What Exactly Is a Bobber Motorbike?

Bobber motorcycles are among the oldest custom motorbike types that rose to popularity soon after their introduction. There are many different types of motorbikes that evolved from a certain bike style. However, bobber has a charm that is still relevant even in today’s world.

There came many different custom versions of the initial American motorbikes, but none became as popular as bobber bikes. It is mainly because bobbers are more practical and provide many advantages that are still relevant.

Bobber motorbikes became a separate identity and an industry. The trend continued for many decades and is still in demand. Initially started by Harley-Davidson, bobbers are now being produced by many major motorbike producers around the world.

Nonetheless, many new and even intermediate riders have little to no idea about what is a bobber motorbike. Continue reading this article to learn what makes a bobber motorbike, how a motorbike evolved into a bobber bike, and how a bobber bike is different from other types of motorbikes.

A bobber motorcycle is a type of custom motorbike. It did not come from the factory. Instead, it was created using a base model by removing certain heavy and surplus parts of a base motorbike to give it a modern touch at that time.

1927 Harley Davidson Model J 

It was in the 1920s when the Harley Davidson ‘J’ Series was meant to receive an upgrade. The aim was to give it a modern touch at that time. The plan was to make it lighter, sporty, and trendy. Several parts were removed, and a different look was provided to the bike, which became popular as the “Cut Down” bike.

Such modifications were referred to as the ‘bob-job’, which was given to motorbikes at that time. If you remember the Harley Davidson WR, Harley WLDR, and Harley WLA models, they were all inspired by the bob-job modifications and bobber style.

In the mid-1950s, bob-job modifications became a thing, and these bikes were called bobber bikes. Riders started custom painting their bikes, handlebars became taller; and chrome became a common element. These customizations became common features for bobber bikes.

The trend of bobber bikes that started in the 1930s still continues. It became one of the most common custom bikes prepared by custom bike builders. Later, in the late 1990s, the bobber motorbike trend was also adopted by some notable motorbike manufacturers, especially Harley-Davidson and Honda.

These companies started producing factory-made bobber bikes. As of today, bobber motorbikes are still relevant, very practical, and versatile, with good performance characteristics.

Custom Harley-Davidson Softail Slim

A bobber motorbike is a very unique, custom-style bike. It was initially made by removing different heavy and surplus bike parts to make the bike lightweight, more practical, and modern. Let’s talk about the various features and characteristics of a bobber bike.

The first thing that comes to your mind when discussing bobber motorbikes is the seat. A bobber bike has a small solo rider seat. Even the modern bobber bikes feature a minimum solo rider seat. This is the same seat style that you would find on old bikes initially produced by Harley Davidson and Indian. These seats were usually installed on the bike's frame using springs to maintain comfort.

Initially, the front fender used to be completely removed from a bobber motorcycle. The rear fender was chopped and made lighter to ensure minimum weight. It was considered to be the trademark of a bobber bike. Fenders or mudguards used to be too heavy on old cruiser motorbikes. Removing these fenders helped reduce too much weight from the bike, making it agile and maneuverable, which were considered to be great advantages.

Originally, the gas tank installed on bobber motorbikes used to be quite slim and smaller. Like every other part of the bobber bike, which is aimed at reducing the overall weight of the bike, the gas tank was minimal to keep the weight on the lower side. The small gas tank received custom paint jobs, including metal flakes. The small gas tanks on bobber motorbikes were a key part of the bob-job customization.

However, as the motorbike industry has evolved a great deal, practicality and performance are more preferred over sheer looks; modern-day factory-made bobbers now feature decent-sized gas tanks for a longer range.

A bobber motorbike used to have no rear suspension. Like chopper bikes that became prominent and popular later after the bobber bikes, bobbers also had a hardtail rear end. In the old bobber designs, there were no rear springs, making bikes quite simpler. However, with no rear suspension, the ride was highly uncomfortable. Hitting a bump on such motorbikes could cause back pain.

However, as of now, modern, factory-made bobbers feature rear suspension to ensure comfortable rides. The Honda Shadow Phantom, which is a modern bobber bike by Honda, features two external rear shocks.

On the other hand, if you ride a Harley Softail model, like the Harley Softail Street Bob, this bobber features a hidden rear mono-shock. The Softail design ensures a hardtail look, but it also maintains comfort during the ride due to the presence of a hidden rear shock.

A bobber frame used to have a customized, unique frame. As informed earlier, it has no rear suspension, which means it is completely diagonal, starting from the steering head to the rear wheel axle. If you see a pure bobber motorbike, you will observe that the frame’s backbone is straight and diagonal.

However, in present-day factory-made bobber bikes, the frame can be modified to ensure modern performance. However, the essence remains the same.

