Me, a Sportster?

[Rough Edge racing]

 A local guy has a 2001 883 Sportster that I can grab for 1800 bucks.. Good tires and so on, has low bars and stock exhaust. Bike appears reasonably well taken care of except a garage tip over broke a turn signal and bent the foot peg...The air filter cover is missing in action over the winter but I do have a custom air filter that will fit left over from my Buell...
  I can take care of the 883 with a readily available 1200 kit for about $450.....But my main interest is a land speed racer in the 1000 cc class..That's why I want a non rubber mount engine....
  I rode it briefly, handled ok, the expected vibration was there over 3500 rpm, the bike felt like a solid piece, not bad at all...It accelerated fine for normal riding, but  opening the throttle didn't do all that much.....
  I'm going over tonight with cash and a trailer............ ..
   

[Kev m]

Makes perfect sense to me. Sounds like a great starting point. Have fun!

[Lannis]

Sounds like fun.   

How do the 1200cc kit and the 1000cc racing class relate to each other?   

And (just from my remembrance of those days), it looks like between Cal Rayborn and Warner Riley, they would have stripped all the low and even high-hanging fruit off of most of the records for the class that the Sportsters run in .... ?

Lannis

[dxhall]

I’m often tempted when I see a rubber mount Roadster offered for sale.  Then reality hits and I think about how much grief it would be to sell.  So far, no Sportsters.

[Kev m]

I’m often tempted when I see a rubber mount Roadster offered for sale.  Then reality hits and I think about how much grief it would be to sell.  So far, no Sportsters.

Have they become difficult to sell? I have always been able to sell my Harleys (even Sportys) much easier than Guzzis.

Of course with the market slowing they don't command the price they did before.

I'm toying with selling my 07.... just because it's not getting the attention and miles with the rest of the bikes in the fleet. Maybe I'll float it out there and see.

[Chuck in Indiana]

I'll give you five hunnerd for it.. 

[Kev m]

I'll give you five hunnerd for it.. 

You can have the seat and the windshield for that... 

[Rough Edge racing]

Sounds like fun.   

How do the 1200cc kit and the 1000cc racing class relate to each other?   

And (just from my remembrance of those days), it looks like between Cal Rayborn and Warner Riley, they would have stripped all the low and even high-hanging fruit off of most of the records for the class that the Sportsters run in .... ?

Lannis

 In land speed racing the classes start at 50 cc I believe and then go up 350, 500, 650, 750 1000 and 1350, 1650 and so on...Push rod or OHC, gasoline or fuel........The current 1000 modified production(naked frame) gas record at Bonneville is 157 mph by the Subtle Crowbar Guzzi.A very formidable record..A 1000 cc Evo Sportster tuned to the max with adequate reliability for land speed racing can make about 100 rear wheel HP on gasoline..The Sportster engine can be built with the stock stroke and a bore to suit the class...Or a Buell 9R short stroke crank and cylinders...Either way it be near 8000 rpm and require a special crank with a 1.5" crank pin and  suitable rods...And all the rest of the usual Hi performance stuff...About a 6 grand engine shopping carefully and doing my own work much as possible..
  This is a bucket list thing....My wife is ok with building bikes but expensive race engines don't exactly fit into her agenda... But I can wear down...

[oilhed]

I’m often tempted when I see a rubber mount Roadster offered for sale.  Then reality hits and I think about how much grief it would be to sell.  So far, no Sportsters.

Then never sell it!

[Petrus Rocks]

Interesting Tony!  As usual always curious when you end up with something.  And educational.  Tony has been helping me rebuild an 850 Norton, setting the cam timing on my Triumph and various other projects as they come up.

[Rough Edge racing]

  Pete, the bike is close by in Phelps..Me and Joy are going to check it out around 7 pm...A dinner date and drag the trailer with us ...It seems like a good deal but if it's a turd I'll walk away...
  The market is loaded with used Sportsters but many are really junky or chopped up..

[yogidozer]

For backroad exploring, a sportster is a great bike. Might want to upgrade the shocks.

[Rough Edge racing]

 I got the bike, laid down 17 Franklins and the seller took it.... Seems to run fine, nice paint and chrome, new tires..turn signals missing, sprocket cover is cracked where the right foot peg bolts to it...aftermarket seat and clip on handlebars..Easy fixes....Images coming...

[Lannis]

I got the bike, laid down 17 Franklins and the seller took it.... Seems to run fine, nice paint and chrome, new tires..turn signals missing, sprocket cover is cracked where the right foot peg bolts to it...aftermarket seat and clip on handlebars..Easy fixes....Images coming...

I would think that most of that stuff will be hung on the shed wall once you start turning this thing into a race-bike.

Unless you're planning to use it as a road bike first?

Lannis

[Rough Edge racing]

I would think that most of that stuff will be hung on the shed wall once you start turning this thing into a race-bike.

