Go Sportsters

[villageidiot]

Originally Posted by gusanito

You gotta love the Sporty, they're so versatile.

I put the pipes it had when I got it and the mid contols back on, bought a set of gun cases at the local sporting goods shop for $30 and welded up a set of brackets.



.

any pics of the brackets? looks good with little hard panniers on it

[Ratchdaddy]

gusanito, what tank is that on there? I want a larger capacity tank and that looks good.

[Randy]

Originally Posted by villageidiot

any pics of the brackets? looks good with little hard panniers on it

Yeah, it looks clean and functional. I'd also like a peek at the brackets and your mounting method. I'll probably use the GS when I need luggage, but ya never know, so I may knock out a set similar to yours for the 48, if I can figure out a clean attachment method that installs and removes easily enough.

[novaboy]

Last week, while away on a work trip with a fellow riding buddy we dropped into a Harley dealer in Glenns Falls, NY. My buddy Scott is Harley rider, loves his Street Glide, and has it customized really nice. I on the other hand have been a sport bike, dirt bike guy all my life. I appreciate Harleys for what they are, but never pictured myself on one. We spent about 30mins at this dealer, looked at a couple of Sporty's, the 48 is really nice, and then I grab a brochure on the way out.

Thumbing through the brochure I come across this......



and fall in love. That is the coolest Harley......coolest bike I have ever seen. Within 30sec of seeing this, I have already made up my mind that I'm getting it. I just have to figure out how to turn an 883 Iron into it. The crazy thing is, I know the suspension sucks, and the gas tank is too small, and it shakes and shudders, and probably handles like sh#t compared to my Ninja, but I don't care I have to have it. So once all the snow goes away in the spring I'm hitting the local Harley dealer here and getting an 883 Iron and starting the slow, expensive mods to make it into that.

[gusanito]

The gas tank is a Paughco 4.2 gallon, part # 832C on this page. I found it on the Dennis Kirk scratch and dent site for less than 1/2 off list.

I didn't need to carry a lot in the bags, so I built the lightest system I could. I have other bikes for heavy duty and long trips. That being said, the front upper mount hangs on the shock stud with a 3/8"x16x1 1/8" coupling nut and the rear just uses a longer 5/16" bolt with a 3 3/4" spacer. The bags are attached to the brackets with 5/16" hardware. Lateral vibration is minimal, but just to be on the safe side, I'll be adding a support rod from the bottom of the bracket to the second from the last bolt on the fender rail for triangulation.

[Nadgett]

Originally Posted by novaboy

... it shakes and shudders...

This is a myth perpetuated by people who want a Harley but can't afford one. The rubber-engine mounts make them as smooth as just about any other bike. The engine shakes and shudders at idle, but once you're under way you can hardly feel it.

The suspension, on the other hand, could be improved. The rear shocks on my XR1200 feel like they have about half an inch of travel.

[Redclayrider]

Originally Posted by novaboy

Last week, while away on a work trip with a fellow riding buddy we dropped into a Harley dealer in Glenns Falls, NY. My buddy Scott is Harley rider, loves his Street Glide, and has it customized really nice. I on the other hand have been a sport bike, dirt bike guy all my life. I appreciate Harleys for what they are, but never pictured myself on one. We spent about 30mins at this dealer, looked at a couple of Sporty's, the 48 is really nice, and then I grab a brochure on the way out.

Thumbing through the brochure I come across this......



and fall in love. That is the coolest Harley......coolest bike I have ever seen. Within 30sec of seeing this, I have already made up my mind that I'm getting it. I just have to figure out how to turn an 883 Iron into it. The crazy thing is, I know the suspension sucks, and the gas tank is too small, and it shakes and shudders, and probably handles like sh#t compared to my Ninja, but I don't care I have to have it. So once all the snow goes away in the spring I'm hitting the local Harley dealer here and getting an 883 Iron and starting the slow, expensive mods to make it into that.

Just my opinion but I would not start with a Iron unless you want that exact same tank. I would not buy new myself. To get the handling you want this might be a better starting point;


Harley no longer sells them but they can be found with low miles in the 7-8k range. Get one with the "X" suspension. (Big piston fork, fully adjustable rears.) Be sure you like the shape of the tank. The tank on the XR and the tanks on the other sporties will not swap out easily. ( XR has a down draft fuel injection, the other sporties have side draft. You can swap to the side draft but it could be a pain. The XR has oil cooled heads, other Sportsters do not. The oil lines to the heads on a XR is the problem) If the tank shape works for you, just paint the tank cover and body piece. (The XR has a plastic tank with a plastic cover, the other Sportsters are metal. The body piece is plastic too.)
The suspension is easily upgraded through the usual aftermarket suppliers, including Ohlins.

[Redclayrider]

Better picture, no Wolfman bag;

[Tepi]

Thats my saddle bag project. Using two army issued gasmask bags.

[Redclayrider]

Originally Posted by Nadgett

This is a myth perpetuated by people who want a Harley but can't afford one. The rubber-engine mounts make them as smooth as just about any other bike. The engine shakes and shudders at idle, but once you're under way you can hardly feel it.

The suspension, on the other hand, could be improved. The rear shocks on my XR1200 feel like they have about half an inch of travel.

Yep, looks like a paint shaker at idle, pretty smooth once you get under way.
Nadgett, looks like you have the non-X suspension. Lots of options are out there, at all price ranges.

[Nadgett]

Originally Posted by Redclayrider

Yep, looks like a paint shaker at idle, pretty smooth once you get under way.
Nadgett, looks like you have the non-X suspension. Lots of options are out there, at all price ranges.

I figure cheap shocks don't last that long anyway, so I'll replace them with something better after a couple of years' riding. Nothing too fancy.

[Randy]

Originally Posted by Nadgett

This is a myth perpetuated by people who want a Harley but can't afford one. The rubber-engine mounts make them as smooth as just about any other bike. The engine shakes and shudders at idle, but once you're under way you can hardly feel it.

The suspension, on the other hand, could be improved. The rear shocks on my XR1200 feel like they have about half an inch of travel.

Yep. I always believed it too, until I actually rode one. I prefer to think of it as a "throb". It's not objectionable at all. After riding other bikes that had no character I actually enjoy an engine that feels "alive".

Now, on the other hand, if you want to feel a bike that VIBRATES, you should take a spin on my KTM LC4!

[skysailor]

Originally Posted by Tepi

Thats my saddle bag project. Using two army issued gasmask bags.

Great idea......BUT.......the bike needs to be "ratted" up a bit.
Lyle

[bk brkr baker]

Pscylone, ironhead based custom going under the hammer in Vegas this Saturday.
Maybe my favorite custom.

[HapHazard]

^A couple more - very nicely done bike.

(note the "pedals")