Next project idea.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Next project idea.
I have an idea for my next project, not that an additionalone is needed. Someone has probably donethis before, but here is my idea. Opento comments and suggestions.
What I want to build is a low, long, black bagger with ashovel motor. This will not be a puristbike, thinking about and S&S motor, 5-speed, raked fairing, Arlen Ness downand out bags.
I’m not sure where to start. Buy a complete bike or start with a frame.
I like to ride something different and built in a garage.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 534
Likes: 8
From: DeRidder, LA
I may have some helpful tips. wrapping up a similar build. although, mine uses 99% harley parts. I wanted to build a late model road king with a shovel.
definately suggest buying a complete bike. almost none of the original parts I started with are still on the bike, selling and trading them made the build much more cost affective. starting with nothing will nickel and dime you to death. best option is to start with a 1990+ bike so that you get the newer primary setup.
i started with a 81 FLT. scored a cheap 1990 FLHTC and selling the motor recouped all the funds. then selling all the old style bags from both bikes, one frame, primary, both trans, seats, fenders, wiring, headlight, one primary, etc. etc. really funded most of it.
picked up a 97 road king trans to move the oil pan and to drive the road king speedo. 2002 road king wiring harness kept everything simple for hand controls, signals, dummy lights, speedo, etc. Late model bags are a simple conversion with mounting one extra tab on the right side. lots and lots of small details to change.
you'd be surprised how cheap you can get stock take off parts as well. lower legs, stock brakes, individual body pieces (vivid black all matches). If you do your homework, it's easy to mate a large spread of years together. my bike has a twin cam starter, suspension, tins, wiring, front wheel. evo trans and primary. you name a year and it's probably on the bike.
Tom on here has a KILLER build making a shovelhead street glide. he went further and put a 09+ rear section onto the older frame, OEM fairing and lots of other awesome aftermarket options.
anyways, here's a link to my build on here. feel free to message me, be happy to help if I can. also come over to shovelhead.us tons of knowledge over there.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/shove...ure-heavy.html
Mike
definately suggest buying a complete bike. almost none of the original parts I started with are still on the bike, selling and trading them made the build much more cost affective. starting with nothing will nickel and dime you to death. best option is to start with a 1990+ bike so that you get the newer primary setup.
i started with a 81 FLT. scored a cheap 1990 FLHTC and selling the motor recouped all the funds. then selling all the old style bags from both bikes, one frame, primary, both trans, seats, fenders, wiring, headlight, one primary, etc. etc. really funded most of it.
picked up a 97 road king trans to move the oil pan and to drive the road king speedo. 2002 road king wiring harness kept everything simple for hand controls, signals, dummy lights, speedo, etc. Late model bags are a simple conversion with mounting one extra tab on the right side. lots and lots of small details to change.
you'd be surprised how cheap you can get stock take off parts as well. lower legs, stock brakes, individual body pieces (vivid black all matches). If you do your homework, it's easy to mate a large spread of years together. my bike has a twin cam starter, suspension, tins, wiring, front wheel. evo trans and primary. you name a year and it's probably on the bike.
Tom on here has a KILLER build making a shovelhead street glide. he went further and put a 09+ rear section onto the older frame, OEM fairing and lots of other awesome aftermarket options.
anyways, here's a link to my build on here. feel free to message me, be happy to help if I can. also come over to shovelhead.us tons of knowledge over there.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/shove...ure-heavy.html
Mike
Last edited by MIKE93SVT; Apr 23, 2015 at 03:57 AM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
How much are you giving us to spend?! 
Whether to buy a complete bike or a bare frame rather depends on how close to a stock style you want. The original solid mount shovel frames are awful darned things to ride, as they simply don't handle at all well. Or to put it another way, they are an acquired taste! I owned and rode new ones, back in the day.
The rubber mounts handle better and can easily be made to handle much better, which would be my starting point and an Evo touring bike would probably take a shovel engine with ease. The OP in the thread Mike gave has gone too far IMHO to make a shovel look like a modern bike, but there is plenty of scope to do a subtle combination of old and new.
Whether to buy a complete bike or a bare frame rather depends on how close to a stock style you want. The original solid mount shovel frames are awful darned things to ride, as they simply don't handle at all well. Or to put it another way, they are an acquired taste! I owned and rode new ones, back in the day.
The rubber mounts handle better and can easily be made to handle much better, which would be my starting point and an Evo touring bike would probably take a shovel engine with ease. The OP in the thread Mike gave has gone too far IMHO to make a shovel look like a modern bike, but there is plenty of scope to do a subtle combination of old and new.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 534
Likes: 8
From: DeRidder, LA
I'm curious to your opinion on this. the link posted is my bike. just interested as to your thoughts on it. positive or negative.
I used to have the build thread in the touring section, but it was a duplicate and got deleted after a year. there's little traffic in the shovel section here, so not much input gets posted.
thanks
mike
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,530
Likes: 2,557
From: Lititz Pa
I like your idea, I have build a few bikes over the years I like to start with a doner bike first. First check your cash supply first, if you lets say think you need 10000.00 make sure you have 15000.00 because as the build goes on ideas change. The last build I did was a bike that the guy who started it ran out of money. I got it cheep. Good luck with your build.
Last edited by touchdown; Apr 23, 2015 at 05:44 AM.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 351
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From: Colorado
Thanks for the words of wisdom from all and the link. Great looking bike. I will begin the search for a donor bike.
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From: Florida
I have built many. And the lesson I learned over the years is everybody plans for the big parts. But where it really gets expensive is in collecting and buying all the small parts like hardware and eat. Because you will end up buying two and three of them until you get the right ones. A donor bike simplifies it and then you don't have to worry about titling it in the end
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From: Florida
I like your idea, I have build a few bikes over the years I like to start with a doner bike first. First check your cash supply first, if you lets say think you need 10000.00 make sure you have 15000.00 because as the build goes on ideas change. The last build I did was a bike that the guy who started it ran out of money. I got it cheep. Good luck with your build.
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