I'd say a bobber is a modified bike that can be put back stock with wrenches , chopper is a modified bike that needs a welder and grinder to put back stock
Your definition of a Bobber is correct. But, a Chopper is a Custom Bike that has had it's Rake and Trail changed by chopping the frame or cutting the frame and re-welding and modding it to their liking; that is a Chopper. A Bobber is a stripped down Stock Bike. It's stripped for performance reasons. A Chopper is a truly Customized Motorcycle that no longer has a stock frame; the frame has been chopped and re-welded and customized. :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)
I agree but the issue is progression of time allows definitions to carry a different current meaning due to cultural changes. In this case the last 20 years has creating a new movement in motorcycling and that created a shift in the meaning.
@rulehardgarage9740 it's just a little funny that some people consider a chopper as not a motorcycle. It's a cycle that has an engine... it's still a motorcycle. Every type of 2 wheeled motorised vehicle falls under the umbrella of motorcycle.
I think you're saying because they are more asthetic than function? I would agree but another key to a true chopper is the minimal bare bones design. A good chopper finds the balance between style and minimalist. In my opinion of course. Now big wheel baggers are donk cars for sure
I always had a similar opinion as you in that Matter I like some elements of "Choppers" and Bobbers too, but I also like Scramblers and Trackers, and many other "styles" of Customization/Modification And with my Bike I tried to put elemnts of those "Styles", Bobber, Chopper, Scrambler/Tracker, and made a bike that is neither of those and all of them at The same time I Called it Chobber hehehe
Can't agree - I think what we see today is a lot of Custom Bikes being called Bobbers because they share a "few" common themes with original Bobbers - this does not make them Bobbers. I grew up around a lot of Vintage British Motorcycles - Bobbers existed in Britain also as Brits were doing the same thing as in the U.S and Australia. A Bobber has Flat Handlebars, Hard Tail, Open Pipes, Springer Seat, Bobbed Rear Mudguard and either a shortened or removed Front Guard - Bobbers also had fat front and rear tyres of around the same diameter. That is an original and traditional Bobber. What I see today is a ton of Custom Bikes being called something they really are not. Tall bars and Apes on a Bobber? Nope ...
I don't think me you and I disagree. I also think that bobber has become a generalized term for a custom bike. I think maybe we have perspectives from different parts of the world and maybe that's why we don't completely agree. That's okay though. Thanks for the comment 👍.
@@rulehardgarage9740 I think what I have a contention with is the notion that any Bike you take parts off is a Bobber. You can take parts off a Dirt bike and a Sports Bike and they are not Bobbers. I think Custom Bike Culture and Fashion trends in Motorcycling just paints a broad coat over details and people lose sight of the specifics of a thing. a Bobber to me is a very specific thing ... it's not really up for debate. People either know what a Bobber is or they don't. A lot of people clearly don't ... but they like the sound of the name and use it freely. It's the same with Cafe Racer and Scrambler ... they are very specific and defined things ... but I see people misuse these terms constantly and mislabel their rides because of Fashion and their own ignorance. If our job is to help people and to inform people ... well lets do that too, do it politely ... but it needs to be done. Saying everything can just be anything leads to a big nothing and that's what I don't like.
That's definitely where I disagree. I think if someone wants to build a "bobber" and in their mind it means just taking some parts of their old Honda rebel....well then more power to them. As long as they are happy. To many people in the world who care way too much about what other people are doing when it doesn't really effect them at all. I have my opinions and I would never call that a bobber personally but that's not for me to judge because everyone starts somewhere and I will always promote DIY and people just going for what they love because it makes them happy. But yes to me a bobber is a very specific type of Harley that was build from leftover war bikes. It's hot even something that can really be recreated in my mind. Unfortunately our world isn't pure and marketing influences everything. So now the meaning of bobber has literally changed in popular culture despite what you or I know as the truth. I also believe that we don't have to agree to move forward from this conversation and I truly appreciate you leaving a well thought out constructive comment. Hopefully the people watching this read these comments and get some insight into the subject. P.s I made this video because bthere was a video made by a popular channel that is explaining what a bobber is using a Bolton new sportster and I became a little irritated by that. So I think we share the same passion.
