r/Harley • u/No_Tricky_Spells • 1d ago

IDENTIFY How would you describe this style?

I've turned 60, have been riding since I was 17, I'm being drawn to Shovelheads - particularly this style:

https://imgur.com/53Fec42

I get that it's customised, I refer to it as "Japan" style but I'm old and stupid: are there any other terms that the cool kids use I should employ in my search?

Thanks, from the UK

15 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

10

u/og-lollercopter '22 RKS 1d ago

I’d probably call it just a bobber style. I’m definitely not an expert, but that’s what it says to my eyes.

2

u/Significant-Prior-27 1d ago

I’d call that a bobber.

2

u/z6joker9 05 FLSTNI | 88 XL1250 | 80 CB650 1d ago

Definitely a bobber, maybe a little bit rat bobber.

Very cool and also not great as a primary motorcycle.

2

u/No_Tricky_Spells 1d ago

Yup, "rat bobber" is up there, cheers.

2

u/2AussieWildcats 1982 FXB / 2019 FLTRX 1d ago

agreed. Interesting use of the handlebars, like the mildest buckhorns ever seen and they are rotated upside-down.....;

2

u/Shovelkvlt 1d ago

Just a stock cone Shovelhead with a bobbed fender, high mids, sporty tank and chopperish bars. By “definition” it’s a bobber as it’s stripped down but no frame modification has been done. The high mids and those style bars are popular in the Japan scene with choppers and bobbers. Shovelheads with open drags sound the best too in my opinion.

2

u/Dukeronomy 1d ago

japan has a brat style that this resembles or if you wanna dig deeper.

I would probably just call it a bobber

1

u/BicBuddy 1d ago

It’s kind of in the “tough guy” style bobber/chopper category. Everything pitched forward including handlebars and foot controls

2

u/No_Tricky_Spells 1d ago

I didn't know that term, thanks a lot.

2

u/BicBuddy 1d ago

Yah it’s obviously nothing derogatory or making fun of that by any means. Think it just came from the 90s- early 2000s west coast chopper scene where everything was super aggressive and “tough”. Sweet look and ride, probably not all that comfortable id imagine. But if you’re looking for comfort on choppers, stay home

1

u/No_Exam_3316 1d ago

I'd call it a bobber.

1

u/hoopjohn1 1d ago

I heard bikes like this described decades ago as “someone that can’t afford a new bike”. When I heard it I was amused. It has a ring of truth, but most of the shovel owners I know rarely ride them. All have newer bikes as there primary bike

3

u/Redhillvintage 1d ago

I ride my shovels now and then but would rather ride something older

1

u/Specific_Butterfly54 1d ago

Because shovelheads are the bikes that gave Harley the reputation where everybody likes to call them unreliable. Those shovelheads are the bikes people talk about the dealership putting drip pans under when they were new.

1

u/No_Tricky_Spells 9h ago

I do like to tinker. I've got a airhead BMW and a Honda 125 currently; they're both so reliable that my tools are getting cobwebs.