Does a 1997 Sportster qualify as an "Evo"?

Anyway, got some fun plans for this beauty, which I just picked up today.

 

I've got the perfect tool to use on that thing!!!!
It's also great on pastry bikes!!!!

Now I just got to find it.....

 

 

Sure, but only if you expound a little on those "fun plans" so we can approve or critique them...

Sharp looking bike!

 

I know you are that's why I would never use it on you!!!!!!!!!

 

The short version goes like this:

Pull the motor/trans and put all that into a custom frame. Kick-only starter, magneto ignition. Probably will get a springer front end.

This thing is going to be the most bobbed bobber ever. My goal is to bring it in under 400 pounds. Maybe/maybe not, but if I go over, it won't be by much.

Haven't decided how "nice" to try to make it look. I don't want to spend big bux on a fancy paint job, so I may see what I can do with a rattle can.

Just had my first (second, really) pleasant surprise on this project.

The guy had an old windshield that he never installed. It was still in the original box. I really didn't have any use for it, but he said if I didn't take it, he'd just throw it away. So I took it.

Showed it to Mark next door and he commented on how nice it was. Long story short, I looked it up and, new, that's a $400 piece. Damn! I figured if I could get $10 at a swap meet I'd be happy, but it's looking like it should be worth way more than that.

 

I used to have a 1991 Sportster I did a lot of work to including getting an incredible paint job.

I got hit from behind pretty hard one day and it was totaled. I bought it back for cheap and rebuilt it myself.

There is a book written by Buzz Buzzelli called The Sportster Performance Handbook. It’s not very thick but it is good reading with a lot of useful information.

It’s been said there are only two things wrong with a Sportster: the left shock and the right shock.

I

 

Yeah, that's an "Evo Sportster." Bonus points for being solid mounted. As reliable as a Toyota RN Truck or a hammer. Do the 1200 CC kit and smoke crotch rockets off the line.

 

OK. Now we're talking. You've got my full attention, for sure.

That does sound like a lot of fun, along with a lot of work. Please don't be shy about posting lots of progress reports, including pics.

I'm especially interested in how the kick-only starter and the magneto ignition works out. And I've always liked me some springer front ends.

By "custom frame" are we talking hardtail? or something stretched and/or raked? Or all of the above?

 

Ohhhhhh, lets make it fast.

Buddy of mine rode a kick start, magneto, panhead. He would kick the magneto to retard it, kick start the bike and kick the magneto back to spot to run. We never started our bikes first just to watch the show, sometimes it took him a cigarette break if it didn't fire right away but never failed to start, always need a adventure when riding.