 Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Thought I would share a couple of photos of my ongoing project. This is an '03 America that has been modded and tweaked almost from the day I bought it out of the crate. The latest work was to cut the fender, powdercoat the brackets, and mount a 1928 Ford Tail Light. I also decided to lose all of the turn signals.   Next up is probably to start looking at changes with the Console and Speedometer.....Maybe continue to clean up things a bit by re-doing the wiring / controls around the bars. Cheers, Steven
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
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Super clean, super nice work!!
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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3/4 Throttle
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Last edited by SDKimo; 07/25/2010 2:56 PM.
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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05 BA, Goodwood Green, Chevy605 pipes , ai removed, Freak kit, K&N pods, 145 main/42 pilot / 3 turns out, bags and screen
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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Very 
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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SDKimo, Thanks for the link on the wiring....I am now thinking about going even more bold than before and dramatically reducing the wiring of this bike.
Steven
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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3/4 Throttle
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I was thinking about one of the A123 batteries...
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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That's an absolutely beautiful bike you got there, Steve.
Question: While it probably wouldn't be nearly a comfortable as that Corbin ya got on it there, have you considered at all maybe boltin' on one of those bicycle-style single seats that move up and down on small springs?
I'm thinkin' this 'cause with that beautiful retro-style two-tone paint job you have on it and the "mouth organ" tank badge, and now with that very retro tail light, I think that style saddle would look perfect on your bike!
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Dwight2,
I've definately thought about some type of saddle seat and may go that route especially if I can stay on my path of dramatically reducing the wiring of the bike. Right now, the seat (besides being very comfortable) acts as a place to hide all of the wiring around the battery.
...another thing to add to the list of things to think about.
Steven
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Cool! Ya know, there's a number of guys around here who have gone that "bicycle"-seat route, and I think all of 'em turned out pretty darn nice!
Most of 'em have taken a piece of sheet metal, cut it into sort of a triangle shape, painted it black, and then screwed it in over that area where the airbox sits, though most of 'em have taken out the airbox and gone the "Freak" way or some equivalent setup.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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 Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Very nice bob job on that rear fender. Make sure you have those pods buttoned down. But I could not help notice. Dwight2? Now I know Dwight1. But I don't think this world is ready for 2 of the same dwights. egads! 
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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I've always admired your bike (and photography skills) 
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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If make a box like a battery and mount it where the battery is. Then use the A123 battery and put all the wire in the box. Then go with the bicycle type seat...all the wire would be hidden...That was my "maybe" next project. Here is a link to the A123 battery thread http://www.triumphrat.net/club-cafe/113275-gel-batteries.html
Last edited by SDKimo; 07/28/2010 12:40 PM.
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Quote:
Question: While it probably wouldn't be nearly a comfortable as that Corbin ya got on it there, have you considered at all maybe boltin' on one of those bicycle-style single seats that move up and down on small springs?
Putting sprung seats on bikes that have working rear suspension is just plain wrong!!
Tail light looks great 
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Quote:
Quote:
Question: While it probably wouldn't be nearly a comfortable as that Corbin ya got on it there, have you considered at all maybe boltin' on one of those bicycle-style single seats that move up and down on small springs?
Putting sprung seats on bikes that have working rear suspension is just plain wrong!!
Oh, I don't know about THAT...mate!
I don't think THIS bike looks "just plain wrong" if ya ask ME! 
(well, okay, other than that unnecessary "suicide" shift, anyway...and THIS is just ONE of the few that I've seen guys post pictures of around here that I also don't think look "just plain wrong" EITHER...but it's the only one I can readily locate a pix of right now)
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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^ Yeah that bike looks fantastic, but there's no need for the springs under the seat when you already have shocks. It's just a bit too "try hard" for my liking. Just leave it for the guys who are man enough to ride rigids...
1965 Harley rigid Chopper
Perth, Western Australia
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Quote:
^ Yeah that bike looks fantastic, but there's no need for the springs under the seat when you already have shocks. It's just a bit too "try hard" for my liking. Just leave it for the guys who are man enough to ride rigids...
