Finished one!
Finished one!
I have several winter projects that I'm really trying to knock out before spring and the first one is done!
Real quick run down on this one...I picked up a 2004 XL883C from a local dismantler. My original plan was to fix it & flip it. But I have a very hard time selling my bikes. I just can't do it.
So...my wife said she wanted a bike that's not shiney. She has an 03 XL883C that's pretty shiney. She didn't want to change that one so she took over this bike. She did alot of the work on it which was pretty cool. There aren't alot of mods but we tore it down pretty far to start from scratch. Some of the things were done, redone then done again until she was happy but it was a blast.
Here's how I got it.
Well, it had a front end on it but was banged up a good one.
I had the frame checked for straightness at a couple places and it was good. It wasn't a bad hit anyway so I'm confident it's good. It was parked with the back tire against a curb and was backed in to.
So here it is now.
I can't adjust my phone camera enough to take good pics but I really think she did a kick *** job picking out the parts & colors. She even had me make a few bits here & there (her design).
She's seen it assembled when everything was orange, silver, white & raw steel or aluminum.
She's out of town shopping and won't be home until Sat. I hope she doesn't mind I finished it without her!
Thanks for looking.
Real quick run down on this one...I picked up a 2004 XL883C from a local dismantler. My original plan was to fix it & flip it. But I have a very hard time selling my bikes. I just can't do it.
So...my wife said she wanted a bike that's not shiney. She has an 03 XL883C that's pretty shiney. She didn't want to change that one so she took over this bike. She did alot of the work on it which was pretty cool. There aren't alot of mods but we tore it down pretty far to start from scratch. Some of the things were done, redone then done again until she was happy but it was a blast.
Here's how I got it.
Well, it had a front end on it but was banged up a good one.
I had the frame checked for straightness at a couple places and it was good. It wasn't a bad hit anyway so I'm confident it's good. It was parked with the back tire against a curb and was backed in to.
So here it is now.
I can't adjust my phone camera enough to take good pics but I really think she did a kick *** job picking out the parts & colors. She even had me make a few bits here & there (her design).
She's seen it assembled when everything was orange, silver, white & raw steel or aluminum.
She's out of town shopping and won't be home until Sat. I hope she doesn't mind I finished it without her!
Thanks for looking.
And if you've noticed the passenger pegs this is why.
I need to get a suction cup pillion pad still but she wanted to make sure it was capable of hauling my daughter around.
I need to get a suction cup pillion pad still but she wanted to make sure it was capable of hauling my daughter around.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,079
Likes: 21
From: Queens, NY
wow dude bike's a looker for sure!
i think i'd have left the pulley black, but it's not my bike so don't worry about that hahaha.
hope she enjoys it man and rides the hell out of it, i'm real jealous that you and you OL share the same passion and ride together, real cool.
i think i'd have left the pulley black, but it's not my bike so don't worry about that hahaha.
hope she enjoys it man and rides the hell out of it, i'm real jealous that you and you OL share the same passion and ride together, real cool.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 7,079
Likes: 21
From: Queens, NY
she should definitely be proud of her design, the bike is kick-***.
and it's pretty impressive all the stuff you fab up man.
and it's pretty impressive all the stuff you fab up man.
Trending Topics
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Oh I hear ya. but, if I get another idea I'm more likely to just get another bike. I'm doing a couple hardtails and she's already talking about wanting one for herself too. I think I've created a monster!
And the wheels were a must have for her. I got the 04 some time in the spring so she had pretty much all summer to look at all of the other bikes we ride with and came up with a sizeable list of things she did not want. One being spokes. Her 03 has spokes and it seems like 9 out 10 bikes had them. No custom wheel either...wouldn't fit her "rat rod" theme and she doesn't like solid wheels. Once she decided mags were what she had to have I picked up some direct fit 13 spoke (most common) mags. Then...13 spoke mags started sticking out to her on alot of stock bikes. She looked at alot of pics online and noticed that some of the old HD's had 9 spoke mags. Then she noticed that there weren't any around here so we had to get some. Little did I know that they were a little challenging to fit on the 04 because of the bearing registers being so much smaller than the i.d. of her rotors that I already spent 8 hours powdercoating a ridiculously high temp silicone powder. And, the bearing register is how the rotors are centered on the wheel.
And the wheels were a must have for her. I got the 04 some time in the spring so she had pretty much all summer to look at all of the other bikes we ride with and came up with a sizeable list of things she did not want. One being spokes. Her 03 has spokes and it seems like 9 out 10 bikes had them. No custom wheel either...wouldn't fit her "rat rod" theme and she doesn't like solid wheels. Once she decided mags were what she had to have I picked up some direct fit 13 spoke (most common) mags. Then...13 spoke mags started sticking out to her on alot of stock bikes. She looked at alot of pics online and noticed that some of the old HD's had 9 spoke mags. Then she noticed that there weren't any around here so we had to get some. Little did I know that they were a little challenging to fit on the 04 because of the bearing registers being so much smaller than the i.d. of her rotors that I already spent 8 hours powdercoating a ridiculously high temp silicone powder. And, the bearing register is how the rotors are centered on the wheel.
Last edited by mreed; Dec 16, 2010 at 04:17 AM.