I cut my teath on this build. I bought a plastic tote full of parts and spent nine months polishing everything and putting it back together. My wife spitefully named it the Homewrecker and it stuck. Selling it is going to be hard, but it has to be done. It is time to move on to the next build.
This was my personal build. I learned more about how to do things the wrong way than how to do them right. I learned how to waste money before I learned how to save it. I made some good contacts, learned how to source what I need, and what kinds of builds make financial sense.
The motor is a 1000cc Ironhead engine from a 79' sporty. The frame is a Paughco 0 stretch 0 rake (30 degrees). I rebuilt a Shorty "E" Carb for it and wrapped straight pipes. I put in the long baffles for the right back pressure and to prevent total hearing loss. The front end is the origional 79' forks that came with the engine. I put some gators on it to give it an old school look. The lower fork tubes are painted to match. I gave them new fork fluid as well. The top tripple tree got polished and the bottom got powder coated along with the tank at Flyrite Choppers of Austin. I gave it new stem and neck bearings while I was at it. Along the way, I picked up some half apes from Melissa at Flyrite for cheap. They were slightly scratched. The grips are high dollar custom HD. I really like those grips, too bad they cost 80 bucks. The long custom clutch cable was made just for me by Barnette. I picked up the headlight and battery cover from a guy in Hutto, I think it is from a 95 sporty. The tank is right out of the Flyrite catalog just like the fender blank and the stainless steel fender strut. The seat and springs are an ebay special, so are the forward controls. 100% brand new electric with the exception of the generator. I replaced the gaskets on the primary, cam cover, and the heads. I polished all of the aluminum I could find. The rear wheel was from ebay. Melissa and her husband at Flyrite helped me find a cool white wall and mounted it for me. These guys knew I was on a budget. Hog Alley in Georgetown took a lot of my money in exchange for good parts and good advice. I just wish the bald guy wouldn't have talked me into that chrome rear brake for an undisclosed amount. They helped me get my spacers right and welded my brake tab on for me. The only welding I did was the battery bracket. The front wheel is from a softtail. After a while I was spotting good deals on parts and snatching them up for resale. I made a few bucks doing that too. All in all, I came close to breaking even. I bought the whole basket from a guy in Thorndale. I used the frame, motor, and forks and I sold the parts I didn't use. When it came to buying new things, I spent way too much. There were things I should have compromised on. The rear brake and oil bag belong on a show bike for example. When it is all said and done, the price tag on my education will make the bike a very profitable venture.
