Incredible Softail Build Is Many Years in the Making
A solid ten years of work went into making this Harley one of the coolest Softails you'll ever see.
Extensive Build
Motorcycle builds vary greatly in size and scope. As well as the time required to complete them. In the case of Harley-Davidson Forums member j33ptj and his wild Softail, we're talking about nearly a decade of work. But the result of all that time and effort is one of the nicest custom bikes you'll ever see.
Photos: Harley-Davidson Forums
Modest Beginnings
Though j33ptj didn't start his build thread until 2016, the construction of this Softail actually began way back in 2009. Back then, the first steps consisted of simple things like the addition of chrome parts and your typical upgrades. But things would only escalate from there.
Photos: Harley-Davidson Forums
>>Join the conversation about j33ptj's custom Softail right here in HD Forum!
Low and Lean
The next step was to install an air ride setup from Shotgun Shocks, which greatly improve the ride quality and stance. And while he was at it, j33ptj went ahead and installed a 21" Paul Yaffee front wheel, 18" rear wheel, and some new fenders.
Photos: Harley-Davidson Forums
>>Join the conversation about j33ptj's custom Softail right here in HD Forum!
Engrave Me
Seems like a good place to stop, but j33ptj then saw a fellow member's bike, which had a good bit of engraving on it. So he proceeded to ship off some parts to Indonesia for a similar treatment.
Photos: Harley-Davidson Forums
>>Join the conversation about j33ptj's custom Softail right here in HD Forum!
Changes Beget Changes
That only opened the floodgates even more, as j33ptj soon found himself buying a bunch of brass parts, lining up some others for copper plating, and switching to an open belt drive.
Photos: Harley-Davidson Forums
>>Join the conversation about j33ptj's custom Softail right here in HD Forum!
Long Process
After a long wait, parts started to roll in. Little by little j33ptj started installing them, and unsurprisingly, he also ordered new ones along the way. He even decided to swap wheels, opting for some Ridewright Fat Daddy pieces that admittedly look killer.
Photos: Harley-Davidson Forums
>>Join the conversation about j33ptj's custom Softail right here in HD Forum!
Finishing the Masterpiece
Unsurprisingly given the level of detail this build presents, it took a long time for all of those awesome engraved parts to arrive. But once they did, j33ptj wasted zero time putting his masterpiece together.
Photos: Harley-Davidson Forums
>>Join the conversation about j33ptj's custom Softail right here in HD Forum!
Incremental Improvements
With the bike mostly complete, j33ptj was ready to take it out for a ride. But along the way, he continued to make small, incremental improvements to the Softail.
Photos: Harley-Davidson Forums
>>Join the conversation about j33ptj's custom Softail right here in HD Forum!
One of a Kind Build
That included things like a phone mount, new rear light, seat cover, and even artwork on the oil tank. Each little addition only further enhanced this incredible build, making it truly one of a kind.
Photos: Harley-Davidson Forums
>>Join the conversation about j33ptj's custom Softail right here in HD Forum!
Relive the Moments
In the end, it's easy to say that this H-D Forums member has one of the nicest and most unique builds we've ever seen. So be sure and head over here to check out the entire process, as well as stay tuned for future updates!
Photos: Harley-Davidson Forums
>>Join the conversation about j33ptj's custom Softail right here in HD Forum!
For help with routine maintenance and repairs, visit the HD Forums How-To section.
