Rajdoot GTS "Bobby"

awini · 17th January 2007, 00:32

i have been offered a bobby, and i am seriously considering it because i wanted one as a child growing up in the early eighties, its original but rough, as its been laid up for many years. what should be a fair price to pay? what should i look for mechanically and cosmetically? are any spares still available? does anyone have any pics or litrature of original bikes?

the_trooper · 17th January 2007, 14:01

Please buy it if it's original. heck, buy it even if it isnt.

I had a pic somewhere on my other hard disk, will dig it up.

there is no guildeline value for items like the Bobby. if the owner has no clue what he is sitting on, he might let it go for scrap value. and if he has any idea how urban clowns like us love these bikes, then he will ask for the moon.

u dont have much of a choice. even if the bike is not in 'good' shape, if u want it, u have to take it. just look to make sure both the front wheel and rear wheel track in the same line (indication of bent frame if they are not).

stuff like original headlamp, taillamp, swith cluster and all that jazz is secondary. make sure its the original tank, OE rims, and side panels. Of course, the engines just like a regular rajdoot, so spares for that shoudlnt be too difficult.

let us know what the progress is. and if u dont want it, i do.

Steeroid · 17th January 2007, 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_trooper

and if u dont want it, i do.

So do I ! We might just have a queue for this...

iraghava · 17th January 2007, 15:07

Bawa you buying a Bobby nice!!!!

karlosdeville · 17th January 2007, 16:31

dont think twice, theyre very hard to come by now and itll be great fun...and find me another one!

cheers!

pawan · 17th January 2007, 17:10

hey guys i dont know much about bikes but what is a bobby.

Rtech · 17th January 2007, 17:31

hahaha! I used to call it a monkey bike. Always wanted one as a kid due to its size.

Out of curiosity, how much would these go for now?

the_trooper · 17th January 2007, 17:39

here you go. hoping your bikes looks close to this.

Steeroid · 17th January 2007, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rtech

Out of curiosity, how much would these go for now?

One on auction at Sotheby's 800 - 1200 Sterling (thats a LOT of money!)

Rajdoot GTS Monkey (1979) - Motorbase

w 12 · 18th January 2007, 11:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeroid

One on auction at Sotheby's 800 - 1200 Sterling (thats a LOT of money!)

Rajdoot GTS Monkey (1979) - Motorbase

Holy s*** ! I know of a bobby which was sold off as scrap by owner for Rs.3000 one year ago

Rtech · 18th January 2007, 11:26

Does anyone know a bit of history on these? Why was it made so small?

sajo · 18th January 2007, 12:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rtech

Does anyone know a bit of history on these? Why was it made so small?

Perhaps they are based on a scooter frame..?

Steeroid · 18th January 2007, 12:27

The Bobby (proper name Rajdoot GTS) was made after the Rajdoot Runabout fiasco - Escorts attempt at making a scooter with a motorcycle engine. The joke is that Escorts had too many small wheels leftover from the planned scooter production endeavour and therefore decided that if a scooter with a bike engine wont work, a bike with scooter wheels might. It worked briefly, thanks to the promotion on Bobby (the movie).

Basically they thought the scooter was a bad idea, tried improving on it, failed, and therefore tried to make a bike that could be ridden by scooter lovers - India was primarily (99%) a scooter market back then and bikes were frowned upon as either (1) dangerous (2) not for family men or (3) for guys like Shammi Kapoor who chased girls around.

A Scooter was more conservative. Methinks since Escorts didnt have a scooter, they tried this.

Read more here:

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/03/01/s...0100670300.htm

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/03/01/s...0100670300.htm

Rtech · 18th January 2007, 12:29

Thanks for that bit of history Steer! Makes a lot more sense now.

awini · 21st January 2007, 11:00

guys i got it, its absolutely original,down to paint, just like the one in the pic but with a spare wheel on the side, and ape hanger handlebars.only thing missing are tank rubbers,and one non original brake lever done genuine 17000 kms, runs like a gem its scruffy, but a lot of noisy fun, being delivered tomorrow after a service.paid more than i should have, but what the heck, where will i find another this good...thank you all for your inputs.

