Who says we always have to be practical" The smiles say it all: sometimes it?s OK to just have a little fun, and that?s what these three bikes are all about. We rounded up a couple of women riders and hit the streets, turning heads and twisting throttles on the Indian, Moto Guzzi and Triumph bobbers. Photos by Kevin Wing.
Today?s bobbers, as a style, could be described as less than sensible. They prize form over function, emotion and feel over pure logic. If Freud?s id, ego and super-ego structural model of the human psyche were applied to motorcycles, bobbers would be the id. Nothing wrong with that; Freud?s id represents our basic human instincts and biological needs. In motorcycling terms, it?s the essence of riding?the feelings we get when we?re on two wheels. Since Triumph exploded onto the scene in early 2017 with the Bonneville Bobber, the fastest-selling new bike model in the company?s 115-year history, other marques have followed suit with factory bobbers of their own, each with its own take on the concept. So we procured three examples, the Triumph, Indian?s Scout Bobber and Moto Guzzi?s V9 Bobber, to see what this whole factory bobber thing is all about. With little in the way of whiz-bang electronics or high-tech features, comparing these three is all about look and feel?satisfying our motorcycle id. Sensibility be damned, let?s go for a ride!
Three bobber flavors: leaned forward and feet forward, classic cruiser position or upright, naked standard style.
S...