How did it get that nick name ?

 

Bobbing the fenders comes to mind ... bobbing ( shortening ) the fenders

 

Could also be the bobbing the rider does when riding over bumps on a hard tail.
But I also agree, bobbing is shortened or cut down tins.

 

http://motorcycleart.blogspot.com/20...er-part-1.html

 

Back when the rear fender was hinged, riders would strip down anything that did not help the bike go faster. the lower part of the rear fender was easy prey and when removed the back of the bike looked bobbed off. the front fender, crash bars, mirrors, bags and anything else you could pull off the bike was next. bobbers are unlike choppers that have hard parts such as the frame cut. [chopped]
my 56 is a classic bobber, The rear fender is actually a front. Harley's have lots of iconic terms, can you spot the " pig snout"

 

Excellent. A true bobber. Here's a couple of bikes: A knuckle that a local rider built, and a "modern" bobber built around a shovel:

 

Sixguns I love that you used a front fender on the back. I always liked that look even though you don't see it much anymore. That bike is a beautiful bobber true to it's roots.

 

Love this bike. What tires are those?

 

Thanks for all the kind words. The tires are "Firestone Deluxe Champions", 5.00 x 16 4ply they run with 12 and 14 psi of air.

 

[QUOTE=sixguns;14074907
my 56 is a classic bobber, The rear fender is actually a front. Harley's have lots of iconic terms, can you spot the " pig snout"[/QUOTE]

First time I've seen a front fender on the back, I like it.
Nice bike man!