Biker Build Off

During the winter of '76 I tore my bike apart and began the project.

#6 shows the frame of the same bike after I chopped it. I had removed everything from the frame including front end, engine, tranny, etc. All I had sitting in the laundry room of the house was the frame. I then removed the swingarm and hack sawed off the fender supports so that I only had the front part of the frame left. My brother-in-law was instrumental in the chopping. He was an up and coming pipefitter and did most of the welding required to attach the softail.

After the grinding was done I filled in with bondo, added the oversized rear tire and began putting it all back together.

This was one of the first softails to be produced and I believe Harley bought the concept from the manufacturer. The softails today are very different from the one I had on this bike though.

It was winter so I worked inside. In #6 I had the wife hold the fender up so I could dream about what the bike would look like the next spring. She was a real sport about me doing the work in the laundry room/kitchen that winter.

#7 shows me back outside with the bike the next spring and about 3/4 done. I can remember how cool it felt to be sitting that low with the highrise drawback handle bars. At this point all I knew was that the brake light worked.

#8 is Goldie sitting on the seat so that I could get a bolt into it.

#9 I'm checking the oil after the bike was road tested. By the look on my face you can tell the ride went well.