i have just got a change of heart for what front end i want to put on my bike. i thought i had made up my mind about going with a blacked out FL front end with a freight train headlight setup. seen some cool looking bikes with that setup that are similar to the build i am doing. i was going to go with a 21x3.5 inch DNA fat spoked wheel combo with that setup. i have already ordered the trees and the lower legs for that swap.

it would look kind of like this when it was done




but now i am thinking about sticking with a wideglide 5 degree rake HHI tree setup with bullet headlight and a 23" wheel setup. not sure anymore.

 

Well, I must first say that I am probably biased.. My first softail build (2004 Night Train) I wanted to go with something different - and a Night Train vicla was born... And I loved what I came up with (as did many who saw it). The only thing I had left to do that I wanted was an FL front end. Check out the build thread here of that bike:

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...ld-begins.html







After looking at expenses (and essentially what I would have invested in a FL front end), I got out of the bike while I was still "ahead" and told myself I wouldn't settle for anything less than a Deluxe with a minimum of the 96" motor and 6 speed.... So... Here comes the next build....

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...ld-begins.html

In my opinion (and remember, I am biased).... I think that the bike you showed was AWESOME... I love the blacked out FL with Train nacelle. That wide tire kit makes it look fat from front to back - from the Train nacelle to the wide rear, everything is pulled together real nice... Again, just my opinion.. I'm not huge on raked fronts, though.

 

my bike is not entirely the same, i have a spring seat and fender mounted fender and the stock 200mm tire. i would be going with the DNA 21x3.5 front tire and 18x5.5 rear tire. i have d&d low cat exhaust. i was really liking the FL front and freight train headlight. i will probably keep going with it cause i have most of the hard parts for it.

 

here is a few bike i was looking at when i made my decision.

 

Well, it is jut my opinion, but I think you are headed in the right direction. Get some pics up of your bike, and we can see what you are working with... In the end though - it is YOUR bike, and you should do what you want. The fact that you already have gotten a few parts together would further sway me in that direction.. I remember what my teachers always said with multiple choice test questions.. If you don't know, go with your gut - usually the first answer you chose is most likely the correct answer.

I struggled with my Deluxe front end - whether to go black or chrome... I went black because you don't see a whole lot of Viclas (especially in my parts), let alone BLACK Viclas.

Look forward to seeing what you do with it.

 

my bike is going to go under more changes. and i am starting with the front. i think the FL front end with a set of 12-14 inch bars. new seat and fender struts along with wheels. personally i love the clean lines of the freight train headlight. i think it really cleans up the front end and the FL front end will allow me to black it out completely. i just dont know if the bulky front end will go with the lines of what i am going for with the bike

 

Maybe one of the guys are here that are gifted with photoshop could help you out?

Photoshop a blacked out FL front end on a side view photo of your bike. To me though - it already sounds like you have made up your mind.. Maybe you are just second guessing yourself. I think it will look like the cats @$$, but again, that's just me.

The way I look at it - if you don't decide you like the FL front end, you can always sell it and put your FX front end back on.

 

i think i will finish the FL front end and see how it comes out. i really like the smooth lines of the headlight. i also really like the ability to have an all black front end. i worry it will be too bulky looking but i think that with the right front fender it should come out looking just right for my bike.

 

Stick with the FL front end. These freight train headlight setups are cool.
I think if you loose that springer seat the back of the bike will be proportional to the front.

I don't think the bikes in the pictures you posted have a much bigger rear tire than yours. That will also work in your favor.

 

What hard parts for the conversion is needed? Can I get just the trees and lower legs? Did you ever complete the swap? I am looking into this swap on my 04 train.