My Main Ride



Started
off on a Sporty 28 years ago, I think that makes that motor a
vintage Evolution. Crazy huh? Back then the Evolution Sporty was only 1 year old and had just taken over from the Iron head sporty. 1986 the first Sporty Evo's appear and 1985 for the first big twin Evo's..

I had gone to Harley School to become a tech and I know it was a long time ago because we worked on Panheads, Iron Sporties, the 66-69' Pan-Shovel and the Shovelhead. There wasn't one Evo in class yet lol.

You know your old when you know what points are or a Magneto (no not an X-men) is or if ya ever hand tuned your linkert or S&S carb before.

Anyway, I finally gave in to comfort and got me a 2006 FLHRCI you see here, brand new which I just paid off actually. She's my main squeeze now. Our biggest ride together so far was the 1100 miles from Phoenix, AZ to Euless, TX and boy was that an adventure, she and I both got battle scars from that one. It's not bad enough that illegal aliens do not respect the immigration laws but they also do not hold driving laws in high regard as well. Me and "baby" got rear-ended on the way to TX. Almost killed me, and she got a banged up skirt.But I hung onto her and she never fell over, the cop and fire fighters right there when it happened couldn't believe it. Anyway enough of my adventures.

Thanks to Sierra Vista H-D for patching me up and getting me on the road so quick so I could get home and to Adam's H-D in TX for patching up baby to better than new condition. And to Bedford Back & Neck for kinda patching me up.

I still have a soft spot for that first Sporty though and still own it as well and that's why this page exists. Call it a second chance on life for an old EVO engine. She deserves it.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

The Ugly Duckling.

Every project usually starts with some photos of the BEFORE that After photos and this project will be no different. Puke bags are your own responsibility. Disclaimer: Warning the photo's you are about to see may bring about dizziness, vomiting, and nausea. This biker doesn't give a shit about your weak ass stomach or offending your blessed vision in any way, shape or form. Man up, take it like a man or woman and let us get through this shit OK?


This pile of shit is covering the Tripoli Softail Frame. You can barely make out the Fatbob tank mount on top of the frame and the wishbone legs disappearing behind those boxes of crap.

I told you this wasn't going to be pretty. Chug some JD it makes it less painful, trust me. If your a total gluten for punishment you can click the pix for a bigger view, only if you keel over it's your own fault, fuck ya. OK onward to pix number two.


Can ya believe it? What biker would do such a thing? Oh fuck wait, err um it was me. There's half the cases (wipe's a tear from his eye) it's a big box and guess what the whole engine is in there. (sigh)

I know, I'm ashamed. (Can't speak) Next picture please!


This is hard. (Very emotional.) (Chugs more JD) I just wish the X wife was here so I could slap her this was her fault. Anyhow (takes a deep breath) in this photo you will observe the lower tank mount just above the wishbones, the tank (both halves) unceremoniously strewn below, you can also see the front rubber mount for the engine peaking from beneath one tank half, the $750 shocks are still attached to the swing arm and Tripoli frame, the shifter side of my Jay brake forward controls is also still mounted to the frame.

(takes another glug) How can things get so wrong? I have to be brave for the sake of this project. I must get through these pictures. Remember this frame is a bolt on for the early Evo Sporty engine and also introduces rubber mounts for engine isolation which were only available on the big twins at the time. 

The frame and tanks will look like new once they are sand/bead blasted and thoroughly cleaned. All parts of the Tripoli frame will be removed and cleaned then re-installed before being posted for sale, the tanks are not for sale.


Do you see it? Another example of my shameful behavior, the Wide Glide, stuck in the corner like some unwanted child. Covered in cheap plastic to hold the springs etc in the tubes. (Can you believe it? This front end was nicely buttoned up and sealed for moving by me when i came down from Canada. The movers disassembled the front end for what I have no idea and then couldn't put it back together so they taped it up and shipped it like this?) I was fuckin pissed needless to say.

Anyway, I haven't rebuilt this yet either needs seals and who knows what I have to finish ripping them apart and reassembling the front end before I sell it. The lower legs are shaved and chromed, it has a wide glide conversion kit by Custom Chrome. It will be minus the brake ass'y, rotor, headlight ass'y, risers and handle bars. But it will be a rolling wide glide for sporty for sale eventually.


Really, nothing some TLC won't fix. The Tripoli frame was well made, I'll have to give Tripoli a kudos for that. 


 Well there ya have it my confession of sorts of years of mechanical abuse to this Sporty. I'm ashamed, but I will make amends and transform this box dinner into a Fantastic Bobber Swan. Now folks don't forget to subscribe to the page before you leave and tell your friends about it as well. And we're not above taking cash donations either my PAYPAL is over on the right side bar of the blog. And cheers if ya do, just email me yer name and later when I get a few folks I will post yer name proudly on my blog.

See you soon...err as soon as I can clear a working spot or build a workbench for this Garage I'm in currently.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

No comments:

Post a Comment