Bobber conversion, looking for tips!

**Honzo** · 07-29-2010, 04:56 PM

So I've been contemplating what I'm going to do with my bike. I bought it super cheap and fixed it up and I've decided for now I'll keep it and bobber it out

. While its not as powerful as I'd like a bike to be, at least i already own it and it has super low miles so I know exactly what it's been through. So i've decided i'm slowly going to convert my bike to a bobber, but there are a few things I'm not willing to part with so I'm looking for advice.

First and foremost, I don't want to get rid of the possibility of having a passenger. I mean, what's the point of a motorcycle if you can't pick up chicks on it?

So I want to retain enough rear fender for a buddy pad. i've seen a few bikes with a slight fender that hugs the rear tire, which looks really slick to me. I'd probably make mine a bit longer so a buddy pad can fit but my real question is this: would i have to replace the rear springs with solid tubes (like daPeach's bobber)? I'm guessing so or it would rub when you hit bumps?

Also, for everyone that has done this, how is the ride on a hard tail with a sprung seat?

Then i'll probably throw on some slashcut exhaust pipes, some drag bars with underhanging mirrors, and fabricate a couple brackets to hold the tag, taillights, and signals from the rear axel bolts, and finish it all off with a nice matte black paint job.

And for anyone who has eliminated both fenders, how is that? have you ever ridden in the rain/wet conditions, if so is it much different? I'll probably keep the front one just for protection of the bike from road debris. I'm just a little worried that shortening the rear fender will cause s*** spray on my back if its wet out lol.

Anyone that can chime in anything about this would be much appreciated!

**GearJammer** · 07-29-2010, 05:21 PM

Someone else can comment on solid struts with a sprung solo seat, but a true hardtail (not struts) isn't as bad as some want you to think. I ride a hardtailed Triumph with a frame mounted cobra seat and have no complaints whatsoever.

I don't run front fenders on any of my bikes and riding in the rain is no fun.......also bobbed the rear fender on the Reb and, yes, you'll get rooster-tails in the rain and a skunk line up yer back, LOL! We were riding, got caught in the rain and the rider behind me said that the rooster-tails were shooting up about 30 ft. in the air!

**cagie** · 07-29-2010, 05:28 PM

sprung seat on a hard tail isn't bad, at least for me. I opted for a wide solo with heavy duty 3" springs. I rode it cross country and was able to last most of the day without having numb butt or bruised kidneys.

But, before you think about running struts and you want the posibility of hauling a passenger, consider the passenger. You pick up a filly and you're liable to spend the rest of your evening alone while she sits in the bathroom peeing blood. just sayin'

**Honzo** · 07-29-2010, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cagie

But, before you think about running struts and you want the posibility of hauling a passenger, consider the passenger. You pick up a filly and you're liable to spend the rest of your evening alone while she sits in the bathroom peeing blood. just sayin'

haha very true! Anybody here kept it a soft tail with a rear fender and passenger seat still in their bobber project?

EDIT: also, do you guys have threads for your bikes for me to check them out and get some more ideas?

**cagie** · 07-29-2010, 06:22 PM

the pictures area is being revamped, but if you click in the 'community' link at the top and select 'Pictures & Albums' you can see what pictures have been uploaded recently. (you can also click in my signature for my garage pictures)

**kjohnson** · 07-29-2010, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honzo

also, do you guys have threads for your bikes for me to check them out and get some more ideas?

Just surfing around you'll see some sweet bobbers. Always fun to do for me

But here are some that I have found while surfing the forum.

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**bB2NER** · 07-29-2010, 09:22 PM

Bobbered Rebel 250 and picking up chicks ain't gonna happen. Most if not all the bobbed rebels I've seen don't have a passenger seat or pegs. Not part of the style. Now if you are picking up chicks that already have a bike your in bussiness!

PS, kjohnson. I won't take it personal that you left mine out of your bobber lineup.

**kjohnson** · 07-29-2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bB2NER

PS, kjohnson. I won't take it personal that you left mine out of your bobber lineup.

So I did. Whoops. One of my favorites. Though I already had it saved to my desktop. Guess I didn't. But it is there now

**bB2NER** · 07-29-2010, 10:26 PM

When I started bobbing my 09' I searched around the web looking for ideas of what works and what does not. I actually got alot of ideas searching google images of rebel bobbers. Blue collor bobbers also had a few different styles to choose from.

**kwaltz6** · 07-30-2010, 03:41 PM

Here's mine so far. I used alot of online shops, did alot of searching to find the best prices and all that. Bluecollarbobbers.com makes kits just for this bike. I got the bars from dimecitycycles.com, lights from lickscycles.com then the seat and grips from a vintage motorcycle swap meet. some of the bobbers you see go the Bluecollarbobbers rout, and they all look the same and usually unoriginal (in my opinion) The ones that look the best are the ones that you can tell they did some customization too, and had to spend some time on, rather than just buying something online and bolting it on, hell anyone can do that. Also alot of the other bikes that are done custom look like hell. People will take the rear fender off, or just chop that old one, keep the same seat and throw some white walls on it and call it done. If you're going to do it man, do it right. Invest some time into really making it your own and look at what's out there, and how you could make it different. Mine isn't exactly the most unique, but I'm not all finished. In the end you'll enjoy riding it more and be more proud of something you made with your own creativity and hands, rather than just a bolt up kit.