noobie wants a bobber

[Deleted]

I'm not really a biker. I've always been into them, I've had a couple, started with a buell blast around 10 years ago, rode it a year, got a buell cyclone, rode it a few years, have been without for around four years or so. I've always been into old cars, 1950's art deco, nostalgia, etc. and always liked the bikes that were simplistic looking, had kickstarts, bobbed fender, etc. but had NO IDEA what they were called.

recently while looking at bikes I saw the term "bobber", and discovered that a bobber was the style of bike that I had always liked, but didn't know what it was called. I have had a few old cars also, such as a 1970 dodge dart swinger 340, and I now have a 1965 dodge dart (it's for sale!) and have worked on cars my own for most of my life, etc. so I don't think I would have too hard of a time sort of "building" or more like assembling a bobber, so I started looking at bobber kits, and came across a photo of the nicest looking bobber I had ever seen. This is that photo-




Imagine my sadness when I discovered it was a kikker 5150 hardnock, and I read tons, after tons, of bad reviews about the quality, the customer service, etc. and found lots of "former" dealers, that got so fed up with the crap, they stopped selling them!

I haven't been able to find another kit that I like nearly as much, in looks, as the kikker 5150. What I love about it is the flat black paint, rat rod kind of rockabilly look, kickstart with electric start also, the spring front end, the drag bars, the short rear fender, and the headlamp, simplicity, whitewall tires, red wheels, and no turn signal or license plate holder hanging off the top of the bobbed fender, but rather vertical mounted on the side of the rear wheel.

So I want a bobber. I have a bit of money to spend, and/or a 1965 dodge dart to trade, and I'm ok with buying one that looks like this one, or a kit/parts/etc. to build one. So if anyone has one for sale, or a kit, or can direct me to a kit that looks like this bike, but better quality, reputation, etc. please help.

I'll be reading thru these forums, looking for advice, hints, help, etc. but long story short, I can't stop thinking about getting a bobber!

[hogsausage]

First of all welcome. That thing above is a bicycle with a lawnmower motor in it. And a bad lawnmower motor at that. If you want to build a bobber there are tons of places to go for information. First thing I would do is decide what size motor you want. The good people at Lowbrow customs sell, for instance, bobber frames that you can add many different engines to like Triumph, Yamaha, or Harley just to name a few. www.lowbrowcustoms.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=35

If you want to buy an already made bobber find your price range and do some searching on Craigslist or EBay. There are tons out there, but stick with stuff that has a real motorcycle engine in it. It will last much longer.

[cjrenick]

After much research I decided on XS 650 Yamaha. I have even thought of selling mine though, lol. Really starting to fall in love with the cafes.

[Deleted]

Aug 31, 2011 13:45:48 GMT -4 hogsausage said:

First of all welcome. That thing above is a bicycle with a lawnmower motor in it. And a bad lawnmower motor at that. If you want to build a bobber there are tons of places to go for information. First thing I would do is decide what size motor you want. The good people at Lowbrow customs sell, for instance, bobber frames that you can add many different engines to like Triumph, Yamaha, or Harley just to name a few. www.lowbrowcustoms.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=35

If you want to buy an already made bobber find your price range and do some searching on Craigslist or EBay. There are tons out there, but stick with stuff that has a real motorcycle engine in it. It will last much longer.

thank you for the welcome. I saw on the kikker website, that they make a full sized frame version of this bike, with a 250cc vtwin motor. i'm not trying to argue your point of it being a "bicycle with a poor lawnmower engine", like i said, i know very little, but i know that i used to ride a single cylander 492cc buell blast, and for cruising, getting around, etc. it was plenty fast for me. i also had a 1200cc buell cyclone, and it was too much speed/power for me.

I would love to be able to assemble my own bike, start with a frame that's already a hardtail, with the rear wheel/tire, and front end springer, and front wheel/tire, and spend the winter painting it, finding my own parts to finish it off, maybe do a bit of fun custom stuff, etc. so i will check out the link you shared with me and see how it can help me out. i've seen a few other bobbers online that were too "busy" looking for what i want. too much engine, chrome, and "extras" that destroyed what i like about the bobber look. i just cant get over the shape, size, color of everything on that stupid kikker bike, haha. i'd like to find out the specs of the frame, or maybe if the frame is a piece of crap or not, and just get that rolling chassis, and use a better engine, hardware, etc. set up instead of the lawnmower engine.

