It’s done!
Five weeks ago, the Timo came to us for the first time with his desire for a chic conversion. His two-year-old Street Bob already had a side license plate holder and a slimmer exhaust. Now it should go further. Only how? What first, what maybe later, what maybe not at all? We accompanied Timo from the beginning to the end, from the first consultation over the seat test to the pickup. So you see here first the bike feature and further down the story of how this bike was created, incl. making-of.
Timo proudly presents his conversion and goes for a spin with his people. After the first few kilometers it becomes clear that the handlebar was the right choice. With the El Toxico he sits nice and straight and has his bike with the slightly thicker aluminum grips really well under control.
The entire front is now dark. Handlebars and risers are black and equally black bellows cover the chrome fork. Downward-facing mirrors, turn signals hidden under the dashboard and the short front fender visually reduce the Street Bob.
Reduction is also the motto at the rear. As requested, our short rear fender Shorty with a small turn signal-tail light combination was mounted on the Struts. We covered the matching seat plate to the Shorty with a cover with gray stitching.
We re-spoked the rear wheel so that it now rolls on 5.5×16 inches (orig. 4.5×16). This allows the use of a 180 tire (orig. 150 mm).
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That's the way he likes it!
- Thunderbike Seat Plate
- Thunderbike Rear Fender Shorty 180mm
- Rizoma Club Series LED Turn Signal Set
- Thunderbike Lowering Kit Shock Stage 2 (30mm)
- Thunderbike Speedo Riser Kit black
- Thunderbike Handlebar El Toxico 1.25'' Stainless Steel
- Thunderbike Turn Signals Stripe LED with Housing
- Thunderbike Grip-Set Base Alu
- Thunderbike Front fender 19'' Fiberglass
- Thunderbike Toppers Base
- Thunderbike Upper Fork Cover black
- Thunderbike Side Mount Licence Plate Bracket medium
- Thunderbike Tapered Mufflers Street Devil
- DEI Exhaust Wrap
- Metzeler ME888 Rear Tire 180/65B16 M/C REINF TL 81H
Happy End?
Happy yes, but an end is not really in sight yet. As is often the case, this customer is happy with his conversion, but already has the next ideas in mind. Until then, however, he is simply enjoying the first rides with his people. By the way… the small quirks on the exhaust pipe were created during our shoot and have since been repaired.
How to start with a custom bike?
It’s been 2 years since Timo bought his Street Bob and it was immediately clear to him that it should not remain original. As a Hamminkelner he knows Thunderbike and the Roadhouse. Here he was already with his Forty-Eight on the road and has seen the converted bikes stroll. In which direction it should now go with his Softail, whether chopper, bobber or something in between, this question he wanted to clarify best on the spot.
Off to Thunderbike and just take a look around. First we had to get a different exhaust system and a license plate on the side. And then? What next? Before you tinker with your bike, it can’t hurt to talk to the pros and just go through the different options. So between two Corona lockdowns and with a negative test, Timo made an appointment with our sales consultant Julian.
It’s quite clear that Timo is basically satisfied with his Street Bob. With the Milwaukee-Eight 107, he has a powerful engine and in terms of dimensions, this model naturally fits him better than his Forty-Eight. But he is missing that certain something.
The first question, “What’s hot right now?” can be answered quickly with a look at the Thunderbike website. A wide and short rear end, plus a chic seat and high handlebars – that’s already a lot to gain. However, so that his Street Bob does not look like many others, a few specials should be added.
Initial consultation for the conversion of a 2019 Street Bob
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The first parts are here! Our workshop manager Alex goes through everything again with Timo. The rear end is still in its raw state, as is the wide rear wheel rim. With a little imagination, you can already imagine the direction it will take.
Timo smiles with satisfaction as he tries out the new handlebars. The Ape fits well! Should the still naked fender get the same paint job as the tank and should the design be repeated on it? How will an exhaust band look on the bike? And what about a sissy bar? These and other details can be changed at this stage of the conversion.
The conversion beginns
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As soon as the parts have been delivered or manufactured by us, the Street Bob goes on the lifting platform and the conversion begins. The fenders are at the painter, the presentation at the TÜV is prepared and the last details are discussed.
A sissy bar is omitted, it does not fit so well to this rear conversion. The last thing to be done is a heat protection band on the manifolds, whose golden shine (color titanium) fits well with the color scheme of the paint.
As planned, Timo will be able to do his roll-out about 6 weeks after the initial meeting. We will accompany him with the camera and keep the rebuild in a feature including video and tech facts for you. Stay tuned!
Do you have any questions? Our consultants will be happy to show you the possibilities of what you can do with your bike. Or take a look at our custom bike gallery.
Next step: Timo’s Street Bob gets a heat protection band.
Our master Tim explains to Timo how the tape is wound and shows him the color variations. Black doesn’t stand out as much and looks almost exactly like the black sheets that are installed ex works. So they decide on the titanium color, whose golden sheen goes well with the paint color scheme.
The final details are fitted, such as the toppers at the ends of the grips. Tomorrow Timo wants to pick up his bike right away on his own, so the last seat test is done today. Now would still be a good opportunity to adjust the handlebars.
Timo is beaming during the seat check. The height and position of the handlebars are just as he imagined.
Exhaust wrap and last test
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If and how it continues with Timo’s Street Bob, you can find out here and on our channels on Facebook and Instagram.
And if you want to have your own custom bike – no matter how much you want to rebuild – just come to us in Hamminkeln without obligation or call us and let Julian or a colleague advise you.
Making-of
Author / Editor
Maggie S. Zimpel
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Some more Street Bob conversions
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