Well, the title says it all. This winter I'd like to turn my pretty much stock 88 sportster into a hardtail and start a bobber project. Since there is no bolt or weld on hardtail sections like the ironheads have, what would be the easiest way to go about this? How big of a hassle is it to swap everything over to a new frame? would I be better off having a welder put on a new rear section as to avoid insurance issues? Any help would be great. im sure you guys have a lot more experience with this than I do.

 

I see you haven't gotten a lot of response to your thread. Could be that the idea of a custom weld on rear end would require considerable design and excecution expertise. The average welder would want precise drawings to work from. I designed the frame for my chopper on CAD and produced full size templates for the bender and dimensioned mechanical drawings for the fabricator. Even then on the spot changes were required to assure fit and function on the finished frame. My suggestion would be to search the web for a ready built frame from companies like Santee, Chopper Guys and others. A missaligned or improperly assembled ridgid rear end could be dangerous on the road at speed. Good Luck and do it safe.

[IMG]local://upfiles/36103/0BBBEE11FDD6496F961A1660F93CAE36.jpg[/IMG]

 

I've seen lots of weld ons for evo sportsters, there was one guy from http://quadcambastards.com/index2.htm that would take your frame and weld on a hardtail kit (I want to say for 350 but I can't remember). I doubt he's still doing that but I'm sure they're still out there. There's a guy that posts on that website and he used to (might still) post on xlforum.net and he welded on his own hardtail.

I looked up that last guy's post on xlforum (http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/s...ad.php?t=38857) and he got his hardtail from kansas kustom. Looks like you can send kansas kustom your frame and they'll put it on for a little over 500 plus return shipping.

 

I am doing the same thing, KansasKustoms is the right place for the tail. Gazza did a great job on that bike from QCB, I saw that thread a while back and it was a big influence on my decision to chop up my sporty.

 

http://www.nastybikes.com/

Take a look at CMH, I built a a nastybike based on a 98 Sportster Sport as a donor bike.

I love the thing. The build was pretty easy the first time around, I had everything fitted by CMH, so it was pretty much just a bolt together project. Of course then I had to start "customizing" the custom so to speak.

As you're looking around the website take notice that they'll build your roller either fitted and ready to move your donor parts over, or just send you the parts for your to piece together....

 

My vote would definatly be a frame swap !

 

Had several Ironheads and I'll tell you this.....If you want the look of a bobber you'll HAVE to use a new frame. There are weld-on, and bolt-on hardtails available but they look like add-ons instead of the lines of a ridgid frame. The only thing you have to worry about when you make the swap is to remember to tighten the REAR motor mount before any others... then shim the front mounts accordingly(and the top mount)
Regards... Dick