I finally pieced in the missing link !

I74

I74

Well-Known Member
#1
#1
Hi Guys,, it's been a ''very'' long time ...

As some of you know,, I had a HD Shovel head Chopper for 20 years,, years ago,, & sold it in 04' ,, with it going to Germany..

In 2012,, HD came out with the FXDWG 103 fI Wide glide ,, in big blue pearl flames,, for a limited like 1 year run.

I instantly fell in love with this Bike,, & also modded one back in 2012,, on the HD bike builder,, with putting on 12'' Apes,, & mag wheels ect. ect.,, to kind of give it the essence of my old Shovel.

Well,, 2 1/2 weeks ago,, one pretty much landed in my lap !

Guy bought it new in 2012,, lives 40 miles from me,, & it's only got 8k on it !
I also picked it up for a song,, & he even brought it to me !!

Talk about in the stars !!!

Anyways,,

I have been cleaning up 13 years of neglect,, & also have upgraded a bunch of stuff on it already...

Replaced the black primary cover with a chrome one.
Replaced the black headlight bucket with a chrome one,, plus modified the mount ect.,, to get the light up & back as much as poss.,, like it should be.
10mm Wires,, I had custom made,, & also put in NGK Iridium plugs . ;)
Also put in a K&N A filter,, & changed all the fluids with specific V-twin Amsoil,, which it needs & needed.

I got the under fender LED light kit off of flea bay,, for 17 bucks,, & hard wired & soldered that in.
HD sells pretty much the same kit for like $107 !:oops:

I also have a Hog killer ''step'' old school chopper style seat on the way,, & will be doing the 12' Ape conversion ,, as this years winter project.

All the cables were ''way out of adjustment ,, as was the clutch itself. :rolleyes:

Am basically still breaking it in,, but correctly.

Lastly,,

The O'l lady thinks it's to quiet,, with the stock slip on mufflers,, so,, I guess I'll be putting on a set of slip on Vance & Hines ''slash tip'' ones,,, & make her pay for them . LOL :p:D

Last pic, of us,, in 89'',, about a month before Sturgis..
We were cruising down I-70,, around Avon Colorado.

The new Bike is called - ''Blue 2'' . :cool:

Ian
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I74

I74

Well-Known Member
#4
#4
f4radar said:
Nice! Those aren't sandals you're wearing?
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Thanks ! :)

No,, far from it on the foot wear ,, LOL. :p

Those HD EngIneer boots,, I got ''way'' back around 84',, & still have them !

I got them all fixed up back around 99',, with Vibram soles,, & pig skin lining ect.,, & have pretty much had them put away since,, until now.
Mink oiled them real good,, & am breaking them back in.. :cool:

I
 
Harquebus

Harquebus

Well-Known Member
#6
#6
So you are trying to mimic the vintage photo almost entirely with the 2012 bike?
Those bars are not what I would call ape hangers due to the vintage photo showing your arms almost level or horizontal... Anyway, they look mild and rather practical and comfortable.

Do you have photos of the bike as it was delivered and with "13 years of neglect"?
 
I74

I74

Well-Known Member
#7
#7
Harquebus said:
So you are trying to mimic the vintage photo almost entirely with the 2012 bike?
Those bars are not what I would call ape hangers due to the vintage photo showing your arms almost level or horizontal... Anyway, they look mild and rather practical and comfortable.

Do you have photos of the bike as it was delivered and with "13 years of neglect"?
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What are you,, some kind of an ''@ hole'' ? :rolleyes:

Haven't made a post on here in over 6 months,, & then I see B.S. like this !
 
I74

I74

Well-Known Member
#8
#8
Havasu Dave said:
Yeah, your modern bike sucks. :) I've always appreciated the guidance you gave me when I was building the electric bike. I still use some of the purpose built soldering gear for rewiring magnetos and the like. I hope your in good health. Keep the rubber side down.
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Yea,, it sure does Dave. LOL :p

That WL lenk Soldering gun,, is frigg'n about bullet proof,, & should last you for the rest of your days.. ;)

Thanks for the kind words as well . :)

Ian
 
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I74

I74

Well-Known Member
#14
#14
Got the new / old school chopper style seat today,, & took it out for a 1/2 hr. ride.

The seat is made by Saddleman, out of Cali.,, & is called a ''Hog killer''.

The padding is a patented combo of a Gel type bladder,, & special foam.

Sucker is pretty stiff though,, & is going to prob. take the rest of the season to break in.

It sure gets me in a lower position though,, which also helps with leverage,, plus lowering my center of gravity a bit.

Back rest step ,,is frigg'n awesome,, & this seat,, is not like sitting on a frigg'n padded - '' bar stool'' anymore ! :cool:

I
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Harquebus

Harquebus

Well-Known Member
#15
#15
I74 said:
What are you,, some kind of an ''@ hole'' ? :rolleyes:
Haven't made a post on here in over 6 months,, & then I see B.S. like this !
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Maybe my English is not too good, and there is a generation gap but I mean no insult here at all. Honest questions, sir.

Just wanted to see the before pics of the 2012 motorcycle when you bought it, a "before" and "after" to compare.
Just wanted to say I've seen more extreme "ape hangers" than those that are on your vintage Harley, and that I liked your version of ape hangers.'

