# Bobber/Chopper or Cafe Racer? What do you like? **URL:** \ **Category:** Shift518 Automotive\ **Created:** [October 5, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143 "2012-10-05T12:37:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KrazyKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/krazykid/32/6371_2.png) [@KrazyKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/KrazyKid)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 12:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/1 "2012-10-05T12:37:17Z")
Bike in question is a 1980 Yamaha XS400 but the concept applies to that era side by side twin jap bike I guess. **Bobber & Copper.** Low buck stock frames, remove anything that isnt needed to run the bike, no tail only rear fender, usually hard tail, forward controls, ape’s or drags. Full on chopper is usually including an extended fame and/or raked out front end and low stance. Expansion bumps and frost heaves will kick your ass on these style bikes. More or less its a poor mans big twin chopper. ![http://www.nippon-bobbers.com/Yamaha_XS650_1977/images-yam0004/1977_Yamaha_XS650_Hardtail_Bobber_468x322.jpg](http://www.nippon-bobbers.com/Yamaha_XS650_1977/images-yam0004/1977_Yamaha_XS650_Hardtail_Bobber_468x322.jpg) ![http://www.pipeburn.com/storage/XS650_3.jpeg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1287568615153](http://www.pipeburn.com/storage/XS650_3.jpeg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1287568615153) ![http://www.bikeexif.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/yamaha-xs650-bobber.jpg](http://www.bikeexif.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/yamaha-xs650-bobber.jpg) **Cafe.** “knock off” racer boy bikes. Real racers used to bust the balls of they “wanna bees” that parked out side of the cafe and pubs in europe with their “race bikes”. The bikes are stripped down for weight reduction, performance look with a single hump rear seat & fender, fly screen faring, Rear suspension still working, stock frames, stock height, raised rear sets, thinner tank to hug and grab with your knees, low and narrow clip ons or 1 piece swept down bars. They still ride nice, handle fine, but agressive-ish rider position still puts a strain on the rider. ![http://www.motorcyclemojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/right-profile_1434.jpg](http://www.motorcyclemojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/right-profile_1434.jpg) ![http://www.xs650chopper.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/XS650-Caf%C3%A9-Racer_0727.jpg](http://www.xs650chopper.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/XS650-Caf%C3%A9-Racer_0727.jpg) ![http://cco-classicracing.de/wp-content/gallery/xs650-cafe-racer/xs650-xs650chopper-com_.jpg](http://cco-classicracing.de/wp-content/gallery/xs650-cafe-racer/xs650-xs650chopper-com_.jpg) What do you dig? Post an example. I am picking up a stock XS and going one way or the other, to build/sell. At this point I personally am leaning towards a chopper; hard +3" tail, flush 130deg wrap rear fender, mini apes, forward controls, jocky shift, bass boat flake, gold leaf work, cool ass straight duals. ---
**Author:** ![RTrac1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rtrac1/32/6312_2.png) [@RTrac1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RTrac1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 1:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/2 "2012-10-05T13:05:14Z")
most of those are xs650. I owned a 76 that I restored and loved. personally I think they make good bobbers, the tanks that come on them look great already and the engine is attractive. theyre more popular for the street/dirt tracker style than for cafe as well, look into that. ---
**Author:** ![dc2nick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dc2nick/32/6289_2.png) [@dc2nick](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dc2nick)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/3 "2012-10-05T13:27:31Z")
XS has to be a bobber No question about it ---
**Author:** ![RocketPunch](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rocketpunch/32/6429_2.png) [@RocketPunch](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RocketPunch)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/4 "2012-10-05T17:39:36Z")
I like them all, one of each would be nice…:lol ---
**Author:** ![v8lonoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/45deac/32.png) [@v8lonoma](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/v8lonoma)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/5 "2012-10-05T17:53:47Z")
+1 to one of each. I say do bobber first then do a cafe racer next. ---
**Author:** ![capitalcrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@capitalcrew](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/capitalcrew)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 6:14pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/6 "2012-10-05T18:14:25Z")
Cafes rule. ![http://www.pipeburn.com/storage/GS750.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1249993906757](http://www.pipeburn.com/storage/GS750.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1249993906757) ---
**Author:** ![dc2nick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dc2nick/32/6289_2.png) [@dc2nick](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dc2nick)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/7 "2012-10-05T19:03:31Z")
Don’t make me start posting bobbers again. I can go on forever ---
**Author:** ![wheels](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/wheels/32/6655_2.png) [@wheels](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/wheels)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 7:31pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/8 "2012-10-05T19:31:10Z")
![http://i.imgur.com/9Vmtr.jpg](http://i.imgur.com/9Vmtr.jpg) ![http://i.imgur.com/ufIza.jpg](http://i.imgur.com/ufIza.jpg) ![http://i.imgur.com/PyGZg.jpg](http://i.imgur.com/PyGZg.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![dc2nick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dc2nick/32/6289_2.png) [@dc2nick](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dc2nick)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 7:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/9 "2012-10-05T19:54:24Z")
