One more for the cheap seats....Scram-ster!

Good luck


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An excellent way to start a build story.

The meaningful background is the foundation for a great build.
We will be watching... :eek1

Sounds like a good start. I am looking forward to the progress.

Love this idea. The modern long-legged dual sport conversions are cool, but I always thought a 60's or 70's scrambler style would suit the Sportster better. Can't wait to see what you come up with. Tracker style body kit? Alloy fenders? High pipes? Flat seat? Back in the day, 4" rear & 6" front travel was about it. No need to go crazy with it to have a fun, cool, bike.

Get out the sawzall and make some chips

IMHO, you're at the stage when you can just cowboy up and build your own frame designed to suit all the bitchin' suspension you want to put on it.

I'm doing similar work on a Ducati that was acquired cheap after a garage fire. The CRF forks bolted up easy enough, but there is no room for the radiator.

Those are coolest sportsters. I wish they would make one, I have been looking at doing one but got too many projects as it is

It looks like you are building a scrambler, based on the thread title of course, and not going full blown dirt bike like Jimmy the Hog as you stated, so my question would be why run a 21" front wheel?

That is in no way meant to pick on your choice, and I know that a 21" is better in many off road conditions, argueably all true off road conditions, but a scrambler is much more of a mix bike. That beatiful vintage iron head sporty in your inspiriation photo would have had 18" front and rear or possible 18" rear and 19" front I am not sure. But that would be a great look and a great fit for most uses on a bike with only 6" of suspension which is all you can get out of a sporty frame without a ton of mods like JTH had to do. I.E. swing arm lengthening, chain guides and tensioner rollers.

With that limited suspension a 19" front would usuably be plenty. This is coming from a big fan of 21" front wheels for dirt based bikes.

Your choice of course, and neither choice is wrong. I just the vintage look of that scrambler bike which usually have a more balance front/rear wheel combo package. Think of the new Trumpet scrambler or the MotoGuzzi scrambler bikes.

MG is not a true scrambler but in the family in my mind....thats an empty place
http://www.motoguzzi-us.com/motorcycles/v7-special/gallery.html#view

The Trumpet is a true scrambler in that vintage style

http://www.triumphmotorcycles.com/motorcycles/range/classics/scrambler/2012/2012-scrambler-overview

Really glad my comments were not taken offensively.

I do not think DOT 19" tires for the front are hard to find since so many ADV bikes use them like the Tenere, BMW GS/GSA, and the VeeStroms. Maybe in a true knobbie you may well be correct.

The forks/shock travel differential is not too hard to adjust. I am not familiar with your specific forks, but most forks have a spacer set up that can be moved around top to bottom or bottom to top to adjust ride height and or travel.

The 21" wheel size is not an issue at all. If that is what you want....run it man. To change to a 19" is not hard either or as expensive as some might think, just for future reference if you should choose to change it. Spokes are about $80 and a so is a wheel ring. You can lace it yourself. Not super cheap, but not out of reach if you chose to go that route.

Good on you for the build though. Something that was your dads and you can keep along time is a cool thing. I am sure he will love seeing the build, and seeing you enjoy it. I would if I had a son.

You will lose ground clearance and cornering clearance by going from 21" to 19" -- at the front axle, it will be lower by 1", at the engine cases, about 1/2". Not much, but if it's marginal or clearance is important, it's notable.

Hey Al,
You do not need to preach to me about the benefits of a 21" front wheel. I love them.
The only reason for the mention of possibly doing a 19" front is to keep the look and styling more like that old XLCH with the high ground clearance kit on it. More of a real scrambler look.

He has an issue with rear wheel travel maximums {barring serious mods} so having a big front wheel and long travel front may not only look odd, it may cause an unbalanced feel and handling.

I would not pick on him for whatever choice he would make, just making some possible options known to try and be helpful.

A 19" and a bit less fork travel would level out the bike lessening that chopper look the stock sporty has already.

Just post up some more pics there Ginger Bread

Harley calls that a feature

You are one of my favorite new friends.....lol