That is all.
 
I74

I74

Well-Known Member
#16
#16
Harquebus said:
Maybe my English is not too good, and there is a generation gap but I mean no insult here at all. Honest questions, sir.

Just wanted to see the before pics of the 2012 motorcycle when you bought it, a "before" and "after" to compare.
Just wanted to say I've seen more extreme "ape hangers" than those that are on your vintage Harley, and that I liked your version of ape hangers.'

That is all.
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Extreme ''high'' apes,, like you are thinking,, have ''no leverage what so ever,, & are actually very unsafe,, plus cut off circulation to your arms & hands ect..

The apes on the Shovel,, were 12''s,, with 3 inch risers.

Cops in Sturgis,, thought they were to high,, & made me pull them down some,, otherwise get a ticket.
Their law was,, no more than 28'' inches high ,, above the seat frame.
Think I was around 34'' inches.

Sitting ''straight up'' on the Shovel though,, my arms were pretty much parallel to the ground,, which also gives you optimum leverage & control,, when needed.

That set up was ''very'' comfortable,, & am going to try & get it close,, on this Bike.

Stock Drag bars & 7'' inch risers,, on this Bike,, pretty much suck,, even with the added 5/8 riser ''base'' spacers I made & installed ..

Can't wait to do the 12'' conversion this winter,, & risers will prob. be 2 1/2's.

Lastly,,

I don't have a good pic of ''before'' I started working on it,, & the one ''shitty'' pic,, is actually around 20 ft. away..

Also,,

I ' am ''not'' trying to mimic the new Bike to the Shovel,, nor would that even be possible.

Total different Animal here & now.

Just want to try & give it the ''essence'' & some of the feel,, to the old Shovel.. :cool:

Here's another pic of the Shovel,, so you can kinda really see the bars.
Pics pretty crappy & old though..

I
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superflea

superflea

#17
#17
Coolest bike back when was a Triumph Bonney with a white tank upswept exhaust and pitsniffer bars. The guy would pull a wheelie for the length of a city block. Very cool to the yougun that I was back then.
 
I74

I74

Well-Known Member
#18
#18
superflea said:
Coolest bike back when was a Triumph Bonney with a white tank upswept exhaust and pitsniffer bars. The guy would pull a wheelie for the length of a city block. Very cool to the yougun that I was back then.
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Oh,, I believe that !!

Quickest bike I ever seen for running a block,, was a stripped down 63 Triumph pre unit -''separate trans'' hardtail.

Before I left Cali the last time in 87'' ,, I restored a ''pretty much basket case'' 67' Triumph TT-120 for a Guy.

That bike had the super high comp. 13+-1 ''high dome'' pistons,, & the massaged racing Amal carbs,, with no.4 slides.

TT-120'S ,, were basically a TT racing bike,, & with a crazy good rider,, could easily ride a wheelie in 4th gear !!

I
 
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I74

I74

Well-Known Member
#19
#19
Wifey & I,, haven't taken a real vacation in ''many'' years,, & are already talking about going to Sturgis next year in 26''.


We will prob. be making it a 9 day event,, with doing 3 days getting there,, staying 3 days around Rapid City,, & then another 3 days getting home.

First night,, we will be staying in Sioux City IA.,
2nd night,, will be staying in a small town,, about 1/2 way between Sioux City & Rapid city.
Each day of riding,, consists of around 240 miles,, which is more than plenty now,, & ''of course,, will be stopping @ the same places on the way home.
Camping days,, are a long past memory,, & this trip ,, is going to be ''all'' Hotels,, with pools ect... ;)

Won't be going into Sturgis @ night though,, because of my lack of night vision anymore,, & will do all our in & around town ventures,, during the days...

One campground we will be again ''visiting'',, is Bear Butte,, which we stayed @ in 89'.

Alot of my friends from Cali & Iowa ect.,, historically have stayed there also.

This will be our 3rd time to Sturgis,, with the Wifey's first time was 84',, & my first time was 86'',, & then ''of course'',, our time there together in 89''.

Wifey had a 42' HD - WLC - Flat head, 'way back when',, before I met her in 88',, & She also rode it there in 84'.

Any of you Guys possibly making plans for it in 26' also,, let me know,, & we will try & hook up with you,, if you like.

Ian
 
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I74

I74

Well-Known Member
#20
#20
Got the Vance & Hines slip on mufflers all buttoned up !! :cool:

Talk about a frigg'n difference !!

These pipes weigh prob. around 10 lbs. less ,,than the stock ''boat anchor'' ones,, & the bike actually breaths now,, & also runs cooler,, with these pipes tricking the ECM & O2 sensors ect.,, in mapping the A/F ratios to a bit ''more rich''. ;)

Basically just have to disconn. the batt. for a bit,, to reset the ECM back to base relearn.

With just dropping in a K&N A-filter,, & putting on these baffled pipes,, the mapping relearn,, is still within perimeters of the default A/F ratios,, without having to reflash & re write parts of the ECM A/F ratio perimeters ect. ,, as the 02 sensors,, have enough adjustment scale,, to allow the compensation.

Lastly,,

I also notice now,, more nimble & better balanced handling,, with these new pipes,, as they got rid of around 10lbs. of right hand side weight,, & also improved the overall lateral balance of the Bike. :)

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