Auckland fabricator to help with "simple" bobber project?

**mynemesis** · 14th February 2016, 17:01

I want to modify an old vl1500 Suzuki intruder into a bobber rear end cruiser.
Ideally (although not really strictly bobber) with a back seat, as this will make the whole project easier to sell to the wife.

Therefore just mounting a simple low profile rear fender with thin fender struts off the swing arm won't work as the bike is a soft tail. Can't mount a seat to the fender for obvious reasons.

Was thinking of the possibility of having a reinforced double seat pan fabled and mounted off the usual spot on the frame!?

So for that I'd need a fabricator who can make that as well as a good upholsterer the make the seat.

Any help or recommendations where to go for assistance?

Cheers

**The Lone Rider** · 14th February 2016, 19:34

Three point struts (one each side and one in middle hidden down inside the frame) should be sturdy enough to mount a seat pad to it.

Old school bitch pad would be doable.

Are you putting a sprung seat? I have some machined parts for sale for exactly what you're making - strut bungs, and spring seat studs.

**mynemesis** · 14th February 2016, 19:48

Thanks lone rider. But I can't mount the seat on the fender as the side fender struts can only be bottom mounted to that bouncy swing arm.

Was thinking of some kind of extra strong hidden centre strut that sits off the frame but that means I have to give the fender the clearance to handle the swing travel. And personally I don't like the look of those high profile rear fenders.

I'm hoping to have something fabbed that sits above the low profile (tail mounted) rear fender, that can be detached when the misses ain't with me
Which I'm sure will be most of the time.

Maybe I should go source some pics to help illustrate what I mean!?

**mynemesis** · 14th February 2016, 20:22

Rear fender sits fractionally above the tyre profile and obviously moves with the swing arms travel. This doesn't need strong hard struts as only supporting the weight of itself and electrical accessories (rear light, indicators, etc).

Passenger seat sits above rear fender independent of the rear sections movement.

"Something" like this is what I'm sort of thinking.....

**ellipsis** · 14th February 2016, 20:24

...that's really just a small diving board isn't it...

**The Lone Rider** · 15th February 2016, 19:41

Rocker C pillion pads a fucking horrible and to make the comfortable will making them look [more] horrible.

Put a bitch pad on the back with a tapered front on it that tucks behind the riders seat, plus a little gap. Will be more comfortable and will for the most part look like one seat. If you put the pillion pegs on the swingarm with offsets, wife won't notice the movement all that much.

**jellywrestler** · 15th February 2016, 19:55

Originally Posted by ellipsis

...that's really just a small diving board isn't it...

'muff' diving?

**jellywrestler** · 15th February 2016, 22:11

Originally Posted by ellipsis

...that's really just a small diving board isn't it...

'muff' diving?

**Crasherfromwayback** · 15th February 2016, 22:29

Originally Posted by mynemesis

I want to modify an old vl1500 Suzuki intruder into a bobber rear end cruiser.
Ideally (although not really strictly bobber) with a back seat, as this will make the whole project easier to sell to the wife.
Therefore just mounting a simple low profile rear fender with thin fender struts off the swing arm won't work as the bike is a soft tail. Can't mount a seat to the fender for obvious reasons.

Originally Posted by mynemesis

Thanks lone rider. But I can't mount the seat on the fender as the side fender struts can only be bottom mounted to that bouncy swing arm.
Was thinking of some kind of extra strong hidden centre strut that sits off the frame but that means I have to give the fender the clearance to handle the swing travel. And personally I don't like the look of those high profile rear fenders.
I'm hoping to have something fabbed that sits above the low profile (tail mounted) rear fender, that can be detached when the misses ain't with me
Which I'm sure will be most of the time.
Maybe I should go source some pics to help illustrate what I mean!?

Originally Posted by mynemesis

Rear fender sits fractionally above the tyre profile and obviously moves with the swing arms travel. This doesn't need strong hard struts as only supporting the weight of itself and electrical accessories (rear light, indicators, etc).

Passenger seat sits above rear fender independent of the rear sections movement.
]

I think you've confused the issue? You've contradicted yourself.

**mynemesis** · 24th March 2016, 09:11

Hey Crash, sorry for the delayed reply, (I didn't see a notification at the time)

Just been reading my quotes you posted and don't understand where the contradiction lies?

**Crasherfromwayback** · 25th March 2016, 15:49

Originally Posted by mynemesis

Hey Crash, sorry for the delayed reply, (I didn't see a notification at the time)

Just been reading my quotes you posted and don't understand where the contradiction lies?

No sweat mate. Well a VL1500's rear guard is mounted to the frame, not to the s/a like a Rocker's is. So you can do what you like with it. I took it that you thought because the look of the s/a is the same, they work the same way.

**mynemesis** · 25th March 2016, 16:08

Yeah nah mate. I was concerned that once I fitted a new lower profile rear fender, that would need to be mounted to the s/a. As if it was frame mounted and static it would obviously be destroyed the first time the rear wheel travels up more than an inch, or it would need to be mounted higher above the the rear wheel (the same as the factory fender) defeating the purpose of fitting a new low profile fender).

It's fairly academic now anyway, as I probably don't have to consider the misses when building this bobber anymore. So simple single spring seat it is then!

Just need to pop down the line and have a look at this cheap Intruder I found on trademe and get started now.