Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
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Old Dec 18, 2008 | 02:31 AM
  #1  
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hogdiver96
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From: cambridge England
Unhappy Softail-Sheep !!

Just been checking out the Sportster site lately as i used to have one and loved it.
Those guys are really showing us up !
They are cutting , grinding, shaping and all sorts to acheive something different with their bikes , why are we not (me just as guilty) all we seem to do is ride down to H-D buy another bolt on then pretend we are Orange County Choppers !
Apart from ALAIN at the moment who is cutting his fenders about, is anybody else doing anything thats individual or has someone else just bought some V&H 2+2 that we want to see!
All the Rockers are different but look the same, all the Night-trains are different but look the same, my Heartland fxstc is the same as another Heartland fxstc (back from paint shop soon i hope).
This is a great Forum and i have only been a member for about 18months but i dont seem to be see-ing anything different now..........PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG... and i will make the effort in the New Year ..
 
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Old Dec 18, 2008 | 02:41 AM
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No way am I chopping and welding on a 09 Fat Boy. Maybe if I found a basket case bike to rebuild I might dream up some stuff.

When I want to chop and weld, I do it to my 89 Jeep Wrangler. I built my own bumpers, weld on beadlock wheels, homemade driveshafts etc.

 
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Old Dec 18, 2008 | 02:49 AM
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Well i did wonder if the fact that our bikes are so new and expensive that we are reluctant too.............maybe in about 5yrs time ?
 
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Old Dec 18, 2008 | 02:50 AM
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nice jeep by the way
 
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Old Dec 18, 2008 | 03:31 AM
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So far the only part that I have actually made for this bike is the air cleaner cover. This one was a quickie just to get the new BS Stage II on the bike (they require an 8 inch cover). I cut a piece of 2024 T-3 to my liking and then hand formed the corners around to fit the "ring" part of the A/C idea I came up with. I just happened to be replacing the ceiling fan in my son's room when I noticed that the base ring that mounts to the ceiling looked to be about the right size. I cut the center out of it and trimmed the lip off that meets the ceiling except for a section of it that I left in tact to stick in between the breather/mount bolts. I painted the ring flat black and gloss blacked the outer plate. I then drilled and riveted the two together and installed. I did not take the time to make it perfect...just functional. When I finish the new one (that I'm spending more than 2 hours on...LOL), I'll post pics. I'm also adding my own driving lights with my handmade light bar along with a tool bag mount, an extra green 6th gear light and a few other ideas I have bouncing around inside my scull. A nice practical upgrade for any HD that does not have a zirc (grease) fitting on the shifter lever shaft is to add one. Very easy...just remove the shifter lever and shaft, drill a #3 hole in the tube (on the frame where the shaft slides through) and tap it for a 1/4-28 zirc fitting. Be sure to get the shortest fitting they have or you will need a washer....like me..LOL
 
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Old Dec 18, 2008 | 05:12 AM
  #6  
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No thanks... I'll leave my X-Bones just the way it is...

I played around with my Sportster and that was enough...


 

Last edited by dbleagle; Dec 18, 2008 at 05:14 AM.
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Old Dec 18, 2008 | 05:29 AM
  #7  
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well, we are trendsetters after all......
 
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Old Dec 18, 2008 | 05:43 AM
  #8  
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Most of the Sportster models, except the XR1200 and possibly the Nightster, are of basic design with no particular style concept. If the owner wants something particular, they have a blank canvas to work from and must customise themselves.

The Softail range is a selection of "pre-customised" models, where the buyer selects their style concept and purchases the appropriate model. You wouldn't buy a Heritage if you wanted your bike to look like a Cross Bones. No need for heavy customisation because H-D have done it for you.
 
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Old Dec 18, 2008 | 06:24 AM
  #9  
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Did someone say Heritage?
 
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Old Dec 18, 2008 | 06:28 AM
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no, that's not it at all......see the trendsetter thing above
 
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