Harley-Davidson Bobber Guide: Factory Models, Donor Bikes, Parts and Custom Builds
The references listed below support the regulatory, safety, and manufacturer statements in this guide. Any dollar figure is an editorial planning estimate based on typical scope, not a quote and not taken from those references, unless a current official price is explicitly cited at that point in the text. Confirm fitment, safety, legality, availability, and current pricing for your exact vehicle before you buy or commission work.
A Harley-Davidson bobber can be a factory bike, such as the Street Bob, or a custom built from a Sportster, Dyna or Softail. The donor family decides which seats, fenders and other parts fit, so identify it before planning anything. Prices and model details below were checked October 19, 2026.
For the bobber style itself and other brands' factory bobbers, see what is a bobber and the best bobber motorcycles.
Factory Harley Bobbers In 2026
| Model | Engine | US MSRP from | How Harley describes it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Street Bob | Milwaukee-Eight 117 | $14,999 | "Custom bobber style" from the factory, with a short, bobbed rear fender and a solo seat option |
| Nightster | Revolution Max 975T, liquid-cooled | $9,999 | Its look evokes the bobbers of the 1950s and 1960s |
The 2026 Street Bob uses the 117 engine; older listings for a "Street Bob 114" refer to earlier years. Several popular bobber bases are no longer sold new:
These remain common on the used market and are the donors most bobber parts are made for.
Know The Donor Family
| Family | Years | What matters for a bobber |
|---|---|---|
| Evolution Sportster (XL 883/1200) | 1986–2022 | The engine was rigidly mounted through 2003 and rubber-mounted from 2004, and fuel injection arrived in 2007 (AMCN). Parts are usually listed for pre-2004 or 2004-and-later frames, and 2007–2009 bikes can need extra work. |
| Dyna | 1991–2017 | Twin rear shocks and a rubber-mounted engine (Harley-Davidson Dyna history). Parts are specific to Dyna; they don't fit a Softail. |
| Milwaukee-Eight Softail | 2018–today | For 2018 Harley moved the Dyna and Softail models onto one new Softail frame with a hidden monoshock (Cycle World). The current Street Bob is a Softail. |
| Revolution Max (Nightster, Sportster S) | 2021–today | A liquid-cooled platform unrelated to the Evo Sportster. Evo Sportster parts do not fit. |
Parts With Stated Fitment
Prices checked October 19, 2026; fitment as each seller states it.
| Part | Seller | Price | Stated fitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tsunami rear fender, raw aluminum | Lowbrow Customs | $246.06 | 2004–2006 and 2010-up Sportster with fender struts cut; 2007–2009 needs the ECM relocated |
| Drag Specialties bobber solo seat | TC Bros. | $233.95 (sold out when checked) | 2010–2022 air-cooled Sportster |
| Mustang Standard Touring Solo seat | Mustang Seats | $499 | 2018–2026 Street Bob, 2021–2024 Street Bob 114, 2020–2024 Softail Standard |
| Burly "Stupid Tall" sissy bar | Burly Brand | From $307.95 | 1994–2003 and 2004+ Sportster; 2006–2017 Dyna |
Harley's own parts catalog also sells bobber-style solo seats; check the current part number and fitment with a dealer.
A parts subtotal is not a build price. Add installation, wiring for relocated lights and plates, lighting and plate rules in your state, paint, and a safety check. The bobber build cost guide and the project brief help turn this list into a quote.
Two Documented US Custom Harley Bobbers
BCR Designs: Cool Change
BCR Designs in New Jersey stripped a 1997 Softail Fat Boy to its frame and suspension and rebuilt it as a classic bobber. It got an angled peanut-style tank, a stainless headlight bucket and fork covers, a floating tail light and a two-into-two exhaust. A Softail's hidden rear shock already gives the hardtail look many bobbers aim for.
GasBox: Ironhead Bobber
GasBox in Cleveland, Ohio built a bobber around a 1972 Ironhead Sportster engine, using a shop-made frame and oil tank with its own fenders and sissy bar. A new frame is a far bigger job than bolt-on parts. It needs proper fabrication, and the frame and title paperwork must be in order for road use.
Find A Harley Builder
Ask each shop for a completed Harley bobber on the same donor family as yours. Compare shops in the Harley-Davidson Sportster builder directory and the motorcycle builder directory. For other Sportster styles, see the Sportster cafe racer guide and best Sportster mods.