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