Whelen Lights

Turn Signal Flexible

How to Build a Metric Bobber on the Cheap

A while back I was doing design work on some clothing with the guys at Icon. They have a facility in Portland, Ore., where they work on clothing designs (if you haven't already, check out their motorcycle jackets). When they need some fresh inspiration, they head out to the attached garage and work on their bikes. This, of course, gets their "creative juices" flowing again and they march back inside, ready to, well, create. I've got several good memories from that trip, but one of the things that stuck in my head was the 1976 XS650 bobber that one of those guys built.

He had taken a bike that he'd only paid a few hundred bucks for and turned it into a really cool daily rider. He kept the stock seat on the bike, repainted the frame and added some drag bars. The guy also changed out a bunch of parts — even making many of the parts himself. It was a bare-bones bike, but it had a great café-style look to it.

Seeing that bike sparked my interest, and since then I have taken it upon myself to build quite a few of these cheap metric bobbers. If you're on a budget, and you like being mechanically creative, this is something you might want to try. All the bikes I built sold for a profit, and for the most part, I enjoyed building them. It has developed into a regular hobby, and nowadays I find myself happily bouncing from one project to another.

If you take the time to check out your local Craigslist site, you can usually find a bike listed for under $500. I'm usually looking for something that has mechanical issues that I'm familiar with. In other words, something I can fix. That would include a bad clutch, a screwed-up starter or maybe jetting issues. All these things are fairly easy to fix, and can be done on a tight budget. Besides, it's challenging to find bikes that I don't know too much about, because by the end of the project, I generally know the bike well.

While I'm figuring out what I want the bike to look like, I'm going over the mechanics to make sure everything works properly. It's a good idea to check everything out while the bike's in its original form. That way, if you're adding parts or taking them off, it's easier to keep track of your progress. I used to help repair bikes at off-road events, and the first thing I would ask a guy bringing me a bike with problems was, "What was the last thing you worked on?" And that would be the first place I'd go look for the problem. This step will help you quickly track down issues you run across while building the bike.

Once I have an idea in mind, I just get started — remembering to keep things simple. If the work gets too complex, a little cheap project turns into a big expensive one. For example, I've never been any good at painting, so I tend to grab up a rattle can of black for my bikes. I build most my parts out of scrap and, on occasion, I use parts removed from previous builds. I then pour over my J&P catalog to find parts for metric motorcycles like turn signals, handlebars, headlight and seat.

Without fail, you will run into problems as you go along, but if you stay flexible and the let the bike evolve naturally, it usually turns into something you can really enjoy. The littlest things can change the look of a bike. Simple tasks, like modifying the fenders, relocating the headlights and turn signals, or using a different motorcycle seat and bars.  Try to get creative with sourcing unique foot pegs for motorcycles. Surprisingly, all of these minor changes can have a dramatic effect on the look of the bike. Just be sure to take the time to check the clearances on all your modifications. You don't want to end up lying in a hospital bed because your handlebars hit your tank while making a sharp high-speed turn, or your new fender rubbed a hole in your rear tire. Double-check your modifications before heading out on a long ride!

If you like being creative and fiddling around with motorcycles, this might be the hobby for you. You're bound to improve your mechanical skill set and best yet, you get a new bike every year. And that beats stamp collecting hands down.

About the Author

Turn Signal Kit $34.99 Baja Designs Turn Signal Kit Very flexible and durable turn signals suitable for dual sport conversions and replacements for fragile O.E.M. units Fully D.O.T. approved Uses 10 watt bulbs, so current demand is less from low powered dual sport motorcycle stators Less dimming and pulsing on AC systems

Turn Signal $5.45 Light-ES turn signal light, red, teardrop Wire Length: 21 inches Turn Signal Length: 2 inches Screw Size: M-4

Turn Signal Resistor Kit $12.99 Western Power Sports Turn Signal Resistor Kit For use with WPS Turn Signal and Universal Marker Lights

Turn Signal Stem $14.95 K&S Technologies Turn Signal Stem Exact replacement for original equipment

Turn Signal Relay $10.9 Turn Signal Relay 2 prong plug 41 mm Diameter of body

Turn Signal Adapter Plug $8.99 Cobra Turn Signal Adapter Plug Adapt OEM turn signals to Cobra accessories Sold each Made in the U.S.A.

