shovelhead noob here
shovelhead noob here
howdy
been lurking, getting a feel of the places. reads like a great group with some definite shovel gurus present.
this is my first big twin, a 5 speed, rubbermount '80 FLT that dropped into my lap for a song as a rolling basket. It was a riding buddy's, running perfect except for a timing problem... so he decided to take it apart to make a bobber out of it. I mean completely apart including for some unknown reason the motor and trans. Smart enough to see it was the wrong animal to begin with, he also realized he gone way too far and threw in the towel.
the bike's numbers match and by the numbers it's one of the first several hundred made. the shark nose is gone, replaced by an aftermarket batwing which i prefer the looks of anyway. someone has swapped out the tank for a one piece, he was told it was from a 90's road king. stock cast rims, dual front disks with drilled rotors. I don't believe dual disks were stock, right?
the rest of the bike appears stock, the enclosed chain guard is gone...i'll need to find something to fit. wiring harness is stone age, I could use some advice on that too.
anyway, looking forward to the adventure.
frederick
been lurking, getting a feel of the places. reads like a great group with some definite shovel gurus present.
this is my first big twin, a 5 speed, rubbermount '80 FLT that dropped into my lap for a song as a rolling basket. It was a riding buddy's, running perfect except for a timing problem... so he decided to take it apart to make a bobber out of it. I mean completely apart including for some unknown reason the motor and trans. Smart enough to see it was the wrong animal to begin with, he also realized he gone way too far and threw in the towel.
the bike's numbers match and by the numbers it's one of the first several hundred made. the shark nose is gone, replaced by an aftermarket batwing which i prefer the looks of anyway. someone has swapped out the tank for a one piece, he was told it was from a 90's road king. stock cast rims, dual front disks with drilled rotors. I don't believe dual disks were stock, right?
the rest of the bike appears stock, the enclosed chain guard is gone...i'll need to find something to fit. wiring harness is stone age, I could use some advice on that too.
anyway, looking forward to the adventure.
frederick
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,495
Likes: 3,705
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
Hey....another San Jose shovel rider. Great news. One of the best shovel guys here is Twizted, he lives up in Sunol off 680. Great source of knowldege.
You get a chance, post up some pics of what you got.
Make sure to get an OEM shop and parts manual... really helps and answers a lot of questions.
What are your plans for the bike?
I know there are places that sell wiring harnesses, but if you are inclined you might think about making your own. There are places that sell stock harnesses for some years, just not sure how far into modern era bikes it applies to.
You get a chance, post up some pics of what you got.
Make sure to get an OEM shop and parts manual... really helps and answers a lot of questions.
What are your plans for the bike?
I know there are places that sell wiring harnesses, but if you are inclined you might think about making your own. There are places that sell stock harnesses for some years, just not sure how far into modern era bikes it applies to.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,110
Likes: 51,394
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Oh tough one to catch in a basket was the first year for a lot of stuff and somebody was gonna try and bob it ? LOL
Those early FLT's were designed as a full boat bike with all the trimmings and they where fat stock and got uglier as you pulled stuff off . Bikes not hopeless but there's somethings that have to been done right by the book for that yr & model or it will give you grief .
Like Panz said we need some pics to get an idea where your at and how deep or not , info is free if we can help .
Those early FLT's were designed as a full boat bike with all the trimmings and they where fat stock and got uglier as you pulled stuff off . Bikes not hopeless but there's somethings that have to been done right by the book for that yr & model or it will give you grief .
Like Panz said we need some pics to get an idea where your at and how deep or not , info is free if we can help .
thanks for the welcome guys. You're right about ugly, I've never seen an uglier bike naked like this. The plan is to cover all the naughty bits back up, put it essentially back to stock, bags and all, without spending an arm and a leg and ride the thing.
I'm told the motor has about 9k on a rebuild which included new S&S heads and super B carb. A friend who runs a local, well respected independent shop will put the motor and trans back together for me at a reasonable cost. The rest I can do as budget allows having done several restorations/customs ...brits, sportsters, buell etc. Here's one in my sig I finished and have been showing: http://legacymotorsport.com/motorcyc...-the-psyclone/
if that doesn't work search psyclone frederick
this FLT monster came with a lace front rim which I'll put up for sale (or swap for a set of stock length shocks) and gangster whitewalls. Picked up a stock cast for the front and tapped the hub opposite for the second rotor.
Right now I need the correct shocks, figure out a chain guard, find a pillion that'll go with the le pera solo it came with and decide which way to do the wiring...analog old school or join the digital age via an Ultima harness.
I have a series of pix I'll try to post next so you can see where I'm at.
thanks again for the welcome.
I'm told the motor has about 9k on a rebuild which included new S&S heads and super B carb. A friend who runs a local, well respected independent shop will put the motor and trans back together for me at a reasonable cost. The rest I can do as budget allows having done several restorations/customs ...brits, sportsters, buell etc. Here's one in my sig I finished and have been showing: http://legacymotorsport.com/motorcyc...-the-psyclone/
if that doesn't work search psyclone frederick
this FLT monster came with a lace front rim which I'll put up for sale (or swap for a set of stock length shocks) and gangster whitewalls. Picked up a stock cast for the front and tapped the hub opposite for the second rotor.
Right now I need the correct shocks, figure out a chain guard, find a pillion that'll go with the le pera solo it came with and decide which way to do the wiring...analog old school or join the digital age via an Ultima harness.
I have a series of pix I'll try to post next so you can see where I'm at.
thanks again for the welcome.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 7,495
Likes: 3,705
From: Santa Klaus County, Cali
thanks for the welcome guys. You're right about ugly, I've never seen an uglier bike naked like this. The plan is to cover all the naughty bits back up, put it essentially back to stock, bags and all, without spending an arm and a leg and ride the thing.
I'm told the motor has about 9k on a rebuild which included new S&S heads and super B carb. A friend who runs a local, well respected independent shop will put the motor and trans back together for me at a reasonable cost. The rest I can do as budget allows having done several restorations/customs ...brits, sportsters, buell etc. Here's one in my sig I finished and have been showing: http://legacymotorsport.com/motorcyc...-the-psyclone/
if that doesn't work search psyclone frederick
this FLT monster came with a lace front rim which I'll put up for sale (or swap for a set of stock length shocks) and gangster whitewalls. Picked up a stock cast for the front and tapped the hub opposite for the second rotor.
Right now I need the correct shocks, figure out a chain guard, find a pillion that'll go with the le pera solo it came with and decide which way to do the wiring...analog old school or join the digital age via an Ultima harness.
I have a series of pix I'll try to post next so you can see where I'm at.
thanks again for the welcome.
I'm told the motor has about 9k on a rebuild which included new S&S heads and super B carb. A friend who runs a local, well respected independent shop will put the motor and trans back together for me at a reasonable cost. The rest I can do as budget allows having done several restorations/customs ...brits, sportsters, buell etc. Here's one in my sig I finished and have been showing: http://legacymotorsport.com/motorcyc...-the-psyclone/
if that doesn't work search psyclone frederick
this FLT monster came with a lace front rim which I'll put up for sale (or swap for a set of stock length shocks) and gangster whitewalls. Picked up a stock cast for the front and tapped the hub opposite for the second rotor.
Right now I need the correct shocks, figure out a chain guard, find a pillion that'll go with the le pera solo it came with and decide which way to do the wiring...analog old school or join the digital age via an Ultima harness.
I have a series of pix I'll try to post next so you can see where I'm at.
thanks again for the welcome.