Where's my Harley bros at?

[HIGHRISK]

And they retain their value like no other bike.

Yeah they definitely do. That's one thing I've noticed. A 3-4 year old bike isn't much cheaper then a brand new one.

 

[Uchiha00]

Last year I made the transition to a Harley , still wouldn’t mind another gsxr but for now I’m enjoying cruising

 

[tenpoundsleft]

Here are before and after pics of my FXR that I bought new back in the early 90s, then almost immediately tore down to get it done right.

It's sad how much you have/had to replace to get the bike right.



With the new wheels, tires, brakes, front coils, rear shocks and the added performance from new cam, carb, exhaust, it ran great. IMO, looks were improved too.

Edit : I'd actually like to build another like it. Any thoughts on current frames and engines that would be good? I'm a big fan of the twin downtube birdcage style frame with a proper swingarm. No offense to softail guys but that frame feels so "dead" to me. I'm into the cafe racer "hamster" style. Would be extra cool to build one with attachment points for a sidecar, a la old /2 BMWs.

 

[Vita]

Here are before and after pics of my FXR that I bought new back in the early 90s, then almost immediately tore down to get it done right.

It's sad how much you have/had to replace to get the bike right.

View attachment 83214

With the new wheels, tires, brakes, front coils, rear shocks and the added performance from new cam, carb, exhaust, it ran great. IMO, looks were improved too.

Edit : I'd actually like to build another like it. Any thoughts on current frames and engines that would be good? I'm a big fan of the twin downtube birdcage style frame with a proper swingarm. No offense to softail guys but that frame feels so "dead" to me. I'm into the cafe racer "hamster" style. Would be extra cool to build one with attachment points for a sidecar, a la old /2 BMWs.

Sweet!
When I get time I will post a couple of mine.

 

[Vita]

1974 Harley -- 65 transmission gutted and rebuilt for electric starter, 1980 fxb block photo May 2015


Same bike July 2016

 

[tenpoundsleft]

View attachment 83354
1974 Harley -- 65 transmission gutted and rebuilt for electric starter, 1980 fxb block photo May 2015

View attachment 83355
Same bike July 2016

Nice, although I don't miss the kickstart. With lowcomp engines not so bad, but....

I had a 1967 XLCH with magneto and kickstart only. It had 3.5" bore aluminum barrels and 10:1 compression. Awful to start.

Ran like hell though, and sounded like a bomber at low altitude, shotgun pipes with nothing in them. Real popular coming home late at night.

I kicked off the kickstart once, had to bumpstart it for a few months.... that's a bitch.

Edit : BTW, why did you only remove the color on the caliper at the rear?

 

[Vita]

Nice, although I don't miss the kickstart. With lowcomp engines not so bad, but....

I had a 1967 XLCH with magneto and kickstart only. It had 3.5" bore aluminum barrels and 10:1 compression. Awful to start.

Ran like hell though, and sounded like a bomber at low altitude, shotgun pipes with nothing in them. Real popular coming home late at night.

I kicked off the kickstart once, had to bumpstart it for a few months.... that's a bitch.

Edit : BTW, why did you only remove the color on the caliper at the rear?

Yea she kicked back hard, typically couldn't walk for about 20 minutes after one of them.

When I put the bike back together I could not get the rear brake to bleed. On that picture there is brake fluid on the bottom of the rear tire. New forward controls, new lines, only thing not new was the rear caliper. I still have the red one just haven't gotten around to rebuilding it.

In 2016 I retired that bike, so tinkering on it hasn't been top priority.