What are YOUR thoughts on the list? Do you agree with these choices or do you think there's a great platform that got left out? Let me know down below.
You offered up some sensible advice! The EVO Sportster is an excellent platform for a chopper (or bobber). Yeah, I know there are a lot of EVO Sportsters out there now, but years from now, those same EVO-powered Sportys might become a big-ticket item for prospective chopper builders. Who's gonna want to chop an H-D Pan America?! For another matter, plan out the bike's geometry. No one needs an ill-handling death trap. IF you go looking for a used springer (or girder) fork, buyer beware -- there are a lot of junk front ends out there at swaps. I know of a couple of guys in the NE who ran an extended and chromed H-D springer with near-disastrous results. I'd also keep away from screw-in fork extenders ("slugs") as well. One-piece fork tubes are pricier, but a hell of a lot safer. Running front brake is also a good idea. Anti-chopper legislation courtesy of Big Brother gave me and other chopper jockeys a lot of grief back in the 1960s and early 1970s.
@@walterfechter8080 very true on the evo’s! I’ve often wondered about what year that type of mindset switch might happen. Any thoughts? I hear you about the new bikes like the pan America though, no way is anybody going to want to mess with that. The no front brake thing has grown on me, but I can’t argue that it’s a “good idea” haha. Each person must decide themselves whether to make a smarter choice than myself or to take their chances
@@huimotorco - Sure! Why not! I've got pals who chopped their V-Star 1100s (once they fixed the starter clutches). I need some snaps of those bikes. I wish Yamaha wouldn't have dropped the Raider from their production lineup. My brother rode the wheels off of his -- including a coast-to-coast jam. He didn't have problems with that Raider. Ride safe!
Just FYI: 1984 and 1985 Softails came with factory 4 speeds with Kicker. 1985 FXWG also came with EVO and 4 speed kicker. Fair Warning, chopping an 85 FXWG is an EVIL act and will result in the eteranal damnation of your immortal soul.
Hahaha there is a guy here in our friend group who has one. So cool to see an evo that came with a kicker and actually on those it’s a full on shovelhead frame so the hardtail process is even easier!
The four speed cowpie with kicker really isn't a great transmission, it just happens to have a kicker and needs it because the stock electric starters were abortions, a legacy of HD using an outboard motor starter long before. The five speed Softail box is a vastly better gearbox vastly easier to work on and uses (worth the option even if you're young and immortal right now, you won't be able to kick forever and surprise leg injuries happen) the outstanding Denso OSGR starter famous on millions of cars and trucks. OTOH the Evo Softail frame fits earlier engines, has clearance for the five speeds built in, and has the traditional castings vital to a chopulent appearance. You can have those hardtailed using a kit with proper vintage axle plates and dispose of the heavy Softail swingarm or make it into a truing stand. I'd hunt a titled Evo Softail frame even for older engines because of the advantages.
@@Comm0ut my four speed cowpie with kicker has been flawless, finding neutral is a breeze and the jockey shifter is very smooth. They get a bad rap but it’s not deserving of that reputation
@@Comm0ut Mine had over 150,000 trouble free miles on it when I took the whole bike down for rebuild. If that isn't "great," it will do until "great" comes along.
@@greasesgarage Thou art fortunate. My two refuse to malfunction but I take great care to keep that shift linkage TIGHT. Customers were often not as dedicated.
Honda VT600c or “VLX” is an excellent first chop platform. Affordable, reliable and lots of modification choices out there today. Easy to hardtail, easy to foot clutch, jockey shift, et cetera. Wanna keep it a chonky chop, easy peasy. Wanna extend the front end, again easy peasy. Sprocket options widely available to make the highway miles more enjoyable. I’m 6’3” 220 lbs and have ridden one for almost 20 years. Engines are bulletproof. Had to give that a mention. 😎 Absolutely excellent video! Great information that will no doubt be invaluable to many many people. Well done!
CB750s are better than XS650s, they nearly killed Harley and there’s plenty of ways to chop em, if not thousands of dirt cheap survivor chops to modernize
Sportster guy here and you forgot one major detail. Solid mount evo Sporties are a completely different animal from chopping a Rubbermount Sporty. 2004 and later frames are harder to hardtail than 03 and older. My 98 has a horseshoe tank with battery box in it so it's not impossible. I think it depends on the stretch in the hardtail.
I have an 04 on my lift now. There’s a couple places now that make a good hardtail rear. Cut, bolt the motor in as the jig, and weld. I was kinda surprised at how well it went. Have an 03 as well, but that’s in a Paughco frame.
@@jameshill8498 I just went and looked, mine came from lowbrow, (04-22 Sporty)weld on, and was 450$. Getting up the nerve to do the cutting was harder than the actual cutting and welding. Looks decent too +2” stretch and 1” down. Nice not to have the registration issues my Paughco frame had too… it’s done, but was a bit of a dance.
You can't go wrong with the throttle addiction deluxe hardtail kit if you're building a sporty. High quality, includes all the big ticket items to do the build, and the price is very fair
@@greasesgarage I couldn't be happier. Kit is awesome & they def have some cool shit on their site. If I ever do another sporty i'm def going with the same TA kit
@@greasesgarage I couldn't be happier. Kit is awesome & they def have some cool shit on their site. If I ever do another sporty i'm def going with the same TA kit again
I built mine in my living room in 3 months paid state taxes on 16 grand of parts, used a jims 5 speed and a s&s 96 engine kraftec frame paugco springer been working on it off and on for 14 years.Its a good hobby keeps you out of the bar? Runs like a bat out of meatloaf.
I guess I’m a weirdo…a LowBrow weirdo, see what I did there? 😂 I’ve got a big twin, now I’m wanting to go down to a 1200 Evo Sportster for my next build😂 dude Evo Sportsters are so freakin cool to me! And they are dang near bulletproof! Love this video and love this channel, I just found it, and I’m glad I did! ❤
I have never seen someone locally who has built a chopper out of one so I can’t say that I’d recommend it personally. If you have someone you know who can guide you on that build, maybe. But if you don’t, I highly recommend NOT purchasing a bike like that for a chopper build
Kool is often over rated and chasing esthetic minutiae is fun but not always optimal. I have Shovels and Evos, wrenched on many more since the late 1970s, and it's no contest the Evo is a much more reliable big twin engine because the top end properly sheds heat. That's why it saved Harley-Davidson. If you're new to chopping get the Evo and remember you can always bolt in a Shovel engine later one while keeping your stock engine as a ready spare. If you save up and begin with a Softail then RIDE the thing instead of going insane throwing parts at it you will get a specific idea of what YOU want that bike to do for you. A common deadly mistake is tearing apart a perfectly good motorbike too far then losing interest after which people like me buy the basket case cheap. On an Evo Sporty kickers are purely for looks which always bears reminding because many noobs feel great pressure to conform to someone else's idea of kool. Best years are the five speed years with a proper clutch instead of the retarded clutchernator abortion with the undersized trap door bearings. I'm 6'2" and greatly prefer mids on everything but controls are a matter of personal ergos. I give away forward controls when I get a Sporty with them because only mids allow standing on pegs to deload the riders spine surmounting bumps. Yam 650s are like having a British twin that's not a grenade (I collect Nortons and Triumphs but unless you are a seriously dedicated mechanic they're pointless). They make excellent short chops and trackers, they're very easy to work on and it's still cheap to buy donor bikes. I would not cut up a seriously nice stock one as they're getting collectible but would certainly sell a nice one to buy an Evo Sportster. A bike is just money on wheels so don't feel obligated to chop what ya got. I didn't mind my XS size but I ride small bikes around town and big machines cross-country. I flipped it though since I do prefer much more power. You can spice up an XS but for the same total investment you can have a superior Evo Sportster. Chopping oddball rides can be fun if you're already a mechanic but be aware choppers are folk art and believe it or not all art has rules (Golden Mean etc) so to ge the bike you want the smart way is begin with the bike you want. Not everything NEEDS to be chopped (or cafe'd, another meme resulting in many butchered mistakes). Lastly, go visit Chop Cult and Jockey Journal to learn classic chopper esthetics and tech info you won't get anywhere else.