[felkman]

Welcome to the forum,
Don't buy one of those.... Yes, it looks cool but you can build one that has the same style parts out an xs that will at least make it around the block a couple of times without breaking down. I know it is your money and you can do what you want but not only will an actual motorcycle be reliable, it will also have a resale value when you are done. There are tons of people that would love to help out on answering any questions on this forum. I would suggest a Yamaha xs as there are tons of parts available for these. Come to Indyvinmotos first Thursday (tomorrow) and take a look as some of them up there. It should give you some ideas! indianapolisvintage.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=events&action=display&thread=29
Chris

[cjrenick]

I think those kikkers are around $3000. That is what I paid for my XS.

[cb500bobber]

I think I could help you out with a decision I have a 1972 cb500 bobber and I only have 1500 in it and I love it more than any other bike I have had. My suggestion is to buy a parts bike with a title and the best one are honda Cb's, Yamaha xs's, and then build it yourself because there is nothing better than putting alot of time and effort into build something and then being able to see the final product and say I made that plus when someone actually takes a picture of it and says they like it that makes it just that much better. So build your own

[tango911]

DEf go with the XS for a bobber, there are several people here in indy that know them like the back of their hands.

[Deleted]

Thanks guys. I'm going to try to make it out tomorrow. What do you guys
Think about this cl find?
indianapolis.craigslist.org/mcy/2560868303.html

[felkman]

Aug 31, 2011 20:53:04 GMT -4 @chainsawchump said:

Thanks guys. I'm going to try to make it out tomorrow. What do you guys
Think about this cl find?
indianapolis.craigslist.org/mcy/2560868303.html

I am not a bobber guy although I am really starting to like them more and more. If it was me, I would find a good running bike (full suspension) and put the rear on or have someone put it on. It is amazing what you can get out of some of those little parts that you will be taking off and it works the other way, if you are needing parts for somebody's project, they can ad up fast. I will let one of the bobbber guys tell you what they think as I have not built one. I do have to say that I think you would be better off with that than to buy one of those bicycles with a bad lawn mower engines in it.

[leadkrm]

If the one bike runs and only needs very little to complete then I'd offer him 1700 for the lot and if he doesn't take it go 1800 and then don't go any higher. If he says no let him stew for a few days. But by all means start out offering as little as u want. All he will say is no. Then he will counter ur offer or u will need to make a new one. Just make sure u hear the engine run and make sure the welds on the hardtails are legit and not half assed.

[cb500bobber]

Personally I would steer clear of something like that just because when something is hardtailed if its not done right thats your life. I would buy a parts bike like I said before and have someone hard tail it for you that does it for a living. Thats what I did. Plus its always better to do a project bobber from the start rather than someone elsewhere start because you don't know what all they have done and haven't done.

[tango911]

Id say im with cb500bobber, get a complete bike for cheap and then tear it down and do your own thing to it. I dont think id pay anywhere close to 1800 for two basketcase bikes. Yes one is almost done but you dont know how safe it it. Plus in my opinion anything 1980 and up starts losing "cool factor" unless its a stock cbx or something rare.

just my opinion tho,

steve

[Deleted]

thanks again everyone for the advice.

looks like i'm going to keep an eye out on craigslist, etc. for a yamaha xs

any advice on particular years, engine sizes, models, etc. to avoid, to look for, etc?

And I can't weld, and don't have a welder, although I plan on getting one eventually, as I'd love to learn, and have had to have a ton of stuff welded thru the years, so any advice on the best place local to do the frame modifications? and estimate on what they charge?

Ideally, I'd like to get the right bike, and the frame welded, prior to october/november, and spend the winter putting the bike together, and have it done to ride by next spring.

[cjrenick]

I am with you there, have someone else weld your frame ;D. Check out Ardcore Choppers on the East side of Indy. Sure there are others around that will do it, just have not heard of them. The guys at Ardcore are very helpful. I should be at Goodtimin's on Friday night. Maybe it will give you a ideal of what you are looking for.