Customs built in the ‘bobber’ or hardtail style. On the typical bobber motorcycle, excess bodywork has been stripped away, and the fenders are usually removed or shortened.
All unnecessary hardware has been removed to cut weight—including the mufflers in many cases—and a single seat is usually fitted. Old-school handlebars are often installed too, with the wiring run inside for a clean look, along with classic ‘Bates’ style lighting.
For owners of bobber motorcycles, these custom bikes are the purest form of motorcycling.
Harley is the brand most commonly associated with the bobber style, but we’re also seeing many Triumph and Indian motorcycles—especially since those two brands have factory bobbers in their range.
Even though there’s been no official word from The Motor Co., it looks as if the venerable Harley-Davidson Sportster is slowly fizzling out. It’s been completely removed from H-D’s European website, and the once extensive range has been reduced to just three models on the US listing. And with H-D currently on a mission to…
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Remember the Sultans of Sprint drag race series in Europe? The man behind this brilliant idea was Séb Lorentz, who runs the Lucky Cat Garage with his partner, the artist and restoration specialist Laurence Chatokhine. The drag racing is on hold for the moment, for obvious reasons, but Séb has a solid background as a…
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Over the past fifteen years, Martin Becker of MB Cycles has carved out a reputation as one of the best custom Harley builders in Germany. He’s a regular at shows and in magazines such as Custombike, but you don’t need to be a V-twin enthusiast to spot that his work is something special. A few…
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We’ve found a killer bobber that proves that the unloved Harley-Davidson Street 500 actually has potential. Plus we take a look at the brand new Moto Guzzi V7, a Kawasaki Z from Germany, an ultra-rare MV Agusta 750 S America, and an auction of Robert M. Pirsig’s personal workshop things.
Read more »Classic Triumph bobbers tend to be commissioned by riders with many years and miles under their belts. After all, it usually takes…
Read more »A sweet Yamaha SR500 bobber from Sweden, a bright orange Honda CBR600 from the Netherlands, a Kawasaki KZ750 cafe racer from Argentina,…
Read more »Untitled Motorcycles is not your standard custom outfit. Output is hardly prolific, but the bikes invariably create ripples. And the founders operate…
Read more »The success of the Triumph Bobber has not gone unnoticed by the more savvy custom shops. It’s the fastest-selling motorcycle in the…
Read more »Like many accomplished customizers, Martin Becker has lived an eventful life. For almost twenty years he’s been building bikes in the beautiful…
Read more »The Heritage Softail Classic is the kind of bike most non-riders think of when they hear ‘Harley’—oodles of chrome, saddlebags, riveted leather…
Read more »Certain bikes tend to attract formulaic builds. And when it comes to customizing, BMW airheads in particular tread a well-worn path. But…
Read more »We’ve never run a feature on a bike from South Korea before. The local custom scene is tiny, and builders are heavily…
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