Build: Softail Bobber

[roddenby51]

Pulling string across backside of sprockets to verify/check alignment:



Rear wheel centered in frame, Jupiter aligns with Mars, (sprockets aligned) rear brake doesn't drag...

[roddenby51]

Satin Black fender, solo spring saddle, Progressive Series 422 Adjustable Shocks installed:

[misfitJason]

What rear fender is that and where do I get one like it.

[roddenby51]

Rear fender is Custom Chrome #13254 in the sheet metal section of their catalog, page 14.13... Use underlined red link, picture on bottom right of page.

[misfitJason]

Thanks. Looks great

[roddenby51]

Rear wheel final fitting, spacers machined to length. 16" OEM HD "Conestoga" 9-spoke wheel, 11.5" OEM HD brake rotor, GMA rear 4-piston brake.

[roddenby51]

Almost a roller:



Final machining of front spacers, axle required a little lathe time. Next, mount rear tire... move project to shop.

[KevinN]

Good looking build. I have built two bikes with Kraft tech frames. No shimming under either engine, couldn't say that about the Paughco frame I had. I consider them the best mass produced frames on the market. That S&S is going to be a thumper. Good choice of drive line components too. Can you share a little more info on adapting those wheels? Sealed bearings? Axle size?

[roddenby51]

Can you share a little more info on adapting those wheels? Sealed bearings? Axle size?

Using stock 1” sealed bearings in both wheels. Front end is a hybrid, FLH sliders and Softail Heritage trees. Using 1” FLH axle… Softail trees are about 3/8” narrower than FLH, wheel fits with just enough clearance. Front (FLH) axle is basically 3/8” too long, taper was hitting left slider before tightening wheel. Machined taper back 3/8”… axle now sticks out the left slider too far. Made a 3/8” spacer for left side (outside) of left slider… axle now fits (and secures wheel) properly. Start with 0.8” wheel spacers (both sides)… fine tune from there.

Using standard 3/4” Softail rear axle… used reducers with the 1” sealed bearings. (Will replace with 3/4” sealed bearings when the 1” need replacing.) Using standard alignment frame, no offset, and standard width (OEM) swingarm. Chain drive: PBI Transmission Sprocket 24T 283-24 / PBI Rear Wheel Sprocket 51T 2073SX. Too many variables to suggest a start size for your wheel spacers… I center wheel, align sprockets, then make the rear brake work properly.

Used FLH sliders so I could run dual Brembo front brakes with 11.8” discs… Conestoga 9-spokes because I like the look. Will need to mill the Brembo caliper mounts to compensate for narrower Softail trees… simple “bolt on” OEM mods.

[roddenby51]

Softail Bobber is a roller!

[roddenby51]

No longer confined indoors:





Handlebars are temporary, 26" MTB, necessary to navigate through doors and hallway.

[CycleFreak]

Lookin' good man!

[roddenby51]

Oil tank fits, and handlebar is comfortable:







Kraft Tech K90076 Oil Tank, center fill / Handlebar OEM HD #56102-99.

[roddenby51]

Too hot to work in my shop, finished for the afternoon:

[roddenby51]

Controls connected, VOES installed (S&S anti-knock system), lambda (o2) sensor ports plugged in header, exhaust header temporarily installed:



Exhaust header (Dragos Dragula 3-step) is ceramic coated inside and out, (not chrome) black heat shields will cover header for an all black exhaust system.