Since we started building my 450 inline twin bobber, I’ve been asked more than a few times what, exactly, is a “bobber”? Which always leads to how that is different than a “chopper”. Well, I’ll try to keep it simple, but it may get a bit messy…

The line between “bobbers” and “choppers” has blurred pretty much in the past few years, and I’ll do my best to explain my thoughts on both terms. Technically speaking, synonyms of “Bobbed” are cut, cropped, docked, trimmed, clipped, so that’ll get folks on their way to understanding why these bikes are called “bobbers”.

The term “bobber” started being used around the end of WWII, when guys were “bobbing” (shortening) the back fenders of their motorcycles, and removing the front fender. Think of what the board track racers of the late teens/20’s looked like - they were totally stripped down. “Bobbers” have rigid frames (no shocks), solo seats…you basically “bob” off everything that isn’t necessary, like speedometers, signals, battery (usually these buggers are kick-start). And remember, the girls in the 20’s had that “bobbed” haircut, so the term was already in use, it was just natural to refer to the stripped down bikes as “bobbed”, too!

You can look at my Smokeout event page on my website for LOTS of examples! We got sooo much inspiration from those builders. Folks who begborrowdealsteal parts to create ridable and unique pieces of art (my opinion). And they build ‘em themselves with a little help from friends.

Then in the 50/60’s, this morphed into “choppers”…the frames were “chopped” to stretch the bike, usually had apehangers, sissy bars, bigger front wheels, custom tanks, wider tires…think “Easy Rider”.

Nowadays, “bobber” and “chopper” are sometimes hard to distinguish, for they’ve both morphed. My “bobber” will have some chopper elements: a fatter tire, a sissy bar, a front fender (I’m not riding in the rain without one - I watched John suffer for many miles in the rain on his 750 before he got the front fender on!!!); and bobber elements: shortened rear fender, rigid frame, solo seat, kick start (back up only - yes, she’ll have an electric start - my bones are too bad to be kicking a bike unless absolutely necessary!!).

Both terms are misused quite frequently, even by the big-name-theme-bike-builders-who-have-tv-shows, for many custom or home-built bikes now have elements of both chopper and bobber…so maybe we need to call them “chobbers” now!

*Disclaimer: There are varying descriptions of both bikes on the ‘net, and it seems that everyone has a different opinion of what constitutes a “bobber” or “chopper”. The above descriptions are merely my personal observations and opinions…

Till next time, keep the shiny side up!
EclecticDawn

I am a born-in-Wisconsin Cheesehead…I lived in Wisconsin for almost 40 years, and growing up in Wisconsin means growing up a “Packer Backer”.

I remember the ‘67 Ice Bowl (yes, I was pretty young and I don’t remember individual plays, but I remember bits of the game and the folks in our house screaming during the game and the snow and the excitement). My cousin, Steve Wagner, played for the Packers during my high school years, 1976 - 1979. I remember going to many games over the years, freezing cold games, including one where I dressed up like Mrs. Claus to attend a Pack/Viking game on December 22, 1996, with my Dad. I remember crying in the stands, singing “We Are The Champions” with the rest of the crowd when “we” won the ‘95 NFC Central Division.

Packer Backers can name past coaches and players easier than we can name past Presidents…we love “our” team…yes, we always say “we” when speaking of the Packers. It is the only community team in the league, owned by the people. You can read the interesting history at the Packers website. http://www.packers.com/history/fast_facts/stock_history/

I even lived on Packerland Drive in Green Bay! We’d dress up my Suzuki Samurai with green and gold painted cans, ALF (remember him?) in a Packer jersey, and drive around downtown after the game. Some of the Packers used to come watch our band play at the local venues, and we also played at bars around Lambeau on game days, which was so much fun! I am a Packer Backer, and I embrace my Cheeseheaded-ness. I was glad that there were so many Packer fans when I moved to the Tampa area in 1999, as it made it fairly easy to find places to see the games and bond with other Packer fans. Moving to Virginia has been a bit different, since the folks here are more into Nascar than football (they don’t like it when I say “Dale who?”). Sometimes we don’t get the Packer games on TV, and I have to find an internet radio station to follow along.

My reason for stating all the previous is to let you know that I am first and foremost a PACKER fan, and though I have been very vocal about my admiration for Brett Favre through the years, I will also say that his antics over the past couple weeks have let me down. I am a TEAM supporter, and so is my dog! ;) Look how bummed Bella was when the Packers lost to the Giants in OT during the NFC Championship game, the 3rd coldest game in NFL history…

Brett is an amazing player and has done wonderful things for the community as a whole over the years, personally and professionally. But lately, he’s just looking like a spoiled brat. I can understand that he has come to realise that he’s just not ready to retire yet. BUT, he should have stepped up and admitted his change of heart earlier, he should have come back to Green Bay training camp earlier, should have kept his mouth shut about some of the issues that belonged behind closed doors, should have realised that when he announced his retirement that the QB spot wouldn’t be held open for him “just in case I change my mind”. There were a LOT of folks who bet on the fact that the teary-eyed retirement-announcement Brett would not be the last we’d see of him. It was almost a sure bet he’d change his mind.

It seems pretty self-righteous to me that any player thinks they can retire, and then just waltz back in at the very last minute, cause a media circus, and imagine that everyone would welcome him with open arms. Whether he wanted to cause so much turmoil that the Packers would trade him (heck, there are a lot of GB fans in Tampa, it would be a perfect place to send his Highness), whether he truly wanted to suit up in the green and gold again, whether he just couldn’t stand seeing someone else standing in his position…it doesn’t matter. He made the last week a CIRCUS, and I’m sure it was a huge distraction to the players who were there to concentrate on practice.

I wish the fans would not direct their anger and frustration at Aaron Rodgers. Some of the fans boo’ed him during Sunday’s scrimmage and folks were yelling nasty comments to him during practice. Geez, folks, Sunday was a scrimmage, the guys are not playing “all out”, and how well would you do with the threat of being benched yet again due to the superstar’s antics looming over you? My heart goes out to Aaron Rodgers, and I truly hope that he can shake off the anti-Aaron folks’ behaviour and concentrate on playing like we KNOW he can!

Aaron Rodgers, I wish you great success this year! Please know that you’ve got a team fan here, and I support the decisions made by the organization that are the best for the team. I am grateful that they made the decision to trade Brett - let him pull his spoiled child antics on someone else’s turf - it’s time for the circus to move on, and it’s YOUR turn to shine!!

Go, Pack, Go!

Peace and love,
EclecticDawn