Wednesday 30 June 2010

Parts

Parts so far aquired either from Lowbrow Customs, Ebay, Vintage chops or transferred from old bike and modified as and where

Old style seat & 3" springs, Biltwell weld on seat hinge
Oil Tank 9" x 5" round old skool style 
Pipe work for the rear hardtail
Biltwell bars
Speedo with built in LED idiot lights and trip counter  
Sparto rear light (reused)
Bates headlight (reused)
micro front and rear indicators (reused)
21" front wheel came off a wideglide laced with stainless spokes to a  Sporty hub and Avon Speedmaster tyre
Fork gaiters
Rear ribbed mudguard
OEM front and rear brakes and calipers modified
Dyna front master cylinder, smaller and neater than sportsters
set micro switches see links

Engine Mods



883cc to 1200cc conversion using J&E Billet pistons .005 over 
Crane N2 Cams
Crane Hi-4 single fire ignition
S&S Super E shorty carb with 1" manifold extension
Krome werks 2" AR drag pipes, (cos I bought em a year ago)

The Back End!

Spent the morning "adjusting" the rear calliper carrier, needed to shave off some metal top and bottom so that it fit between the rails and the fancy ribbing along the bottom pushed the carrier out from the frame which I hadn't noticed, and about 1/2" of the top so that the carrier will slide with the chain adjustment as the OEM setup.

The build

Pictures can be seen in the slide show which is easier than separate pictures I have found. Pulling the bike to bits was not a problem I have bolted on and taken off so many parts on this bike over the years as I messed about trying to find a design I liked. The main problem was when it was time to remove the back end of the frame ready for hardtailing by Twizzle down Dorsetshire way! I spent a long time on the internet looking at hardtailed sporties until I found what I wanted and took out the grinder.
Meanwhile, I joined the bike forums (at the top of the page) apart from the knowledge on these which was invaluable I also came across a community that had a genuine interest in shed builds as well as big bucks builds and no one was criticising unless you asked opinions.  

Tuesday 29 June 2010

In the beginning

This is about the trails and tribulations of a first custom build Sporty built by myself with help from new found friends on a couple of forums (links on here) My Sporty has been in the family since 1997 when I bought the old gal as a bit of a chrome barge, it is my first and will be the last. When people say a Harley speaks to you they are right (at least pre 2K ones dunno about the new ones)I didn't need to ride it a press of the start button did it for me, the dealer not being a sole HD dealer thought I was slightly mad but I just knew. Over the years I have removed about £2K of chrome add ons and over the years bolted on many parts in my quest to find a style that I liked, I've joined and left many clubs as I am quite happy to ride on my own as and when I feel the need. My roots are in Easyrider like a lot of my generation, I was 12 when it came out but never saw it for years but the bikes, especially the Billy Bike was all I needed. My youth was totally obsessed with bikes, choppers in particular but life takes us on a funny path sometimes.Bikes sort of took a sabbatical until I turned 20. I then got back into bikes buying this and that jap stuff then turning 40 I said hang on I was going to own a Harley by now! And so old syd came into my life.I played around with styles and bolt ons but never was happy until I was reading Back Street Heroes 25th anniversary edition and they did a piece on 4 lads who called themselves the camsnappers the bikes were lean mean basic and narrow, which was just what I was looking for all these years so plans were set in place to build myself a basic narrow home grown sporty.