Harley Davidson Forums

Sportster Models 883, 883 Custom, 1200 Custom, 883L, 1200L, 1200S, 1200 Roadster, XR1200, and the Nightster.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Sportster Softtail Conversion

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 9, 2012 | 09:52 AM
Share
  #11  
not_so_newb's Avatar
not_so_newb
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 826
From: Toronto Canada
Default
Originally Posted by Smokey Burnouts
I'm all for if idea... But if u changing the rear suspension ain't that the sport suspension part?
look at the suspension on that frame . look at the suspension on anything called a sportbike . see the similarity ?
many of us here might not be interested in owning a japanese or european made sportbike , but i don't think anyone can argue that the sportster has better suspension . yes it's better than a harley softail , but that's not saying much !
 
Reply
0
Old Mar 9, 2012 | 11:42 AM
Share
  #12  
Smokey Burnouts's Avatar
Smokey Burnouts
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 748
Likes: 0
From: Chesterfield, Va...from SC
Default
Originally Posted by not_so_newb
look at the suspension on that frame . look at the suspension on anything called a sportbike . see the similarity ?
many of us here might not be interested in owning a japanese or european made sportbike , but i don't think anyone can argue that the sportster has better suspension . yes it's better than a harley softail , but that's not saying much !
To me the sportster has a better suspension than that custom frame. Sportbikes(crotch rocket) has a swing arm, which to me is most similar to the stock sporster frame except that harley uses 2 shocks on outside verse one shock mounted in the middle. So going to softail style rear end with limited wheel travel, seems to be down grading in the suspension dept.

All that said....... I personally think that trick frame is kinda cool, and im all for creativity and customizing ****. Only part that didnt make sense was the part about keeping the "good" suspension. Take some pics when/if you decide to do it!! Good luck
 
Reply
0
Old Mar 9, 2012 | 12:10 PM
Share
  #13  
Maidenas's Avatar
Maidenas
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere out in space...
Default
Here's an older post of mine.

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...ml#post8862908

I think it's a 90's softail frame...
 
Reply
0
Old Mar 9, 2012 | 12:14 PM
Share
  #14  
iceman336's Avatar
iceman336
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,308
Likes: 7
From: Spruce Grove, AB, Canada
Default
Atlas Precision makes a softtail sportster chassis.
http://www.atlasprecision.com/online...?CategoryID=24

 
Reply
0
Old Mar 9, 2012 | 12:21 PM
Share
  #15  
iceman336's Avatar
iceman336
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,308
Likes: 7
From: Spruce Grove, AB, Canada
Default
http://heritagecycleworks.com/Produc...17&SubMenu=749

 
Reply
0
Old Mar 9, 2012 | 12:22 PM
Share
  #16  
schwingding's Avatar
schwingding
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 7
Default
Originally Posted by not_so_newb
i've wondered why HD has never done this . seems like a good idea , although a bit pricey . go for it and show us the results !
HD actually HAS done this. They call it a Softail.
 
Reply
0
Old Mar 9, 2012 | 01:14 PM
Share
  #17  
Smokey Burnouts's Avatar
Smokey Burnouts
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 748
Likes: 0
From: Chesterfield, Va...from SC
Default
Originally Posted by schwingding
HD actually HAS done this. They call it a Softail.
Nice!!!
 
Reply
0
Old Mar 10, 2012 | 08:08 AM
Share
  #18  
not_so_newb's Avatar
not_so_newb
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,922
Likes: 826
From: Toronto Canada
Default
Originally Posted by schwingding
HD actually HAS done this. They call it a Softail.
i meant with a Sportster engine
 
Reply
0
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 16, 2012 | 10:51 AM
Share
  #19  
CSS_FXD's Avatar
CSS_FXD
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,824
Likes: 6
From: MN
Default
I think the first thing you should do is put your tank lower and your headlight in the right spot.

But the sporty to softail idea looks really sweet I like it!
 
Reply
0
Old May 16, 2012 | 01:59 PM
Share
  #20  
XL50#674's Avatar
XL50#674
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,904
Likes: 9
From: Streetsboro, Oh
Default
IMO a softail sporty would be cool, but the reason HD has never did it is because they have a softail line up, the sportys have their own line up and so on.
 
Reply
0



Advanced Search
Reply Closed Thread Share
Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:26 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE