{"id":26541,"date":"2026-10-19T01:56:31","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T23:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fcr-original.com\/the-history-of-the-bobber-from-american-legend-to-fcr-original\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T02:28:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T00:28:31","slug":"the-history-of-the-bobber-from-american-legend-to-fcr-original","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fcr-original.com\/en\/the-history-of-the-bobber-from-american-legend-to-fcr-original\/","title":{"rendered":"The history of the Bobber | From American legend to FCR Original"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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At FCR Original, we love motorcycles that tell a story. Motorcycles with character, with soul, with a signature. Among them, the Bobber<\/strong> holds a special place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Born in American garages in the 1930s, this style has crossed almost a century without ever losing its founding principle: strip away everything that isn’t essential. Today, we reinterpret it on the Triumph Bonneville 1200 Bobber<\/strong>, in our workshop in Chauvigny, France. Here is its story, and how we carry it forward.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Where does the Bobber come from?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Bobber is a motorcycle style born in the United States in the 1930s. It was inspired by the stripped-down racing machines of Class C, created in 1933 by the American Motorcyclist Association. Its name comes from the “bob-job”: riders cut down, or “bobbed”, the rear fender to lighten the bike. The principle has never changed: cut, lighten, remove the superfluous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Timeline<\/p>\n

The Bobber in 7 dates<\/p>\n

Nearly a century of history, from American garages to our workshop in Chauvigny, France.<\/p>\n

\n <\/i>History of the style<\/span>\n <\/i>FCR Original<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
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\n Chapter 1<\/span>\n The origins<\/span>\n 1920 \u2192 1945<\/span>\n <\/header>\n
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  1. \n

    The
    1920s<\/p>\n <\/span>\n

    \n \n

    The “cut-down”<\/p>\n

    Early American riders lighten their stock motorcycles by stripping off everything that isn’t essential.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n

  2. \n

    1933<\/p>\n <\/span>\n

    \n \n

    Class C sets the template<\/p>\n

    The American Motorcyclist Association creates a racing class for catalogue motorcycles. No front fender, a cut-down rear: these machines inspire the “bob-job”.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ol>\n <\/section>\n\n

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    \n Chapter 2<\/span>\n The golden age<\/span>\n 1945 \u2192 1999<\/span>\n <\/header>\n
      \n
    1. \n

      After
      1945<\/p>\n <\/span>\n

      \n \n

      The style takes hold<\/p>\n

      Back from the war, a generation of riders starts customising their motorcycles. The Bobber becomes a style in its own right.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n

    2. \n

      1950
      \u2192 1969<\/p>\n <\/span>\n

      \n \n

      The Chopper breaks away<\/p>\n

      The most extreme bob-jobs give birth to the Chopper, made famous by the film Easy Rider in 1969.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n

    3. \n

      Late
      1990s<\/p>\n <\/span>\n

      \n \n

      The bob-job becomes the “bobber”<\/p>\n

      Today’s name catches on and the style makes a strong comeback on the custom scene.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ol>\n <\/section>\n\n

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      \n Chapter 3<\/span>\n The modern era<\/span>\n 2012 \u2192 today<\/span>\n <\/header>\n
        \n
      1. \n

        2012<\/p>\n <\/span>\n

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        FCR Original<\/p>\n

        FCR Original is born<\/p>\n

        Our custom motorcycle workshop opens its doors in Chauvigny.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n

      2. \n

        2017<\/p>\n <\/span>\n

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        FCR Original<\/p>\n

        La Triumph Bonneville Bobber<\/p>\n

        Triumph brings the codes of the genre to a modern motorcycle. It becomes the base of our Bobber range.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/li>\n <\/ol>\n <\/section>\n\n<\/div>\n\n