Few can build, or have a pro-builder create a full one-off custom from the ground up. And for most, a custom using mostly bolt-on aftermarket parts is well enough to express their individualism. So, here is another example of what can be done if you want to give your Sportster a more sporty look and stance for a relatively modest budget.
First a Storz/Ceriani upside down front end, a pair of Chainsikle rear sets and new Ohlins shocks raised the rear by approximatively 1 1/2” (35mm) In this case, because of the front end change, the front fender had to be reworked for new mounts, these new ones fabricated with a tubular shape to reinforce the muscled out look provided by the Ceriani tubes. The original headlight was relocated lower via a custom mount on the lower fork clamp. Factory turn signals are now mounted to the forks and rear frame.
The Harley Sportster factory gauge is sticking out too much for the taste of many. You can replace it by a smaller and less tall offered by many custom vendors, or as it was done here, keep it but mounted lower on the bars. For a beefier look in the back, a new 5.5” wide wheel was laced keeping the Sportster 48 original hub, then wrapped with a 180/65/16 Avon Cobra tire. Of course, to fit the 7” wide new tire required a full re-spacing of the driveline. The license plate frame is custom made and powder coated.
Ending the catalog shopping list are: a D&D Bobcat-Carbon 2 into 1 exhaust, a Roland Sands Design air filter, “Black Ops” levers, grips and foot pegs, and a Daytona Twin Tech engine controller of easy retuning of the bike. A nice Sportster for every day ride, especially when the owner will eventually accept the idea of changing the seat… Sportster bolt-on work and paint by Ellaspede Australia (photography AJ Moller for Cyril Huze)
Looks pretty good! Don’t care for the license plate holder or the large rear tire to fender gap but that’s a minor detail. Really like the color combination. Some really good ideas here.
Cantrell
For a bolt on ‘ modified ‘ thats pretty darn good looking ! Pretty darn good looking indeed !
Cyril’s title for the post is underwhelming for this nice bike.
RSD has been doing that for a few years.
Awesome , love the colors.
still just a sportster , and if it blows a tire you are in big trouble…
Nice looking XL, the addition of quality suspension parts should greatly improve the ride and handling. Every custom featured has similar off the shelf parts. ..Z
Lipstick on a pig comes to mind. Make something styled like this out of a Ninja 1000, now that would be a fun ride.
Looks nice & if you’re in to Sportsters a viable ides
Tried to hard….
Anything that gets owners to start back wrenching on their own scooters can’t be bad……
Those who get inspiration will take it to the next level…… and reap the rewards that got the rest of us hooked.
And those will be the new, young, interesting people to talk to.
(instead of the clueless posers prancing around bow days)
-nicker-