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Harley bobbers

Bobbers are a part of the Harley-Davidson DNA: minimalist creations with solo seats that take the stripped-down, garage-built look as far as you can go.

These days, Harley bobbers are usually more better finished than the rough-and-ready bobbers of the mid 20th century. But the core of the style remains: a hardtail frame, minimal (if any) fenders, and a tractor-style seat.

A lot of modern Harley bobbers are based on the Sportster, thanks to its compact dimensions and ready availability. But custom builders also resurrect older ‘big twins’ such as shovelheads and panheads, and you occasionally even see builds based on knuckleheads and flatheads.

If your idea of a custom motorcycle is an engine, two wheels, a seat and a fuel tank and little more, a Harley-Davidson ‘bob job’ or ‘cutdown’ probably fits the bill.

Mighty Guerrilla: A Harley Fat Bob from Rough Crafts

Mighty Guerrilla: A Harley Fat Bob from Rough Crafts

It’s been almost nine years since we featured the Rough Crafts ‘Iron Guerrilla‘—a murdered-out Harley-Davidson Sportster that flung Taiwanese customizer Winston Yeh…

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Bardahl Special: An astounding 48 Panhead from Switzerland

Bardahl Special: A ’48 Harley bobber from Switzerland

Where is the line between meticulous and just plain nuts? Because we’re sure Albert ‘Ash’ Aeschlimann crossed it at some point during…

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Custom knucklehead hardtail built for the Mooneyes Japan show by Asterisk

Mooneyes Star: A hardtail knucklehead from Asterisk

The next Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show is over ten months away, but many top-flight builders are already plotting their next entries.…

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Custom Heritage Softail: One Way Machine’s Drag-Inspired Quartermile

Custom Heritage Softail: One Way Machine’s ‘Quartermile’

When Harley-Davidson celebrated its 115th anniversary with a party in Prague earlier this year, it invited a select few builders to present…

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Bill Bryant's Harley WLA flat track racer

WTF: Turning a tank-shift Harley WLA into a flat tracker

The great thing about flat track racing is that anyone can have a crack. You don’t need a rocket scientist crew chief,…

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Jackson Burrows' award-winning vintage Harley-Davidson Super 10

Superunknown: A first-time builder hits the big time

Purists will say that a full nuts-n-bolts restoration is the only way to treat a rare classic. But when all you have…

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An ingenious Harley Sportster hardtail from 2LOUD

Grey Matter: An ingenious Sportster hardtail from 2LOUD

We always love featuring the latest builds from the big names in the custom world, but there are a few lesser-known workshops…

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Going out with a bang: the last custom Harley from Janesville, a WLA bobber.

Going out with a bang: Jamesville’s last custom Harley

I’ve always had a soft spot for the machines built by James Roper-Caldbeck. Back in 2009, when Bike EXIF was only a…

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Period Incorrect: A Harley Sportster XLCH beach racer from Hoxton Moto

Period Incorrect: A Harley Sportster XLCH beach racer

One of the greatest spectacles in motorcycling is The Race Of Gentlemen, held every summer on the Jersey shore. It’s a recreation…

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Iron Riot: Harley-Davidson Softail custom by One Way Machine

Iron Riot: Harley Softail custom by One Way Machine

Julian von Oheimb is the German master of Milwaukee metal. He’s been on the podium at the AMD World Championship an incredible…

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Harley-Davidson XL883 Sportster bobber by 2LOUD Custom

Subtle Deception: A Harley Sportster bobber from 2LOUD

Old bikes are unquestionably cool. But if you buy one, you’re on the fast track to becoming a self-made mechanic, specializing in…

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This DP Customs Sportster now terrorizes the streets of Carefree, Arizona

This hardtail Sportster terrorizes the streets of Carefree, Arizona

There’s more than one way to skin a cat; or, in moto terms, there’s more than one way to customize a Sportster.…

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