CB bobbers

[matthew7982]

Is it just me or is it ridiculous how many people convert the older CB's into bobbers?  If youtube is any kind of gauge on this, i'm surprised there are any left that haven't been converted.  Just curious.  I have nothing against the bobber look, but I prefer to keep my '83 CB550 relatively stock (relatively).  Who knows, maybe once I finish restoring it, I might change my mind (probably not). 

[Tryvelcro]

I couldn't agree more.  I feel a little heart twinge every time, too

[DesignFlaw06]

Some people just can't leave things stock.

[muttstang]

oh stop being a bunch of fuddy duddy's 

it isn't like they are some sort of high dollar collectable bikes.  Some people just like to tinker.

[floridahawk]

oh stop being a bunch of fuddy duddy's 

it isn't like they are some sort of high dollar collectable bikes.  Some people just like to tinker.

[gammer]

Some bobbers look good and some are hack jobs. As with all things in life, I appreciate the ones that had some time and thought put into them. Even more so if they keep the functionality of its main parts...like suspension.

Not something I would own or would do to any bike I own.

I always think its funny how experienced Honda engineers and their carefully designed motorcycles get thrown out the window, when some back yard mechanic with a hack-saw and a welder has a 'good idea' on how to cut up a bike.

[Bumblebee]

Can't afford a harley? Get a CB and a sawzall.

it isn't like they are some sort of high dollar collectable bikes.

Something doesn't have to be worth a lot of money or collectible in order for someone to want to not mangle it. Besides, how do you think those handful of pristine original condition high dollar collectibles got to be high dollar collectibles in the first place? By taking a sawzall to them and tossing it in the dumpster because it won't run right anymore? Nope. Someone took care of them, kept them in original condition and finally left them parked and long forgotten in the back of the barn for 100 years until someone rediscovered it and rolled it out into the light of day again. At one point, the Model A or Staggerwing was just another no big deal woopie doo-doo who cares about it kind of vehicle. Think about it.


There will be at least one CB that will never ever be hacked on - MINE.
Mine will be in one of two conditions when I can't ride it for whatever reason:
1. Carefully mothballed and found hidden (well, maybe found if they hunt long enough) in a long forgotten closed off mine by archeologists in about 10,000 years. Just add fuel, new tires, new rubber gaskets and it'll be good to go. (BTW, I just happen to know where two mines are that no one will ever find and I know where to look for several more that are way seriously more isolated than those two)
2. Melted down into a pile of unrecognizable aluminum and steel along with a few other smaller piles of other metals. I would completely remove it from existence before letting it get out there where it could be mangled.

[muttstang]

I wouldn't give engineers too much credit.... I know many of them!  (and am one)

A lot of times, engineers hands are tied by limits imposed by government rules, marketing departments, etc.

Take the powerband of the 700sc for example.  A more useful powerband would be to move it down a couple/few thousand rpms so that you don't have to rev it to the moon to get to the engine's peak power.  It is typically better to have power available right away unless you are talking about a race vehicle that will hang out in the upper rpm's most of the time.

the higher peaky power band results in higher HP numbers that the sales/marketing team probably imposed on the engineers to meet.  From my experience, that seems like more of a marketing decision then an engineering decision.

Then there are the EPA type restrictions that engineers have to live with which often restrict an engine's power.  I don't believe that this is the case so much with the 700, but it is quite evident on the 750 (and why the washer mod is so effective)

Engineers are not infallible and I get a kick out of when people give them so much credit.  Yes, the honda engineers typically do a good job, but there always improvements that can be made.

[gammer]

Engineers are not infallible and I get a kick out of when people give them so much credit.  Yes, the honda engineers typically do a good job, but there always improvements that can be made.

True. But how often to you see brand new bobbers being sold by any of the major motorcycle manufacturers?

[JB1290]

I happen to think the one I built was pretty bada$$. 



Maybe because it is NOT a "hack job". 

[gammer]

Maybe because it is NOT a "hack job". 

I would agree with you there 
Its certainly no hack job.

[muttstang]

Engineers are not infallible and I get a kick out of when people give them so much credit.  Yes, the honda engineers typically do a good job, but there always improvements that can be made.

True. But how often to you see brand new bobbers being sold by any of the major motorcycle manufacturers?

It would be too much of a niche market to generate a high enough volume to justify the product.  That's the same reason that you don't see much for standard models over here.  Honda marketing determined that since the 919 did not sell well that naked standards are not a desireable segment in the US market.  They don't make what they don't believe will sell.

[Bumblebee]

I wouldn't give engineers too much credit.... I know many of them!

Custom one off hand crafted design engineers, production design engineers, or manufacturing engineers? There's a big BIG WHOPPING HUGE difference between those three categories...as in they're almost not related to each other at all.

Yes, the honda engineers typically do a good job, but there always improvements that can be made.

What are you looking for though? If you look at the average CB series honda, they're not high powered race bikes or cross country dirt bikes. If you want to win the high powered track day race, don't get a CB and if you want to win the Dakar, don't even think about a CB. Of course if you want to get a motorcycle that will do the energizer bunny routine day after day, get a CB and avoid harleys. Not all vehicles are designed for all purposes. If you want to go to the Moon, don't get a volkswagon bug and complain about it not lifting you into high Earth orbit and don't be expecting it to be able to put you on a free return trajectory.

Maybe because it is NOT a "hack job".

That is not an example of a typical bopper at all. Not even close. And I bet it took you more than 15 minutes of planning and a saturday afternoon between beers to come up with that too.
BTW, I don't particularly care for that look. I can respect it and respect you for the effort though and it's damned good for what it is based on what it came from. If you're going to hack something, that's the way to do it. I would actually walk up and look at that one in detail for at least 5 minutes before going about my business...can't say the same about a sawzalled bopper.

