun brake pedal, stainless steel oil bag/bat box/kick start bracket. There is nothing i would change about the bike, I built it exactly the way i wanted it! Enjoy......There is some great bikes in this contest and i wish everyone the best of luck!! video-sneak peak http://www.choppertownnation.com/video/1977-ironhead-bobber-sneak
Straight Pipe Productions!

Attachments:

• DSC03477.JPG, 2.7 MB
• DSC03478.JPG, 2.6 MB

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by ian solley on August 31, 2010 at 3:57pm

Ok this is one of my first bikes and still probably the best - Macbeth Bobber - S&S Panhead, Indian Spring front end, custom frame and tank - ridden this to the South of France so it really goes. "something wicked this way comes"

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Al " Muddy" Therrien on August 31, 2010 at 6:10pm

NICE JOB MAN, LOVE THE BARS.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jared Weems on August 31, 2010 at 6:47pm

This is my 1966 Triumph Bonneville. This is what I would consider a true period correct BOBBER. I know, I know the fine line of what is a chopper and what is a bobber has been covered over and over. However I feel a bobbe is a striped down stock bike with NO frame modifications. This bike was built from a basket case by my father and I over a period of 8 Months. There was not a part on this bike that he or I did not touch. Our vision is represented by the no nonsense style of building. Less is more be it. We lowered the rear by adding struts allowing it to set at its perfect height 3 inches lower than stock. The tank and side cover are as found in a pile of rusted out frame and wheel parts. We managed to salvage it and maintain the original paintwork from the early 70's. With the addition of fork gators, flanders bars, and Avon rubber it gives the feel of an off road Steve McQueen inspired Triumph. Rocking an old set of slightly upswept cocktail shakers, Amal Carbs, and Boyer Electronic Ignition this little beast roars down the road begging to be pushed harder and harder. It was a joy building this with my father and the memories will play on over and over, Needless to say this is a keeper and will continue to be beat, pounded, and loved until it is nothing more than a pile of rust.

SSG Jared Weems
5th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
Parachute Rigger

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by James A. Willis on August 31, 2010 at 8:34pm

I'm a professional "post modern impressionist cityscape painter" and as it turns out, accidental bike builder. This bike, "Edgar Allan Poe", is the direct result of a collector of my paintings commenting on the funky look of my personal bike, which led to the funky look of her personal bike, which led to rebuilding of a couple of bikes in my studio which led to the ground up build of "Edgar". All the leather work, painting, gold-leafing and assembly was done in my studio at West 57th Street but, thanks to several near death experiences with previous builds, my studio mates kindly requested the engine "get the F*^$# done somewhere else". My friend Dave did the honors building a pristine motor for me and we moved engine shells back and forth so I could keep the spirit of the bike intact.

650 cc Triumph powerplant
38 Harley Springer front end
model T oil headlamp rewired for "'lectric"
custom leather and leather seat on Biltwell (what else-all my seats now are on Biltwell pans)
most of the goldleaf done on my Wife's dinning room table (while she was in Europe with the kids)
because, or did I mention, no heat in the warehouse because of some other near death experiences . Artist, as it turns out, are quite flammable.

I show the bikes with paintings and drawings done of the bikes as one piece of Art. There are so many bike builders whose bikes become Art. I'm a working artist whose Art, well, sorta became a bike.

James

Attachments:

• toyedgarpostct.jpg, 198 KB

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• …
• 8
• Next ›
• Page