Well said man, I appreciate the detailed reply. Love the folks over at chopcult always putting on for the chopper scene. I’m happy with my evo and I do have a shovel motor in the garage waiting for a chance to get tossed into this frame 🤘🏼
I'd have put your list in reverse order. For me, the XS-650 is the greatest bike ever to chop, and if I ever own another H-D it'll be a Sportster or a (not on your list but) UL. As for the XS struggling (I don't think you used that word but it's what you meant) on the highway, yours might have. Mine doesn't. As for big twins, I bought a basket-case '77 Shovelhead back in 1980 and before I even rode it, I had an S&S 93ci Sidewinder kit (the latest and greatest thing at the time) put in. Nowadays I'd have to ask the question - since when is 1200cc not a big enough motor for a bike? I've seen Boss Hoss bikes with 572ci Chevy engines. Unless you find yourself in a pissing contest, is there any need for that?
Sportster make the best first choppers. Nobody can ever change my mind on that. Also, let's recognize that the Evo sporty is the only reliable bike Harley has ever built. I mean actually reliable. Something that can go 100k or more without replacing shit outside of fluids and filters. As for underpowered, yeah the 883 is lackluster. The 1200's however, will blow the doors off a stock M8 114. The Sporty is way way faster than anyone gives them credit for. Also, dirt cheap to get 120hp out of.
That’s why it’s on this list. As far as best it’s hard to say. I can’t think of anyone I know who built a sporty chopper and didn’t end up wanting a big twin chopper later.
@@greasesgarage A Hammer 1275 kit, cams and EMD Ribster covers, and the Ironhead style or ribbed rocker boxes give them sporty Evos all the character of a big twin, and more imho. But I get the stigma with Sportys. I guess people trade up because the whole world says it's a girls bike, and whether they believe that or not, it's always a lingering feeling in the back of your mind 😅
You are a better mechanic than me brotha! I do have love for the ironheads, it can just be a lot of work for a new rider and I’ve seen it discourage people out of the hobby. Need to get a few wins under their belt before taking on the ol XLCH 💪🏼👍🏼 If you’re on Insta shoot me some pics of yours, would love to check it out
BTW On my evo sportster chopper I put a TC Bros hardtail on which I believe is about a 4 inch stretch with forward controls and it's a great fit for me. I'm 6' 250 pounds - plenty of room for me. I also put on super long exhaust and 12" over front end so it looks proportional to my body. Something to consider for the taller guys who may think sporties are too small. It is a bit of extra time, effort, money to do this but it can be done.
I hear ya. We have a homie out here’s who’s about your size and he did this as well. Extended tail and extended forks and it really did lengthen that bike out to make it sit bigger. If you’re on instagram shoot me some pics!
So I do have a question. I have done the Sportster chop and I love the process but now I would like to do an Evo Big Twin for the power to get me down the highway a little faster. I am having a hard time figuring out with Evo Big Twin Motors can be used for this next build...I was told to look for ONLY FLST 85-99 but some of the motors during that time confused me. FXR FLST. FLST/c could you shed a little light on this one? I am starting to look for the bike to build which is how I found you. Thanks!
That's awesome! You will be very happy with the Evo Big Twin platform coming from the Sporty. As far as the models, your info is correct. You want to look for 85-99 FLST aka Softail models. There are several of these. Heritage softail (FLSTC), fatboy (FLSTF) and even springers (FLSTS). I'll post a link at the end of this reply to all the model codes. What you want to avoid is any Dyna or FXR. Those models have a square backbone that will not readily accept a chopper style gas tank and the rear suspension is very different as well. Any model with exposed shocks in the rear is not what you're looking for. Let me know if there's more I can do to point you in the right direction. Link to codes: www.timbertownhd.com/About/Harley-Davidson-Research/Harley-Davidson-Model-Codes
Preferable is a later Evo Softail of any year using the distinctive Denso OSGR electric starter because those have the splined transmission shafts and of course later engine castings. Early Softails are fine at the right price but there's a lot worth changing when chopping. That said you can transplant the guts of later five speeds (best years are Twin Cam era) into early transmission cases, bore them for the more powerful Denso starter that's easy to get parts for anywhere, and uses the aftermarket pushbutton solenoid end covers as main or backup to start the bike. An inner and outer primary cover swap is required but there are plenty of those. All Evo engines interchange so you can use one from any donor, but title passes with the frame so be sure you have a clean, clear Harley title to the frame you use for best results.
@@Comm0ut Dude thank you so much. With my Sporster chopper, I went though the whole process of getting the bill of sale to registration to title and it was murder. I will never do that again. When I decided I was going to do an Evo BT Next, I was confused by what donor bikes would and would not work and no one seemed to have the same answer, So this is a huge help! Honestly....THANK YOU
@@greasesgarage I'm trying to find the right donor bike as well. What's the reason for the 85-99 model years? Thanks for your awesome videos, just subscribed!
Let me first say great video, I am old guy, back in the day the bikes of choice for chopping were Honda 750/4 and Kawasaki 900 because they were quick and smooth for there time. However having said that I have always loved a Harley as they were and still are a simpler bike to work on. In addition I have always started builds from wrecks not a running working bike. One because I just can’t bring myself to chop a complete running bike and two saving a bike from the junkyard is a open canvas. Probably not the easiest or cheapest option but certainly very satisfying when you have brought it back from the dead. Oh and iron head sportster is not a bad option if you like working on your bike if you maintain them properly they can be very reliable and rewarding. Currently I am building a 2003 twincam with a morris mag SU carb kick start 100 cu inch kit again something I saved from the junk yard. Looking forward to your next video. Regards Tim
Hey Tim, I appreciate you sharing this. Very cool to hear what the bikes of the day were. One day I will be telling the younger generation how back in my day we chopped xs650’s for the same reason haha. Very true about the ironheads. A true mechanics bike. For the beginner it can be a little too heavy on the maintenance side. I’ve found it can discourage a would-be chopper guy out of the hobby if taken on too early. Once you’re competent, absolutely a fun bike that will teach you a lot. If you’re on Instagram, my handle is the same as it is here, I’m on Facebook as well. I’d love to see that twin cam project!
This was always how choppers were made back in the 70's and 80's where I grew up. Chopping a ridable bike was unheard of back then. Chopping was always a resurrection of the dead, not a mutilation of the living. Times have changed and people are more prosperous now. There are more ridable, but neglected old bikes now than ever, that if not chopped, will just languish unridden. So, a chopping we will go, a chopping we will go.....,
No, if you don’t fit on a sporty you won’t fit on an XS. I even mention in the video that for someone of average height and weight like myself I found the xs too small. It sounds like you missed that part
I’m sad to say that a few months after I left the show Spotify took them all down. To this day I don’t know what caused it but all those episodes got removed. Maybe I can bring some interview style content to this platform though
Hell yes! I love the deeper dives into things. I'm always down for a long video with good info! Thank you for the info and showing my bikes! I will say though, that blue XS650 in the video was my first build and I absolutely loved it. I am 6 ft 1" at 260 lb and I made some custom mid forwards and they felt great! I didn't feel too cramped and I was very comfortable. I looked goofier than shit sitting on it because I'm so big but it was not an uncomfortable ride in the least. I would definitely build one again!
Thanks for sending them in homie! Glad you’re digging the longer video I usually keep things short and to the point but this one needed some expanding. Like I say in the beginning I’m just one guy with one set of experiences so I’m hoping people will do what you’re doing here and share their feedback on these platforms too.
I have four XS-650 at the moment and have owned at least six more. I'm 5' 8" and the XS is the perfect sized bike for me. I wouldn't want to be too much taller.
Hay man I'm a new subscriber what do a thunder mountain custom cycles Firestone start out as b4 it's a factory pro street softtail chopper? please let me know coz , I'd like 2 build 1 I know TMCC is out of business no other channels will take the time 2 give me a answer thanks in advance 😂 ride safe enuff said.
