Landracing Forum
Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Build Diaries => Topic started by: Paulzbike on August 28, 2012, 02:24:06 AM
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Hello, My name is Paul and I have made the decision to embark on a journey to bring a 1995 883 Sportster back from the dead and bring it back to life in the LSR arena. This will be a Father, Son project with Robert my 14yo gearhead.
The Bike: a 1995 XL883 Sportster that I built for my wife to ride to Sturgis in 97.The bike only has 10K mikes on it (although you would never know it by looking at it) The trip came and went and it was determined that riding wasnt for her and it hasn't been started since. The bike was stored in a newly built shed with many other bikes. A few seasons gone by, I opened the storage shed and was horrified to find out that the shed held a disturbing amount of moisture and it corroded everything. I had a Shovelhead chopper, a Ural with a side car, a Yamaha TT 600 a honda gullwing and a Honda XR600. I was able to resurect them back to their original condition except for the Sporty. The Sporty was very low on the priority list. A few moves later and it sits in the very back of the garage under a cover waiting for a time when its priority number gets called.
Fast Forward 12 years.......I just returned from SpeedWeek 2012 in Wendover with my son Robert. We spent all weekend checking out creative mechanical masterpieces. We drove there from the S.F. Bay Area. On the way home we started the brainstorming on what we could build to make some runs down the Salt.
Calling Sportster XL883.....your priority number has been called. After a dozen years in hibernation I have a use, and with a little 14 year old begging to Mom. The sporty was ours.
I realize that the 883 is not the best choice for getting a record but I look at this as a entry bike to get out there and race, When Robert turns 16 and if he feels the need he can make some runs. The other huge bonus is that the bike is FREE.
I assume that we will be running in the M-PG, M-PF, MPS-PG or MPS-PF classes or if we get really bold maybe the M-PBG or M-PBF class. As this is a work in progress design as you build who knows where we will end up.
I am fully open to all discussion, suggestions, and comments.
I will be posting pictures as we build, and letting you know what we are planning.
8-25-12:
The sportster is put on the lift. at least the tires hold air.
The Strip Down Begins:
Fuel Tank
Exhaust
Mirrors
Fenders
Lighting
Battery and box
all unnecessary brackets
wiring harness
air cleaner
My guess is that we lost 40 pounds of unnecessary crap.
Once we have everything is stripped it will under go a full degreasing and sanatizing.
Let the fun begin.
Paul
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Welcome Paul and Robert.
Look forward to your build.
Do you have 4 rulebooks?, 1 for you, 1 for Robert, 1 for the shed and 1 for the can.
Great bunch of people on here that are all pretty helpful.
Cheers
jon
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I hope you're planning on another tie down location 'cause those bars gotta goooooo!!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:
This looks like an awesome father and son project.
Good luck to both of you and the main thing...................have fun!!! :-D :-D :-D
Pete
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1995 is a good year Sportster for a race bike. It has a 5 speed transmission which you will need. You might want to consider converting to chain drive as there are a lot more options in ratios for the salt flats.
Joe
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Sturgis 97 was one of the first very BIG years. Thats when the crowds started getting huge. Our office is next door to Black Hills Harley.............I can tell you about each Rally!
Sounds like a cool father/son project. Please keep updating this thread! Lots of bike guys on here.
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I am still realitively new to all of this but I would like to give you a few tips on what I would do:
#1. budget. Take your budget, double it and you are almost ready to make a shake down run :-D
#2. set a resonable goal. Dont look at a certin class and say the record is 170 so I HAVE to run 171. Be realistic. 125 -150 thats realistic to at least get going, then worry about putting down bigger numbers. My first even I only wanted to run 100 mph, and I ran 101.874. Goal achived. That was a morale booster. Had I went there wanting to run 150 and ran 101 I would of been hugely dissapointed.
#3. buy quaility. Some of the smartest things I have ever heard came from 55chevr when I asked him a tech question about tethers. He said somthing along the line of buying a Pingel switch so I only have to buy it one time. Alot of times the short way is the long way, so to speak
#4. Dont be afraid to ask questions!
There is more, but thats the basics. Keep it simple to get going
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Welcome Paul and Robert.
Look forward to your build.
Do you have 4 rulebooks?, 1 for you, 1 for Robert, 1 for the shed and 1 for the can.
Great bunch of people on here that are all pretty helpful.
Cheers
jon
Thanks Jon, We currently have one that while only (2) weeks new is starting to get very dog eared and creased.
Paul
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I hope you're planning on another tie down location 'cause those bars gotta goooooo!!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:
This looks like an awesome father and son project.
Good luck to both of you and the main thing...................have fun!!! :-D :-D :-D
Pete
I am in the hunt for 39mm clip ons with a 30 degree angle. But the existing bars help me move the bike around for now.
Paul
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1995 is a good year Sportster for a race bike. It has a 5 speed transmission which you will need. You might want to consider converting to chain drive as there are a lot more options in ratios for the salt flats.
Joe
Thanks for the heads up, We are planning to run a chain conversion.