Turn Signal Relocation Kit $21.95 Turn signal kit allows you to custom-mount your Memphis Shades ? or just trick out the look of your bike.

Combination Park/Turn Signal Light $13.99 Combination Park/Turn Signal Light; Amber;

Oval Turn Signal Replacement Bulb $1.95 Western Power Sports Oval Turn Signal Replacement Bulb For use on the Western Power Sports Oval Turn Signal

Front Turn Signal $8.92 Front Turn Signal for retro style scooters. Plastic with a chrome finish. Tear Drop Shape Fits many retro scooter models

Turn Signal Lense $6.44 Blue Oval Shaped turn signal lens cover Overall Length: 102mm (4 inches) Overall Width: 62mm (2.5 inches)

Turn Signal Relocation Inserts $17.95 Show Chrome Elliptical Turn Signal Relocation Inserts For use with the Contour and Elliptical driving light kits Allow replacement of OEM turn signals with any lights with 8mm or 3/8" threaded stud mount Sold in pairs

DOT Approved Turn Signal $17.95 K&S Technologies DOT Approved Turn Signal DOT approved turn signals are exact replacements of complete OEM assemblies, at a fraction of the cost Turn signals meet or exceed all government requirements for light output and durability and are legal for all street or dual-purpose motorcycles Turn signal is sold with amber lens assembly or clear lens with an amber bulb Amber bulbs must be used with clear lenses Each sold separately **Note: Bike specific, may vary from image

OEM Rear Turn Signal $17.99 Bikemaster OEM?Rear Turn Signal Whether your are restoring a classic bike or repairing your high tech motorcycle from a lay-down, BikeMaster has an OEM Replacement turn signal for you. A direct O.E.M. replacement Components shown are sold separately Product is bike specific and may vary from image shown. Check out BikeMaster's OEM Front Turn Signals

OEM Front Turn Signal $17.99 Bikemaster OEM Front Turn Signal Whether your are restoring a classic bike or repairing your high tech motorcycle from a lay-down, BikeMaster has an OEM Replacement turn signal for you. A direct O.E.M. replacement Components shown are sold separately Product is bike specific and may vary from image shown Check out BikeMaster's OEM Rear Turn Signals

Turn Signal Lens Grilles $19.95 Drag Specialties Turn Signal Lens Grilles Dress up any OEM flat-style turn signal with these beautifully chrome-plated molded plastic lens grilles Universal mounting method allows the same grilles to be mounted to horizontally or vertically mounted lights Include necessary mounting screws For front or rear on 86-09 FLT, FLHT, FLHR (except FLHRS), FLHS and FLSTC models Rear only on FLTRI, FLSTN, FXRT and FXRD models Sold in pairs Note: Will only fit OEM-style turn signals (not aftermarket)

Left Rear Turn Signal $28.26 Left Rear Turn Signal for Vento Zip r3i and Triton brand scooters. Fits other makes and models. Shop the largest selection of scooter parts , gas scooters , electric scooters , and motorized scooters for sale.

Left Front Turn Signal $27.27 Left Front Turn Signal for Vento Zip and Triton Brand Scooters. Shop the largest selection of scooter parts , gas scooters , electric scooters , and motorized scooters for sale.

Turn Signal Flasher Unit $6.44 Turn Signal Flasher for 50cc 2-stroke scooters. Shop our wide assortment of scooter parts , gas scooters , electric scooters , and motorized scooters for sale. 2 pin connector

Right Rear Turn Signal $28.26 Right Rear Turn Signal for Vento Zip r3i and Triton brand scooters. Fits other makes and models. Shop our wide assortment of scooter parts , gas scooters , electric scooters , and motorized scooters for sale.

Rear Turn Signal $9.41 Rear Turn Signal for retro style scooters. Plastic with a Chrome finish. Shop our wide assortment of scooter parts , gas scooters , Razor scooters , and motorized scooters for sale.