@@rulehardgarage9740 Honda Rebel can definitely be made into a Bobber - I absolutely agree with that. I am not contending that you can't build a Bobber from any type of Bike ... well some bikes, due the type of frame geometry would require way more work - but sure you can. What I am talking about is that the Bobber itself as a type of Bike has specific lines, a specific shape and Bike geometry ... there are certain design and style rules that dictate what that bike is and isn't. Just like an Enduro Bike is not a Bobber and a Chopper is not a Bagger. Again, what I am saying is that just because you take a few bits off a bike doesn't make it a Bobber - there is a specific style, form and function that dictates what a Bobber is. If you follow those basic design and style lines then you can make a Bobber just like the originals or something new ... if you colour outside those style lines you've got a Custom Bike that has a few Bobber like traits ... but it's not a Bobber - it's something else.
wish I had a dime from everyone that told me they were a biker back then and why we did what we did to our bikes. I would be a millionaire. I have rags that date back to 1970 and do not remember the word bobber ever said or see one. take one you see and hear on the internet with a grain of salt, same goes with these's so called bikers nowadays.
I have been building custom and stock bikes professionally continuous for over 50 yrs.and still working today. if you think I do not know how a motorcycle is made you would be very wrong.A bobber is a more dangerous chopper finished in pretty colours (that look like hell in no time) reflecting how the world has dumbed down in the last 50 yrs.
What are you on about mate? A Bobber is a far more stable bike than a Chopper ... a Bobber is stock frame - a Chopper is a Chopped Frame with an extreme rake ... a Chopper is a far more unstable ride than a Bobber hence the need for Tall Bars and Apes to better control the steering.
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I'd say a bobber is a modified bike that can be put back stock with wrenches , chopper is a modified bike that needs a welder and grinder to put back stock
Love your take on this! I like to thin as Bobbers as "bobbed" to make lighter etc. Choppers "chopped" Stretched, heavily modified, etc.
Good stuff. Man, glad there are some other level headed people. Out there who can appreciate everything.
Your definition of a Bobber is correct. But, a Chopper is a Custom Bike that has had it's Rake and Trail changed by chopping the frame or cutting the frame and re-welding and modding it to their liking; that is a Chopper. A Bobber is a stripped down Stock Bike. It's stripped for performance reasons. A Chopper is a truly Customized Motorcycle that no longer has a stock frame; the frame has been chopped and re-welded and customized. :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)
I agree but the issue is progression of time allows definitions to carry a different current meaning due to cultural changes. In this case the last 20 years has creating a new movement in motorcycling and that created a shift in the meaning.
Very nice explanation thanks for making it clear
Not every chopper is a bobber, but every bobber is a chopper
Fuck yea! It's my Bike and if I want I'll paint a big ass Pikachu, and name the Bike Thunderbolt LMFAO 😂
Bobber and Choppers are fuking cool!
Chopper:
A motorcycle thats been in the chop shop.
Interesting take.
@rulehardgarage9740 it's just a little funny that some people consider a chopper as not a motorcycle. It's a cycle that has an engine... it's still a motorcycle. Every type of 2 wheeled motorised vehicle falls under the umbrella of motorcycle.
Hell ya I wanna build a chopper bobber
They are so much fun.
Choppers kinda of seem like the equivalent of a low rider or a donk car
I think you're saying because they are more asthetic than function? I would agree but another key to a true chopper is the minimal bare bones design. A good chopper finds the balance between style and minimalist. In my opinion of course. Now big wheel baggers are donk cars for sure
@@rulehardgarage9740 yep
I always had a similar opinion as you in that Matter
I like some elements of "Choppers" and Bobbers too, but I also like Scramblers and Trackers, and many other "styles" of Customization/Modification
And with my Bike I tried to put elemnts of those "Styles", Bobber, Chopper, Scrambler/Tracker, and made a bike that is neither of those and all of them at The same time
I Called it Chobber hehehe
That's my style too!
Can't agree - I think what we see today is a lot of Custom Bikes being called Bobbers because they share a "few" common themes with original Bobbers - this does not make them Bobbers. I grew up around a lot of Vintage British Motorcycles - Bobbers existed in Britain also as Brits were doing the same thing as in the U.S and Australia. A Bobber has Flat Handlebars, Hard Tail, Open Pipes, Springer Seat, Bobbed Rear Mudguard and either a shortened or removed Front Guard - Bobbers also had fat front and rear tyres of around the same diameter. That is an original and traditional Bobber. What I see today is a ton of Custom Bikes being called something they really are not. Tall bars and Apes on a Bobber? Nope ...
