V-twin bike suggestions for a bobber build

To all you guys who have ridden different bikes throughout the years, I'd like some advice, please. Im looking for a CHEAP-to-work-on v-twin bike. I want to do a hardtail bobber project, for short cruising. I want something that has relatively inexpensive, interchangable parts. It would be nice to find one with a decent rake, and chain driven. I want to start looking on craigslist ASAP. So guys, What bike would be a good platform to start on?

 

it has to be a V ? that's tough, how about a twin?
http://www.xs650.nl/
lots of ideas there
350/450 hondas work well too, kawasaki 750 twins are overlooked by a lot of kow guys

 

Honda 750D shadow is chain drive and V-twin made from the 80's up til 2007.

 

i'am not sure a liquid cooled bobber is legal

 

How about a Virago 535? But they're shaft-driven:



Or a Honda Shadow? (It looks liquid-cooled, tho...)

 

The Honda was the only one I think of that was chain drive and V-Twin. Viragos make great looking bobbers,although they are air cooled shafty's. Kawi Vulcans and Suzuki S series/Savage are nice too, but they are water cooled shafty's like the other Honda Shadows.

 

The only air cooled V-Twins with chain drive that I can think of are HD, Indian or old Victory's.

 

Not sure if you got them there but the TR1 which was basically a chain driven XV1000 would fit the bill

http://www.tr1.de/

 

Good suggestions so far guys, keep em coming 8)

I love bobbers for the simplicity. So water cooled bikes out of the picture. The easier to work on, tune, and maintain, the better. I'm not too picky towards a shafty though. Oh, I did forget to mention, I want a bike with SPOKE wheels. That was my reason for steering away from shafty's. I feel like shafty's are pretty limited on wheel choice. And I need to fit a fat tire to fit in there, too.

Just so you can visualize the look im going for, something like this is my inspiration.

 

The Yamaha XV920R, the "Seca" version of the Virago, was chain-driven. Most folks that mod them turn them into cafe racers.

Here's another Yammie; looks like this guy turned his into a Vincent replica...

 

I think Viragos have spoke wheels.

 

Virago or sportster comes to mind quickly. I've also seen some Honda Rebels, but they are only 250's...

 

XS650 aren't V-twins, but most models have spoke wheels and they are all chain driven. THey are pretty easy to work on.

 

XS650 = good parts availability too

 

KZ750 twin! Now there's a bobber!

 

I guess...

 

The V-Star's have spoke rims and are air cooled, but they are shafty's. Go to the V-Star website and look thru the calender of custom builds for ideas.
Fitz, I thought about the Vincent afterwards, great bikes and rather pricey. I wouldn't dare cut one up, but saw one on an old biker build off done by Chica. Looked nice, but defiantly lost all it's value.

 

VTR 1000 Honda
look to the salvage yards for a bent one, or, Yamaha XV 920, Honda NT 650, Ducati 860, Aprilla 1000, Suzuki SV 1000 / 650.