What kind of Bobber is this?

I was talking to my dad about buying a motorcycle. I really want a Bobber, but a certain kind. What kind of bobbers are these? These look more streamlined, smaller, and look like you can race them. The handle bars are also close to the tank, and short which I like. Are these a certain type of bobber? More interested in the style of the first, and second one.

 

Don't really know anything about that but I do know its a sick looking bike and I want one!

 

Not quite sure of the year, but I'm thinking its a early to mid 50's Triumph

Maybe 60's

 

But there has to be a certain style to the way they cut, and removed pieces. I'm sure someone who makes custom Bobbers makes them in this style.

 

That bike is a custom built Triumph and I'll bet it'll sell for close to $30,000 depending on the amount of frame and engine work that was actually done to it. I know I'll piss off some people on here, but I've had horrible luck with the old Triumph in-line twin engine. When it's finally running, it does great, the other 95% of the time consists of a lot of 4 letter words...

Depending on what you're looking for, Harley makes an off the shelf bobber and you can also find a lot of used Harley's made into bobbers. Or buy the type of bike you want as a base and build one up!

 

The handle bars are called "Drag Bars" because of that reason. You can buy them for pretty much any bike, or fab your own set if you have the equipment.

 

Bro', you aren't going to piss anyone off that has ever owned a Triumph, a "Beezer" (BSA) or a Norton for that matter. Those oil leaking " sometimes they run, most times they don't" british piles of aggrevation caused more headaches than good times, try kick starting one of those thumpers with a faulty compression release & you'll end up with your right leg hanging over your left shoulder & lets not forget Harleys , almost the same number of letters in that name as there is in the word headache lol....

I will add though that they were all beautiful albeit tempermental as hell

 

I dont really care about boutique brands. I just want to know the style. If you type in chopper to google you usually get the same looking bike, but if you type in bobber they're all over the place. I just want to know what type of Bobber this is.

 

they are yamaha xs650s. awesome bikes, those are prolly late 70s models and they're really easy to bobber. I really want one

 

Glad to see I'm in good company (I had to bite my tongue real hard recommending a Harley!)

OP, You are correct, the term 'Bobber' is very vague since they're mostly custom built and it's whatever the fabricator thinks it should be. I didn't know what features you were talking about, the in-line twin cylinder is a fairly unique feature. Someone else mentioned the handlebars are drag bars and can be put on just about any cruiser so nothing really special there. The bike looks like the rear frame is completely custom and is a hard tail (I hope you live somewhere smooth and flat).

 

Yup I'm pretty sure that that a yamaha 650, not a truimph!

 

"Bobbing" is a term that means taking off anything that can be removed to eliminate weight and go faster. They used to do them with old european bikes (triumphs, etc.) and make them into Cafe Racers. Bobbers are different from choppers in that choppers are meant to get attention and show off, while bobbers are meant to be streamlined and perform better. basically, if you get a bike, chop off anything it can run without and you have a bobber.

 

Bobbers are cool bikes if all you do is putt around the neighborhood but beyond that, they are a joke to ride IMO. Riding in the rain, for one, absolutely SUCKS without a front fender. I had a rigid Triumph back in the day without one. It ran like a top and I beat the hell out of it! Choose wisely.

 

THANK YOU SIR. That's all I wanted. Type that and bobber into google and you more or less get the style I want.

I havnt ridden a motorcycle since I was 5, so I'm not really a "motorcycle guy" so to speak. That being said imo riding any motorcycle in the rain would absolutely suck, not matter what brand/type it is. Unless youre riding one of those round BMW motorcycles with a roof, but then you look ridiculous riding that around.

 

cafe racer
enjoy the many pics. cafe racers are cool as hell.im so tired of everyone riding a harley or gsxr
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&...=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1497&bih=767

http://motors.shop.ebay.com/Motorcy...+racer&_catref=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282&_rdc=1

 

Got it
Thanks though

 

Hi John,

I know I'm late here, but just bought a Tacoma and joined the forum.

I recently sold a '73 Norton Commando and '77 Triumph Bonneville. I currently own an '05 Triumph America. The queen bit me in the bum a long time ago. Together with guitars and beer, British iron has been an interest of mine for years.

The first picture (you're most interested in) is a Hinckley era (2001-present) Triumph frame and engine. Frame/engine probably originated from a Hinckley era Bonneville or thruxton. The tank depicted was standard on the Thruxton, but available to Bonneville owners as an option. The most expensive feature of that bike is the front end. It's custon with a 21" wheel. All else is "relatively stock" or bolt-on.

Having owned both Meriden era Triumphs (last picture) and owning a Hinckley era, I can honestly say the Hinckley's are over engineered and virtually bullet proof. 5 years on my current Hinckley and only changed a light bulb.

I will agree with the other member on the last picture. The Meriden era Triumphs can be a maintenance hassle. The plant was built in the '20's and virtually everything was made/assembled old-school. If Nigel got laid the night before, you got a good bike; If Simon had a hangover, you constantly worked on it.

I'll bet the first bike was less than $10k to build. Again, front-end is where the "after-market" money was. These are bar hoppers. Stock bhp on a Hinckley is 54-58hp

The third picture is post-Coventry Triumph. It is later than '63 as transmission and engine are a single unit. Clutch cover is not stock. Like the man before me said, expect to work on it.

The middle bike I believe is Japanese (Yamaha). It may be bullet-proof, but why bother?

Regards,

Tom

 

Find yourself an old triumph or honda or something on craigslist and start building your own. I bought a 1980 cm400t for $300 and turned it into a chopper, I am sure you could do the same. here is a pic

 

If I were guessing Id say the top pic was an old 750 Honda or it could be a 650 Yamaha.
The second pic looks like an old Norton.
And the bottom is a Triumph I believe.
All are excellent platforms to build a bobber.
But if I were to pick one Id have to go with the Honda. Think Id start out with an old cb750 Honda. My second choice would be a Buell!

 

Big Thank you. How much do you think ti would cost to buy of these bikes, and would I be looking for a Triumph Hinckley?