That’s a Harley Davidson Nightster… These are XS’ ![http://cdn.xs650chopper.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/noid-bobber.jpg?ce11df](http://cdn.xs650chopper.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/noid-bobber.jpg?ce11df) ![http://www.classic-japanese-bikes.com/images/1977xs650bobber.jpg](http://www.classic-japanese-bikes.com/images/1977xs650bobber.jpg) ![http://s2.hubimg.com/u/3876605_f520.jpg](http://s2.hubimg.com/u/3876605_f520.jpg) ![http://cdn.xs650chopper.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/xs650-mothers_2-587x376.jpg?ce11df](http://cdn.xs650chopper.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/xs650-mothers_2-587x376.jpg?ce11df) ---
**Author:** ![HiSpeed48](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hispeed48/32/6688_2.png) [@HiSpeed48](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HiSpeed48)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/10 "2012-10-05T22:18:08Z")
I really really like Cafes, but Bobbers are cool as hell too ---
**Author:** ![91teg](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/91teg/32/6304_2.png) [@91teg](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/91teg)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2012, 7:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/11 "2012-10-06T07:11:55Z")
I love it! ![http://cco-classicracing.de/wp-content/gallery/xs650-cafe-racer/xs650-xs650chopper-com_.jpg](http://cco-classicracing.de/wp-content/gallery/xs650-cafe-racer/xs650-xs650chopper-com_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![MidThrust](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/midthrust/32/6711_2.png) [@MidThrust](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MidThrust)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/12 "2012-10-08T20:18:34Z")
I like them both but you already built a cafe style with the Duc. I vote for a bobber build to show your versatility with custom builds. ---
**Author:** ![Phate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Phate](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Phate)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 9:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/13 "2012-10-08T21:40:20Z")
> [@NO HOMO!](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/no-homo/46980/159): > > XS has to be a bobber > No question about it Really Now? ![http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f98/96turboracer/DSCN1624.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/e/e/ee28ae1a0cb8c7e8924646f77d75425131e1a304.jpeg) From another forum I’m on. XS650. EFI setup. Turbocharged and intercooled. Badass rear suspension. ![http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f98/96turboracer/DSCN1631.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/2/7/2797ca7e6b490dcd6de0b90199d1d4b8e111309e.jpeg) Another XS from the same user: ![http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f98/96turboracer/DSCF1685.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/b/9/b93ba6e4cadf5c3025a1710ab64cd00caf41d886.jpeg) Personally, I’m into the cafe racer style. Also vertical twins sound awesome with a 2-1 exhaust. ---
**Author:** ![dc2nick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dc2nick/32/6289_2.png) [@dc2nick](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dc2nick)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/14 "2012-10-09T03:25:43Z")
I still like the second one better ---
**Author:** ![RTrac1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/rtrac1/32/6312_2.png) [@RTrac1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RTrac1)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 5:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/15 "2012-10-09T05:30:47Z")
yeah, 1st one is ugly. ---
**Author:** ![Vovchandr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vovchandr/32/6275_2.png) [@Vovchandr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vovchandr)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:11am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/16 "2012-10-10T04:11:57Z")
While I’m more of a cafe bike fan myself as I mentioned then we talked about (here is the Ducati Sport Classic I’ve mentioned) ![http://www.superbikeitalia.com/images/27_420200692250pm.jpg](http://www.superbikeitalia.com/images/27_420200692250pm.jpg) I think in your case you may be better off with a bobber. ---
**Author:** ![KrazyKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/krazykid/32/6371_2.png) [@KrazyKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/KrazyKid)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 6:53am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/17 "2012-10-10T06:53:23Z")
ohh thats cool! I love old style with newest tech cars and bikes. yeah i am leaning towards a retro look chopper now. ---
**Author:** ![MGs4me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@MGs4me](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/MGs4me)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 8:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/18 "2012-10-10T08:16:31Z")
I think an XS 400 kind of leans itself towards a Bobber. I just don’t see it being a Cafe Racer 1977 H-D XLCR, I have never particularly been a Harley fan but, I have always loved this bike. r. ![http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRhdtM7d9V9KsjrF2pqlvsNEAeEOQMTBbHa9bgwFqqg1aA0nCFibg](http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRhdtM7d9V9KsjrF2pqlvsNEAeEOQMTBbHa9bgwFqqg1aA0nCFibg) Been kind of partial to Norton Dunstall 810’s too ![http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQeTNIWGFmPPrZuwWQ5vNXvJJUNVw5I2_vf7-HiYD_JCyx-TaL8OA](http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQeTNIWGFmPPrZuwWQ5vNXvJJUNVw5I2_vf7-HiYD_JCyx-TaL8OA) Those are what I think of when I hear Cafe Racer! ---
**Author:** ![dc2nick](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/dc2nick/32/6289_2.png) [@dc2nick](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/dc2nick)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 8:43am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/bobber-chopper-or-cafe-racer-what-do-you-like/265143/19 "2012-10-10T08:43:21Z")
I also think of Nortons when I hear cafe racer