What the difference between a custom built XL bobber and chopper?

 

Google "sportster bobber image" and "sportster chopper image"

 

I think this pretty much summed it up. Personally I cant really put it into words. If I see one I can say what it is but there isnt exactly a checklist with measurements on it. Certain features yes but those features can crossover. Best way I feel to describe the difference among other things is if it has a sprung solo seat, youre almost definetely looking at a bobber, not to say there arent choppers with springer seats. And obviously you cant tell by the seat alone.

 

The length of the forks and sissy bars. The length of time the term has been used to describe a type of motorcycle.

 

Maybe a chopper needs to have a non stock frame geometry.
Longer back bone, longer down tube, rake modification, extended fork length using springer front end., rigid frame, raised fuel tank, radical trail.

Maybe a bobber needs a bobbed rear fender, spring seat, straight exhaust pipes with baffles not slip on mufflers, no front fender

Found an H-D website, www.harley-bobbers.com, that explains the difference between robbers and choppers with plenty of images of so called bobbers.
Oddlly enough, could find no images of an XL bobber.
Harely defines a bobber as a bike using a stock geometry frame with all ballast removed including the front fender, which was common for all bobbers.
The stock bike has as many non functional parts removed as possible to reduce weight to minimum including exhaust heat shields and replaced with heat tape and slip on mufflers, removed.
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Harley defines a chopper as a bike with a modified frame and modified triple tree rake from stock geometry with extended front fork from stock geometry.
A chopper can be loaded down with many accessories were weight is not a concern.

 

This is what came up in a google search. Makes sense but I think they are viewed more so as styles instead of how they are built.

 

And now we know

 

Actually saw the aircraft engine chopper at a Long Beach Motorcycle show many years ago built by Jesse James Custom Choppers.
In my opinion a real bobber must have a kick start engine like a knuckle head, pan head, shovel head or iron head, no rear fender or chopped rear fender, no front fender, laced wheels, skinny tires front and rear,
Sprung seat or ply wood directly on frame, no tail lights or directional signals, no head light, stock geometry rigid frame or soft tail frame, chain drive, sprotator preferred, coker white wall tires help, straight pipes,with heat tape, no cross over pipe, stock length springer front end.

 

Lmao @ that photo.

Choppers usually have extended forks, Comfy 2 up seats and a sissy bar 70s look.
Bobbers are usually more stripped down vintage looking.

 

According to harley-bobber.com, bobbers were around before choppers.
The motorcycle movies made in the sixties used bobbers not choppers.
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