Can a softail look like a rigid bobber and still be cool?
#1
Can a softail look like a rigid bobber and still be cool?
I love rigids. I love how they look and I love the ride - even on long day rides through the mountains. However, the carburation is constantly an issue for me here in Colorado with changing elevation and the last carburated rigid I had last year was nothing but problems. I swear it was only THAT bike but my buddies are pissed that I am considering building a new one for this year.
My question is two fold:
1. Can I convert a blackline to a bobber look (massive mods) with a springer front end, larger front tire, strip the rear fender off and mod it, bobber seat, etc. without it looking stupid because it isn't a "true" rigid?
2. Is there anyone reading this that rides only rigids and doesn't have problems with them over longer distances? I don't need to tour on it but I need to make long day rides without it having issues.
Any information is helpful. Thanks in advance.
Thanks,
Skip
My question is two fold:
1. Can I convert a blackline to a bobber look (massive mods) with a springer front end, larger front tire, strip the rear fender off and mod it, bobber seat, etc. without it looking stupid because it isn't a "true" rigid?
2. Is there anyone reading this that rides only rigids and doesn't have problems with them over longer distances? I don't need to tour on it but I need to make long day rides without it having issues.
Any information is helpful. Thanks in advance.
Thanks,
Skip
#3
#4
Why are you limiting yourself to a new Sloptail? Find a 2006 or so with FI. Strip it down and fix it up and it will cost way less than a new one that you're going to do the same to. And are you doing the work, or farming it out?
I have an '87 Sloptail Heritage that has been stripped, then set up like I wanted. Has a '99 Evo crate motor with an S&S, suicide clutch, jockey shift, Baker tranny, semi-open Primo belt primary, home-made stainless drag bars, and several seats ranging from a pogo-type cop seat, to a Baas-made solo seat pan, and also a LePera Cherokee. Front and rear brakes are operated off handlebar master cylinder through a proportioning valve.
I just bought an '06 Sloptail Fat Boy with a Stage III and way more chrome than I normally deal with. It has 10,000 miles on it. HD custom paint. Got it for $8500. It is being set up as a tourer - sissy bar/luggage rack, fairing, different bars, and a few more pieces of "touring" stuff.
That means the '87 is coming apart for "refinement", LOL. It'll be set up as a solo bike, and I am going to strut it to get the frame top rail/swingarm top rail to be a straight line. Yeah, it won't be as simple and clean looking as a true rigid frame, but part of thought process for the project is to do the stuff with only hand tools (+ a drill press) and no welding. Just something to have fun with...
Plenty of ways to do the rigid/bobber deal, and they don't have to involve tons of money. At any rate, good luck with whatever you decide, and have fun!
I have an '87 Sloptail Heritage that has been stripped, then set up like I wanted. Has a '99 Evo crate motor with an S&S, suicide clutch, jockey shift, Baker tranny, semi-open Primo belt primary, home-made stainless drag bars, and several seats ranging from a pogo-type cop seat, to a Baas-made solo seat pan, and also a LePera Cherokee. Front and rear brakes are operated off handlebar master cylinder through a proportioning valve.
I just bought an '06 Sloptail Fat Boy with a Stage III and way more chrome than I normally deal with. It has 10,000 miles on it. HD custom paint. Got it for $8500. It is being set up as a tourer - sissy bar/luggage rack, fairing, different bars, and a few more pieces of "touring" stuff.
That means the '87 is coming apart for "refinement", LOL. It'll be set up as a solo bike, and I am going to strut it to get the frame top rail/swingarm top rail to be a straight line. Yeah, it won't be as simple and clean looking as a true rigid frame, but part of thought process for the project is to do the stuff with only hand tools (+ a drill press) and no welding. Just something to have fun with...
Plenty of ways to do the rigid/bobber deal, and they don't have to involve tons of money. At any rate, good luck with whatever you decide, and have fun!
#5
#6
The cheapest, quickest and the only way you'll get a softail to look close to a rigid IMO is to throw some saddle bags over it to hide that fricking gap bewteen rear fender and tire....and paint struts same color as frame and fender. Again, IMO.
I do like rigids but don't like the look of bobbers.
I do like rigids but don't like the look of bobbers.
#7
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#8
If you are going to spend the money you should check out Brass ***** Cycles. They make some really nice soft tail bobbers.....
http://www.brassballscycles.com/
http://www.brassballscycles.com/
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