The 1994 Sportster Project
As I mentioned previously, one of the projects I was looking at getting into this year was a mid-to late 90s Sportster that I wanted to give the modern japanese / bratstyle treatment to. So a few weeks back I scored a ‘94 1200 for a reasonable number of greenbacks, and this past Sunday, I was finally able to tear into it….
I started with this - your typical bone stock Sportster 1200 with bolt on, catalog tomfoolery. Overall, not too bad - plenty of reusable / hack-worthy bits. Time to get to work.
Click read more to see the rest…
Step one… surprising how long it will take to tear this shit off when you’re dealing with a lot of frozen bolts.
Then some hacking of the fender and support rails…
and voila… ahhh…we’re doing a bit better
While I was at it, I started shredding the seat. I’ll cut of the pan and send it out to get recovered.
Still a lot more foam to hack off, but it’s getting there.
Before I took off for the the day, I figured I’d try out some tanks. After trying out a wassell, a sprint and a mustang tank, I ended up with Teach’s axed / alien. I’ve got one more tank I’m going to try, But I’d say I’m 95% sure this is the one that’s going to take it.
Still a lot more to do. The shocks on the bike I had laying around the shop, they’ll get replaced with a set of 11″ progressives, which will help kill some of the space between the fender and the tire. It’ll get some shorter progressives in the front as well. Bars from Jay Roche (Special 79), seat from Hidecore, hacked up sprocket & cam cover, smoothed out rockers. Lots of other little things and details, but for now, here are a few more gratuitous shots.
February 18th, 2009 at 1:34 pm |
Amazing how much better it looks just by taking OFF stuff! Love the tank, BTW. I think that’s IT.
February 19th, 2009 at 3:28 am |
That does look good. The small peanut tank also looks really good on this style bike, the main thing is uncovering the engine so it can be seen.
February 20th, 2009 at 5:35 pm |
Nice work mate. That’s what makes a bike look good to me. Less stuff more attitude, that’s my motto.
February 22nd, 2009 at 7:40 pm |
seriously must come to your garage this week - school vacation has really mellowed my mellow
February 24th, 2009 at 11:19 am |
don’t say no to the rapido!
February 24th, 2009 at 11:23 am |
I tried the rapido. looked weird, didn’t fit the lines of the bike.
February 24th, 2009 at 6:23 pm |
I think I just like the sound of the word Rapido
February 25th, 2009 at 5:17 pm |
I do have an Evo 2 into 1 sitting in the garage if you’re interested in hacking it into pipes
February 25th, 2009 at 5:19 pm |
reaaaalllly. Yes, definitely interested. I just got hooked up on a nice set of pipes to use for the time being, until I had time to fab up some of my own. My initial thought was to build a 2 into 1, so yeah, would like to see what you have.
February 25th, 2009 at 5:21 pm |
oh… are you coming to the garage this weekend?
February 25th, 2009 at 7:55 pm |
I’m trying to - I supposed to take the X out to tigman to have some frame bits bent right and a nice woody battery box - If I do that, I’m sticking around the 617/781/978 and stopping by - if not, Ace will have me up north polyurethaning pine floors (which bytheway for 1.39 a square foot are the best fucking flooring deal ever) - regardless, the 2 into 1 is boxed in the garage - hit me the address in an email and I’ll drop it by the abode - I was going to use it but drilled out some baffles instead (I’d like the cooling/power effect of 2 into 1 scavenging) and really, after scoring one of the few 21″ factory X wheels and fender combos, have been told by the Ace I must stop - she likes it as is - which means I might not be afraid to start collecting soon for that wl project I’ve always dreamed of…
February 25th, 2009 at 7:57 pm |
We got to get you out to that joint in Lynn - sent you a pic of it, serious gems and maybe, if you can convince him, some gem parts for the sporty
February 27th, 2009 at 9:58 am |
Looks good Grail.