easy bike to make a bobber?

[Drod13]

I've got an itch to build a bobber and was wondering if anyone knew of any bike that wasn't that bad to convert over.
I've seen some Honda V45's around pretty cheap but they are water cooled and wouldn't go with the look I'm after.
I have the tools and the resources to build one but was wondering if any of you built some and maybe some do's and dont's.

Thanks Dan.

[bagobones]

I'm TRYING to make a mild bobber/chop out of an early Virago. This particular bike is turning out to be sort of a POS so I hope I haven't bitten off too much with this one.

[dt]

Hi Drod13. I highly encourage you to pursue your itch and keep us posted on every detail.    IMO the coolest looking bobbers I’ve ever seen had the Triumph logo on them. Conversely, the worst looking had the BMW logo on them (got some pics of some local bikes to prove this one). I don’t know how easy/hard bobbing either, or anything in between, would be, but I’m thinking if someone has done it…it can be figured out.

[dt]

Conversely, the worst looking had the BMW logo on them (got some pics of some local bikes to prove this one).

Hah! I knew they were in here someplace. I saw them at Big Louie's Swap Meet in Plant City. Actually the first one is kind of cool. I might have to make a retraction.

http://bikerflorida.com/forum/index.php/topic,306.0.html

[Drod13]

That first one's not bad...But that second one I don't know about. 

I just spoke to my buddy and he in the gated security business.He said the ppl that makes his gates
had no problem with me getting some stuff powder coated but I have only the following color choices...
white,black,gray or bronze.I'm thinking a bronze frame and maybe some nice powder coated black rims.
And to really make it a deal it's free!!!!

[dt]

Hey, free is good! That’s some big savings to use for cool stuff. Excellent!

Bones, didn't you do the cafe' frame in bronze?

[Drod13]

You have a pic of that frame in bronze? love to see it.

Just showed my buddy a bunch of bobber pics and I convinced him to help me build it.
always nice to have someone else to share the blame if all fails...lol

[mrbones]

Yeah, my CB360 Cafe project is painted bronze. The pics are on this page of the thread, http://bikerflorida.com/forum/index.php/topic,146.15.html.

To me, the best bobber is built around an air cooled v-twin or parallel twin engine. Radiators spoil the look. Single carb bikes are easiest since there's less to fiddle with. Building one is easy, just start cutting things off and/or replace big, ugly stock parts with smaller stuff. The less that is on the bike, the more a bobber it becomes.

[Drod13]

found this bike on craigslist.I think it's a little small but probably a good starting point for me.
I just think it would be a shame to chop this up.What do you think?

It's an 82 $375
Kawasaki KZ 250 CSR Single Cylinder Street Bike with Belt Drive. Yes this little beauty only has 688 Actual Miles. This bike has been Garage Kept and looks great. Clear title.

Tires and Belt drive are in good condition. Seat, Gas Tank and Battery require assembly. All-in-all a great first bike. You would be hard pressed to find a cleaner, low mileage bike than this one.

[flapug]

Taking a perfectly good classic with low miles and chopping it up would be a shame (in my opinion). Better to get one with a good motor and bad cosmetics since most would be redone anyway.  That KZ 250 CSR would be a great bike for a beginning rider.

[mrbones]

Nothing wrong with hacking that bike up, but if you're gonna do it, it might as well be a 600cc + bike.

[dt]

Did you get the Kawasaki, or still looking around?

[Drod13]

I called the guy back to get his directions and A neighbor came by 10 min. before I called and took it off his hands.

Found another though but have a question.Did Yamaha make a 700 in 1983 or  was it introduced in 84-87?

I'm asking because I'm interested in a bike I haven't seen yet and the seller is claiming it's an 83 700cc.He's was asking $550 and he emailed me back and said he dropped the price to $300.Also said the bikes been sitting for 2 years and ran before he put it up.I read about the starter issues but is there anything else I should be looking for before I make a jump on it? Thanks.

