hey all, im new to the forum and currently bike-less. im hoping that some of you guys can help because in a way i know what i want but i need the harley experts to help. what im looking for is a true bobber style bike. i want something rigid that will have a true "old school" bike ride to it. i want a small pea style tank with ape hangers. i want a clean and basic looking bike something that i can cruise and do 400-500 miles on in one ride. what is a good style bike to start modifing to get this look? im not sure but i noticed that the 74-75 sporter 1000's looked good with some modifing. what are your thoughts? thank you very much--- john

 

Some of this stuff don't wash! "True bobber" doesn't usually mean a Sporty. "Pea style tank", rigid frame, ape hangers, and 400-500 miles is sorta like tryin' to jump a fence with a pi-anner tied to your ankles!

'Course, you might be a youngun' and still have functioning kidneys. Do a couple 500 mile trips on a rigid Sporty w/apes, and a 2 gallon tank, and they soon won't be functioning.

Look at some of SuckerPunchSally or Flyrite Choppers offerings. Old school styles with Evo style Big Twin motors, and reasonable prices.

If you want to build one yourself, lookin' at these joint's pictures will give you an idea of what to shoot for.

Personally, if'n I was building something to ride as much as you indicate, I'd go the Sloptail route. Sorta like this:

 

thanks for the input, i was probally way over exagerating about 400 miles round trip i bet the most that i would ride in a day is probally 150 so sorry for the exageration after i read your post i thought about the number and its way off. but what im looking for is an old school look. something that represents the "old school" bikes. i was hoping to buy a factory bike like late 70's or the 80's and just start making it how i want it but i need a model to start with thats what im confused about. i need to be set on a model so i can start looking and really see what they go for. i really appreciate the help.

 

How much maintenance will you want to do on the bike after it's built? The old ironhead Sporties & the Shovels will require a lot more upkeep than present day "Step 'n' Go" models.

If you are set on a rigid frame, and a Sporty, just about any '72 and later motor will work fine. But there are little things with certain years, and I'd go for a '73 if I wanted a right-side shift, and a '77 or later for a left-side shift. '72 was the first year for the 1000cc and it isn't as strong as later engines. '75 & '76 had crappy shift linkages to convert from right-to-left side shifters, thanks to the Feds. '79 was a bastard year for many things, but it might not matter much if you're junking the stock frame. All old Sporties have weak areas in the trannies, but there are heavy duty parts that'll fix most of these prblems; or there was a few years ago.

 

are you saying that the shovelhead motors which i think are in the 77's are unrealiable or just need more matainence? are they headaches?

 

I wasn't talking about Shovels in that last post, at least in the second paragraph. It was about the Ironhead Sportsters. I don't consider a well-built Ironhead (or Shovel either, if you're looking at a Big Twin) to be unreliable, just that they will require more maintenance than present day bikes.