Harley bobbers

Bobbers are a part of the Harley-Davidson DNA: minimalist creations with solo seats that take the stripped-down, garage-built look as far as you can go.

These days, Harley bobbers are usually more better finished than the rough-and-ready bobbers of the mid 20th century. But the core of the style remains: a hardtail frame, minimal (if any) fenders, and a tractor-style seat.

A lot of modern Harley bobbers are based on the Sportster, thanks to its compact dimensions and ready availability. But custom builders also resurrect older ‘big twins’ such as shovelheads and panheads, and you occasionally even see builds based on knuckleheads and flatheads.

If your idea of a custom motorcycle is an engine, two wheels, a seat and a fuel tank and little more, a Harley-Davidson ‘bob job’ or ‘cutdown’ probably fits the bill.

1979 Harley Electra Glide Bobber by Kid Custom Factory, Japan

Gentleman’s Daily: A 1979 Harley Electra Glide Bobber from Japan

7 HOURS AGO / CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES

The Japanese custom scene has its leading lights; superstar builders with résumés that include coveted show trophies and high-profile OEM collaborations. But there are also highly skilled craftsmen who manage to fly under the radar—like the builder of this captivating Harley Electra Glide bobber, Shintaro Kido. Kido-san runs his one-man shop, Kid Custom Factory, out…

Custom Harley-Davidson Street Bob by Rough Crafts, Taiwan

This lavish Harley-Davidson Street Bob is peak Rough Crafts

3 MONTHS AGO / Comments Off on This lavish Harley-Davidson Street Bob is peak Rough Crafts / CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES

Even though Rough Crafts frontman Winston Yeh is happy to build custom bikes that fall outside of his purview, his bread and butter are sleek and bold Harley-Davidsons swathed in black. He does it so well, that most customers request ‘a Rough Crafts-style Harley’ and leave it at that. That was almost the story with…

White Knuckle Knucklehead Bobber by KC Kawano

Safety’s Off: KC Kawano’s White Knuckle Bobber

6 MONTHS AGO / Comments Off on Safety’s Off: KC Kawano’s White Knuckle Bobber / CUSTOM MOTORCYCLES

When I think of a bobber, a “bob-job,” a “cut-down,” a “chopper,” or whatever the hell you want to call it, this is what I think of: straightforward, low-slung, powerful, knuckles up, dangerous as all fuck, and American as a heart attack. This fine specimen was built by KC Kawano over the course of one…