[Hondo]

Man, we're gong down this road again?

Please keep it civil folks -  

[ariwhiteboy]

 

[muttstang]

I have no intent of inciting anything.  merely pointing out that most machines can be improved on in some way.

and of course some peoples' idea of an "improvement" involves a hack saw, vise grips, and duct tape

[Wahrsuul]

If bikes were "perfect" from the factory, the aftermarket wouldn't exist.  Adding a Corbin seat, windshield or even repainting are all modifications to the baseline.  Some mods are just more radical, and the more radical you go, the less "mass" appeal you're likely to have.  I like the bobber look myself, but I'm no fan of hard tails.

[gammer]

but I'm no fan of hard tails.

+1

Hard tails are kind of like The Chewbacca defense: it makes no sense 

[TDodge7]

The problem isn't the people that know what they're doing and build quality bobbers as they usually do up an entire frame and have real skill , the problem is the american chopper watching people that don't know their way around a screwdriver that decide that since they can't afford the harley they actually want they'll just go get any bike they can . So they come home with an older jap bike and proceed to do horrible things to them for the sake of making it look like something it will never be . I see them on craigslist every day , someone takes a solid $1400 bike , turns it into a $400 bike and then slaps a $2500 price tag on it because they think their pile of crap is worth more now because it's custom . So without any further delay here is TDodge7's How to build a bobber guide !!!


Step 1.   Watch way too many episodes of american chopper .

Step 2.   Realize that a harley costs too much

Step 3.   Save up for a bike to ruin

Step 4.   Buy the nicest non harley you can find , if it has rare parts on it that you intend to ruin even better , just remember to taunt people on forums with the pictures of the rare stuff before you take the band saw and spray paint to them .

Step 5.   First thing is first , no matter what the bike IS NOT LOUD ENOUGH YET , get the sawzall and get to it , the ideal pipe length is between 2 and 6 inches from the cylinder.

Step 6.   Fenders and fender braces are for suckers , nothing says I'm hard core like gravel in your teeth and road grime up your back . Cut all the mounts for them off too , actually just go ahead and hack off all of the frame behind the shock mounts but remember to leave jagged unfinished edges.

Step 7.   Handle bars , you only have two choices , flat and straight , or high and obnoxious , the more obnoxious the better .

Step 8.   Iron crosses , Iron crosses , Iron crosses , you can never have too many , bonus points for mixing in some skulls and live to ride parts .

Step 9.   Suspension , everyone knows that rigids are better to ride than suspension bikes , that's why all the bike makers now sell rigids.....oh wait . Oh well , toss those shocks in the garbage , rea bar makes a far superior suspension , just weld some loops to each end and you're good to go ....if you can't weld jb weld will probably hold it , safety first and all that .

Step 10.  Paint , your rims should be fire engine red , don't worry about taping anything off , just rattle can it on , red wall tires are cool . That is the only color you're allowed , now just spray bomb everything else flat black (you can paint right over oil leaks and grime , just makes you more hardcore)

Step 11.   Gauges , who needs em , in fact you don't need most of the things your motorcycle came with so with some bolt cutters or a quality hammer lets go ahead and remove all turn signals , mirrors , chain guard , brackets , and anything else that gets in your way .

Step 12 .  Brakes , now that your bike is starting to look like a bobber you've probably noticed how un hardcore front brakes are , so pull those off , remember , you're building this bike to ride not to be lame . Nerds use front brakes .

Step 13.   That comfortable factory seat has to go , so get yourself a sprung solo seat , don't worry that the lines of your frame look completely wrong with the solo seat , that's because the idiots that designed your bike made it with suspension , you showed them . just slap that seat ontop of the rails , in fact the worse it looks the more hardcore you are .

Step 14.    Take it for a ride

Step 15.    Realize that "Oh crap , I just made a huge mistake , this thing handles like a 3 legged cow and looks like mental patients built it , I seem to have removed all the stuff that made this a decent bike and now I want to sell it" . Post it on craigslist for at least $1200 more than you paid , try to stay $1000-1500 above the blue book price of your bike in perfect shape . When the bike doesn't sell by month 2 bump the price down to $400 and accept defeat .

And that's how you build a bobber . Or at least that's how it seems to be in my neck of the woods and all over craigslist .

[gammer]

Tdodge...oh man  

I would love to see your "How to build a Rat Bike" guide

[TDodge7]

Step 1. Crack , as much as you can find

[Bumblebee]

Man, we're gong down this road again?

Hopefully not. Hopefully it will stay within the confines of rational difference of opinion and not get personal or hostile.

It's definitely dangerous territory though if emotions beyond friendly banter get involved.

Please keep it civil folks -   

+9999999999999999999999999999999999 *10^99999999999999999

What he said.

Think, rethink, reread, wait 10 minutes then post please. (and that goes for this thread or any other)

[Soupskin]

Tdodge...oh man 

I would love to see your "How to build a Rat Bike" guide

County DOT is liable to pick that thing up thinking it's roadkill.

[meatface]

2. Melted down into a pile of unrecognizable aluminum and steel along with a few other smaller piles of other metals. I would completely remove it from existence before letting it get out there where it could be mangled.

So...you would mangle it to prevent it from being mangled...hmmm...

[Bumblebee]

So...you would mangle it to prevent it from being mangled...hmmm...

Honorably being put down with integrity. No getting drug through the streets then tossed in the dumpster.