So just seeing if Ol' Lance ever got the deed done as I'm seriously thinking about hardtailing my night train.

 

He won't feel so manly when his ***** shake off and he runs over them!

No need to test ride a rigid - just smack yourself in the nuts with a 2X4 and have your wife kick you in the kidneys - you'll get the idea.

 

www.fabkevin.com

Give him a call. Awesome guy. He is pricey but knows bikes and knows what it takes to make things work. He did some work on my old softail evo chopper. It basically rode on the bump stops and had almost zero give. Did not notice much difference then what I have now.

 

First off, going with a rigid frame will take off a bunch of weight as has been said. Second, I don't understand why a rigid shakes things loose. I rode a 1942 45 rigid for several years, and never had anything shake loose. Were the frames stronger back then? The frame never cracked either. I have never ridden a rigid without a pogo seat, but I sure would like to. Looks like a lot of fun, and that is why I ride.

Making your softail a hard tail by putting solid shocks on would be a whole different ball game than a rigid frame. Really would not be to hard to do though, and you could change it back real easy also. I might even do it just for fun.

 

I agree with you sir. My old evo chop had stuff come loose due to the solid mount unbalanced motor. No diffferent than a 99 softail. Just a nature of the beast. Now if you rigid your bike should you take care to check stuff? Sure you should that is part of owning a bike like that and part of the fun of modifying. Also a spring seat makes a world of difference.

 

I'm wondering if I should start a new thread I want to hack the ***-end off and build a hardtail section much like they did in a Cycle Source issue 03/10 I belive. Except on a twinkie not an evo.
I think you would destroy your frame building struts for it. Little 1/4" thick bracket uner there would probably snap like a twig.

 

Threads like this remind me why the only 2 bike mags I buy anymore are Cycle Source and The Horse Backstreet Choppers.

 

If your swing arm bracket is built like the one on my 99 Softail Custom, I don't think you could break it without hitting something hard enough to put you way above the bike, and then it would not matter anyway. I have mine lowered, and sometimes hitting potholes I hit bottom which is much harder on the swingarm bracket than if it was solid from the git go.

 

WTF? I ride a '78 Ironhead Hardtail Bobber....it may not be a softail ride, but it sure as hell isn't a jackhammer. It's a blast to ride! Most of the $hit I hear about hardtails are from guy's that don't ride'em. I'm 45, I guess I'll change my mind some day. Just sayin'...

 

I know a guy who has a softail Evo, chopped to look old-style. He has rigid struts on it, but he wants the stock struts back. Pretty rough ride, I guess. Lots of people do it over here, so it probably won't damage anything...but your back, maybe.