Paul
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Current needs List:
39mm Clip ons with about a 30 to 40 degree down turn.
Steering Stabilizer
Sportster chain conversion parts and various front and rear sprockets.
Teather stop switch
Any recomendations on what type of any of the aboeve items we should be looking for (quality wise) and what to steer away from , would be appriciated.
If you have any of these items in good condition laying around the garage and want to help us out with our first LSR build, Let me know what you got and how much you want for it. We are on a tight udget but know that this stuff isnt free.
Paul
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Pingle has a good tether switch -- because it works by a clip holding the plunger out 'til the cord is pulled. No worry with safety -- it won't break instead of killing the circuit.
BUT - the Pingle on one of bikes is only 3-4 years old and exhibits symptoms of corroded contacts. Frequently I'll get no ignition or any other starting electricity 'til I've pulled and let snap close the Pingle a handful of times. It's a sealed unit -- no repair, I guess, other than to replace. But other than that -- I like 'em.
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Virgin Build Cont........
The 883 Sporty is stripped down to the frame, motor and wheels.
I would like to extend the stock swing arm. Does anyone have any tips on the proper way to do this? Is there a formula to help to decide on how long to extend it?
Thanks for the info.
This site is great.
Paul
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Easiest way is to get a swing arm off ebay graft the two together ... this link will show you how.
http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=1255461&page=2
Joe
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Try this one ... has better pictures
http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=1271784
Joe
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I've had good luck with watercraft (jet-ski type) kill switch. They are made to survive in saltwater. It is a grounding kill type, which I use by fitting my harness with a master fuse, near the battery, and then tapping the kill switch wire in, right after the fuse. The other wire from the kill switch goes to ground. When the tether is pulled, it shorts the main fuse to ground, killing the engine AND makes the starter solenoid inoperative.
Have spare fuses in your pocket at the line, just in case (done that twice...accidental kill, once by me, once by help). The advantage of this system is, if the bike goes down, rider falls off....someone trying to help pick up the downed bike cannot get the starter cranking accidentally.
Also prevents accidental starter engagement of a crashed bike should wires or components get crushed or shorted. Easy to diagnose, also.
JimL
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For BUB/AMA Modified class (M), do not extend your wheelbase more than 10%. If you change the rake, it can also effect how much you can extend your swingarm. The rule reads as follows:"Effective 2013: Maximum total wheelbase shall not exceed factory OEM dimensions by more than +10%."
Tom
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I have been off the site for a while but the build is still in progress. I have scrapped the idea of using the stock sportster front end and have acquired a 90's GSXR front end. I have purchased a doner swing arm to do the extension. I have found lots of info on the swingarm extension.
Any ideas on adapting the gsxr front end to the sporty neck.
Paul
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Looked at the GSXR Swing arm and mono shock....????
Build looks great.... Lucky Son and a Lucky Dad....
Good Luck and Have Fun....
I have been off the site for a while but the build is still in progress. I have scrapped the idea of using the stock sportster front end and have acquired a 90's GSXR front end. I have purchased a doner swing arm to do the extension. I have found lots of info on the swingarm extension.
Any ideas on adapting the gsxr front end to the sporty neck.
Paul
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Any ideas on adapting the gsxr front end to the sporty neck.
a solid stem would be okay. pressed, threaded or welded to your lower tree. OD to fit your bearing cups. enuff length to thread a nut above your top triple tree.
pM me if you like.
franey
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Before going overboard, you should have them off and do a side by side.... MC2032 on this site put a GSXR front on his sportster with minor work on the stem IRRC. PM him and ask the question, he will fill you in on the details.
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Read my comments here:
http://victorylibrary.com/brit/chassis-2a.htm
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Just in case, take a look at my mistake on swing arm length for M class. Near bottom of this page.
http://www.landracing.com/forum/index.php/topic,10559.30.html
Your chain adjustment range will affect things, and so will lowering and changing swing arm angle.
Regards, JimL
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Before going overboard, you should have them off and do a side by side.... MC2032 on this site put a GSXR front on his sportster with minor work on the stem IRRC. PM him and ask the question, he will fill you in on the details.
that's a good idea.
the way it was posted made me think it needed a new stem.
franey
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stock stem ('93 gsxr 750). went to the local bearing store, looked in the timken cross reference for '88 sportster and '93 gsxr and got as close as possible. kept the stock HD races and found timken bearings that would fit the stem o.d. had to turn the stem a few thousanths for the lower and had to make a small shim for the upper. biggest obstacle was finding a working lighter to fire up the propane torch to heat the lower triple to press out the stem. DO NOT try to beat it out with a "one pound hammer" (see Bob Steele or John Gonutskie for definition), all it does is make noise. a little heat and about three pumps on the 20 ton press and presto. neck on the sportster is apprx. the same height as the metric bike (probably an industry standard? more likely the metrics copied HD?) so the whole front end just dropped on like it was made for it. you may want to use the 3/4 inch controls from the donor cycle or fab shim stock to adapt the 1 inchers stock from harley.