What is a Bobber?

So first of all, what the hell is a Bobber? Most peopleofficially hit in 1969 when the movie Easy Rider
think it is something you put on your fishing line so youimmortalized it. Custom bike builders scrambled to
can sit around with your feet up drinking beer whiletransform the light weight, stripped down dirt track
you watch for signs of a bite. In more recent trends,style Bobbers into custom raked out, chromed up
as this term applies to bikes, there are fiery opinionsChoppers. This is where the term "Chopper Bobber"
flying everywhere. For those of us trying tocame from. So now we have Bobbers, Choppers, and
understand the controversy over what a real BobberChopper Bobbers. Remember, this is all based on
is, I've done some homework.cultural and historical opinions. It's really all subjective
As the Bobber is discussed in Wikipedia, it is a postwith some general guidelines that most stick to.
WWII historical custom minimalistic style of bike and aHistory lesson aside, where does that leave us on the
precursor to the Chopper. The front fender istopic of the Bobber controversies of today? Some
removed and the rear fender is shortened or bobbed.Old School Bikers ( See what Sugar Bear has to say )
Most anything that doesn't make the bike run isare getting their blood pressure up over the recent
discarded, making it light weight and faster. The originaltrend of using the term Bobber as it applies to some
Bobber is considered the Granddaddy of the customof the current custom bike configurations. It appears
bike which took off just after WWII. Men returningthat the modern Bobber style bikes are really Short
home from Europe sought to recreate the look of theChop Bikes and are primarily minimalistic in their overall
stripped down, light weight European motorcyclesstylization. Many of today's Custom Bobbers even
they'd seen. With the exciting wartime and Depressionsport blinkers, a front fender, and full rear fender, all of
era unveiling of the groundbreaking Harley-Davidsonwhich are taboo on an original Bobber. No wonder you
OHV 61, or Knucklehead, custom bike enthusiasts hadold school bikers have your shackles up. "How can
some good bones to work with.you call that a Bobber for Christ sake?" Well, here in
Today's controversy flairs up over the question: Whatlife on the third rock from the Sun we call it evolution.
are the true characteristics of a Bobber? In someBobbers have evolved just as all other things do.
circles it is said that a true Bobber will have smallEveryone seems to have an opinion about the Bobber
fatbobs, floorboards, a bobbed stock rear fender -dilemma, and at the moment, many are disgruntled
generally cut at the rear fender hinge, a stock exhaust,about the way the classic name is being tossed
and stock handle bars. Any bike called a Bobber thataround. Custom bike enthusiasts everywhere will need
doesn't follow these standards is more likely to beto find some sort of a common ground definition and
called a short chop or custom bike, but not a Bobber.configuration for the new custom class of Bobber
The primary difference between Bobbers andmotorcycles that are emerging. From what I can tell,
Choppers is that Bobbers are built around the stocktoday's Bobber terms and parameters are very loose
frame, while Choppers of course have the modifiedat best. In my opinion most of the bikes being dubbed
raked and stretched frames.as Bobbers are really Bobber Style Short Chop
From the 1940's - 1960's the Bobber held it's ground ascustoms. My advice is; don't be referring to your new
the primary custom bike in the United States amongstcustom bike as a Bobber around Old School bikers
bike enthusiasts and war time vets. Then the Chopperunless you're ready for an attitude packed history
came on the scene, becoming the new drool tool tolesson.
have in the mid to late 1960's. The Chopper explosion