Daily Slideshow: Bandit9's Bobber Is Out Of This World
The guys at Bandit9 Customs build some of the craziest, most futuristic looking custom motorcycles you've probably ever seen. Their vision of what one of George Lucas' Star Wars characters would ride is quite the futuristic concept...and you can order one for yourself.
Star Wars meets the Street
If you have been following my work here on H-D Forums, you'll know that I am not a fan of the Harley-Davidson Street series of motorcycles, however, it would appear that someone, somewhere, is trying to show me they are great platforms for customization. Time and time again, I am seeing these boring, hum-drum little bikes, customized into just about every style and design that can be imagined. With a little ingenuity, some creative ideas and perhaps even, some inspirations from a galaxy far, far away.
>>Join the conversation about this Street 750 Bobber right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Undeniably custom
I consider myself a true motorcycle aficionado....just a dirt poor one. I love just about all things two (and occasionally three) wheeled with an engine. Of course, I have my preferences of what I own, but if I did have the money to buy one of every bike I saw...well, I'd probably be poor again real soon. This bike is no different. The fabrication and hours that went into the bodywork alone are bordering on sheer insanity. Shaping the steel from a rounded tank to a squared rear valance in a single piece is an incredibly labor-intensive task...especially considering that it is all hammered by hand.
They didn't stop there either, that frame is far from stock H-D spec. They cut and adjusted the neck angle, the subframe was trimmed and they lengthened the swingarm. The guys at Bandit9 then installed some sweet 16" spoke wheels and some fat forks from USD.
>>Join the conversation about this Street 750 Bobber right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Dark Side
OK, so, the guys at Bandit9 didn't actually intend on this bike being related to that Dark Side. No, they actually were thinking about the Dark Side of the Moon, instead. But hey...regardless, it worked out that way and I think we can all agree that the Star Wars references are more fun, so I'm sticking with it.
This headlight, while small, actually provides significantly more light than the stock piece and inside the custom cowl, the speedometer is hiding like a droid.
>>Join the conversation about this Street 750 Bobber right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Vader's helmet
The bike was finished in gloss black, like Darth Vader's helmet, for a reason. If you've had, or still have, a black vehicle then you know that black shows every imperfection. They folks at Bandit9 wanted to showcase their craftsmanship. There are no hammer marks, creases, unwanted bends or skewed lines in the bodywork.
Also, black is the fastest color, so there's that.
>>Join the conversation about this Street 750 Bobber right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Slick, slim and fast
When I think of a bobber, I imagine a chopped rear fender, a stubby gas tank mounted high on the frame and some fat tires- front and back. While this bike, with its sleek design, long nose, and aggressive stance, takes my idea of a bobber and smashes it like an X-Wing into a Death Star, that's the beauty of custom motorcycles. Each of us has our own ideas about what is what. I love going to bike shows and bike nights and seeing the custom creations that my fellow motorcycle enthusiasts dream up. Every person has their own vision...it's almost like some sort of invisible force that, just sort of speaks to them (hang in there, we're almost done).
>>Join the conversation about this Street 750 Bobber right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
Light Saber not included
I must admit that growing up, I wasn't one of the Star Wars kids. As a kid growing up in the 80's, the extent of my "sci-fi" fascination was restricted to Captain Kirk and his fellow Trekker's on the Starship Enterprise. I was more interested in TV shows like The Dukes Of Hazzard, TJ Hooker, The Fall Guy and The A-Team. Now, I know that all of the Far, Far, Awayers are saying, "but those were TV shows and Star Wars was a movie franchise." Yeah, I get it...but what can I say, I grew up in a working class, single income family and taking a family of five to the movies was hard to fit into the budget back then.
With all that said, as I grew up, I finally brought myself to watch the famed trilogy and to my surprise (even though it was terribly dated by the time I saw it), I actually liked it. I get it, the magic and the oddities and the robots and all the weird planets and people...it was an escape from reality and just an overall neat story. I mean, think about it for a minute- someone somewhere, far away from here, dreaming up some crazy creation that is both modern, but nostalgic of a time that, perhaps, never even existed. Well, that's exactly what is happening with this bike, built by Bandit9 Customs in Vietnam. The bike you see here, while it wasn't intentionally inspired by the classic George Lucas films, it would certainly fit into any of the films.
So, grab your light sabers and your Jedi capes (or whatever your favorite Star Wars hero wears), get to the Millennium Falcon and head to the bank...because for a mere $32,000...one of these Darth Vader approved Street 750's can be built and shipped to the front door of your Ahch-To hovel.
>>Join the conversation about this Street 750 Bobber right here in the Harley-Davidson Forum!
For help with service and maintenance of your bike, check out the how to section of HDForums.com
