How I got where I am today!

[onerigidrider]

I hadn’t posted it here, but thought it would be of some interest to post up the happenings of this Sportster build that I finished in June.
We pulled the bike in the condition that you see below into the Garage in January to start the build. It was a fairly bone stock 1985 XLCH Sportster.

We started to strip it down and sell off the un-needed parts which was basically everything but the engine, forks and wheels.
Some tear down pics:



Once we got it stripped down, we started looking for a weld on hard tail. Being as this was the odd-ball year of the ironhead (you think a ’79 is bad try an ’85!) and so many things were changed from ’84 in anticipation of the Evo motor, we couldn’t really find anything. So, on to eBay and we found this little gem that we picked up for $275 shipped as you see it! It’s a 1970 frame with a weld on hard-tail.


Well, the first thing decided was to ditch everything for the drum brake setup, so that gave us more parts to sell! Yeah, more money for the build! It also put me in a unique situation. I now had a titled frame for an 85 and an untitled frame for a 70. Since the title’s follow the frame not the motor in 1970 and later HD’s I went through International Title Service (after checking that the VIN was clear) and got the frame titled to me! Now with a hard tailed frame in hand…I could sell the other frame and swingarm for, you guessed it, more project money!
We started to do some configuration checks to see what was going to be the direction we would go.


Didn’t quite like that style, so we figured…Bobber! 12” apes, brown leather solo, frisco’d tank, etc. Started to mock it up. Had to simply switch to ’70 front and rear motor mounts and the motor bolted right in.





She started to actually take some shape. We got the mock ups completed and went on to some of the other issues. Wiring and various mounts. Getting this thing ready to go. It was during this time that my work informed me I would be moving to Ohio! (BTW this is in New Jersey!) My wife said very politely…”You WILL NOT be taking a bunch of parts to Ohio with you, you had better get it finished!” SO I kicked it into high gear. Rolled her out for some outside pics of almost final assembly in late April, early May as seen below.



Rolled her back inside to tighten up the wiring and final assembly, and then of course Fired her up. All finished, but paint and ready to roll to Ohio!

Got out here and changed out the handlebars from 12” apes to low rise 36” wide bars. Put on a suicide clutch and jockey shifter. Changed the headlight to get rid of the eyebrow. Am looking to go back to 12” apes, though. And getting ready to put on a small sissy bar and she gets painted in a few weeks! Rootbeer candy and Gold flake!
This is how she sits now. She is a labor of love, and yes I love it! I don’t know if you are ever really done with these, but I love working on it.

[cnclee]

Rigid,
Excellent project post THANKS. Don't forget to enter it in the BOTM section

[kgdb]

onerigidrider, Great post! GREAT bike! Thanks for taking the time to put that up, I love seeing builds like that on the forum!! Groovy!!

[RogerMason]

Great post. Scoot looks great... It will look better when you get it painted Root Beer...

Roger

[jerseymutt]

Cool story about the bike build except for the sad ending where you left New Jersey and head for Ohio.

Mutt

Only bustin ya alittle, I know you have already told me you like it out there. Of course you haven't spent a winter in Ohio yet, that may change your mind.

And I really liked the apes too.

[zoschkeman]

Awesome....Now THATS what garage built is all about

[CB750chopper]

Very Nice Rigid.

[Odin]

very cool scoot, like what you did....agree the pic with apes looks better on bike but I guess comfort will determine..take care

[Big D]

Originally Posted by jerseymutt

Cool story about the bike build except for the sad ending where you left New Jersey and head for Ohio.

Mutt

Only bustin ya alittle, I know you have already told me you like it out there. Of course you haven't spent a winter in Ohio yet, that may change your mind.

And I really liked the apes too.

Rigid... What is Mutt talkin' about? Indiana is right next door to Ohio, and we rarely get snow...



Pay him no mind...



Love the scoot...!

[richard]

Good looking rigid!