New to FJ, not new to bikes

[PaulG]

That looks like the best Harley that Harley never made.  Careful though - they may "appropriate" your design and sell a million of them to the squeaky leather and latte crowd.  Might even convince me to buy one, 'cept I don't have leathers or drink lattes, so they may not finance me.   

Have you added any gusseting to the frame or reinforced the swing-arm?  The street frame may not handle the added stress of back road riding.  If you plan on keeping this long term, it might be something to think about, especially the subframe.  Wouldn't want a frame rail snapping in the middle of a drift in the middle of nowhere.

Sorry, I think I just added another 200 hrs to your project.... 

[jscgdunn]

......To me, Harleys are for those who wish to be seen.

....and heard.

Noel

Turning gasoline into noise for over 100 years.....

[fudge12]

Don't misunderstand, that's just a pic of a dual sportster I found on the net.  From what I understand that swingarm is all custom milled from billet, hand built-tig welded pipe, etc.  Assuming I were to take on such a project, it'd be much more low-budget.  Granted I've never had a harley so I can't justify defending them, but I will relate this quick story.  When I was at the dragon, my first run the guy I was with and I passed numerous harleys, a couple sports cars, one sportbike.  We were, however, unable to cleanly and safely pass a guy on a full dress bagger harley, who had his wife on the back.  He wasn't dragging pegs, he was wearing holes in the bags he was riding it so hard.  Met up with him later, nice guy.  Point is, on the street at least it's much more about the rider than the bike.  The harley is to the FJ as the FJ is to an R1.  Just because it's not the most amazing thing out there doesn't mean there isn't fun to be had on it.  (note, I also don't have and don't want a ridiculously powerful superbike; 100HP seems to be my max happy spot for street use)  By the same token, I have a buddy with an Aprilia RSV1000R which he let me play on for a day.  Ridiculous bike, nearly perfect in every way from engine to suspension.  I felt like an idiot on it.  However, if I was on that and he was on a decently maintained moped, he'd wipe the track with me.  It's all about the rider.  I'm pretty good, but I don't fool myself into believing I'm a better rider than my bike (any of my bikes) can handle.

[FJmonkey]

Amen to that. I have been schooled by a Honda Goldwing, bags and all. The rider was smooth, knew exactly how to take each corner and made it look like child's play. I finally caught up to where he pulled off and removed his helmet, long gray beard and gray hair to match. He knew his bike, the road and how to keep a humble old fart like me in genuine respect of good riders.

[FeralRdr]

Just my .02, but this is the best Harley ever made.


XR1200

[fj1289]

Just my .02, but this is the best Harley ever made.


XR1200

Maybe best one made, but second best looking!

[PaulG]

Don't misunderstand, that's just a pic of a dual sportster I found on the net.

Well at least you have something to model yours after.  I still think it would be an awseome project to do.  If you want to ease the budget to start with, Viragos are very popular customs now.  There's plenty out there, dirt cheap, and bullet proof engines.

custom Viragos

[fudge12]

I've never been a fan of the aesthetics of the virago. Shallow, I know.  However, the engines on them always looked too cartoonish. The same way that the first gen of Victory engines looked like they were taken straight from a tractor, the virago engines look like they were taken from Who Framed Roger Rabbit.  I'd still buy one if it came up cheap just for the experience.  Actually, for me (although I admit that it'd really come down more to availability when I'm shopping than anything else) the big question is:  Get a 2004+ sportster with injection and a rubber mounted engine, and enjoy the ride, or get a 1970s with leaks, vibrations, etc. and enjoy the experience?  The question is actually less facetious than it sounds.  Presuming that it wouldn't be an only bike (which it wouldn't) would you go for a modern bike with all the good bits and the result of evolution?  Or would you go for a nasty, oil leaking, vibrating, kick start bike from the 70s that gives you the experience of riding a harley that us old guys grew up believing?  The fact that I have new and old bikes shows how on the fence I am about this.  Enjoying the FJ for how awesome it was 30 years ago really shows how great bikes have become, but doesn't take anything away from the experience of riding the fj.  I'm not as awesome as I was 30 years ago, or as awesome as the newer model (17 year old son) is now, which often just goes to show that you must respect your past to appreciate your present.

[PaulG]

The same way that the first gen of Victory engines looked like they were taken straight from a tractor, the virago engines look like they were taken from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. 

...the big question is:  Get a 2004+ sportster with injection and a rubber mounted engine, and enjoy the ride, or get a 1970s with leaks, vibrations, etc. and enjoy the experience?

If you were to pursue the "dual purpose" project I would go for the more recent year model FWIW.  Better (?) reliability and F/I  would just make things easier to deal with I think.  But then again, the only bikes I see on the side of the road on a regular basis these days are always HD's... 

The shake-rattle-& roll of a 70's version does have the nostalgia, and it seems you are competent enough to keep up with their idiosynchrosies.  Also have you thought whether it would be pre-AMF, AMF/HD, or post AMF?  Whatever path you take it would be neat to see the progress. 

Hmmmm... you might need to start an HD Dual Purpose Forum now.