Badwolf,

Since a stock IRC gets replaced after a summer or two of riding, no most of these bobbers and Cafes obviously aren't getting ridden very much.

Dave is the only one that takes his Cafe on trips a lot, but he trailers it from A to B and rides it when he gets there, a lot, 8-10 hours a day.

I once got a cafe guy to actually admit that riding his cafe was uncomfortable verging on painful on his wrists after several hours in the saddle, then I took the stance that this bobber/cafe madness was something that was just getting sold to people by the folks selling the kit parts and it was all a visual look good thing.

That got me hooted at a lot at the time ......  still has elements of true to it though.

However, I freely admit I bought the Savage simply to get a bike that fit my body style and somewhat lowered mobility issues.   I was thrilled by what it could do up in the mountains, though --- jest plain tickled.

And I also admit most Savages are bought new by people who then eventually decide they don't like riding them at all.   Then they sell the bikes to us, cheap.  With the half worn IRCs still on the back of them.

I'm a user. I don't have much use in owning anything just for show. There are no trailer/basement queens at my house among the cars, motorcycles, musical instruments. I have to be able to drive/play anything I have. I would rather have a nice driver than a show vehicle.

Here is a related story, not too long, I hope.

My in-laws had a neighbor that liked '59 Chevies. This is in the '70s and '80s. He would buy one, fix it up then he would drive the wheels off of it. He drove it to work every day and it would spend its days sitting in one of the Boeing Wichita parking lots. When the car started getting ratty, he would either restore it again or buy another and restore (and continue to drive it).

He had a great response to those who asked why he would spend the money to fix up a nice collectable car, just to wear it out as an everyday driver. He said, "I costs me about the same to fix up a '59 as it would to buy a new car. But if I bought new cars, they wouldn't be '59 Chevies.

I don't own a bobber - but my Cafe' bike has some similarities.  There is no weather protection and there is no room for luggage.  I really can't ride it to TN/NC for the group rides - as I have no place to put my clothes unless I can pack it in a backpack.  It is a bike that I enjoy riding when the sun shines....although it may not be "cushy" - I have been able to get the bike reasonably comfortable to ride.  I have thickened up the seat padding, changed the clip on handlebar angles - my hands still go numb periodically while riding..........but my hands also do that on a bicycle or more comfortable motorcycle.  I have put about 10,000 miles on my Cafe' since the conversion was done - I ride it about 2,500 miles a year - sometimes 1,000 miles of that is done in 3-4 days on the group rides.  The bike can be ridden all day as long  - provided I get to stop periodically stretch out the kinks....the 160 mile range is about right for stopping to get the kinks out.

A bobber is a specialized bike - and only the hardcore are likely to put many miles on them.  Some of them are built in a way that the footpegs, seat and handlebar positions make them appear to be painful to ride.  Also the "lean" look that strips off the DOT approved tail lights, turn signals and brake lights may make them less safe to ride on a regular basis.  I have a feeling that a number of new riders who turn their bike into a bobber do find the ride/wind/rain to be a bit harsh, and likely find more comfortable bikes to ride (or a car).

I am not into show, and I hope that folks do make their bikes reliable, safe and comfortable enough to be ridden regularly.  If you have a bobber that you ride and rack up miles on......Cool!

   

My first bike is bobber.  Had to try the hardtail and solid foam seat thing.  Quickly learned they'd ride nice on a gym floor but not too practical here in the land of 10,000 potholes.  Tried a few seat revisions and finally put the seat on a set of springs.  It helped a lot over the solid seat.

Beer Budget Board Tracker is a hardtail but the seat rides on an air shock that gives about 2 inches of travel.  It's a lot more than 3/4 inch or so of the springs on my first bike so I'm hoping it will be a much better ride.

I've only put on about 2,000 miles in the last 2 riding seasons.  Probably 1/2 is fair weather commutes to work and the other 1/2 is short joy rides of 15-20 miles or so at a crack.  Hoping to increase that seasonal total in retirement starting this year  

 Is a bobber just a bike with the fenders removed and a single seat?

 If so all my bikes ended up bobbers eventually as I don't like a bike I cant pick up by myself so I don't add stuff like bags.  For about 3 years I rode a 1990, I had fenders maybe 3 months before they were damaged.  I chopped off the stock seat and had new lights wired in behind a single seat from a junkyard.  

 It had stock tires and I recall having to replace them however I didn't do that myself so I cant say for sure they were stock after.

 I have no idea how many miles I put on it but it was my only mode of transportation for just over 3 years.  If I recall correctly I put about 8k a year on it.  Weather never bothered me, if it got to bad I chained it up and walked.

 It was a good bike but I finally burned it up not adding oil.