[dt]

A little checking around and it looks like the 700 (in the Virago) didn’t come out until 1985 or 1986. According to a few sites I just surfed through the Harley Davidson tariff business (i.e. tariffs on import bikes over 700cc) happened in 1984 and all the Asian makers started knocking their 750s down to 700s, and it doesn’t look like for long. Yamaha had the XJ, FZX and XV (Virago) 700s all between 1985 and 1986 and then back to 750s starting in 87. The Virago would make for a cool bobber imo.

Here’s a site I look at sometimes for specs that's supposed to list all models. It's searchable. Here’s the Yamaha section:
http://www.bikez.com/brand/yamaha_motorcycles.php?page=1

_________________
EDIT: btw, if you wind up with an old Yamaha, I’m linking a good supplier of old Yamaha parts based out in Oregon…Northwest Vintage Cycle Parts. The dude that runs this place buys up OEM parts stocks from dealers that go out of biz and has been doing so for years and years. They’ve really come through for me on some really off stuff!  

http://www.nwvintagecycleparts.com/

[Drod13]

thanks for the info great stuff! I emailed the guy back and said check your title to make sure.
I'll keep you posted.

[dt]

I pulled all Yamaha 700 models off the Zedder website, below. Unfortunately, it didn’t list all the VINs. That’s ultimately where you’re going to tie down the year, which will become real important when chasing parts. I also have the Zedder Yamaha cross reference software. What the software does is match up all parts (by OEM Part Number) to the specific models it was used in. It’s particularly useful when you’re searching for a part on eBay or Craigslist. You might want to search just the specific model; but, someone may be parting out another model that used the same part. More good stuff when working on older Yamahas. He has software for Suzuki and Kawasaki, also.

[Drod13]

This guy sticking to his 83 700cc claim.He said they short produced a few but I can't find anything that supports that anywhere.
I gave him my # but he has yet to call.He said he will send me pics in a few.I don't want to annoy this guy with all these questions but I'd
really like to know.What I don't get is that I told him that it would be better if I just came over and had a look and hasn't responded yet about that either.
Says he has "title in hand" We shall see.

[dt]

I suppose the guy could be right on the year. Either way, Yamaha must have made a few spare parts for it.

Some sellers (CL or eBay) seem to want to sell but not show, then send pics, communicate via email, etc. I think the reason has more to do with they just don’t want a bunch of lookie-lews wasting their time. A classic bike or one that needs some special attention…they know the market for that stuff is small, but when dozens call and want to see the item, they start evaluating the buyers. I’ve admittedly done that as a seller before. If there’s a chance you might want the bike, I’d be persistent on the lookie part. That might show him that you're definitely interested. Take a bud; four eyes are better than two.

[Drod13]

well I'm off to finally take a look at it.I'll be posting pics if I get it or posting if it was a flop.
stay tuned....

[Drod13]

well first off it was a 1986 700cc.I knew the bike hasn't been run for 2 years but the guy left it out back without a cover on it the whole time.
All the parts are pitted and the clutch is frozen along with the front brakes.I wanted to put jumper cables on it but the bike sits in a very tight spot and I would have to
pick up the bike in order for me to put it on the center stand and get it close to my truck.All in all the bike makes for some decent parts but something I really don't want to mess with right now.heres a pic...

[mrbones]

Looks like a lot of work. How much was he selling it for again?

[Drod13]

hes started at $550 and then e-mailed me an said $300

[dt]

All in all the bike makes for some decent parts but something I really don't want to mess with right now.heres a pic...

Yup, you'd probably end up spending all your time fixing stuff that's gone to crap on that bike, when you really want to work on bobbing it.

[Drod13]

Well I finally found something that runs pretty good and and is within my budget.
It's a 1978 KZ 750 with only 12k on her.Heres some pics when I just got her off my truck.Oh I paid $400
and the guy gave me another frame thats the same year.Not a bad deal I think.

[dt]

Excellent! Did you get cranking on it this weekend?

Wondering…are you planning on doing the rigid frame thing?