Thread: My Japanese Bobber Build

It has been quite some time since I have modded anything at all. I have modded a mini truck with ten switch hydraulics back in the day, clean CRX, Accord Coupe, Lexus ES. Just random things I "cleaned up" No horrible body kits, just stock lowered, trim paint, wheels, suspension intake etc. Minor modding, but done right.

So the bug has always been with me, but haven't really seen the practicality in modding my past few new Nissan trucks. Seemed a waste to me. Then I resorted back to my Indian Motorcycle days when I worked for them here in Calgary selling bikes etc. I have always enjoyed The Horse Backyard Chopper Magazine. (Welcome to The Horse Backstreet Choppers Magazine!) and have seen some pretty sick backyard choppers and bobbers put totgether. Now I wanted to try it out. Same with the cars I have had in the past, I am doing basic modding to the bike to obtain the look of a bobber.

Here are some pics of what I have come together with so far.

The day I got the bike. Found it in Hanna AB for 3k. 18k km mostly all highway.(Jan 2011) She was dirrrrty.





Windshield off.



Initial Tear down





Seeing as I want to change the red to flat black, I will be wrapping the tank and fenders in Flat Black Di-Noc for now. Along with the flat black di-noc, I will be doing accent pieces in the new outdoor carbon fibre di-noc as well as keeping most of the chrome.

Here is my Radiator cover before:



and after:



Aftermarket Speedometer bezel previous owner put on before:



and after:




Then the fun stuff. I ordered my solo seat with shocks, and some mirrors. As well the same day my whitewalls were mounted to my SUPER dirty wheels. I have never scrubbed so hard to bring chrome back in my life. The mirrors may not really run with the bobber style I am after, but seeing as we have to have them, I got the lowest profile ones I could find. They were 30 bucks!





While picking up my tires from Precision Frameworx I decided to throw these on for valve stem covers.



When the weather gave us a small tease the other week, I slipped the axles back on the bike and took it out of the shop and gave it the polishing of it's life!!! I also wanted to do a quick and minor mockup with all the new goodies I recieved. I wanted to see how the seat was going to sit and decide where to weld the brackets for the shocks, as well as how it worked with the fender and where I was going to cut it.

This should give a fair idea as to how I will be making it look.
(Pardon the wooden strut. It was a mockup for when I got my steel to make it a rigid frame and lower it.)





Still on the list of things to do to it as it sits in the next pic:

1. Chop Rear Fender
2. Ditch those large pull back risers and replace them with straight short 2"risers to get the bars closer to the trees.
3. Tank & Fenders flat black
4. Wire in all LED's.(to be hidden)Signals, brake, running, etc.
5. Get upper fork covers for the inverted fork look.
6. Finish carbon wrapping lower fork legs.
7. Lower front 1.5"
8. Install all hidden LED's (brake, run, signal ).
9. Mechanical tune up
10. Wait for Calgary Weather to Piss off
11. Ride.

You need ape hangers. Lol

Originally Posted by 4drian

You need ape hangers. Lol

I honestly don't really like them. There are some decent mini Z apes, but I prefer the drag look as well.

Yea they're hit or miss. I like bobbers and cafe's too.

Love it with the fender off! lol
Chop it short, will look great. Nice job!

Where did you get the solo seat and mirrors from ? I also have a Shadow and am interested in the same thing. I've done some minor mods such as Cobra Pipes, jetted, rear light set and hard-tail conversion.

I am going to say no on the mirrors already. They should be round.

great build though. I prefer pre 80s bikes

Originally Posted by mrmikey32

I am going to say no on the mirrors already. They should be round.

great build though. I prefer pre 80s bikes

I am already swaying that way now that I mounted one. At least it was 30 bucks. I think I may have another set that may work.

Originally Posted by jackblack

Where did you get the solo seat and mirrors from ? I also have a Shadow and am interested in the same thing. I've done some minor mods such as Cobra Pipes, jetted, rear light set and hard-tail conversion.

Mirrors and Seat came from Demonscycle in Florida. Post pics once you are on the go as well!

are you going to go with flat black, or wrapped pipes?