I got a crazy Idea this summer and decided to trade off my PERFECTLY reliable 2000 V-Star 1100 Classic on a 1979 Shovelhead XFEF (Fat Bob). The bike had low miles 10,000 origianl but was not modified well, it was in the middle of a upgrade when the previous owner stopped working on it and ran out of ambition. STILL Low miles and just cosmetics to fix........ I DEFINATLEY wasn't going to stay the way it was.

As you can tell by the photo.... The bike had some ISSUES to say the least. the bike had not been well cared for over the last 10 years or so. It just sat in a garage and didn't move. When I got the bike I installed a battery, changed the gas and hit the starter... SPIN... but it would only engage for a second.. It did however finnally start and run really nice.

 

This picture my little guy Thomas is posing with the bike. He likes ANY bike, to him it was just KOOL....

 

Me on the otherhand,,,,, the first thing I noticed was that it pointed straight up into the air...
The S&S super E carburetor was like brand new. Oh wait it was brand new. as were the exhaust. The only real FIX that needed done to be able to ride it was to fix a broken shift fork, and put in a new clutch. Riding the bike with mid controls and the front pointing up was horrible. I did finnaly get a seat put on it and put some miles on the bike throughout the summer. Not many miles, but some none the less.
I knew that I wasn't going to leave the bike like it was,,, and I'm well on my way to changing it. After having rigids the last few times.. Well,, I like them so I did that again. I got a Paughco stock rigid. I also picked up a 3" open BDL belt drive.
I got a set of Midwest Wheels and Avom SMKII wheels. I ordered 16 x 3.5 wheels for both the front and rear of the bike and it sits GREAT. My friend Tim Klindt a Tool and Die maker whipped up some axle spacers for me so that I wouldn't have to buy a paughco kit. They SHOULD tell you in advance that a stock axle will not fit without purchasing there axle kit or making you own.
The Springer is a DNA stock Length which is 22" from the bottom of the tree to the center of the axle. The Risers are off of ebay and they are bolt through style 6". The Handle bars I picked up for 20 bucks at the smokeout swap meet. The oil tank was made by me out of 6" stainless steel and all tig welded. I fabricated some oil tank mounts and made them with rubber inserts to reduce stress and cracking on the stainless oil tank. It still needs polished and the threads chased.

I messed around with the rear brake caliper for a long time. The original Caliper was the factory Bannana Caliper and man are those things HUGE... and to top it off they are huge and don't even work that well compared to modern brakes.

The paughco frame was having clearence issues with the bannana caliper and I knew just the fix. Fab Kevin...

Http://www.fabkevin.com

Makes a GREAT caliper setup for the paughco frames. I ordered his "old School" model. it comes with a stainless steel bracket and a modern import sports bike caliper... NICE SETUP!!!! His quality is second to none....

thanks Kevin.

I also got a set of DNA forward controls, and a West Eagle Seat and Drag Specialities Mustang tank. The bike is commin along.

 

Here is a pic of it's current state.

 

Still have to get a headlight and bunch of little stuff.....

Well, Here it is Pretty Much done except for the paint... I have to make sure and locktite every nut and bolt before re-assemble too....

 

I've put a few miles on it and have to tweak the seat / footpeg / handlebar position....

here is the left side. the only thing not installed is the cover that goes over the battery located inside of the belt drive...

 

I LOVE the look of completley open belt but I also LOVE my 3 year old that WILL stick his fingers in there if I don't cover it...

Oh,, and YEP,, I didn't get a chance to do anything to the motor or the Transmission so it is still leaking pretty good out of the tranny and drippin from the motor....

 

I'm going to need to get new seals in the transmission and get the motor leaks fixed when the bike is painted and before final assemble...

 

OH,, and did I mention if you don't locktite every nut and bolt on the bike they fall off..... Yep I leaned that the hard way,, first my rear sprocket came off,, then my front axle nut,,,

 

MAN this bike has almost taken me out 3 times.....LOL!!!
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