(translation: Just leave it for the guys who are crazy enough to own and operate motorcycles which have hundred of pounds of unsprung weight at the rear of their motorcycles which very often needlessly causes extreme wheel hop over any and all less than totally smooth road surfaces)
Though, don't get me wrong here, Sheridan. I wouldn't mind at all owning and operating some beautiful old vintage machines which have no rear suspension, though I'd most likely operate them somewhat sparingly. 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Nah that chrome tractor seat looks like crap on that bike. Its just way too big and wide for the overall look and everytime I see that bike I cringe when I see the reflection off that eyesore...haha
I'm on the fence about sprung seats on a swingarm bike. I see what youre saying how its sorta not the intended purpose and maybe a bit "fake" but then I see some nice looking stripped down bobbers with no pillion pad and sissybars not intended for holding a rider and I wonder whats really worse.
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Yeah, and not to sidetrack Steven's thread any more here, but I too at first had thought the chrome tractor seat was a questionable choice on this bike, Tom, but the more I looked at it I started thinkin' about how it kind'a carries through the look of the chromed gas tank instrument cluster, and so now I'm kind'a okay with it! (...though livin' in sunny AZ, I seriously doubt I'd ever do somethin' like this on MY bike...OUCH...HOT, HOT, HOT!!!) 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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For what it is worth, if I were to put a saddle on this bike, it would not be chrome....I might consider a small leather seat and I agree with the comments about springs....no need to have springs and shocks. My overall design goal is for this to be a minimalist bike. I am embracing the original definition (or what I believe to be the original definition) of the word chopper....keep chopping off bits that aren't necessary.
Right now the saddle is a distant 3rd or 4th on my list behind cleaning up the bars by changing out the controls/hiding the wiring and replacing the tach with a small speedo and removing the big original speedo.
The fun part of this project is that I am not in a hurry...I've had this bike for 7 years and it has been a steady transition.
Thanks for comments and suggestions....this board has helped me in countless ways by giving me ideas, etc.
Cheers,
Steven
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Quote:
For what it is worth, if I were to put a saddle on this bike, it would not be chrome....I might consider a small leather seat and I agree with the comments about springs....no need to have springs and shocks.
Yep Steve, you mean like somethin' that's on dertbikdennis' bee-you-tee-ful machine pictured here, right?! (that is when ya get around to it anyway, like you said below)
Quote:
My overall design goal is for this to be a minimalist bike. I am embracing the original definition (or what I believe to be the original definition) of the word chopper....keep chopping off bits that aren't necessary.
Actually Steve, I could be wrong here, but I've always heard/thought that that's the definition of a Bobber, and the term "Chopper" usually means one has chopped the steering head off and re-welded it back on at more of a steeper rake angle.
Quote:
Right now the saddle is a distant 3rd or 4th on my list behind cleaning up the bars by changing out the controls/hiding the wiring and replacing the tach with a small speedo and removing the big original speedo.
The fun part of this project is that I am not in a hurry...I've had this bike for 7 years and it has been a steady transition.
Well, I for one, and I'm sure there many many other guys here can't wait to see the evolution of your already bee-you-tee-ful motorcycle!
Quote:
Thanks for comments and suggestions....this board has helped me in countless ways by giving me ideas, etc.
Cheers,
Steven
You're more than welcome! And that's one of the reasons we like hangin' around here! 
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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 Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Quote:
Actually Steve, I could be wrong here, but I've always heard/thought that that's the definition of a Bobber, and the term "Chopper" usually means one has chopped the steering head off and re-welded it back on at more of a steeper rake angle.
Yep you're pretty much spot on there
BTW I like your approach to the bike, there's no need to rush a build. It always works out better if you take your time, and really plan out what changes you want to make and take the time to ponder them first.
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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I stand corrected.
Thanks for the comments/suggestions/encouragement.
Steven
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Just cut off the rear suspension... 
.....I know the key to a well rounded education is, EXPERIMENTATION......
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Quick update: Speedo removed and control wires re-routed inside the handlebars. I am in the process of changing out my Tach with a smaller speedo...This thread talks about that process.  Cheers, Steven
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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hi steve,
is that the stock rear wheel and tire?
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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Rear Tire and Wheel are both Stock (replacement tire, but stock size, etc).
Steven
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Re: Newly Bobbed Fender with '28 Ford Tail Light
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