Ok I have been looking at these for awhile and am thinking about buying one at the first of next year. I want to drop in a stock evo motor and 5speed. Nothing outrageous just simple and cool. I want to keep it flat black, add a springer seat and have some simple but tasteful pinstriping done. What do you guy think??? Am I crazy???


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MMW-F...ht_1655wt_1165

 

Nobody likes bobbers?

 

Well this is the Touring forum. Personally, I think it would be fun to build one up with a pan or knuckle engine.

 

[quote=BLK08ROCKERC;7387458]What do you guy think???

[/quote]

I think it looks like fun.

 

If my back would take a rigid frame, I would consider it.

 

Check to see about title issues in your state on a custom build. May or may not be a problem. Remember that if you try to sell later, a custom build can be hard to sell in some states. Luck to get a third of the build cost. I did a custom chopper a few years back and it was a blast. I'd like to do a simple bobber but WVU is getting most of my money for the next 6 years.

 

A close friend also thought it would be fun to build a bobber. He's a pretty talented guy, with all the right tools and equipment. After almost two years of the build, its complete and....for sale. He bought a rolling kit and lots of things didn't fit well. He had to do a lot of cutting, cussing and extra work on what should have been an easy build. He's a small guy, doesn't weigh much over 140 pounds, tough as nails...and the bike just kills him after 1/2 hour on it. Its a hard-tail w/springer seat...just like the one you described. If after reading this you still want to go ahead with this project, take my buddies advice and start with a used Sportster and modify to a bobber from stock. Otherwise, unless you've got a hell of a lot of patience and extra money, good luck with your build.

 

I love the Bobber look, one of the reasons I would like a black 48 as a "fun" bike. I have been thinking about doing a black bobber project with my wife's former bike sitting in the garage.......a (gasp) VStar 1100. Sure will be a lot of paint and de-chroming though!

 

Thats how I got my SG. I have built several ground up bikes but it had been a long time. I kept talking about it but threw in how much I like the Streetglide. My wife knows what a time consuming and frustrating project it is so after a while of looking serious about the bike build she started talking me into the SG. Worked like a charm!

Seriously. Think hard about it. Even with the "kits" you need a lot of special skills. Welding etc... Its a lot tougher than it appears. Even something like aligning the drivetrain is not easy. Once its built its fun to ride to bike nights but it will wear you out quickly. Thinks like the pavement cracks in the freeway are painful. They are pretty much impossible to sell at least for any real money. Build it to keep. I always built them from salvage so the money didn't hurt me.