why to americans likes bobbers?

why to americans likes so much the bobber style?

 

i think it's making somthing old into somthing new and personal , i will like to make a bobber for my next bike .

 

Bobbers are sort of like choppers built on a budget. Originally (back in the 50's) bobbing and chopping was a way to reduce weight by stripping all the unnecessary stuff to make the bike lighter. Bobbers typically have a "bobbed" (cut short) rear fender.

While choppers usually have lots of chrome and are made mostly for show, bobbers are often home-built and somewhat rougher around the edges.

Both have become popular in America after the 2nd World War. Soldiers who returned from the battlefield wanted to replace the thrill of flying a warplane or driving a military vehicle... So they started building bikes that looked cool and went fast.

...or so I'm told...

 

I'm as american as bailouts and lawsuits but I really don't care for bobbers. But you're right, many do like them. I've seen some nice ones, I just prefer a look that's closer to stock. Not that I'm against modifying the bike to make it mine.

mikeg

 

*for this post, the term "american" refers to the United States of America.
THIS IS ONLY MY OPINION.....

ill start with a quote-

bobbers are very much like the american muscle cars that europeans hate so much. a very straight forward no bull$#!t design, and horsepower.

i personally love bobbers because they are the epitome of "keep it simple, stupid!". they very much resemble my race machines; if something doesnt serve a very clear and important purpose, it will be eliminated! 7 lbs = 1 horsepower.

americans also have a love for antique tractors, autos, trucks, machinery. a modern bike can be chopped and bobbed, and instantly become an antique; not literally, but it has that same look and style.

i, as a posterchild for an american new england redneck have the same respect for great technology such as efi, multiplexing, and pulse width modulation as i do for old cast iron carburated push rod engines.

 

hey

us Canadians like'em too

 

yeah i have seen alot of the bobbers here in nova scotia puts up the sale value also .

 

I didn't like the looks of them before I started attending this forum but over time I li have come to look forward to seeing each one that comes to this forum.

Would I do it to my Maxim? Probably not but I have definitely considered doing it to one of my XS650's.

I am currently negotiating for a new ride. If I get it I have agreed to pedal all my XS 650's and my SilverWing.

Anybody looking for a few winters worth of projects? You could start a bobber empire!

 

Crate up all the XS 650s and ship them to Wiz in Australia. Those bikes have a bad crazy "cult" status there and fetch giant $$$.

 

I think people are bobbing bikes because the market is saturated with more expensive chrome and fancy painted choppers of every shape and style, that has peeked and is on the backside downslope now. The bobber, on the other hand is a good project that some (like me) can tinker with and make there own, using there own ideas. The price is right and th e ideas are endless. You can find bikes that have been sitting in back corners of sheds and backyards for years that need some TLC and some decide instead of restoring them back to original condition, which can be pricey and hard to find the right parts, they decide to bob it. It just gives us the option of having a one-of-a-kind scooter on a budget. Can't beat that.