Unless you're planning to use it as a road bike first?

Lannis

  I'll ride it on the road for the summer while I gather intelligence on the engine build...In land speed racing modified production class, you can make changes, lower the bike, but the basic frame design must be retained...Usual mods are removing the lights and front fender , low bars or clip ons and any parts not contributing to the function of the bike. Gas tanks are often swapped or fabricated so the rider can assume the best tuck.. And safety wiring of the axles...No fairings allowed...Some leave on the lights and are street registered.

 Here's the new lump in the morning light

     

[Sheepdog]

Looks like a fun project. Getting familiar on the street is a good idea. Sportsters have a broad aftermarket, too. It's a good bike to hot-rod.

[Kev m]

  I'll ride it on the road for the summer while I gather intelligence on the engine build...In land speed racing modified production class, you can make changes, lower the bike, but the basic frame design must be retained...Usual mods are removing the lights and front fender , low bars or clip ons and any parts not contributing to the function of the bike. Gas tanks are often swapped or fabricated so the rider can assume the best tuck.. And safety wiring of the axles...No fairings allowed...Some leave on the lights and are street registered.

 Here's the new lump in the morning light

     

SWEET - keep me posted if I can help with any info. I don't have many cross-compatible parts but mention stuff and I'll check if I have anything lying around.

[fossil]

This is nice! It is exactly how a Sportster should look in my eyes - with the exception of the exhaust (that butt-ugly interference - tube…). I would add a nice Supertrapp 2 in 1 exhaust and keep it. Even with the relatively smooth 883 engine.

But that´s only me.

[Rough Edge racing]

 Took a ride today on the Sportster after fixing this and that, 40 bucks for two straight through car glass pack mufflers.Home made air filter.Increased the main jet and pilot jet by one size, shimmed the needle with a washer.Tracker type handlebars..I did not wash the bike, lol...
  On the road the vibration of the non rubber mount engine is a non issue for my riding always  on two lane roads...I find myself going along at 65 mph in relative comfort...The 883 is no power house but it does move the bike and reving high (no tach) and ignoring the increased vibration it has some punch..The handling is decent, kinda like a Tonti frame ... the bike is very stable on the non always smooth rural roads. And it can be leaned over quite a bit...The brakes...well it has brakes but the single disc is a bit underkill on a 500 pound bike..Usual Harley gear change clunk...The LePera seat that came on the bike is ok for about an hour..The exhaust sound is subdued, a bit louder than stock so it doesn't sound like a Briggs and Stratton V twin mover engine... The side stand is silly, leans over way to far...And easy fix..
  The bike is well worth the price I paid and a few hundred bucks for repairs/changes..


   

[Sheepdog]

The glass packs look great!

[Tom]

Looks good!    Open exhaust with carb adjusted.  Perfect for mtn./canyon riding and riding a volcano out here.  Reminds me of riding my Cali. III or 1100i up to 5th gear. 

[Rough Edge racing]

  The Sportster has had a few changes these last few weeks.I found the bike to be very uncomfotable for my 6 ft 175 pounds...Gone is the lowboy LePera seat....I found and overstuffed stock seat on Ebay for cheap money..I suppose the two tone is not what some want, but it is comfortable and raises up seating position about 1-1/2 inches.
  I fabricated rear set controls from the stock parts ,some scrap aluminum . made spacers on the lathe and added a braided brake hose ... Cost about $50.. I left off the sprocketcover cause it looks racy, lol
  And the exhaust...I dislike the look and sound of staggered duals...The tunable Supertrapp gets good reviews, makes good power allover and is expensive...The sound with 12 discs is  quiet for a Harly but has presence....Like a Buell but not tinny...
  For me the bike is way more comfortable and confident when ridden fast on the backroads...And it dies handle nicely when flogged

           

           

           

[Tom]

 

[JJ]

That's one nice looking Sporty!!   CONGRATS and good for you!!

[john fish]

Nice.  I'm not a huge Harley fan but that's how a motorcycle's supposed to look.

[dxhall]

I looked at an ‘06 Sportster a few days ago.  “Roadster” model with dual discs, dual plugs, rubber mounted motor, low miles.  I’ve got to say that’s a good looking bike.  I told the guy I’d buy it if he can get the title squared away.  My friends think the medical treatment I’m receiving has affected my judgment.

[maquette]

Nice!

[Rough Edge racing]

 Thanks, the bike becomes more fun to ride as I make it less of a Harley...The  gutless 883 engine has responded well to the exhaust and carb tuning and it can be hustled along if I ignore the vibration that isn't ll that bad for an hour's ride at sporting speeds..It steers more slowly than my Ducati and 79 Triumph 750 so I'm getting adjusted to it..
  Next is getting rid of the knee knocker air cleaner...