I don't think me you and I disagree. I also think that bobber has become a generalized term for a custom bike. I think maybe we have perspectives from different parts of the world and maybe that's why we don't completely agree. That's okay though. Thanks for the comment 👍.
@@rulehardgarage9740 I think what I have a contention with is the notion that any Bike you take parts off is a Bobber. You can take parts off a Dirt bike and a Sports Bike and they are not Bobbers. I think Custom Bike Culture and Fashion trends in Motorcycling just paints a broad coat over details and people lose sight of the specifics of a thing. a Bobber to me is a very specific thing ... it's not really up for debate. People either know what a Bobber is or they don't. A lot of people clearly don't ... but they like the sound of the name and use it freely. It's the same with Cafe Racer and Scrambler ... they are very specific and defined things ... but I see people misuse these terms constantly and mislabel their rides because of Fashion and their own ignorance. If our job is to help people and to inform people ... well lets do that too, do it politely ... but it needs to be done. Saying everything can just be anything leads to a big nothing and that's what I don't like.
That's definitely where I disagree. I think if someone wants to build a "bobber" and in their mind it means just taking some parts of their old Honda rebel....well then more power to them. As long as they are happy. To many people in the world who care way too much about what other people are doing when it doesn't really effect them at all. I have my opinions and I would never call that a bobber personally but that's not for me to judge because everyone starts somewhere and I will always promote DIY and people just going for what they love because it makes them happy.
But yes to me a bobber is a very specific type of Harley that was build from leftover war bikes. It's hot even something that can really be recreated in my mind. Unfortunately our world isn't pure and marketing influences everything. So now the meaning of bobber has literally changed in popular culture despite what you or I know as the truth.
I also believe that we don't have to agree to move forward from this conversation and I truly appreciate you leaving a well thought out constructive comment. Hopefully the people watching this read these comments and get some insight into the subject.
P.s I made this video because bthere was a video made by a popular channel that is explaining what a bobber is using a Bolton new sportster and I became a little irritated by that. So I think we share the same passion.
@@rulehardgarage9740 Honda Rebel can definitely be made into a Bobber - I absolutely agree with that. I am not contending that you can't build a Bobber from any type of Bike ... well some bikes, due the type of frame geometry would require way more work - but sure you can. What I am talking about is that the Bobber itself as a type of Bike has specific lines, a specific shape and Bike geometry ... there are certain design and style rules that dictate what that bike is and isn't. Just like an Enduro Bike is not a Bobber and a Chopper is not a Bagger. Again, what I am saying is that just because you take a few bits off a bike doesn't make it a Bobber - there is a specific style, form and function that dictates what a Bobber is. If you follow those basic design and style lines then you can make a Bobber just like the originals or something new ... if you colour outside those style lines you've got a Custom Bike that has a few Bobber like traits ... but it's not a Bobber - it's something else.
I have always thought Bobbers are a style of Choppers.
I would say that's correct based on modern terminology. I don't think it really matters but there are people who care out there.
Its a chopber!
Chopler bobler. Just build something and ride it 👍
So bobber is same as cafe racer? these two confused me more !!
Basically, but Cafe Racers was From England and Bobber From USA
@@Kravenrogue Thanks Man , Now I got it 👍
wish I had a dime from everyone that told me they were a biker back then and why we did what we did to our bikes. I would be a millionaire. I have rags that date back to 1970 and do not remember the word bobber ever said or see one. take one you see and hear on the internet with a grain of salt, same goes with these's so called bikers nowadays.
So in the car community a chopper is a stance nation dude. A bobber are the weight reduction bros but both go under as ricers. Got it.
Sure 🤷
I have been building custom and stock bikes professionally continuous for over 50 yrs.and still working today. if you think I do not know how a motorcycle is made you would be very wrong.A bobber is a more dangerous chopper finished in pretty colours (that look like hell in no time) reflecting how the world has dumbed down in the last 50 yrs.
What are you on about mate? A Bobber is a far more stable bike than a Chopper ... a Bobber is stock frame - a Chopper is a Chopped Frame with an extreme rake ... a Chopper is a far more unstable ride than a Bobber hence the need for Tall Bars and Apes to better control the steering.
opinions are just like assholes,, everybodys got a different one...