When most people think of Bourget motorcycles, built in his Phoenix-based shop, visions of wide rear tires come to mind.
After all, in the '90s Roger Bourget was putting car tires on his bikes on a regular basis, so he's possibly one of the reasons why the wide-tire craze started. This is why we were a little shocked when we first saw the "Bobber." The rear tire was a normal size (Avon's 200/50/17). We weren't surprised, however, at the high-quality-down-to-the-last-detail machine he built.
Each aspect of this bike complements the rest, from the polished billet hand controls, foot controls, and mirrors to the gold-plated Headwinds headlight, gold-plated springs on the frontend, and the gold leaf accents in the paint. Even the Invader-style wheels complement the rigid frame and the S&S Shovelhead to reflect the same era-style of the early '70s. The frame welds are perfect, as well as the stitches in the seat and the chrome bolts that hold the bike together.
Sparing no details made for a bike that not only looks good but rides great too. While that may be hard to believe because the Springer is the only suspension, Bourget has made enough bikes to know the right way to hang a frontend with the proper spring tension and rake. Plus the 5-inch riser drag bars put the controls within comfortable reach along with the positioning of the foot controls. The bobber didn't seem to vibrate as much as other bikes with solid-mounted motors, probably due to the damping effect of having oil in the frame. Unfortunately, the seat could have used better padding considering it's a rigid frame, but that's the only thing we'd change.
At first, we couldn't take our eyes off the motor, that is until we rode the bike. The Bobber was the first bike we've tested with an S&S 93ci Shovelhead and it didn't disappoint-a twist of the throttle and the bike moved! There are a number of quality driveline components to support the motor, including a Primo 3-inch open belt primary with a custom belt guard, a JIMS six-speed transmission, and a clean set of drag pipes that sound mean.
When it was time for us to give the bike back we were extremely reluctant, and everyone on staff that rode the bike was impressed with the level of engineering. Not to mention the bike is one of the best-looking motorcycles that Bourget has ever produced, but don't take our word for it. Check out the other available options and the rest of the lineup on their Web site: www.bourgets.com.