Bike build....
isn't that the truth... went through the same thing with my dart.. good running 360 with 3.91 gear. was fun as hell at the track running low 12's but pretty much sucked anyplace else.
had so much more fun with the car when a stock 360 and 2.94 gears went in it..
This is what I am up against, to a point. Want something that is rideable. But at the same time I don't want to see myself riding down the road every where I look. I really like the way my chopper looks but....
Down to two choices.
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FX-FL frame, 34* rake with a 2" up stretch. From the folks I have talked to it is a great riding machine. Most of my junk will swap over to it. Will need a different set of triple clamps and fork tubes....my triple clamps are 5* ones, according to the rake/trial calculator I am using I will need 0* clamps. Problem for me is the bike is dated looking, the rear shocks and swingarm just like prehistoric.
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Then there is this softail bike, sorry about the small picture, could not save just the photo. 38* rake with a 2" up stretch. Really do like the way this bike looks. From a couple of different folks I have been chatting with this is about the limit of rake and stretch before things get goofy. Here is the issue. Softails are travel limited in the *** end. The chopper bottoms out on out dirt road with just me on the bike. Add the Boss on the back and it is even worse. Now granted I have a very cheap set of shocks under it. The solution to this is to ad an air ride. While it does not increase the travel it will allow me to use all of what is built into the bike. There is a crap load of air ride systems. The good ones, for example Shotgun Shock, allow you to control height, preload and rebound. The cheaper ones are just like airshocks for a car, they increase the ride height....with the bike ones sometimes this happens at the cost of ride quality. Going over to Idaho, hopefully tomorrow, to meet Chris White. His Aussie friends bike is in his shop and it has an air ride in it. Chris has told me he is not all that impressed with it. But he has offered me a chance to take Rays bike out for a quick jaunt.
If I go with the softail frame I will need new triple clamps and fork tubes as well. Both bike will also need a new wheel as they will have a 180 tire in place of my 250. But being a softail I know all my junk will fit, including my seat. Both bikes will also require me to get a new set of fuel tanks...not a problem as the chopper only holds 3 gallons or so...the tanks I am looking at are double in size.
Not looking to build a canyon carver. Done that already. If that is what I was after I would start looking for another Big Bore sport bike. Not looking for a sled neither. This stuff is making my head hurt...
