Harley Davidson Cafe Project

dshayder

dshayder

New Member
Building a 2008 Nightster into a cafe racer. This thing turns like a holiday parade float. I need someones help/sugestions on how to make this thing turn better. I have upgraded the rear shocks to the XR1200. They're 13" long. Stock is 11". The front wheel is 19" and the rear is 16". I"m trying to do this on a budget so any parts that I have, that can be upgraded, like the front forks let me know where to source the best items.
 
Get rid of the 19" front wheel... Lose about 150lbs from her... Trade it in for a Honda... Just kidding about the 3rd option, kinda. Im definitly interested to see what you come up with though. Lets see some pics. There are a good number of Sporty based cafes, but its no easy task. Theres a lot of extra crap on those bikes.

The taller shocks arent necessarily going to help in your case I wouldnt think, as theyre designed for a more dual purpose kinda bike.
 
Yeah, how about some pics, eh? This might be tough to do as a budget build...
 
This is it, right?

2008-harley-davidson-xl-1200-nightster-010.jpg


If so, then its pretty darn sparse as it is. I's do the following:

Lose the mudguards and replace them with lighter plastic ones.
Replace large oil reserviour with smaller, lighter cylindrical one.
Replace the air cleaner with a lighter plastic one, or pod filter (plus carby jetting to suit).
Fit drag bars or clipons/clubmans, and rearsets.

After that I'd see if you can de-restrict the stock exhaust by drilling about four quarter-inch holes in each endcap around the central exhaust exit. That, combined with a performance filter and/or induction kit will give you a bit more poke.

To be honest, I really can't see you doing anything more to reduce weight or increase performance without getting either too technical or too costly. Either way, it'll be a cool project to watch!

Cheers - boingk
 
here we go... my language!!! how into it are you willing to get? that is the first question? can you weld and are you willing to make frame modifications? if not... here is what i would recomend you do for handling

- progressive or burly front suspnesion kit, drill out your dampers in front a bit so oil flow is increased, go to a 15 w fork oil, fork brace, and stearing damper... also, stock dunlops BLOW, metzler is where it is at.
my dyna rides like a sport bike and i am contantly blowing peoples mines how well it reponds and handles.

if you want to take it to another level you have 2 inches of unused space on a Sporty frame by dropping the seat pan you lower the center of gravity, and will make the bike respond a ton better. i work on sportys all the time bud one of my all time fav bieks... bigest gain you will see for the lowest $ is 15w fork oil, but to be honest going up to the 13 in shocks may have hurt you rather than helped you as it is throwing off your bikes balance without stiffin up the front... now the weight is over the front more causeing it to flop in turns.

do you have Defini EFI or carb on yours?
 
beachbumberry said:
ehh... buells have wierd frames (fuel tank in the frame, oil tank in the swingarm) it'd be hard to build a classic looking cafe around one of those frames imo
Click to expand...

Earlier Buells had steel trellis frames and "standard" tanks ;)
 
Von, I am sitting here talking to Dan. Trying to convince him to just buy a Honda. Here is his bike
IMG00136-20101015-0958.jpg
 
HELL NO KEEP THE HD FOR SURE!!!!! sharp scoot man, knock out what i have recomended on the front forks and that will make a huge dif.
personally i would look into either tubbing the tank to get it lower on the back bone or replace the tank... I see you ahve done the speedo relocation (did you do the side mount?) dig the rear set set up! they look to be v rod? nice bike man i dig it... I would also ditch that pully cover (front pulley for the belt) looks mean wiht that gone, but then again with the rear sets may eat a shoe lace if left open, mybe some speed holes?

got some harley haters on this site, you can be like me, fight them off with the roar of the v twin and the gush of the chick panties on back!
 
Hahaha... I was just kidding about the Honda thing. There are some killer HD specials out there. If I wasnt the poster child for poor white trash, Id build one myself. Though, with a stock frame and mostly factory parts, you'll never build one that handles like a Japanese or European bike. They arent designed for it. That said, you can still build a hell of a bike if you're willing to do the needed work and drop some coin. My big argument with Sporty cafes is the fact that an 883cc motor in stock trim only puts out 42hp. Sure its got gobs of torque, which is killer, but... Hell with some work, a cb350 will put out more HP, can be half the weight, and costs a fraction to build... Doesnt mean ya shouldnt stick with the HD though.
 
true but a 883 with 1200 hop up kit just RIPS!!! the gearing is awesome... if i was to build... well let me start that over, when i build my bobber/chop sporty i will use a buell motor... that is just prime example of what a sporty motor should do... but you are right the base model HD has crap for HP, also is a base model, sad that a 883 only pulls out 4o some. but i have rode them and they just rip, would just destroy a 350 honda :)
but i do see where you are coming from on that matter. Hell i have over 2 g in my motor alone (and that is VERY cheap doing it myself) and i am just under 100hp

also as far as suspension and handling goes the onlything left stock on mine is... well... hum.... some parts of the frame :) ha ha ha
 
Ya, Im not saying that any little 350s are going to be out there makin Sportys look limp, (well, except for mine, hahaha) but... For how much work and money it takes to actually get a Sporty lump to really tear it up, Ill stick with my little old Japanese scoots. Again though, if I had a bunch of money to dump into one (and a custom, proper race frame) Id build a Sportster fo sheezy.
 
well the sporty frame is perfect! the way they are laid out is perfect it is how the parts are put on top of it that makes it top heavy, but slamming stuff low and tight ot the frame will make it just rip though turns!
 
i'm with you Joe on using a buell as a starter. I love Harley for looks in the custom world but they aren't worth the money in my opinion...at least new that is. I would love to own a big harley some day to do some cross country riding.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DTT Light or Dark

  • DTT Light
    • www.jadusmotorcycleparts.com
    www.lostapostle.ca/
    www.sparckmoto.com

    Spread the Love

    Back
    Top Bottom