You perked my ears up when you started talking about size limitations and highway speed. Back in the early to mid 1970's I had a Honda DOHC 450, you could practically put it in your back pocket. I lived in southern NH then, heard about a concert in Boston starting in an hour. The sun had set when I went past the rest area just north of 495 at 100 mph and noticed a state trooper going in, I kept going. I made most of that ride at 100, the bike had more speed but I didn't need it. Rode that bike 2000 miles to Austin, Texas, nice ride with no problems. I had converted it to a cafe racer with clip on handlebars and rear set controls shortly after I bought it, oh and I am 6'4" tall. Moved up to a 1976 Kawa 900 then a 1977 Kawa 1000 for 20+ years. I bought my 88" panhead in a 1981 FXE in 1998 with jockey shift, suicide clutch, open 3" primary, kick only, all that good stuff. Getting old, looking for an electric start spare bike, found a 1978 XLCR with electric at an estate sale. It sat in a shed for 25+years except the engine was used for the drags, never heard it run. Bought it cheap, opened the engine, 74 cu in, new pistons, new stock Harley cylinders, very lumpy Andrews cams, 4 spark plugs, S&S super B carb and intake ported and polished all the way to the valves, Sputhe engine cases. After I get the brakes and wiring done I will get a battery and find out how well it runs. Should be an interesting spare bike. I haven't watched all your videos yet but I like all that I have seen including this one. I just couldn't let you slide on the old story that you have to have a huge bike to ride on the highway. Having a big bike is nice although I wouldn't want one of those wheeled sofas, but people got around just fine on smaller bikes at decent speed for a lot of years. Thanks for the thoughtful content.
I appreciate you sharing this! It definitely is possible to make those longer runs with lower displacements, not surprised to hear it’s a Honda that did it either. If you think about it, all the Japanese made sport bike motors even the 600’s will do damn near double the top speed of a Harley with ease. Not that I’m interested in riding a sport bike but it does illustrate the point that other engine styles can put out some serious power. Would love to see some photos of your bikes, I’ve got a group by this same name on FB if you’re on there. You should join it!
@@greasesgarage Thank you, I have a page(?) I think on fb but I never could find any instructions so I don't look at it much. A lot of Harley stuff shows up on it but I have no idea how to find someone on it. I am in my mid 70's and computer illiterate, have only learned very basic stuff.
@warrenp2022 just type greases garage into the search bar and hit join group. Either way though you can still reach me here as well, just thought you might enjoy the bike talk with some of the other members on there
Thanks 4 the reply big time but can u let me know what bike a Firestone start with even if I have 2 build a copycat Firestone when u got time .... I know ppl got things 2 do thanks hope u & your family stay well ride safe 😁 enuff said.
The CB750 should’ve been in the XS650’s place. It is currently cheaper, more reliable, faster, easier to adapt harley parts & for the cool factor of not many people ride em to shows. It has a history of harley riders junking their shovels for it just off of reliability & speed alone. Currently fighting in my head on a CB750 or a big twin evo for my first build.
Im 6'4" and 260ish. Ive built a twon cam heritage vicla, a 131 powered street glide, and now im building my foot clutch jockey shifted evo sporty. Im going bobber not chopper, but some of the stuff is still relative. Maybe on round 2 of building this bike ill go hardtail
I don’t understand why big twins “must” be chain driven. At my shop we put belts on everything and never had a problem. Unless we’re having fitment issues we will not put a chain on a chopper. My personal bike has had the same belt for 7 years, I rode it hard daily and no issues!
It’s not that they MUST be chain drive it’s just that chain drive has some advantages that many people like. Easier to change your sprocket sizes to play with your gearing, less width needed on the rear of frame to accommodate the chain vs belt (you know chopper guys love narrow frames) and lastly it’s easier to change if you ever had one snap. The other aspect of it is that chopper guys tend to be into older bikes and older bikes had chains. It’s part of the look. None of this is to say that you can’t physically run a belt if you wanted to. But I find most people don’t want to
3 minutes in, i feel like I'm being attacked. EMOTIONAL INVESTMENT IS REAL! I was so emotionally attached to my first build that when it quit running and i couldn't afford to fix it any longer (ironhead) i just let it SIT. 7 years later, no I'm not exaggerating, i just sold that build as a project to some poor schmuck
It happens brotha! I’m trying to challenge people to think ahead and set themselves up for success, some want to plan it out on the first go round and some (like myself) don’t get this info in time but wish we did. Builds have a way of pulling us in, best to get pulled toward a forever bike 👍🏼
My first chopper build I started last winter and finished it this winter. It was an '84 Honda Shadow VT700C. It was cheap to buy and if it didn't go as planned it wasn't all that much of a waste and I got a lot of good experience from building it. My next project: Couple months ago I picked up a '77 Ironhead motor. I can't afford a Shovelhead :-( I'm building the frame from scratch, but I'm not building a Sportster frame, I'm building a big twin frame so later on if I get a Shovelhead motor I can modify the frame for it. The front engine mount will be the Shovelhead platform and I'll fabricate an Ironhead engine plate to fit it. It should be a fun project.
Im rebuilding my dad's 77' XLH1000 from the ground up and I'm $3k into it already between paint and new parts. Everything is original except the interals and carb. Has just over 20k miles on it.
I had a friend who bought a 883 for his first bike and he didn't keep it long. He's 6'5" and about 280 😂😂. I couldn't believe he bought it in the first place.
Hey man I love the videos. They have helped me a BUNCH. I started a 07 suzuki savage ls650 build as my first bike build. I was just curious on what your experiences with builds on this bike. Thanks
Really happy to hear that man 🙏🏼 as far as the savage I know only two people who have built them. One abandoned the project and the other did minor mods but nothing crazy like a hardtail build etc. It’s a great bike but a little less catered to than some of the other options out there. Anything is possible with enough drive and money though
Working on my first build going on 2 years so far, but not worried about it, aoo that means is i'm getting it to how I want. My platform is a 1972 Ironhead, Electric start.
Glad I stumbled along this I was fixing blindly buy a shovelhead frame $300 but then seen a ironhead 80s down tube stretch frame and I’ve decided go with the evo like I originally planned thanks for info
Anybody who is about to embark on a full chopper build is, or is going to become, mechanically inclined. Would be a hard hobby to be in without it. All platforms will have their quirks and require some mechanical know-how. Shovel is just a fantastic option to learn on
The best advice I can give on this topic is to NEVER concern yourself with what constitutes a chopper. Only focus your time and energy on what YOU want and leave the labels for someone else. Can’t wait to see what you build brotha 🤘🏼
Fantastic video! I wish you had come out with this 10 years ago when I started my journey into choppers... oh well, it's here now! Thank you for making this video!
A major consideration should be resale value. No matter what motor/trans you choose; frames(often) forks, wheels, tires, brakes, tanks, paint and chrome all cost the same. But what's worse, if you don't do ALL the work yourself, someone else's labor costs the same. The more desirable the motor/trans combo, the more likely you are to see a higher return on your "investment" when you sell.
When it comes to building a chopper, you’re very unlikely to see any return on your investment when you consider all the hours you really spent building it. To break even would be incredible
@@greasesgarage True on labor you do. Especially if you calculate your labor out at shop rates. But pick a less desirable bike with low resale value, you'll lose the shirt off your back with your tax paid dollars you've laid out on all the other stuff.
I have a slightly different question. I ride an 05 Dyna Twin Cam. I'm late 60's with back and neck issues. Rigid chopper probably not a great idea. I would like to do a jockey shift set up. How difficult would that be? And I don't want a clutch lever on the shifter. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hey brotha, so for those bikes you’ve got a clutch cable coming out the right side of the bike which is a bit tricky, but that said I did do a jockey shift setup when I still had a five speed in this bike, same cable setup as you have. I routed the cable under the motor and up to a mount on the shifter peg mount. This holds the cable and allows you to loop it around a bolt attached to your shifter. As far as commercially available kits I think it was either led sled or labriola who made a kit for this
My dude what do u think of making a v rod muscle or a breakout a chopper?? & which do u think would b better than a Firestone & why? yes I know lots of ppl hate v rods 😔 I know this is a lot 2 ask 4 but please give me your opinion ride safe enuff said.
I don’t think either would be a good option because those motors and frames are not conducive to building a chopper, the backbones are massive and the gussets are everywhere. You’d have to get a whole new frame and nobody makes a frame to accommodate a v rod motor so that would definitely be the bottom of the list. Idk much about the breakout though, what motor is in it?
Thank u big time but what bike do a Firestone start with? coz a copycat of a Firestone I what I'm looking 4 if I have 2 build it then v rod was second 4a chopper build or a breakout .
I think the worst think to start with will be a 2004 up rubber mount Sportster… Don’t get me wrong, I love my 2004 1200 C, but building a hardtail kickstart bike out of it isn’t worth the effort!
Glad to hear you can see both sides of it. It seems that any time someone tries to steer someone away from a certain bike it can feel like an attack and people want to defend the bike and say how anything is possible etc. But sometimes it’s just a lot harder with some bikes than it needs to be. The more logically we can approach the choice of the bike to use the more straightforward the process will be
Hardtail isn't that bad, Kickstart is darn near impossible. Unless that Kickstart is important to you I don't think it's bad to chop. It's more comfortable for long miles than the ridged mount.
@@jameshill8498 Mmh - more comfortable?!!!??? Had a 96 1200S and now owning a 2004 1200 Custom - Yes the frame is a bit more spacious in its rear for more pillion comfort… also the passenger pegs are now frame instead of swingarm mounted, but the vibrations are nearly the same and I could do my 1000km a day on both.
Insanely detailed video, loved it! I started on a '86 rebel 250, jumped up to a 1200 sporty, and now a 1340 shovel. All about a slow and steady progression. If my first bike was a big ass 117" M8 I feel like there wouldn't be anything to look forward too and would only feel like i'm down grading
That’s true! Very fair point. Maybe the progression is all part of the process, I tend to be very analytical about my journey and trying to figure out how I could have gotten to the destination quicker. I suppose it’s all part of the process, but I still would have skipped the XS if I could go back haha, just for my size
@@greasesgarage I hear what you're saying. I'm more of a throw shit at the wall & see what sticks kinda guy & a bit of a slow learner. I'd only ridden a handful of friends dirtbikes as a kid before I got my motorcycle endorsment so the 250 was pretty awesome to learn the ropes on and get comfortable with operating the controls but I could have probably gone straight to the sporty and been just as satisfied with my choice. 2 very different journeys with a very similar destination my man!
More modern design of the motor. Little things like having two exhaust studs to hold the exhaust on instead of 1. The intake manifold is designed better so it doesn’t tend to leak, the heads dissipate heat better etc. I like having the modern engine with the Shovelhead transmission. Best of both worlds
They’ve always been great about sharing out my videos and they put on for the chopper community in a big way so I wanted to include them in the backdrop. There’s a lowbrow sign in the back as well for the same reason. Good companies doing good stuff 🤘🏼
@@greasesgarage I have found one that is a 72 it’s in mint condition. But convincing myself to spend 9 grand on it to then spend another 5 is hard. It’s not listed and he knows I want it so just waiting for when the time is right.
Many of todays hardtails are just too narrow to accommodate a belt drive. Some can still fit but many of the popular brands won’t take one. Outside of that it’s all the usual things you hear people talk about. Easier to change a chain on the road if you had to (though I’ve never seen a belt break), also having a chain allows you to change your sprockets and switch the gearing of your bike for better highway performance (or wheelies for the dyna guys haha)
@@greasesgarage Cool. I have yet to see a properly maintain belt break either. Even the misaligned ones rarely break. If one is foolish enough to keep running a frayed belt, they deserve all of the misery that ensues. For that matter, I have never seen a street bike shed it's chain, but I still keep a pair of master links in my '84 Softail tool bag.
I don’t have that answer unfortunately. I stepped away when I started this channel so I don’t have the info as to what went on but I do know they started it back up under “lowlife podcast”
@@greasesgarage I subscribed to your channel just 4 days ago. It's the most complete and detailed channel on choppers ever followed. My life dream is a shovel chopper and I'm 5.85 ( wished panheads but price have skyrocketed). ❤
What are YOUR thoughts on the list? Do you agree with these choices or do you think there's a great platform that got left out? Let me know down below.
You offered up some sensible advice! The EVO Sportster is an excellent platform for a chopper (or bobber). Yeah, I know there are a lot of EVO Sportsters out there now, but years from now, those same EVO-powered Sportys might become a big-ticket item for prospective chopper builders. Who's gonna want to chop an H-D Pan America?! For another matter, plan out the bike's geometry. No one needs an ill-handling death trap. IF you go looking for a used springer (or girder) fork, buyer beware -- there are a lot of junk front ends out there at swaps. I know of a couple of guys in the NE who ran an extended and chromed H-D springer with near-disastrous results. I'd also keep away from screw-in fork extenders ("slugs") as well. One-piece fork tubes are pricier, but a hell of a lot safer. Running front brake is also a good idea. Anti-chopper legislation courtesy of Big Brother gave me and other chopper jockeys a lot of grief back in the 1960s and early 1970s.
@@walterfechter8080 very true on the evo’s! I’ve often wondered about what year that type of mindset switch might happen. Any thoughts?
I hear you about the new bikes like the pan America though, no way is anybody going to want to mess with that.
The no front brake thing has grown on me, but I can’t argue that it’s a “good idea” haha. Each person must decide themselves whether to make a smarter choice than myself or to take their chances
Lol…went in a different direction… long live the roadstar!!!
@@huimotorco - Sure! Why not! I've got pals who chopped their V-Star 1100s (once they fixed the starter clutches). I need some snaps of those bikes. I wish Yamaha wouldn't have dropped the Raider from their production lineup. My brother rode the wheels off of his -- including a coast-to-coast jam. He didn't have problems with that Raider. Ride safe!
@@huimotorco it’ll always have a place in my heart, might even buy another one some day. That bike was built for the highway
Just FYI: 1984 and 1985 Softails came with factory 4 speeds with Kicker. 1985 FXWG also came with EVO and 4 speed kicker. Fair Warning, chopping an 85 FXWG is an EVIL act and will result in the eteranal damnation of your immortal soul.
Hahaha there is a guy here in our friend group who has one. So cool to see an evo that came with a kicker and actually on those it’s a full on shovelhead frame so the hardtail process is even easier!
The four speed cowpie with kicker really isn't a great transmission, it just happens to have a kicker and needs it because the stock electric starters were abortions, a legacy of HD using an outboard motor starter long before. The five speed Softail box is a vastly better gearbox vastly easier to work on and uses (worth the option even if you're young and immortal right now, you won't be able to kick forever and surprise leg injuries happen) the outstanding Denso OSGR starter famous on millions of cars and trucks. OTOH the Evo Softail frame fits earlier engines, has clearance for the five speeds built in, and has the traditional castings vital to a chopulent appearance. You can have those hardtailed using a kit with proper vintage axle plates and dispose of the heavy Softail swingarm or make it into a truing stand. I'd hunt a titled Evo Softail frame even for older engines because of the advantages.
@@Comm0ut my four speed cowpie with kicker has been flawless, finding neutral is a breeze and the jockey shifter is very smooth. They get a bad rap but it’s not deserving of that reputation
@@Comm0ut Mine had over 150,000 trouble free miles on it when I took the whole bike down for rebuild. If that isn't "great," it will do until "great" comes along.
@@greasesgarage Thou art fortunate. My two refuse to malfunction but I take great care to keep that shift linkage TIGHT. Customers were often not as dedicated.
Honda VT600c or “VLX” is an excellent first chop platform. Affordable, reliable and lots of modification choices out there today. Easy to hardtail, easy to foot clutch, jockey shift, et cetera. Wanna keep it a chonky chop, easy peasy. Wanna extend the front end, again easy peasy. Sprocket options widely available to make the highway miles more enjoyable. I’m 6’3” 220 lbs and have ridden one for almost 20 years. Engines are bulletproof. Had to give that a mention. 😎
Absolutely excellent video! Great information that will no doubt be invaluable to many many people. Well done!
Thank you for sharing this brotha! Another great option for people. If you can foot clutch jockey shift it, it’s got my interest haha
Totally agree with you
Great suggestion
Hell yea I got a bobbed-out vlx and it's pretty cool, I mean I got a love-hate relationship with it😂but everyone else likes the hell out of it
CB750s are better than XS650s, they nearly killed Harley and there’s plenty of ways to chop em, if not thousands of dirt cheap survivor chops to modernize
Sportster guy here and you forgot one major detail. Solid mount evo Sporties are a completely different animal from chopping a Rubbermount Sporty. 2004 and later frames are harder to hardtail than 03 and older.
My 98 has a horseshoe tank with battery box in it so it's not impossible. I think it depends on the stretch in the hardtail.
I have an 04 on my lift now. There’s a couple places now that make a good hardtail rear. Cut, bolt the motor in as the jig, and weld. I was kinda surprised at how well it went. Have an 03 as well, but that’s in a Paughco frame.
@@curlymaplebandit3107 Ryca used to make a bolt on hardtail kit for Rubbermount Sportsters but it was wicked expensive and they went out of business.
@@jameshill8498 I just went and looked, mine came from lowbrow, (04-22 Sporty)weld on, and was 450$. Getting up the nerve to do the cutting was harder than the actual cutting and welding. Looks decent too +2” stretch and 1” down.
Nice not to have the registration issues my Paughco frame had too… it’s done, but was a bit of a dance.
MOTORS ARE ELECTRIC DUDE. ENGINE IS AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION.
COME ON GREASE !
I can’t promise that I won’t continue to use them 100% interchangeably lol
you can run a belt with a hardtail sport i been seeing more dudes keep the belt drive kinda weird fork out the $200 for a chain kit
You can't go wrong with the throttle addiction deluxe hardtail kit if you're building a sporty. High quality, includes all the big ticket items to do the build, and the price is very fair
I always hear great things about throttle addiction
@@greasesgarage I couldn't be happier. Kit is awesome & they def have some cool shit on their site. If I ever do another sporty i'm def going with the same TA kit
@@greasesgarage I couldn't be happier. Kit is awesome & they def have some cool shit on their site. If I ever do another sporty i'm def going with the same TA kit again
Wish this vid existed 5 years ago!! First 10mins so relatable - happened to me. Love my shovel!! Been an awesome 2 years building and riding it
Me too! Haha. Hoping my struggles can save a few people from the same mistakes. If you’re on Instagram or fb shoot me some pics of the shovel 🤘🏼
I built mine in my living room in 3 months paid state taxes on 16 grand of parts, used a jims 5 speed and a s&s 96 engine kraftec frame paugco springer been working on it off and on for 14 years.Its a good hobby keeps you out of the bar? Runs like a bat out of meatloaf.
1 dwi you loose your car and 10 grand to the lawyer. That will pay for building a scooter?
I guess I’m a weirdo…a LowBrow weirdo, see what I did there? 😂 I’ve got a big twin, now I’m wanting to go down to a 1200 Evo Sportster for my next build😂 dude Evo Sportsters are so freakin cool to me! And they are dang near bulletproof! Love this video and love this channel, I just found it, and I’m glad I did! ❤
Glad to have you here 🤘🏼
I have a chance at 2 CB900s, one runs, one doesnt. Price for both is under $1K. Would love to build a chopper with them. Thoughts?
I have never seen someone locally who has built a chopper out of one so I can’t say that I’d recommend it personally. If you have someone you know who can guide you on that build, maybe. But if you don’t, I highly recommend NOT purchasing a bike like that for a chopper build
I'm surprised he didn't have Honda shadow 600 on the list.
Kool is often over rated and chasing esthetic minutiae is fun but not always optimal. I have Shovels and Evos, wrenched on many more since the late 1970s, and it's no contest the Evo is a much more reliable big twin engine because the top end properly sheds heat. That's why it saved Harley-Davidson. If you're new to chopping get the Evo and remember you can always bolt in a Shovel engine later one while keeping your stock engine as a ready spare.
If you save up and begin with a Softail then RIDE the thing instead of going insane throwing parts at it you will get a specific idea of what YOU want that bike to do for you. A common deadly mistake is tearing apart a perfectly good motorbike too far then losing interest after which people like me buy the basket case cheap.
On an Evo Sporty kickers are purely for looks which always bears reminding because many noobs feel great pressure to conform to someone else's idea of kool. Best years are the five speed years with a proper clutch instead of the retarded clutchernator abortion with the undersized trap door bearings. I'm 6'2" and greatly prefer mids on everything but controls are a matter of personal ergos. I give away forward controls when I get a Sporty with them because only mids allow standing on pegs to deload the riders spine surmounting bumps.
Yam 650s are like having a British twin that's not a grenade (I collect Nortons and Triumphs but unless you are a seriously dedicated mechanic they're pointless). They make excellent short chops and trackers, they're very easy to work on and it's still cheap to buy donor bikes. I would not cut up a seriously nice stock one as they're getting collectible but would certainly sell a nice one to buy an Evo Sportster. A bike is just money on wheels so don't feel obligated to chop what ya got. I didn't mind my XS size but I ride small bikes around town and big machines cross-country. I flipped it though since I do prefer much more power. You can spice up an XS but for the same total investment you can have a superior Evo Sportster.
Chopping oddball rides can be fun if you're already a mechanic but be aware choppers are folk art and believe it or not all art has rules (Golden Mean etc) so to ge the bike you want the smart way is begin with the bike you want. Not everything NEEDS to be chopped (or cafe'd, another meme resulting in many butchered mistakes).
Lastly, go visit Chop Cult and Jockey Journal to learn classic chopper esthetics and tech info you won't get anywhere else.
Well said man, I appreciate the detailed reply. Love the folks over at chopcult always putting on for the chopper scene.
I’m happy with my evo and I do have a shovel motor in the garage waiting for a chance to get tossed into this frame 🤘🏼
@@greasesgarage Happy to help! My nick there is farmall.
Very good video bro!
Did you see my complete story on my Yamaha 1700 chopper?
It is on your website.
Thank you brotha! Which website is it on?
I'd have put your list in reverse order. For me, the XS-650 is the greatest bike ever to chop, and if I ever own another H-D it'll be a Sportster or a (not on your list but) UL. As for the XS struggling (I don't think you used that word but it's what you meant) on the highway, yours might have. Mine doesn't. As for big twins, I bought a basket-case '77 Shovelhead back in 1980 and before I even rode it, I had an S&S 93ci Sidewinder kit (the latest and greatest thing at the time) put in. Nowadays I'd have to ask the question - since when is 1200cc not a big enough motor for a bike? I've seen Boss Hoss bikes with 572ci Chevy engines. Unless you find yourself in a pissing contest, is there any need for that?
Because of the size of the bike. The xs650 is just a physically small bike. If you’re 6’ or over, you’re just not gonna fit on it comfortably
Sportster make the best first choppers. Nobody can ever change my mind on that. Also, let's recognize that the Evo sporty is the only reliable bike Harley has ever built. I mean actually reliable. Something that can go 100k or more without replacing shit outside of fluids and filters. As for underpowered, yeah the 883 is lackluster. The 1200's however, will blow the doors off a stock M8 114. The Sporty is way way faster than anyone gives them credit for. Also, dirt cheap to get 120hp out of.
That’s why it’s on this list. As far as best it’s hard to say. I can’t think of anyone I know who built a sporty chopper and didn’t end up wanting a big twin chopper later.
@@greasesgarage A Hammer 1275 kit, cams and EMD Ribster covers, and the Ironhead style or ribbed rocker boxes give them sporty Evos all the character of a big twin, and more imho. But I get the stigma with Sportys. I guess people trade up because the whole world says it's a girls bike, and whether they believe that or not, it's always a lingering feeling in the back of your mind 😅
I love my sportster! 110 on the freeway this morning!
Awesome video. Really no love for the ironheads😢. I love mine that's all that counts😅
You are a better mechanic than me brotha! I do have love for the ironheads, it can just be a lot of work for a new rider and I’ve seen it discourage people out of the hobby. Need to get a few wins under their belt before taking on the ol XLCH 💪🏼👍🏼
If you’re on Insta shoot me some pics of yours, would love to check it out
BTW On my evo sportster chopper I put a TC Bros hardtail on which I believe is about a 4 inch stretch with forward controls and it's a great fit for me. I'm 6' 250 pounds - plenty of room for me. I also put on super long exhaust and 12" over front end so it looks proportional to my body. Something to consider for the taller guys who may think sporties are too small. It is a bit of extra time, effort, money to do this but it can be done.
I hear ya. We have a homie out here’s who’s about your size and he did this as well. Extended tail and extended forks and it really did lengthen that bike out to make it sit bigger.
If you’re on instagram shoot me some pics!
U look like alex jones and ryan gosling had a baby
So I do have a question. I have done the Sportster chop and I love the process but now I would like to do an Evo Big Twin for the power to get me down the highway a little faster. I am having a hard time figuring out with Evo Big Twin Motors can be used for this next build...I was told to look for ONLY FLST 85-99 but some of the motors during that time confused me. FXR FLST. FLST/c could you shed a little light on this one? I am starting to look for the bike to build which is how I found you. Thanks!
That's awesome! You will be very happy with the Evo Big Twin platform coming from the Sporty.
As far as the models, your info is correct. You want to look for 85-99 FLST aka Softail models. There are several of these. Heritage softail (FLSTC), fatboy (FLSTF) and even springers (FLSTS). I'll post a link at the end of this reply to all the model codes.
What you want to avoid is any Dyna or FXR. Those models have a square backbone that will not readily accept a chopper style gas tank and the rear suspension is very different as well. Any model with exposed shocks in the rear is not what you're looking for. Let me know if there's more I can do to point you in the right direction.
Link to codes: www.timbertownhd.com/About/Harley-Davidson-Research/Harley-Davidson-Model-Codes
Preferable is a later Evo Softail of any year using the distinctive Denso OSGR electric starter because those have the splined transmission shafts and of course later engine castings. Early Softails are fine at the right price but there's a lot worth changing when chopping. That said you can transplant the guts of later five speeds (best years are Twin Cam era) into early transmission cases, bore them for the more powerful Denso starter that's easy to get parts for anywhere, and uses the aftermarket pushbutton solenoid end covers as main or backup to start the bike. An inner and outer primary cover swap is required but there are plenty of those. All Evo engines interchange so you can use one from any donor, but title passes with the frame so be sure you have a clean, clear Harley title to the frame you use for best results.
@@Comm0ut Dude thank you so much. With my Sporster chopper, I went though the whole process of getting the bill of sale to registration to title and it was murder. I will never do that again. When I decided I was going to do an Evo BT Next, I was confused by what donor bikes would and would not work and no one seemed to have the same answer, So this is a huge help! Honestly....THANK YOU
@@greasesgarage I'm trying to find the right donor bike as well. What's the reason for the 85-99 model years? Thanks for your awesome videos, just subscribed!
@@Comm0ut So Which model year softail do you recommend? I'm Looking for the right donor bike, Thanks!
If going with an Evo Sporty also get a 5-spd version. Hard to find stuff for a 4-spd evo Sporty
Very true!
Let me first say great video, I am old guy, back in the day the bikes of choice for chopping were Honda 750/4 and Kawasaki 900 because they were quick and smooth for there time. However having said that I have always loved a Harley as they were and still are a simpler bike to work on. In addition I have always started builds from wrecks not a running working bike. One because I just can’t bring myself to chop a complete running bike and two saving a bike from the junkyard is a open canvas. Probably not the easiest or cheapest option but certainly very satisfying when you have brought it back from the dead. Oh and iron head sportster is not a bad option if you like working on your bike if you maintain them properly they can be very reliable and rewarding. Currently I am building a 2003 twincam with a morris mag SU carb kick start 100 cu inch kit again something I saved from the junk yard.
Looking forward to your next video.
Regards Tim
Hey Tim, I appreciate you sharing this. Very cool to hear what the bikes of the day were. One day I will be telling the younger generation how back in my day we chopped xs650’s for the same reason haha.
Very true about the ironheads. A true mechanics bike. For the beginner it can be a little too heavy on the maintenance side. I’ve found it can discourage a would-be chopper guy out of the hobby if taken on too early. Once you’re competent, absolutely a fun bike that will teach you a lot.
If you’re on Instagram, my handle is the same as it is here, I’m on Facebook as well. I’d love to see that twin cam project!
This was always how choppers were made back in the 70's and 80's where I grew up. Chopping a ridable bike was unheard of back then. Chopping was always a resurrection of the dead, not a mutilation of the living. Times have changed and people are more prosperous now. There are more ridable, but neglected old bikes now than ever, that if not chopped, will just languish unridden. So, a chopping we will go, a chopping we will go.....,
One of the best videos on TH-cam. Excellent job man, thanks for the info!
Thanks for the feedback man I appreciate it
Lmao. I won't fit on a sportster, but a xs 650 ya I can fit on that. 😂
No, if you don’t fit on a sporty you won’t fit on an XS. I even mention in the video that for someone of average height and weight like myself I found the xs too small. It sounds like you missed that part
Where can i catch your interviews with some of the builders?
I’m sad to say that a few months after I left the show Spotify took them all down. To this day I don’t know what caused it but all those episodes got removed.
Maybe I can bring some interview style content to this platform though
What do you think about a 1978 CB 750A build?
It’s a great platform with good aftermarket support
Hell yes! I love the deeper dives into things. I'm always down for a long video with good info! Thank you for the info and showing my bikes!
I will say though, that blue XS650 in the video was my first build and I absolutely loved it. I am 6 ft 1" at 260 lb and I made some custom mid forwards and they felt great! I didn't feel too cramped and I was very comfortable. I looked goofier than shit sitting on it because I'm so big but it was not an uncomfortable ride in the least. I would definitely build one again!
Thanks for sending them in homie! Glad you’re digging the longer video I usually keep things short and to the point but this one needed some expanding.
Like I say in the beginning I’m just one guy with one set of experiences so I’m hoping people will do what you’re doing here and share their feedback on these platforms too.
I have four XS-650 at the moment and have owned at least six more. I'm 5' 8" and the XS is the perfect sized bike for me. I wouldn't want to be too much taller.
Hay man I'm a new subscriber what do a thunder mountain custom cycles Firestone start out as b4 it's a factory pro street softtail chopper? please let me know coz , I'd like 2 build 1 I know TMCC is out of business no other channels will take the time 2 give me a answer thanks in advance 😂 ride safe enuff said.
You perked my ears up when you started talking about size limitations and highway speed. Back in the early to mid 1970's I had a Honda DOHC 450, you could practically put it in your back pocket. I lived in southern NH then, heard about a concert in Boston starting in an hour. The sun had set when I went past the rest area just north of 495 at 100 mph and noticed a state trooper going in, I kept going. I made most of that ride at 100, the bike had more speed but I didn't need it. Rode that bike 2000 miles to Austin, Texas, nice ride with no problems. I had converted it to a cafe racer with clip on handlebars and rear set controls shortly after I bought it, oh and I am 6'4" tall. Moved up to a 1976 Kawa 900 then a 1977 Kawa 1000 for 20+ years. I bought my 88" panhead in a 1981 FXE in 1998 with jockey shift, suicide clutch, open 3" primary, kick only, all that good stuff. Getting old, looking for an electric start spare bike, found a 1978 XLCR with electric at an estate sale. It sat in a shed for 25+years except the engine was used for the drags, never heard it run. Bought it cheap, opened the engine, 74 cu in, new pistons, new stock Harley cylinders, very lumpy Andrews cams, 4 spark plugs, S&S super B carb and intake ported and polished all the way to the valves, Sputhe engine cases. After I get the brakes and wiring done I will get a battery and find out how well it runs. Should be an interesting spare bike.
I haven't watched all your videos yet but I like all that I have seen including this one. I just couldn't let you slide on the old story that you have to have a huge bike to ride on the highway. Having a big bike is nice although I wouldn't want one of those wheeled sofas, but people got around just fine on smaller bikes at decent speed for a lot of years.
Thanks for the thoughtful content.
I appreciate you sharing this! It definitely is possible to make those longer runs with lower displacements, not surprised to hear it’s a Honda that did it either.
If you think about it, all the Japanese made sport bike motors even the 600’s will do damn near double the top speed of a Harley with ease. Not that I’m interested in riding a sport bike but it does illustrate the point that other engine styles can put out some serious power.
Would love to see some photos of your bikes, I’ve got a group by this same name on FB if you’re on there. You should join it!
@@greasesgarage
Thank you, I have a page(?) I think on fb but I never could find any instructions so I don't look at it much. A lot of Harley stuff shows up on it but I have no idea how to find someone on it. I am in my mid 70's and computer illiterate, have only learned very basic stuff.
@warrenp2022 just type greases garage into the search bar and hit join group. Either way though you can still reach me here as well, just thought you might enjoy the bike talk with some of the other members on there
Thanks 4 the reply big time but can u let me know what bike a Firestone start with even if I have 2 build a copycat Firestone when u got time .... I know ppl got things 2 do thanks hope u & your family stay well ride safe 😁 enuff said.
Answer is always sportster.
Or you could "save a sportster, chop a hipster" - shadetree surgeon
Hahaha I like that. And yes sportster is on the list 🤘🏼 just no ironheads
@@greasesgarage but ironheads work fairly well as shovel fakeouts... sometimes 😅
@@djd34d14 hahah them early ironheads w/ the shovel style rockers. If you add in some throw-over saddlebags people won't know the difference! 🤣
EXACTLY!
i seen throttle addiction do an open belt on one of there sporty builds it didnt look great popped out too far
Not to mention it’s wildly expensive
@@greasesgarage $1400 i think between that and a kickstart your halfway to shovel
@@mickey-eq5vw haha right?!?
when did they hire a big twin old chopper sales rep.. this video is crazy.
The CB750 should’ve been in the XS650’s place. It is currently cheaper, more reliable, faster, easier to adapt harley parts & for the cool factor of not many people ride em to shows. It has a history of harley riders junking their shovels for it just off of reliability & speed alone. Currently fighting in my head on a CB750 or a big twin evo for my first build.
This is very true, it definitely does rival the XS and the extra motor would be appreciated
Good video. Good advice. I don't have a chopper but would like one.
Have a 00 sporty and I've probably got 600 in for it to be a bopper😂
Im 6'4" and 260ish. Ive built a twon cam heritage vicla, a 131 powered street glide, and now im building my foot clutch jockey shifted evo sporty. Im going bobber not chopper, but some of the stuff is still relative. Maybe on round 2 of building this bike ill go hardtail
That’s awesome!
I don’t understand why big twins “must” be chain driven. At my shop we put belts on everything and never had a problem. Unless we’re having fitment issues we will not put a chain on a chopper. My personal bike has had the same belt for 7 years, I rode it hard daily and no issues!
It’s not that they MUST be chain drive it’s just that chain drive has some advantages that many people like.
Easier to change your sprocket sizes to play with your gearing, less width needed on the rear of frame to accommodate the chain vs belt (you know chopper guys love narrow frames) and lastly it’s easier to change if you ever had one snap.
The other aspect of it is that chopper guys tend to be into older bikes and older bikes had chains. It’s part of the look.
None of this is to say that you can’t physically run a belt if you wanted to. But I find most people don’t want to
Love the shovel head but I’ll never get rid of my sporty!
The v star 650 is a super popular platform for chopping
3 minutes in, i feel like I'm being attacked. EMOTIONAL INVESTMENT IS REAL! I was so emotionally attached to my first build that when it quit running and i couldn't afford to fix it any longer (ironhead) i just let it SIT. 7 years later, no I'm not exaggerating, i just sold that build as a project to some poor schmuck
It happens brotha! I’m trying to challenge people to think ahead and set themselves up for success, some want to plan it out on the first go round and some (like myself) don’t get this info in time but wish we did.
Builds have a way of pulling us in, best to get pulled toward a forever bike 👍🏼
It's all about budget, the price of the donor bike, the customizing will always be just about the same.
Very true
My first chopper build I started last winter and finished it this winter. It was an '84 Honda Shadow VT700C. It was cheap to buy and if it didn't go as planned it wasn't all that much of a waste and I got a lot of good experience from building it. My next project: Couple months ago I picked up a '77 Ironhead motor. I can't afford a Shovelhead :-( I'm building the frame from scratch, but I'm not building a Sportster frame, I'm building a big twin frame so later on if I get a Shovelhead motor I can modify the frame for it. The front engine mount will be the Shovelhead platform and I'll fabricate an Ironhead engine plate to fit it. It should be a fun project.
That’s awesome man can’t wait to see it, good luck with the build 🤘🏼🙏🏼
Im rebuilding my dad's 77' XLH1000 from the ground up and I'm $3k into it already between paint and new parts. Everything is original except the interals and carb. Has just over 20k miles on it.
That’s fantastic, I’ve got a group on fb by this same name you can join if you’d like to collaborate with other builders and talk bikes
I had a friend who bought a 883 for his first bike and he didn't keep it long. He's 6'5" and about 280 😂😂. I couldn't believe he bought it in the first place.
It happens all the time!
Hey man I love the videos. They have helped me a BUNCH. I started a 07 suzuki savage ls650 build as my first bike build. I was just curious on what your experiences with builds on this bike. Thanks
Really happy to hear that man 🙏🏼 as far as the savage I know only two people who have built them. One abandoned the project and the other did minor mods but nothing crazy like a hardtail build etc.
It’s a great bike but a little less catered to than some of the other options out there. Anything is possible with enough drive and money though
Working on my first build going on 2 years so far, but not worried about it, aoo that means is i'm getting it to how I want. My platform is a 1972 Ironhead, Electric start.
That’s the best way to look at it
Glad I stumbled along this I was fixing blindly buy a shovelhead frame $300 but then seen a ironhead 80s down tube stretch frame and I’ve decided go with the evo like I originally planned thanks for info
That’s awesome! Good luck man
My introduction to choppers, besides the 1960s & 70s movirles, was my father's XS650 Special
I have a 46 U model flathead chopper
I have an XS-650 but I love U and UL choppers.
All i want is panhead
As someone who owns a shovel you really need to be mechanically inclined or have a large bank account I can rebuild a S&G carb blindfolded
Anybody who is about to embark on a full chopper build is, or is going to become, mechanically inclined. Would be a hard hobby to be in without it. All platforms will have their quirks and require some mechanical know-how.
Shovel is just a fantastic option to learn on
Would a 78 Yamaha xs650 with a "brat kit" rear suspension, with extend forks still a chopper? I know how them hard tail guys are.
The best advice I can give on this topic is to NEVER concern yourself with what constitutes a chopper.
Only focus your time and energy on what YOU want and leave the labels for someone else.
Can’t wait to see what you build brotha 🤘🏼
@@greasesgarage that's all that matters man! 🤟
Fantastic video! I wish you had come out with this 10 years ago when I started my journey into choppers... oh well, it's here now! Thank you for making this video!
