Wednesday, July 13, 2011

FINALLY BACK FROM NY! 1973 HARLEY SPORTSTER IRONHEAD CHOP BUILD PICS

SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN POSTING I HAVE TONS OF NEW STUFF TO PUT UP AND WILL BE UPDATING EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS FROM NOW ON! THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE FOLLOWING MY BLOG!

CURRENTLY ON THE LIFT IS A 1973 HARLEY IRONHEAD SPORTSTER. I WILL BE PUTTING A BOLT ON HARDTAIL ON IT AND GOING FOR A SEMI FRISCO LOOK.

THIS IS PROBABLY THE LAST TIME IM GOING TO USE A BOLT ON, THEY JUST DONT GIVE YOU THAT CLEAN LINE OF A TRUE HARDTAIL OR WELD ON HARDTAIL.

DONT GET ME WRONG I LOVE THE INDUSTRIAL LOOK THEY GIVE THE BIKE AND HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE ON THE LAST 3 IRONHEADS I HAVE USED THEM ON.

IF YOUR ON A TIGHT BUDGET OR HAVE LIMITED SKILLS THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO HARDTAIL YOUR BIKE.

ENJOY THE STEP BY STEP PICS. I WILL BE POSTING EVERY STEP AS I GO THROUGH THIS PROJECT.



 FIRST THREE PICS ARE OF WHAT THE BIKE LOOKD LIKE WHEN I GOT IT. NOT BAD WITH THE STRUTS BUT A HARDTAIL ALWAYS LOOKS BETTER
 FIRST THINGS FIRST RIP OFF THAT SWINGARM REAR FENDER AND TIRE
 SECOND CUT THE STABILIZER BARS OUT, WONT BE NEEDING THESE AND THEY GET IN THE WAY OF THE BOLT ON HARDTAIL. USE A GRINDER OR A SAWZALL
 BAR REMOVED MUCH CLEANER AND MORE ROOM TO WORK WITH.
 REAR VIEW
 SIDE VIEW
 I USUALLY USE THE SANTEE BOLT ON HARDTAILS $180 CANT BEAT THAT AND WOULD TAKE ALL OF THAT IN LABOR PARTS AND TIME TO BUILD ONE MYSELF.
 YOU CAN USE THE STOCK SHOCK MOUNT BOLTS FOR THE INITIAL BOLT UP AND YOU WILL NEED 4 GRADE 8 LOCKING NUTS AND BOLTS FOR THE BOTTOM MOUNTS
 THE OLD FENDER STRUT MOUNTS STICK OUT AND UP FROM THE LINES OF THE NEW HARDTAIL. YOU CAN LEAVE THESE WHERE THEY ARE AND USE THEM TO MOUNT YOUR SPRINGER STYLE SEAT AS I DID ON THE 77 SPORTY OR CUT THEM OFF AT AN ANGLE AS I DID BELOW.
 CUTTING THEM OFF AT AN ANGLE MAKES EVERYTHING LINE UP AND FLOW MUCH NICER. IT ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO WELD IN THE HARDTAIL MUCH EASIER IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO. ALL IN ALL A MUCH CLEANER LOOK
ONCE PAINTED AFTER BEING CUST AT AN ANGLE IT WILL BLEND IN AND BE HARD TO NOTICE THAT IT IS A BOLT ON HARDTAIL.

MORE PICTURES TO COME I HAVE DONE A TON OF WORK ON THIS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS.