Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Creating a Nightster bobber

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 31, 2012 | 03:46 PM
  #1  
David Hoffmann's Avatar
David Hoffmann
Thread Starter
|
Stage III
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Around
Default Creating a Nightster bobber

Pardon my mechanical ignorance, but what parts can be removed from a Nightster (besides the front fender) to create that lean, minimal, bobber look? Thanks
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2012 | 04:02 PM
  #2  
hogdiver96's Avatar
hogdiver96
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 1
From: cambridge England
Default

Originally Posted by David Hoffmann
Pardon my mechanical ignorance, but what parts can be removed from a Nightster (besides the front fender) to create that lean, minimal, bobber look? Thanks
Remove anything that dont make it stop or go.

A 48 would have been a better starting point for a "bobber style" bike
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2012 | 04:32 PM
  #3  
grancuda's Avatar
grancuda
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 933
Likes: 7
Default

"A 48 would have been a better starting point for a "bobber style" bike"

Why???
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2012 | 04:36 PM
  #4  
Ragnar Danneskjöld's Avatar
Ragnar Danneskjöld
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,948
Likes: 4
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Default

Belt guards, sprocket cover, fenders, minimal seat, raw look... In my eyes, there's no real "bobber" look, but maybe a stripped-down look (which is my goal).
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2012 | 04:39 PM
  #5  
hogdiver96's Avatar
hogdiver96
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 1
From: cambridge England
Default

Originally Posted by grancuda
"A 48 would have been a better starting point for a "bobber style" bike"

Why???
because it already has a wider front wheel smaller tank forward controls, enough room under tank for a wire tuck..

ok i will rephrase...
A 48 would have been a CHEAPER starting point for a "bobber style bike"
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2012 | 04:59 PM
  #6  
pointdogg48's Avatar
pointdogg48
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 440
Likes: 0
From: San Diego,CA
Default

i would highly recommend you NOT buy a new model bike to create a bobber. You'll never be totally satisfied, and end up spending a crap ton of money to achieve something that is suppose to be a 'minimal' bike. don't go farther than new pipes a/c and handlebars w/ these late models. your bank account and wife will thank you.
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2012 | 06:40 PM
  #7  
streetfighter06's Avatar
streetfighter06
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 7
From: Texas
Default

Stripped down = streetfighter
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2012 | 09:56 PM
  #8  
Ragnar Danneskjöld's Avatar
Ragnar Danneskjöld
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,948
Likes: 4
From: Ottawa, Ontario
Default

Originally Posted by streetfighter06
Stripped down = streetfighter
Oh? I guess that's where I'm heading.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jun 1, 2012 | 11:28 AM
  #9  
bmxatv's Avatar
bmxatv
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,428
Likes: 21
From: Up your block and down your alley
Default

Originally Posted by David Hoffmann
Pardon my mechanical ignorance, but what parts can be removed from a Nightster (besides the front fender) to create that lean, minimal, bobber look? Thanks
while i'd love to welcome you to the site something tells me you won't be here long. remove the word bobber from your vocabulary when referring to your bike, that would be a good start. if you need to be told what to do....chances are you shouldn't build one.

sorry man... i was too harsh. remove everything but the reflectors! reflectors are retro dude! you should go out and get some for the spokes too. make sure you leave the sticker on the ham can too, that's way bobber cool!
 

Last edited by bmxatv; Jun 1, 2012 at 11:37 AM.
Reply
Old Jun 1, 2012 | 11:47 AM
  #10  
theterribleone_vdc's Avatar
theterribleone_vdc
Cruiser
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 147
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
Default

Originally Posted by bmxatv
while i'd love to welcome you to the site something tells me you won't be here long. remove the word bobber from your vocabulary when referring to your bike, that would be a good start. if you need to be told what to do....chances are you shouldn't build one.

sorry man... i was too harsh. remove everything but the reflectors! reflectors are retro dude! you should go out and get some for the spokes too. make sure you leave the sticker on the ham can too, that's way bobber cool!
haha. brootal.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:23 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE