So in the next week to two weeks I'm going to begin ordering the parts to change my stock '97 savage and was looking to get some input/constructive criticism/advice!  I'm NOT asking anyone to respond to ALL of these sections, that's a bit above and beyond of a request lol.. but input wherever is appreciated!

Pretty much the only guidelinse for this build is that it needs to stay below $650.00 and be street legal (at least from a distance)

Also, I'd like to avoid BCB.  I like their kit and it looks great.. but out of my price range for sure.

Handlebars:
http://www.biltwellinc.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=57

I REALLY like the way these look on the Savage, and appear to not need any risers (http://bluecollarbobbers.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=144)
Would I need dimpled or not dimpled (idk what dimpled means).
Longer cables?  Drilling the handlebars at all?  Issues hitting the tank?

Seat:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Custom-Black-Solo-Seat-Kit-for-Harley-Custom-Bobber-/...

Anything similar to this kit is fine by me.. This is the biggest worry for me because I have no idea what kit will actually FIT on the Savage.

Is cutting the rear seat supports necessary or is it mostly done because it looks better with them kit?

Rear fender:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-XS-XS650-Special-II-Used-Original-Rear-Fender-...

I'm not sure who to give credit to but I rear somewhere that someone used the rear fender from an XS650 for their savage bobber.
Can I bolt it on where the stock fender is?
(I dont PLAN to mount any lights to this fender, plan on sticking those elsewhere).

Also, this appears to be chrome or a chrome-like paint.. Would it be difficult to paint this?

I plan on using the rattle can thread on this forum to repaint my entire bike and I'd to run into issues attempting to paint this fender.

I do NOT want to cut the stock fender, even if it cost saving lol.

Turn Signals:
http://www.chromeglow.com/catalog.asp?prodid=720076&showprevnext=1

http://gokartsusa.com/heist-bobber-sticker-pack-6.aspx

The first kit is okay, but I'm not sure how I would mount them.

I like the second set.. and the have the threads already.
What I'd like to do is mount these to the rear swing arm just by drilling a hole through and running the wires through the swing arm.

I can see this being more problematic than the entire seat process.
I know they are LED and can cause "hyper flashing" which I've never seen before.. but as long as left blinks left and right blinks right I don't really mind how fast they blink.
Any issues draining the battery?
Anything I'm unaware of inside the swing arm I could damage?

If so, I had no luck finding a mounting kit to put the signals back and under the bobber seat like I've seen in several other bobbers

License plate kit:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Model-A-Side-Mount-License-Plate-Bracket-Chopper-Bobb...

This seems pretty straightforward.. mostly open to anyone who has a better suggestions.. I don't plan on mounting it to the axle like it's intended.. I've been debating using it as a spacer for the rear shocks or just drilling new holes all together somewhere to mount it.

Heres my pricing so far..

Biltwell bars -79.99
New grips- 50.00
Turn signalls- ~40.00
Seat kit- ~150.00
XS650 rear fender- 50.00-80.00
License plate- 70.00

Total
Around 470.00
Not including paint (hopefully that wont be much).

Possibly including the mirrors from BCB- 70.00 still debating if I like them.

In the future I'm going to get a Dyna exhaust and a different intake instead of the stock airbox.. if theres enough left over after this build I'll just get them also

Hopefully I can get this project started and finished in the next month or so

@Zeke - I've wanted to put similar bars on my bike since I got it earlier this year. They look great on that BCB. I can't wait to see what your bike looks like! I'll be following this thread and might be stealing some ideas.

Johnny57 wrote on 09/04/12 at 19:25:32:


Yeah.. I've decided against LED lights all together after doing a bit of searching.
This site has several to choose from that aren't LED and are a bit cheaper
http://www.motosport.com/motorcycle/turn-signals

How does cutting the supports give me forward controls??  I now feel terribly confused about what forward controls are lol

And you lost me at all 3 functions.. tail light & Brake light but what other function would the license plate holder have??
I'm not sure if that one does but other listings for identical mounts says it does tail light and brake light.

Johnny57 wrote on 09/04/12 at 19:25:32:

you don't have to use load resistors at all,  just change your flasher to an electronic one, then all is well.

Zeke342 wrote on 09/05/12 at 05:42:38:


Not only for tight turns, but when you park it you don't want the bars slapping the tank when you put it on the kickstand...  

A couple more comments...
Handlebars - with the proposed bars you should not need any longer cables, brake lines or wiring. Most 1" bars should fit, and you will not need dimpled bars (for HD controls) - with non-dimpled bars I filed off the mounting tab from my stock controls and they work great.

rear fender - I doubt you will want the one posted for your purposes because it is chrome and will be difficult to paint if that is your goal. For many bobbers, it actually works better to find a new, off the shelf, trailer fender for about $20-30 and cut/grind/weld as necessary to get it to fit how you would like.

turn signals - LED signals will work fine if you replace the flasher module with an electronic one as previously suggested, but either type works just as well, find one that you like and go for it.

side mount license plate - I think they look great on a bobber style bike, I would make sure that it works as a running light, brake light, and license plate light as mentioned already too. One additional thing you should check is your local laws. Some states require they sit horizontal rather than vertical  

Hope that helps you out, and post pics of before, during & after the transformation so we can all see the progress. We love pics  

teabowl13 wrote on 09/05/12 at 18:40:42:


I know I could find those bars cheaper for sure.. or atleast VERY similar ones lol
They're just the exact shape I want.. if anything they could be a little less wide but if that were the case then I would DEFINITELY need risers lol.
I'm still a week or two away from ordering parts so most of what I find on eBay right now will be gone or relisted so if I save links i'll just have to refind them.. so I haven't gone about searching for handlebars and other parts on eBay just yet.. but from what I've seen.. I can definitely get a cheaper fender that will be easier to paint and cheaper bars.

Gonna start ordering parts hopefully by Monday!

Not going to ordering anything just yet.. I've been running oil without ZDDP for probably 600 miles (I wasn't aware of the ZDDP issue with savage oils).

I bough a gallon of Rotella Triple Protection.. does this oil have ZDDP or do I still need to add some to it??

I will start ordering parts just as soon as I've done my FIRST (wish me luck lol) valve adjustment >.<, get the ZDDP thing sorted, and get a new oil filter!

Best fitting solo seat is for HD K models. The springs are the right spacing and the seat is big enough to be functional without looking dorky.

Non-dimpled bars, do NOT drill them for your switch box pins, grind the pins off. You want the box/levers to turn if the bike goes over. If you plan to drill them to run internal wiring get some decent bits and a good rotary tool, you'll want slots instead of holes.

I've got an XS650 fender in the shed you can pick up for the same price INCLUDING shipping as the e-bay ad. Looks more like stainless steel than chrome. It still has the tail light housing and plate bracket on it.

Unless you need a ton of new parts you should be able to build a decent bobber for a couple bills. And if you are going to paint it with rattle cans, buy engine paints for primer color and clear. Regular "foo foo" can paint isn't fuel safe.