I wish I knew it back when I started too! 😂 would have saved me two bikes. But like you said, at least we’re here now. What are you riding?
A major consideration should be resale value. No matter what motor/trans you choose; frames(often) forks, wheels, tires, brakes, tanks, paint and chrome all cost the same. But what's worse, if you don't do ALL the work yourself, someone else's labor costs the same. The more desirable the motor/trans combo, the more likely you are to see a higher return on your "investment" when you sell.
When it comes to building a chopper, you’re very unlikely to see any return on your investment when you consider all the hours you really spent building it. To break even would be incredible
@@greasesgarage True on labor you do. Especially if you calculate your labor out at shop rates. But pick a less desirable bike with low resale value, you'll lose the shirt off your back with your tax paid dollars you've laid out on all the other stuff.
I have a slightly different question. I ride an 05 Dyna Twin Cam. I'm late 60's with back and neck issues. Rigid chopper probably not a great idea. I would like to do a jockey shift set up. How difficult would that be? And I don't want a clutch lever on the shifter. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Hey brotha, so for those bikes you’ve got a clutch cable coming out the right side of the bike which is a bit tricky, but that said I did do a jockey shift setup when I still had a five speed in this bike, same cable setup as you have.
I routed the cable under the motor and up to a mount on the shifter peg mount. This holds the cable and allows you to loop it around a bolt attached to your shifter.
As far as commercially available kits I think it was either led sled or labriola who made a kit for this
@@greasesgarage thanks for the help!
My dude what do u think of making a
v rod muscle or a breakout a chopper?? & which do u think would b better than a Firestone & why? yes I know lots of ppl hate v rods 😔 I know this is a lot 2 ask 4 but please give me your opinion ride safe enuff said.
I don’t think either would be a good option because those motors and frames are not conducive to building a chopper, the backbones are massive and the gussets are everywhere. You’d have to get a whole new frame and nobody makes a frame to accommodate a v rod motor so that would definitely be the bottom of the list. Idk much about the breakout though, what motor is in it?
Thank u big time but what bike do a Firestone start with? coz a copycat of a Firestone I what I'm looking 4 if I have 2 build it then v rod was second 4a chopper build or a breakout .
Hey, nice vid, question- on an evo would a softail/or touring be better?/ what are different problems. Lmk thanks
Softail 100%, the frame on the touring models cannot be hardtailed like I describe here. It’s a massive square backbone monstrosity
Awesome, thanks man
I think the worst think to start with will be a 2004 up rubber mount Sportster…
Don’t get me wrong, I love my 2004 1200 C, but building a hardtail kickstart bike out of it isn’t worth the effort!
Glad to hear you can see both sides of it. It seems that any time someone tries to steer someone away from a certain bike it can feel like an attack and people want to defend the bike and say how anything is possible etc.
But sometimes it’s just a lot harder with some bikes than it needs to be. The more logically we can approach the choice of the bike to use the more straightforward the process will be
Hardtail isn't that bad, Kickstart is darn near impossible.
Unless that Kickstart is important to you I don't think it's bad to chop.
It's more comfortable for long miles than the ridged mount.
@@jameshill8498
Mmh - more comfortable?!!!???
Had a 96 1200S and now owning a 2004 1200 Custom - Yes the frame is a bit more spacious in its rear for more pillion comfort… also the passenger pegs are now frame instead of swingarm mounted, but the vibrations are nearly the same and I could do my 1000km a day on both.
Insanely detailed video, loved it! I started on a '86 rebel 250, jumped up to a 1200 sporty, and now a 1340 shovel. All about a slow and steady progression. If my first bike was a big ass 117" M8 I feel like there wouldn't be anything to look forward too and would only feel like i'm down grading
That’s true! Very fair point. Maybe the progression is all part of the process, I tend to be very analytical about my journey and trying to figure out how I could have gotten to the destination quicker.
I suppose it’s all part of the process, but I still would have skipped the XS if I could go back haha, just for my size
@@greasesgarage I hear what you're saying. I'm more of a throw shit at the wall & see what sticks kinda guy & a bit of a slow learner. I'd only ridden a handful of friends dirtbikes as a kid before I got my motorcycle endorsment so the 250 was pretty awesome to learn the ropes on and get comfortable with operating the controls but I could have probably gone straight to the sporty and been just as satisfied with my choice. 2 very different journeys with a very similar destination my man!
why did you choose an EVO over a Shovel?
More modern design of the motor. Little things like having two exhaust studs to hold the exhaust on instead of 1. The intake manifold is designed better so it doesn’t tend to leak, the heads dissipate heat better etc.
I like having the modern engine with the Shovelhead transmission. Best of both worlds
Great video. Thanks for using one of my bikes for reference!
Thank you for sending it in brotha I appreciate it!
Great video. Very helpful 👍👍👍👍
Thanks for watching
I'd use the 80cc EVO motor!
🤘🏼🤘🏼
Non biased builder ??
Subscribed !!!
Thank you! 🙏🏼 glad you found the channel
Whats up with that chop cult light ese
They’ve always been great about sharing out my videos and they put on for the chopper community in a big way so I wanted to include them in the backdrop. There’s a lowbrow sign in the back as well for the same reason. Good companies doing good stuff 🤘🏼
My dream build is a 72 shovel. Grandpa had one and I want one.
That’s awesome, they are still out there! Good luck in the hunt
@@greasesgarage I have found one that is a 72 it’s in mint condition. But convincing myself to spend 9 grand on it to then spend another 5 is hard. It’s not listed and he knows I want it so just waiting for when the time is right.
What is the advantage of replacing the belt final drive for chain on a hardtail?
Many of todays hardtails are just too narrow to accommodate a belt drive. Some can still fit but many of the popular brands won’t take one.
Outside of that it’s all the usual things you hear people talk about. Easier to change a chain on the road if you had to (though I’ve never seen a belt break), also having a chain allows you to change your sprockets and switch the gearing of your bike for better highway performance (or wheelies for the dyna guys haha)
@@greasesgarage Cool. I have yet to see a properly maintain belt break either. Even the misaligned ones rarely break. If one is foolish enough to keep running a frayed belt, they deserve all of the misery that ensues.
For that matter, I have never seen a street bike shed it's chain, but I still keep a pair of master links in my '84 Softail tool bag.
I bought a kraftec 200 mm frame with 1 1/4 tube frame and built a bike in a month or two.
Nice
bobbers forever.@@greasesgarage
Life begins at 100 hp or better?
I was so set in getting a xs650, now I’m not sure lol.
There’s wisdom in that hesitation, trust me. At least explore prices of other platforms against the XS and give them a fair side by side comparison
@@greasesgarage I will now. I would do an Evo sporty. Thank you for the insight.
Panheads are much cooler
Agreed
What happened to llcp?
I don’t have that answer unfortunately. I stepped away when I started this channel so I don’t have the info as to what went on but I do know they started it back up under “lowlife podcast”
Are you no longer doing the podcast?
That’s correct, my last episode was titled “it’s not goodbye” if you’d like to check it out
@@greasesgarage I thought so :-(
Gonna do one on your own or just focusing on this channel more? Either way, I’m a fan of what you’re doing 👍🏽
Sorry, you said in this video you're 5.10 feet tall by 190 pounds. 1,55 mt Am I right?
Very interesting video! Thank you for this explanation. 👍
Yes 5’10” roughly 190lbs, glad you enjoyed the video 🙏🏼
@@greasesgarage I subscribed to your channel just 4 days ago. It's the most complete and detailed channel on choppers ever followed. My life dream is a shovel chopper and I'm 5.85 ( wished panheads but price have skyrocketed). ❤
@fernandogagliardo6618 really appreciate the kind words man! Thanks for checking out the channel I’m very happy to hear it’s helping!
Great video, well done!
Thank you!
"Promosm" 🙈
What
"Doesn't even own a shovel!" 😅
Sage wisdom
Thanks homie! And thank you for the footage! 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Cb750 screw Harley
To each their own 🤘🏼👍🏼