17th January 2007, 00:32	#1
awini BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 580 Thanked: 476 Times	Rajdoot GTS "Bobby" i have been offered a bobby, and i am seriously considering it because i wanted one as a child growing up in the early eighties, its original but rough, as its been laid up for many years. what should be a fair price to pay? what should i look for mechanically and cosmetically? are any spares still available? does anyone have any pics or litrature of original bikes?
	() Thanks

17th January 2007, 14:01	#2
the_trooper BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chn Posts: 215 Thanked: 102 Times View My Garage	Please buy it if it's original. heck, buy it even if it isnt. I had a pic somewhere on my other hard disk, will dig it up. there is no guildeline value for items like the Bobby. if the owner has no clue what he is sitting on, he might let it go for scrap value. and if he has any idea how urban clowns like us love these bikes, then he will ask for the moon. u dont have much of a choice. even if the bike is not in 'good' shape, if u want it, u have to take it. just look to make sure both the front wheel and rear wheel track in the same line (indication of bent frame if they are not). stuff like original headlamp, taillamp, swith cluster and all that jazz is secondary. make sure its the original tank, OE rims, and side panels. Of course, the engines just like a regular rajdoot, so spares for that shoudlnt be too difficult. let us know what the progress is. and if u dont want it, i do.
	() Thanks

17th January 2007, 15:07	#4
iraghava Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhaiyyaland Posts: 8,033 Thanked: 265 Times View My Garage	Bawa you buying a Bobby nice!!!!
	() Thanks

17th January 2007, 16:31	#5
karlosdeville Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 11,976 Thanked: 18,277 Times View My Garage	dont think twice, theyre very hard to come by now and itll be great fun...and find me another one! cheers!
	() Thanks

17th January 2007, 17:10	#6
pawan BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: auckland, new zealand Posts: 868 Thanked: 4 Times	hey guys i dont know much about bikes but what is a bobby.
	() Thanks

17th January 2007, 17:31	#7
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	hahaha! I used to call it a monkey bike. Always wanted one as a kid due to its size. Out of curiosity, how much would these go for now?
	() Thanks

17th January 2007, 17:39	#8
the_trooper BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Chn Posts: 215 Thanked: 102 Times View My Garage	here you go. hoping your bikes looks close to this.
	() Thanks

18th January 2007, 11:26	#11
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Does anyone know a bit of history on these? Why was it made so small?
	() Thanks

18th January 2007, 12:27	#13
Steeroid Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: N.A Posts: 7,046 Thanked: 2,751 Times	The Bobby (proper name Rajdoot GTS) was made after the Rajdoot Runabout fiasco - Escorts attempt at making a scooter with a motorcycle engine. The joke is that Escorts had too many small wheels leftover from the planned scooter production endeavour and therefore decided that if a scooter with a bike engine wont work, a bike with scooter wheels might. It worked briefly, thanks to the promotion on Bobby (the movie). Basically they thought the scooter was a bad idea, tried improving on it, failed, and therefore tried to make a bike that could be ridden by scooter lovers - India was primarily (99%) a scooter market back then and bikes were frowned upon as either (1) dangerous (2) not for family men or (3) for guys like Shammi Kapoor who chased girls around. A Scooter was more conservative. Methinks since Escorts didnt have a scooter, they tried this. Read more here: http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/03/01/s...0100670300.htm http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/03/01/s...0100670300.htm
	() Thanks

18th January 2007, 12:29	#14
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Thanks for that bit of history Steer! Makes a lot more sense now.
	() Thanks

21st January 2007, 11:00	#15
awini BHPian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Delhi Posts: 580 Thanked: 476 Times	guys i got it, its absolutely original,down to paint, just like the one in the pic but with a spare wheel on the side, and ape hanger handlebars.only thing missing are tank rubbers,and one non original brake lever done genuine 17000 kms, runs like a gem its scruffy, but a lot of noisy fun, being delivered tomorrow after a service.paid more than i should have, but what the heck, where will i find another this good...thank you all for your inputs.
	() Thanks