Bobber vs. Cafe Racer

[maxkimber]

I seem to like the “Bobberâ€ÂÂ

[ElPiloto]

A bobber is a basically stock bike with only the bare essentials to make it run. The back fender is cut of almost to the top of the tire. And sometimes no fender at all up front. Just barely street legal.

A cafe racer more closely resembles a racing bike back in the 50s and 60s. Big long tank, low bars or clip-ons and a seat with very little padding and a streamlined hump in the back. Big brakes, highly tuned engine and racing exhaust. Just barely legal.

[FRANK-N-WING]

This is the way I see it being on may discussions this is what I have figured out
CHOPPER a bike that is not stock items chopped off and replaced with other nostock items chopping it up, most say if the frame ain't cut is ain't a chopper hardtail frame ect.

BOBBER a bike where stock parts have been modified bobbed off such as cut down fenders were bikes that were usually used daily riders thru the week and raced on weekends bobbing off weight to go faster thus a bobber.

CAFE; caferacer a bike that was built to make quick runs between cafe or coffie joints, in England speed and quick handling as well as light weight frames driver wants to be streamlined and go quite fast and far lighter larger tanks, clipon or clubman bars, and rearsets are a must the seat is built to slide back and become one with the bike low usually a small fairing up front.


This is also a shamless way to post my project bikes with Octane's Bulldog bobber.

There is alot more of what makes what but those you want to say this way that way well................ do what makes you happy it is your bike and you are the one you have to please. I don't think just because there is a group or a title all bikes must fall it to place there are crossover ideas do what you want. This is just my best guess.
Frank-n-wing

[Alley Kat]

Cafe racer came about from road bikes stripped down, clip-ons, rear sets, any performance add-ons or mods. From the cafe culture here where bikers gather, rock & roll, and speed (both kinds). The Ace Cafe in London is one famous (notorious) venue, there used to be a thing where you dropped a coin in the jukebox, and raced up the road to a roundabout and back before the record finished... See also the "ton up boys".

Here's my old caff racer (not bult by me):

[Frenchy]

My impressions os a bobber (Rebel's "Bobber"):



My impression of a cafe'd Wing (my "Euro Trash"):

[mrflamewerks]

So a bobber is a nakid cafe racer, and they're both a style of chopper

[Alley Kat]

Not quite, but both are usually naked, though not always. Caff racer is more race-track oriented in it's look - see mine or Octanes. Riders' stance is very set forward - clipon bars often mounted low, rearset footrests, race type seat. Bobber is more sit-up style, springer forks sometimes, all that.

A caff racer isn't chopped, though the frame may be modified - but for performance only. So you wouldn't take off a swingarm and hardtail it.

EDIT
Pic speaks a thousand words they say, caff pix: http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en ... acer&gbv=2

Also lookup Triton and Norvil for more stuff
http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=triton
http://images.google.co.uk/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=norvil

[Whiskerfish]

Here is an interesting read one of the other members posted recently that discusses the history of Bobbers. http://www.custom-choppers-guide.com/bo ... ppers.html

[octane]

So a bobber is a nakid cafe racer, and they're both a style of chopper

Naaaaa: a 'Chopper' will allways
have raked front end/extended front fork.

Café Racer

Chopper



Found some interesting definitions:

Bobber: The east coast term for a chopper, (originally).
Chopper: The west coast term for a Bobber, (originally).

A Bobber/Chopper was originally a stock bike with parts bobbed or chopped off, such as fenders, air cleaners, etc. for appearance and personalization probably more than speed. They retained the original frame and motor combination.

...................

Chopper = chopped neck and raked, all the shit removed and was originally a stock bike
Bobber = stock rake and all the shit removed and was originally a stock bike
Custom = any chopper, bobber, cruiser, built after 1970 that requires a special construction title

...................

I really don't understand the confusion with the term bobber. It is either a bar fly with an oral fixation or a motorcycle with the extraneous BS cut off.

It's not that difficult folks... and if you have to ask, then your trimmed down rear fender is NOT a bobber.

.-)

...................

It boils down to front end. Choppers got the long look, Bobbers got the short look.

Why are people building Bobbers? Simple – because bikers are basically rebels and they’re rebelling against the bloated, corporate culture created by the Chopper Industry, and bikers rebel – and began building Bobbers.

Here’s where it gets interesting. The Bobber was now mainstream, no longer the sole province of the backstreet outlaw, It had come the same cycle (forgive the pun) as the chopper itself. Manufacturers of pre-fab Bobbers are lining up to serve up and ever increasing demand, so now you don’t need any mechanical skill to build or own a Bobber – just a Gold Amex card


.............................


Chopper - 1. A style of motorcycle that appears deceptively light, has a greater angle on the front end than usually seen, and radical styling. The word originates from the post WW2 era when former GIs were looking for performance mods, there was no aftermarket back then and once all engine mods were out of the way the bike's weight needed to be reduced... Owners began to remove unnecessary components and eventually began to cut away (or "chop") sections of the bike and frame. Used to be called "bobbing" but the word "chop" became the more popular phrase.
2. A radical customized bike with extended and raked front end, from which all unnecessary parts have been stripped. The early choppers weren't raked, so the front end was high making it necessary to reduce the size of the front wheel. They are very stable in a straight line, but not to agile in turns.
3. Term originated from owners removing, or "chopping," features from the motorcycle and adding their own customized detailing. Now refers to a motorcycle with heavily raked front forks, "high-rise handlebars and an increased angle of frame to fork head".
4. Once described as a custom motorcycle that had all superfluous parts "chopped" off in order to make the bike faster, a chopper today is a type of custom bike that usually has an extended fork, no rear suspension and high handlebars.

....................................



BTW:
I've seen a LOT of Wing photos
and I guess this is the one that comes closest to a 'Cafe Racer'

[CYBORG]

So a bobber is a nakid cafe racer, and they're both a style of chopper

NOT REALLY. choppers are choppers...bobers are bobers...cafe racers are cafe racers. choppers usually have extended front forks, and high handlebars, with any number of other modifications to personalize. bobbers, as stated, will have a bobbed rear fender, solo seat, are often hard tails, and no front fender,and other modifications to personalize. cafe' racers will have race type fairings, low profile windshields, clip-on bars, and rear set pegs....and other modifications to personalize them. its a lot like porno. its hard to define......but you know it when you see it.

[maxkimber]

Boy, when you guys said this place was a wealth of knowledge, you weren’t kidding. Excellent explanations – I am no longer confused. I look forward to history later today. I definitely like the bobber look best, but some of the older Norton’s are sweet too. Thanks…

Max

[CharlieT]

ya guys got it all wrong!!

THis is a bobber:



And this is a chopper ( note t-shirt common to choppers)

[maxkimber]

Classic CharlieT, Classic.

[CharlieT]

Classic CharlieT, Classic.

Of course, you do also know what the plural of chopper is, right??

Choppers!!!!! ( a rare antique springer version)

[ElPiloto]

Frenchy's Bobber looks like a Bomber Bobber. I like it.