Another distinctive element of bobber motorbikes is their fat tires. Bobbers usually feature fat tires that make these bikes look very cool and different. One of the most dearest bobber motorbikes of all time, the Harley-Davidson Softail Slim has fat tires.

The Honda Shadow Phantom, a popular bobber bike by Honda, also has fat tires. These fat tires not only ensure a good look, but also help ensure better ride advantages. The ride feels smoother and stable with these fat tires.

Due to being fitted with fat tires, the rim size is usually smaller. Most bobbers, especially pure ones, have wire-spoked wheels, ensuring a proper bobber look. The wire-spoked wheels are also lightweight, serving the purpose of a bob-job.

Another common feature of bobber motorbikes is the installation of a small, round-shaped headlight towards the front. It may sound common, but on a bobber bike, it looks perfect and provides a unique persona to the bobber motorbike. On modern-day bobber motorbikes, you will mostly find a small, round-shaped headlamp on most factory-made bobbers. These include the Harley Softail Slim, Harley Street Bob, and Honda Shadow Phantom.

Though the bobber motorbike is usually a stripped-down, minimal version of a cruiser bike, it usually has a beefy front fork, giving it a muscular front-end look. Also, when there is a minimal build with a solo rider seat and stripped-down look, the structure becomes more prominent naturally, ensuring a muscular stance.

The major element of bobber motorbikes is their minimalistic appeal and vibe. Generally, cruiser bikes are considered to be heavyweight bikes. They are good for open roads and highway cruising. However, they are not very agile and maneuverable.

Meanwhile, bobber motorbikes are the stripped-down version, ensuring minimal design and build. They are made lighter to ensure better handling and agility, on top of a remarkable cruising experience. They also don’t compromise on the comfort of the bike.

Though bobber motorbikes are being made in the modern era, they still ensure a very classic appeal. Those who prefer the classic cruiser bike vibe with more modern-day practicality and performance, bobber motorbikes are a great choice.

The best thing about bobber motorbikes, loved by many bikers and custom bike builders alike, is their high customizability. These bikes are built to be accessorized. You can make these bikes suit your riding needs.

If you want to make your bobber motorbike capable of long distance, you can always attach saddlebags, sissy bar bag, and tank bag on your bobber. You can also make it more comfortable by adding a sissy bar and a backrest.

Though bobber bikes are not as comfortable as classic cruiser bikes, they are still very comfortable. The comfort of a bobber bike can vary. It usually depends on the seat comfort, the position of the foot controls, and the type of handlebars installed.

Even though the modern-day solo seat installed on bobbers is minimal, it still ensures decent comfort for urban and highway riding. Similarly, the low seat height also plays a crucial role in keeping the bike upright and stable in different riding conditions.

You can also replace the solo seat on a bobber motorbike with a two-up saddle for two-up riding.

The foot controls on bobber bikes are either mid-mounted or forward. The mid-mounted foot controls are better for urban riding. Meanwhile, the forward foot controls are more comfortable on long-haul journeys. Even if your bobber bike features mid controls, you can customize and shift the foot controls forward to make legroom more spacious.

There are many different styles of handlebars that are installed on bobber bikes. These handlebars largely define the level of comfort of a bobber bike.

For example, the Harley-Davidson Softail Street Bob is a factory-made bobber bike, featuring a tall mini ape hanger handlebar. It is considered to be one of the most comfortable bobber bikes for long-distance riding because it ensures an upright posture during riding.

Other bobber motorbikes may also be sporty, featuring comparatively flatter handlebars with a small swept-back angle. Usually, you don’t need to lean forward on a bobber bike to grab the bars. They are comfortable enough to sit in a relaxed, upright manner.

Honda Shadow Phantom

Unlike large and heavy classic cruiser bikes, bobbers are good for light handling and cornering. They are good for urban commuting and daily riding. Due to being light and maneuverable, bobber motorbikes are also good for riding on curves and twisty roads, unlike choppers and large cruiser bikes.

Bobber motorbikes are good enough for comfortable highway cruising and reasonably long rides. They ensure good comfort and practicality.

• Harley Davidson Softail Street Bob

• Harley Davidson Softail Slim

• Honda Shadow Phantom

• Triumph Bonneville Bobber

• Harley Davidson WLA

• Indian Scout Bobber

• BMW R 18

• Indian Chief Bobber Dark Horse

• Harley Davidson Fat Bob

Bobber motorbikes have long been in trend since the 1930s. They are a customized, lightweight, and more practical version of a cruiser bike for urban riding, daily commuting, and even highway cruising. Even if you are not a custom cruiser bike lover, you are likely to be attracted to the bobber bike. It is one of the most popular cruiser bike types and categories.

The stripped-down design and low weight of bobber motorcycles make them very useful for versatile riding styles. Also, with their superior customizability, their long-distance capability can be greatly enhanced.