New wallet finished

Alias: CRAZY RACK

Paint's not even dry on the other Ironhead before tearing into this one.  Old frame and bodywork was just plain STANK!  This is obviously justa  mockup, and we will be making all the bodywork and seat for this, but that Sherpa tank just has the PERFECT shape and size for this stretched out frame.  Going for a cool dragster inspired look, and it will possibly have a full fairing.....

Not a bolt-on....

Whoever said a 1980 Ironhead Sportster engine would fit in a 1970-1978 frame has never tried it!  It will work the other way around ( a 1970-78 engine in a 1980 frame), but the 1980 and on engine has a deep sump, and the original crossmember needs to be cut out, along with the peg mounts (left side hits a large reinforcement area of the side case), and the crossover linkage tube (still shown in this photo) hits the rear of the left case.  Overall the 1980 engine is beefier.  I also had to remove some material from the swingarm pivot, the old swingarm is larger and also the swingarm pivot nut on the left side hits the side case.  last m od was to heat the lower rails and pound a flat into the right side where there is a large bulge in the right side case.   All in all the mods were worth it, rather than writing off this (much cooler) 1972 frame and trying to modify the garbage 1980 frame.

More Model Madness

this one made by Danny, so he could say that his XS is finally completed!  hahaha, just kidding,  the XS will actually be ridden for the first time today......

Mini-Me Ironhead

Was doing some work on the Econoline axle bearings when I looked at the old parts and decided they could be put to use as a sculpture.  Then I figured, "why not a replica of the chopper?".  So, we ended up with a miniature version of the Ironhead when all was said and done!  Next up:  Danny's XS650....

A visitor from a far off land-

We had a great visit from Takamitsu Yashiro from Blue Groove (http://bluegrooveshopblog.blogspot.com/) who was in Reno buying a Panhead-  great to have have visitors stop in and check out our work, see you soon, Taka!

Late additions

Outtakes

One of the exhaust clamps on the Ironhead was stripped, and when we priced a new one it made my head explode!  POPPYCOCK!  $15 for a new set!  Ha!  We'll make our own!  And how glorious they are- super thick and with some really fancy grooves to go with the rest of the bike.  You just can't put a price on custom, literally, as these are not available in any catalog.....

3 new additions- done?

Headlight first and foremost turned out KILLER!  Transformed the bike completely, along with the new front rollpfender-  combo skid plate, roll pan and fender.  I was inspired by the speedway style, but combined the frame mounted guard with the little fender to form one clean piece.  Also you will notice the leather grips to tie in with the seat.  One last addition for this version 1.0 will be custom machined rocker nuts of aluminum to go with the other pieces Danny has machined with a Deco look.
           

 

                                            

Best Rack Ever?

Of course, look what it's stocked with!  And for FIVE dollars no less.  Some people just don't know a killer deal when they see one.

Just a little something Danny whipped up for the front of the Harley in about, oh, 28 minutes*.....

* discounts all pee breaks, heat wandering, "thinking", looking for tools, playing with the dogs, listening to music, and bullshitting.

Shedding some light

(I already used "Let there be light").  Headlight bucket finished for the Ironhead.  This was actually rather intensive, spent more time tweaking and finishing this to a higher level than most other parts on the bike, and it really came out better than I had envisioned.  And I learned I have a shit-ton more to learn about aluminum welding.....   Lots of little bits to think about from how it mounts, to filling the backside, to where the switch and circuit breaker go, etc.  last piece to be done will be the mounting blocks for the top front side that will screw into the holes in the top triple, formerly where the gauge mounts use to be til we whacked them off.

Be sure to grab the latest Horse Backstreet Chopper to see the Busch Bros' Kawasaki 175 Lanesplitters!

See you on the salt!    Support patches:     Chabott Engineering