JTH's HD 883 Dual Sport'ster conversion

[JimmyTheHog]

Originally Posted by vtwin

Jim, that thing looks awesome! How's it ride and handle?

Thanks! - So far, I only have about 150 miles on it and those were freeway to Corbin's and back and a few windy turns. No dirt yet.

Handling:

- Turns: It feels pretty nimble. Turns really good compared to how the stock sportster felt trying to turn. Turns with ease and tracks good in the corners. May be due to the longer wheel base.

- Straight Line: At speed, its solid. No head shakes. Up to 55mph its smooth. At 60mph, there is vibration in the handlebars and my fingers were going numb. Must be a resonance. Once past 60, and up to 70mph+, vibration smoothes out and feels good.

- Off-road - TBD ~ Soon.

Improvements needed:

- Springs are too stiff for the road (so far) - at least for comfort cruising. Im going to ride it more to break in the shocks, and get it off-road to see how they feel there. If still too stiff, i will go to softer springs front and rear.

- Rubber mounts for the handlebars - to reduce the vibration. Bars are currently hard mounted. Really only a problem around 60mph, but would be nice to get rid of or reduce those vibes.

- Gearing too tall - I went with 23/51 sprockets and I think that ratio is a bit taller than the stock ratio. I want to go lower ratio - bigger rear sprocket like 52 or 53. This should help it feel a bit more responsive and torque'y, and secondary benefit - reduce the wear on the chain slider.

[JimmyTheHog]

One last picture angle of it before I go thrash it a bit this weekend.....

[BobD]

Wow! What an incredible build!

I'll take one of those to go, please! In a size 1200!

Congrats! I only wish I had the talent and know how to do
something like that, instead of just being cursed with good looks!

[JimmyTheHog]

Did the first real ride today - For those who know the Bay Area, wil know Hwy9 and Hwy35 Skyline blvd - made my way up and to Alice's.

The bike did great. Really handles nicely on the twisties. Got off road a bit too, but just flat dirt / gravel roads. Bike felt solid and did power slides nicely

[JimmyTheHog]

Here is Alice's - a weekend bike mecca. There were plenty of curious people checking it out.....

[johnwesley]

good report with some good looking pics glad it worked out for you.

[Snr Moment]

Now that is a Sportster!

[Bambi]

Hello Jimmy
an unbelievable great bike!!! Congratulations for building this beauty and thanks for sharing this story.
Kind regards, Bambi
PS: Did the company already ask for copies?

[JimmyTheHog]

Originally Posted by Bambi

Hello Jimmy
an unbelievable great bike!!! Congratulations for building this beauty and thanks for sharing this story.
Kind regards, Bambi
PS: Did the company already ask for copies?

Bambi - Thanks ! Not sure what you mean about company and copies though ? If you mean HD - no,....Not Yet

[johnwesley]

sent ya a pm on the seat

[Grizzlybear]

Jimmy, your finished project is simply awesome and ranks up there with the guy from ca that did a similar build using a Hinkley Triumph twin motor. BTW, we rode Skyline and ate at Alice's when we were Stateside touring a couple of years ago. Fantastic neck of the woods!

Now go get it dirty and report back on the rear suspension and how it works etc. I mentioned it earlier but any thoughts on installing a set of 1200 barrels and pistons now that you have put some miles on board? Griz

[Sock Monkey]

Originally Posted by JimmyTheHog

Did the first real ride today - For those who know the Bay Area, wil know Hwy9 and Hwy35 Skyline blvd - made my way up and to Alice's.

The bike did great. Really handles nicely on the twisties. Got off road a bit too, but just flat dirt / gravel roads. Bike felt solid and did power slides nicely

Nice Jim!!

Alice's eh? Yur mean. Taking that bike to Alice's is like tossing a handful of candy into a room full of fat kids.

On your list of "nice to have's", you may want to think about making a guard for the rear brake rotor. That thing is begging to get goinked on a rock, log, etc., and since you're rockin' that custom swingarm, finding a general market bit to fit it might not be possible.

Great build man.

-SM

[JimmyTheHog]

Originally Posted by Grizzlybear

Jimmy, your finished project is simply awesome and ranks up there with the guy from ca that did a similar build using a Hinkley Triumph twin motor. BTW, we rode Skyline and ate at Alice's when we were Stateside touring a couple of years ago. Fantastic neck of the woods!

Now go get it dirty and report back on the rear suspension and how it works etc. I mentioned it earlier but any thoughts on installing a set of 1200 barrels and pistons now that you have put some miles on board? Griz

Im considering 1200 barrels for the fun factor ! - but not until I get the suspension sorted out and test it for a while. It does ok though as an 883 and gas mileage so far is 48mpg. Off-road, I still think the 883 may be just fine, but on the road - 1200 would be nice !!!

[JimmyTheHog]

Originally Posted by Sock Monkey

Nice Jim!!

Alice's eh? Yur mean. Taking that bike to Alice's is like tossing a handful of candy into a room full of fat kids.

On your list of "nice to have's", you may want to think about making a guard for the rear brake rotor. That thing is begging to get goinked on a rock, log, etc., and since you're rockin' that custom swingarm, finding a general market bit to fit it might not be possible.

Great build man.

-SM

Great points - thanks. I most likely will start to add gurards where needed. Skid plate is on the list too.

Thanks !

[WARRIORPRINCEJJ]

Jimmy,


As I stated in a previous post, I have been following this thread since Day 1.

That bike is absolutely AMAZING!!!

I am, officially, jealous...


.