Old Skool Ride.

[jumpsteady]

I am going to start piecing together an old skool bike one of these days. Wondered what you guys thought. Going to build a 1200 Sportster based ridgid bike. Jockey shift, suicide clutch setuup with a centrifical clutch, foot boards, Left side single bag. Stock front end, rolling stock, belt drive, and maybe a few motor up grades down the way. What do you think?

[AtlLaw]

Sounds Cool!     I love old school bikes.  Bobbers and such.

[jumpsteady]

Thats kinda what I'm in to also is the old Bobber stuff. I'm to spoiled I guess because I want to keep a bunch of the modern stuff like a belt drive and electric start, but to each his own. Here are a couple of pictures of the direction I want to head.

[GRIMJIM]

I think I would throw a springer in there, but that's just me. Sounds very cool.

[AtlLaw]

throw a springer in there,

   That's just what I was thinking on the way home this evening!   

[mirage1988]

throw a springer in there,

   That's just what I was thinking on the way home this evening!   

have a look at this springobber, or would it be a bobbering?   

    http://www.redneckengineering.com/Bob-This-06.jpg

Weren't you thinkin about this project last year about this time jump?  It sounds familiar.

[jumpsteady]

No, this time last year I was trying to figure out how to get the bike I have now from my dad without pissing of my wife. So I just went and got the loan and bought it. It is a 2003 XLH 883. First thing I am going to do is to get some drop springs for the front and rear from Licks Cycles. With there springs/shocks I can get a 24" seat height, that way the wife can pilot it, now that I have it she wants it. Once I get it where she can get on and off and feels comfortable on it. I am going to start at least collecting part for a new ride for me.

[Spanky]

If you want old skool you should use an old skool drivetrain.
Pan or Knuckle would be cool.



Spanky

[Scibaer]

i did the old school bobber with the 900 ironhead sportster i had.
 one thing i should have done, was to use a big twin. the sporty is just a bit small for me.
a FL frame and drive train is the way to go , i think or even a FX frame.
 and i second the use of a springer front end, but use a steering damper to tightened up the ride some if you use an older unit.
my 2000 ultra classis is slowly becoming a bobber of sorts.
i lowered it, removed the tour pack and converted it to chain drive. next is true dual exhaust and maybe some ape hanger bars.
 a pan or knuckle would be nice for your project, but even the shovelhead would be sweet too ( the shovel is my fav )

[jumpsteady]

A pan or knuckle or even a shovel really would be cool, but I really want something a little more reliable and newer than 25 years old. I am going to try and do this first bike with as many factory parts as I can. Its way easier to drive to any HD shop to get wheel bearings or the like than trying to find what part the aftermarket manufacturer used and having to wait 7 to 10 days for it to get here. I love old pan and knuckle bobbers, but don't want the headache of chasing parts or wrenching on it as much as riding it.

[Paleface]

Expense is another big issue. I would suggest you look at ironhead sportster as a donor bike, you can probably get a basket case for 2500 or so if you look real hard. Then design your frame modifications, 2 up 2 out, etc. I was going this direction once a few years ago with a honda cb750, which is a cheap alternative to the harley drivetrain. Lots of guys used Triumph back in the day, but the parts are real collectable and expensive these days. Another good donor bike might be one of the new Triumph bonneville or bonneville america models they started making about 2001 or 2002. They have a reliable parallel twin early models 790cc and later ones 865cc. Engine kits are available. Harley/aftermarket front ends (springer/girder) might be adaptable. British steel is still cool in my book. Good luck.

[S.B.]

No more hard tail frames for this old man, rode too many like that in my 20s and they jarred my kidneys then. Guess, you guys are just tougher than me? 'bout the only ol' school bike I'd consider would be a 1965 T120R Triumph, those at least had some suspension but, the Brits put the dern shifter on the wrong side.
Steve

[Stape]

Old school is cool.  I just picked up a 1974 XLCH, coverted to a rigid tail and put a nice springer on it.  That right side shift takes some getting used to when I've been on one of my other bikes for a bit.  I wanted an old school cool scoots, so thats what I got, think home built, some beer, hand pin-striping and lots of individuality and thats what I got, fun to ride and turns lots of heads, but its a handfull when I'm used to full-tuned sportbikes and super-motos set up for the track, then I step back about 50 years in technology with the Harley.  It is what it is, and if you have to ask, one probably wouldn't understand anyways, do what you want and enjoy it, one of the many reasons they're so damn cool and fun.

[mauser98us]

good way for old school is to also make it a rat ride. Just like they looked then. This would also keep the price down

[Swampman]

I like the Sportster a lot better than the new big twins.  I've had both.  I ride an XL-1200N.  For the money it's unbeatable.