First Bobber Build 1980 maxim 650

New to this forum, I just bought a first bike for my daughter 1980 maxim 650. Odd part is I bought this bike as my first bike 22 years ago, rode it for years all stock, along came kids the bike got ridden less and less, finally I sold it to a friend of mine. My friend moved away haven't seen him in years, One of my twin daughters is getting her drivers liscence this summer, doesn't want a car wants a motorcycle. Her 16th birthday is the 27th of this month so I decided to start looking for a bobber project for her and I to do. Pulled up Craigslist started looking for older bikes going year to year, and there it was in 1980 my old bike, recognized the paint job I had put on it when I was in my teens. Called the number and sure enough my old friend answered the phone. He bought it from me, put 45 miles on it getting it to his house, moved out of state, hauled it with him and put it in storage and that's where it has spent the last 8 years. It's coming home next week to start a new life as my daughters first bike. I've never built a bobber before, but that's what she wants, I do have the skills to do it and all the necessary equipment, just never had the need to before. Any do's and don'ts you guys with more experience can share with me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Folks

 

Dos: The Information Overload Hour

Don'ts: Pods.

Show daughter some pics of 70's choppers. Maybe you can convince her to use the seat and only have to deal with the front-end.

 

She's looked at a bunch of photos and we have kind of come to a conclusion on a direction we are going.

 

we aren't going with the hard tail , I've looked at a bunch of different bobs with suspension. and I have found one that incorperates the suspension with the lower seat hight like the hard tail.

 

When this bike was originally mine I never thought of bobbing it, but there are a million options and directions that I think are awsome. The bike we are starting with is the purple on in the first photo.

 

If you do any frame cutting ( ) be sure to brace the shock mounts adequately. The last bike pictured should have a brace between the shock mounts.

 

get rid of the rack and high seat go with a stock seat.
maybe buy a bobber project that someone has started. keep your old bike for yourself
and 16yo on a bike start with a smaller bike not a yamaha 650 4 cylinder. what are you thinking.
look at a suzikisavage she might like it 650 single cylinder

 

She has been riding dirt bikes for years, and can handle the weight and performance or I wouldn't put her on it.