This is the journey of my 2012 Sportster Forty Eight.

as it stands, current mod list as follows.

Engine:
Standard displacement
Stock cam
Figure Machine Vision 4 Air cleaner
Bassani Pro Street (Wrapped in DEI titanium wrap)
screaming eagle leads
Figure machine Derby cover
Joker Points cover
self tuned via powervision 79rwhp

Paint:
Custom Painted Peanut 2.2 by Smith Concepts - Sydney Australia

Suspension:
Front Standard (Nightster Gaiters)
Rear Licks 10 inch

Controls:
Biltwell Tracker Bars
Avon Grips
Hippy Killer Brass footpegs and shifter

Misc:
Rough Craft Headlight Grill
Yellow vinyl over headlight
Joker sprocket cover
DK customs 1.5 inch tank lift
DK customs coil relocation
DK customs ignition relocation
Lepera Bare Bones seat

Planned Mods:

Hammer performance head/cam combo
Airbag suspension
Shinko 777 170/70/16
XR1200 front brake


The story so far....

I have always loved bobbers and customs, but was never mechanically apt, nor had the space and time to build my own so I thought I would develop my own bike slowly and learn a lot about wrenching and tuning in the progress thanks to this forum and XLforums.

I had loved the Forty Eight from it's release, and it seemed like the perfect base to start my build from. After lots of searching, I found this immaculate big blue pearl 2012 model with 4000km on the clock, it was literally brand new minus a set of Vance and Hines straight shot slip ons.

The bike on the showroom floor







https://vimeo.com/80660186#at=0

First ride

Initial thoughts were that the bike was easy to ride, but lacking power, torque was good but you could tell something was left on the table. So the mods began. Mostly cosmetic at the start after letting the bank account recover.







39mm Fork Gaiters from the States



new plates lol

 

Rough craft headlight cover and blinker covers



Biltwell tracker bars and Avon grips, slight modification to mirrors to avoid hitting tank





LePera barebones fitted



As a short term, I went with some XIED's to cure the slip on pop.

Tank lift, coil relocate, ignition relocate and licks shocks on, transformed the bike nicely.







Removed belt guards



Coil relocate and new leads



This got it to this stage in the build, looking good but still like every other Forty Eight

 

painted the tyres



Figure machine vision air cleaner and deleted front guard





Starting to learn about tuning and using the powervision



VE front cylinder



VE rear



Deleted licence holder, wired in some neat LED downlights to keep it legal



Figure machine Pegs, Inspection cover (that weeps) and derby cover.



Joker Machine points cover and very trick sprocket cover, in real life that thing looks amazing. Almost a shame it's black.



Spent a lot of time deciding on pipes

decided on Bassani Pro Street, Wrapped these in DEI titanium wrap.

The power difference wasn't as much as expected and I'm sure the slip ons made better low end lol, but up top it sings and looks better.







now it's getting somewhere





https://vimeo.com/94623445#at=0

 

Someone got this cool pic of me leaving a local show



Next big deciscion was paint, I bought a second peanut so I wasn't off the road, found a mint black one for cheap.



I chose Kyle smith at smith concepts in Sydney to pain the tank, some ideas I shared with him.

http://smithconcepts.blogspot.com.au/





some other tanks/tins I like.










Finially my tank was done, this was the final result. He blew my mind with his creation

 

New tank fitted






Some detail shots







Hippy Killer brass pegs and shifter



Got the Hippy Killer brass pegs and shifter on, pretty easy. Just grind down the top clevis to match the bottom half and neaten it up with a hand file.



all done



How the bike is as now, still evolving, but cosmetically it's 95% there:

Thanks for reading

 

Thought anymore about doing rear fender paintwork brash?

 

Awesome looking bike man! What size tank lift did you go with?

 

You weren't kidding when you said picture heavy. Looks great. I think you should chop the fender. If not at a subtle hint of gold some how to match the tank. Maybe a race stripe or pin striping.

 

Very nice bike. Congrats!

 

sweet..

how much did that paint set you back?