What do I need to convert to a bobber?

[asuj158]

Hey everyone, im new and this is my first post. Im thinking of buying my neighbor 1983 gs300l. he said hed sell it to me forr 500 and it has 10000 mileson it. But i would eventually like to convert it to a bobber. so i wanted to know what would go into doing this.

[koolaid_kid]

A lobotomy.





I'm just teasing.
Welcome to the forum, btw.

[jwhelan65]

This is the only bobber I will ever own....

[tkent02]

A lobotomy.

Don't forget the hacksaw and hammer.

[jwhelan65]

Don't forget the hacksaw and hammer.

I think they have progressed to sawzalls...

[tkent02]

I think they have progressed to sawzalls...

For the lobotomy? Cool.

[koolaid_kid]

Here is a thread from someone doing his twin GS:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=159786

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. asuj158,

I just stopped by to welcome you to the forum in my own, special way.

If there's anything you'd like to know about the Suzuki GS model bikes, and most others actually, you've come to the right place. There's a lot of knowledge and experience here in the community. Come on in and let me say "HOoooowwwDY!"....

Here is your very own magical, mystical, mythical, mind-expanding "mega-welcome". Please take notice of the "Top 10 Common Issues", the Carb Rebuild Series, and the Stator Papers. Now let me roll out the welcome mat for you...

Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

Thanks for joining us. Keep us informed.

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Steve]

Even a 300 deserves a good life.

If it is still in decent shape, please find another victim to hack up.

Yeah, a bunch of us are more into keeping them looking somewhat stock, but will make allowances if you start with a bike that really has no chance of ever looking good as a stock bike. Barn finds are good candidates.

If you still insist on "bobbing" it, please continue to do some research to see what it really needs to do a proper job. I know you started by asking this question, but do a search for "bobber", you will see a bunch of examples. Some of them are really done well, but we do have an on-going thread about "Craigslist funnies" which is primarily poking a bit of fun at bobbers and choppers, especially the people that have hacked up what was probably a decent bike, then put it up for sale, hoping to get 3-4 times what the stock bike would have been worth.

.

[Steve]

This is the only bobber I will ever own....

I agree with you in that I won't have a "bobber" motorcycle, but I won't go so far
as to get one of those little red and white balls that you throw in the water.
(Obviously, I don't do any fishing. )

.

[koolaid_kid]

Steve does make a valid point: if you choose to bob it do not ever expect to be able to sell it for much of anything. IMHO, it's your bike, do as you wish, but don't expect much sympathy from hard-core GS enthusiasts if you run into problems or don't like it when you are done.
Best of luck.

[Redneck]

LoL. on the other end of the spectrum. I have a wide range of taste. I like the stock look with a few customizations to make it your own and then again I like the Bobber look. There are several threads on here, where peeps have done just that and their rides look pretty good. We have a good mix of folks here, Its just the old Fogeys that pipe up first when you mention bobbing out a GS..Yep I said Fogey . Its your bike, with that said though hope you got some fabrication skills and some welding skills because GS bikes are not that easy to Bob out. Here is one of the best Bobs I have seen done and he does have some mean fab skills.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=156231

Good luck, and stick around there is a wealth of knowledge on these old bikes. FYI do the search in the Project section that is where you will find most of your info and good ideas.

[Macguyver]

I agree with you in that I won't have a "bobber" motorcycle, but I won't go so far
as to get one of those little red and white balls that you throw in the water.
(Obviously, I don't do any fishing. )

.

Well Steve, if you don't fish, do you drink?

Big Bobber Floating Cooler
It even has a lanyard loop so you can tie it on behind your canoe/raft/dinghy so you can float your beverages of choice down the river with you.

[saltcitytattoo]

this is how you bob a gs

and i don't care what everyone else says bob that gs it will just make all the other stock gs's that much more rare (and i do like a nicely restored gs too) oh and its better to start with a good bike than a barn find makes the bob process much easier just my opinion

[Tim Tom]

There is nothing wrong with a bobber. As long as isn't a half baked "hacksaw and rattle can" job. Do it right and you can make a sweet looking machine. Like the one with the sweet suspension and wheels in the post below.