Velocity 1's Custom Softail
Well, it all starts with, (and I deny it to this day....,) a mid-life crisis, an over exposure to a good friend's '96 FatBoy total chrome out customization I was under the gun to complete, and an Ebay ad, listing this bike just before Christmas 2003. Running short on cash, and overpowered by an overwhelming mindless penchant to own this 31/150 HD Color Shop beauty, (from the moment I saw it), I decide to call the seller and make an offer. 3 days later I'm in Columbus, GA forking over the cash.
First impression was pnenominal, as the paint says it all. The pics on ebay hadn't done it justice! I swore on the spot that the 1 owner, dealer stock FXST was as done as it needed to be ! Spend no more money. Period. I finished my Buddy's FatBoy and then my obsession kicked in on building my own first custom Softail. Make no mistake when I say once I got started, I couldn't stop. Not unlike most of my toys I've built, anything worth doing is worth doing right, and suddenly money becomes no object. This bike represents my personal self expression in "Harley canvas..." The only art form I hadn't worked in yet.
It started with the custom Weld Recluse wheels, Russell polished S/S rotors and new HD chrome oil tank. Followed by the matching Weld rotors and pulley. Slamming the suspension 2 full inches and fitting a 160 Avon to the stock rear '02 Bobtail fender. Personal touches include some of the skull accessory accents seen in the photos that you won't find on the HD store multi-fit rack. The list goes on and on....
2 years ago this New Year's eve, with nothing to do and no where to go, I installed the Barnett clutch and HD plate, along with 3.37 gearing. At midnight, I ran the open Pro Pipe out the shop door to make my share of midnight noise celebrating the arrival of the New Year! I rode it that New Year's day. The new clutch and 3.37's were the impressive improvement I had hoped for. A tire smoker in its' own right.
Not totally happy that the bike looked the part, as it was no slouch @ 88ci. making 76/82 with only 204's, I decided I needed more go, (see my Avatar comment). I disassembled the motor the following year in time to have the motor back from SBC's and Diamond Head. Over the latter part of December, (Yup Christmas '05), I assembled the jugs, pistons, heads, and Andrew 37G's using the FSM and my own common sense to produce the screamin' 95" motor in the frame in the pictures.
Gee whiz, Wouldn't you know it??? In late '06, The '07' Softails have a bad azz 200mm tire stock from the factory.....Damn....have to have it. A phone call to Weld for another custom 18 x 6" rear wheel and to Avon for a 200mm tire. Last fall, ('06), was spent engineering my own retro-fit kit that would allow a clean, safe, functional installation of a 200mm tire in the 2002 swingarm. After countless hours of measuring and planning, trial fitting, and custom machinging all the original stock HD guards and parts, adding the new '07 Bobtail fender, Custom Struts, cutting the Weld pulley down for the new narrow belt for clearance, and a tireless 5 week custom paint matching effort by "Doyle" to replicate the stock Color Shop paint, and you have the finished product seen in these photos.
It's a rider, not a queen. I'm working on plans that will produce my first personal custom... Maybe next Christmas...??? LOL
V1
Year: 2002
Model: FXST Softail
Eng size: 1550
Transmission: HD5 spd, Baker 3.60 final gearing
Pipes: Recent HD SE Pro Pipe w/custom
Seat: Custom Mammoth Choppers 2006 Saber
Wheels: Weld Recluse
Accessories: DTT Ignition, Bob Wood Performance Rebel Carb, D&M A/C, Hayden M6, Barnett CF Ext. Disc. Clutch w/SE Plate. Compu Fire 10/84 starter gearing, Did I mention chrome.....
-
71.4 KB
Views: 974
-
65.6 KB
Views: 886
-
62.8 KB
Views: 934
-
38.4 KB
Views: 903
-
160.1 KB
Views: 241