Front Turn Signal Lenses $14.99 Clear Alternatives Front Turn Signal Lens Direct replacement for stock amber turn signal lenses Clear Alternatives lenses give you a true clear look; some kits available with smoke or colored lenses Amber bulbs included Sold in pairs DOT approved Actual product is bike specific therefore it may vary from the web image shown

Front Turn Signal Eliminators $93.95 Carl Brouhard Designs Front Turn Signal Eliminators Add a custom touch and cover the ugly mounting spots after removing OEM front turn signals Constructed of 6061 aircraft aluminum Available with black anodized or chrome finish Sold in pairs Made in the U.S.A. Click Here for Matching CBD Products

Celestar Turn Signal Grilles $14.99 Show Chrome Celestar Turn Signal Grilles New Celestar design matches other Show Chrome Celestar accessories Mount easily with double-sided adhesive tape Fit most cruiser turn signals with smooth lens faces

Rear Turn Signal Lens $5.99 Direct replacement for stock amber turn signal lenses Clear Alternatives lenses give you a true clear look; some kits available with smoke or colored lenses Amber bulbs included Sold in pairs DOT approved Actual product may vary from web image **Closeouts are limited to stock on hand**

Cat Eye Turn Signal $10.99 Western Power Sports Cat Eye Turn Signal Features: Customize the look of almost any bike with these versatile light kits 12 volt, 2 wire units Sold in pairs with mounting hardware *Note; Kit's are not D.O.T. approved in all states. Please check your local laws before installing.

Arrowhead Turn Signal $10.99 Western Power Sports Arrowhead Turn Signal Features: Customize the look of almost any bike with these versatile light kits 12 volt, 2 wire units Sold in pairs with mounting hardware *Note; Kit's are not D.O.T. approved in all states. Please check your local laws before installing.

Chrome Turn Signal $11.99 Western Power Sports Chrome Turn Signal Features: Customize the look of almost any bike with these versatile light kits 12 volt, 2 wire units Sold in pairs with mounting hardware *Note; Kit's are not D.O.T. approved in all states. Please check your local laws before installing.

Flush Mount Turn Signal $15.99 Western Power Sports Flush Mount Turn Signal Features: Customize the look of almost any bike with these versatile light kits 12 volt, 2 wire units Sold in pairs with mounting hardware *Note; Kit's are not D.O.T. approved in all states. Please check your local laws before installing.

Turn Signal Fork Clamps $27.95 Drag Specialties Turn Signal Fork Clamps Chrome die-cast construction For mounting signals on front fork tubes 5/16 inch non-threaded holes Sold in pairs **Note: 49mm has a grooved clamp refere to Multi View Image.

Turn Signal Bulb $3.46 12 Volt 3 Watt Turn Signal Bulb for 150cc Street-Legal Full-Size scooters and vehicles. Shop our wide assortment of scooter parts , gas scooters , electric scooters , and motorized scooters for sale. 3 watt / 12 volt

Turn Signal Switch $4.95 Turn Signal Switch for 150cc and 125cc GY6 engine based Sport Style scooters. Fit's many other makes and models thanks to its 3 pin connection. Shop our wide assortment of scooter parts , gas scooters , electric scooters , and motorized scooters for sale.

Turn Signal Lens ARB Turn Signal Lens 3500080 $53.78 ARB UNIVERSAL TURN SIGNAL LENS, PLASTIC, AMBER, SOLD INDIVIDUALLY -- Features super bright and innovative designs that create a unique vehicle appearance; A high quality turn signal lens; Easy installation; With 2-year ARB limited warranty.. Auto Parts Warehouse has extensive ARB Turn Signal Lens catalogs.We are now offering FREE shipping on all ARB Turn Signal Lens orders over $50.00. Our secure arb turn signal lens catalog is available every hour of everyday. Shop with confidence for all your arb turn signal lens needs. ARB Turn Signal Lens are In Stock and available today. Save up to 60% off dealer price on your next ARB Turn Signal Lens purchase. Our online catalog contains a wide selection of the OEM and aftermarket parts you need at unbeatable prices

Colored Front Turn Signal Lenses $40.99 Colored Front Turn Signal Lenses Direct replacement for stock amber turn signal lenses Amber bulbs included Sold in pairs DOT approved Actual product may vary from web image