Finally got most of the bugs worked out on this build - it is a stroked (to 80") 78 FX - S&S bottom end - HD top - makes high compression cause the shop that eff'ed up this bike milled the heads - hand shift is nice but I must admit the rotary top is not the best setup for a handshift - my setup is similar to the stuff Fab Kevin sells - but was done in my shop from scrap metal stock - the hand-lever ratchets the top lever arm - similar to the stock setup with the foot lever - I'm tryin the ampco guides - EV8 valve set from Kibblewhite (obsolete) - S&S Super E - runnin an 0295 mid and a 072 main - might go to 028 and 070 - bike starts with 1-2 kicks - took about 40 miles to get it to settle down - makes 20psi at the rocker at idle (due to the overdrive pump gearing) - now she pulls real hard - I've not been over 55 but have had some fun gettin to that speed - put glass packs in the long shots - no flat spots - got two issue left - unhappy still with the advance setup - I like the quick full advance of the black springs on take offs but still unhappy with the slow return to idle at stops - final issue is the rear DUAL Piston V-Twin caliper that fricken sucks - I cant even tell what version of caliper kit this is - they made like 6 diff kits - and some are for 11.5 conversion - this looks like the 11.5 conversion kit but my rotor is the stock 10" rotor OH YEAH - gotta finish the paint - will be Candy Grape Metalflake inlays over the Ivory

 

Nice job.. I like the front fender. Gold on Ivory is nice.. When I bought my 77 it had a LePera seat just like your.. Didn't take long to get rid of it. Now Have a Mustang one piece I found on Ebay for $135.. Much more comfortable. Took it upstate a couple weeks ago. 900 miles round trip. no problem..

 

 

watch the jetting and use a set of torque cones if you have not - 28 70 is on the lean side with compression 295 70 but I am not tuning in your location as it may and usually is different

 

I have found it is tough to throw a good tune on a new build until I've run it 200 miles or so - plus - I wont get on it - making it tough to determine what it needs - I'm tryin to put some miles on it now - been cool here - 65 in the evenings - makes great shovel ridin at night - it is very nice to ride - the trees have a 3 deg rake - it is quick - surprisingly quick - and yes - that seat is bare bones with ZERO padding - I'm looking for an old drag specialties Scorpion solo seat - if ya got one - let me know - wish I could reduce the rear shock rate - it has an adjustable swing arm and the shock angle I'm runnin is stuff

 

Nice set up and clean build.

Many moons ago a buddy on a panhead chopper had a 3" open belt system, several of us were pulling into a party at a campground and he's behind me and I hear him get on it pretty good doing a little dig me thing, something went flying by me and slapped the guy ahead of me in the back and he went down, not bad we were going fairly slow on the dirt. Turns out Papa John had sheared off 3 of the 4 tranny mount studs and it kicked sideways enough that belt came off like a shot rubber band.

 

Thats funny!

I still cant find the video I heard about where a squirrel committed suicide by jumping into an open primary while the bike was running.