Looking back through photos on the computer, I have come torealize how much a man is influenced by the environment he allows himself to besubmerged into. I say this from my own experience as I am currently lookingback at the multi-faceted photo sharing sites and currently going through allthe pictures I have saved over the years.
As cell phones have improved, so hasthe picture quality and storage capabilities. It seems the old photo albumshave been replaced with JPEG files and you hardly see a real camera anymoreunless it’s a professional photographer like Michael Lichter or Josh Kurpius.
Ihave never been a great anything other than a great lover of ridingmotorcycles, imagining what I can do next to them, and as I’ve always said myfavorite bike will always be my next one. Well, that sentiment is changing as Ilook back on what very well be my favorite motorcycle from the past…my 2005Harley-Davidson Softail Springer Classic.
I bought this bike in August 2005right after my inaugural trip to Sturgis on the 100th Anniversary rattlecaned Fatboy with “Bars to the Stars”. That was also the year I met the O.G.Bandit for the first time.
I bought the bike from Mancuso Harley-Davidson in Houston,Texas after seeing it on the showroom floor. I had gotten a gift card for myrecent birthday and decided to get a t-shirt. Well, the t-shirt cost me morethan $25,000. Most Harley guys, at least the other yuppie dweebs like me, havemade the same journey.
But back to the story, the bike was a pristine versionof Harley’s “Revival” series before it ever existed. She came with the blackedout springer FL forks, tank trim, fishtail exhaust on both sides, a cheesegrater in the rear…basically a great starting point. Looking back, I should’vewent in a different direction with her and started making her look retro likethe 1949 Panhead I believe she was designed after. Instead, my new love ofchoppers, bobbers, and all things “cool” at the time drove me differently.
I rode the bike bone stock for an entire year. I had madethe famous lying quote more than once to my better half, “I love it just theway she is, I won’t change a thing.” For a whole year that rung true. Most ofmy trips were back and forth to work or the gym. I worked as an operationsforeman at a small chemical plant in Galena Park, Texas; right on the HoustonShip Channel. Because my hours fluctuated as I followed a 4 day on, four dayoff schedule, I was afforded the opportunity to spend a good amount of time inthe garage tinkering. This “tinkering” would usually result in my changing thebike again as I had an idea in my head of where it was and where I wanted it togo.
Most of my changeswere like most people, limited by 1) my financial situation and 2) my ability.I also had one other caveat, in that whatever change I made had to be completedin time for me to go to work as my bike was my main transport. So, as I started, the bike remained stockuntil the ride to Sturgis in 2006.
My buddy Mike and I had ridden home from The Mecca in 2005and decided we would make 2006 an epic trip. Well, during the trip I had alittle trouble with my pipes choking the bike, even glowing an almosttranslucent red on the rear head pipe from the jug all the way to thecrossover.
No modifications were made to this bike except what the dealer haddone, so in my mind it was stock and running too lean. Screw it, it’s warrantied, soI’ll ride her till she blows up…idiot. Mytop speed was 88 miles an hour (Throttle wide open all the way throughNebraska) and once I got home I noticed my brand new chromed Harley exhaust hada yellow/ brown nasty looking burn spot on the rear header, right muffler, andthe heat shields looked cooked.
Now, I know that sounds trivial, but when Ibought this bike, (my 3rd Harley, but 2nd brand newwithin 4 years) the salesman told me I had a “lifetime warranty on paint andchrome as long as I left it stock. Well, guess what happened when I went to thedealer and asked him the process to have my parts replaced? Yeah, he explainedthat warranty did not include the pipes.
He also stated because I added a setof throw-over saddlebags that I had added non-Harley parts to the mix, whichalso voids the warranty. Now, if you have ever met me you may have noticed myeyes slope down a little on the outside and may be set a little too closetogether, but I promise you I’m not downsy…I’ve been tested.
I couldn’t believewhat he was telling me and rather than fight it and waste my time, I decided togo a different route and start chopping up what I didn’t like. To be clear, thisputz didn’t last at that dealership long and I have no hard feelings to them, asthey treated me well over my life. This guy was a one off, and his ignoranceshould not reflect on an otherwise stellar dealership.
But this is in fact thatpoint where I started down the “I’m no Jesse James or Billy Lane, but I canchop this thing up” modification journey.
August 2006, time to chop and start the process figuring Iwill learn along the way. The first modification had to be exhaust, since that’swhere the start of the concern was. I took the burnt to hell mufflers off and setthem aside to sell. Looking back, it’s amazing the amount of parts I sold onE-bay at that time.
Today, I am more likely to sell it locally, but E-bay wasthe thing then and people paid well for H-D parts. After a quick call toBandit, a new set of Hooker Headers were headed my way. I tried to ride sansmufflers for a while, but besides looking dumb as shit, it also lost all backpressure and the bike ran like hammered dog poo. I even tried a small boltthrough the ends with a nut on top to give it a little back pressure, but itsucked.
So while I played with the exhaust, I decided the tank needed somechanges and I removed the metal strip and tank badge. The front fender had to go, although it is a wonderfullyfunctional piece and a beautiful FL fender with matching light, I stripped itand sold it. Now I was free to see that big fat front tire, which in my mindmade the bike look lower…more muscular.
See the table and pics below for the following journey.
Bobber article:https://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=246
List of major modifications and timeline:Bought Bike new in August 2005, reminded me of 1948 Pan.
December 2005-Added Mustache Engine Guard and throw oversaddlebags.August 2006-rode bike to Sturgis and back.August 31, 2006-Start of Choppin-removal of exhaust-startedat the mufflers.Removed toolbox.Removed Front Fender.
I changed bars several times to get the right look and feel.Bandit sent me to Kent Weeks, of Lucky Devil Metalworks forsome inspiration and to learn “The Code”. It was obvious I was clueless asthere’s more to choppin than just cutting off crap.
I sent Bandit a few pics proud of my “bobber”. Bandit immediatelycalled and explained why it looked terrible. He recommended pipes and a tunerto start. 
October 2006, I installed Hooker Header pipes and a TerryComponents tuner. I also removed the tank trim until I could decide onsomething better.
December 2006 I cut down the stock seat and shaved all thefoam off. I re-covered the seat with a pair of chaps I had. Again, I sent picsto Bandit and he had to rescue me again. We talked through the details andHeartland Biker sent a 180 rear fender and seat my way. 
January 2007, I removed the stock fender and cut the frameto modify it so the Heartland kit would fit the bike. At this point, my wifewas sure I was either out of my mind or lost it entirely. No matter my scheduleat work, I was constantly messing with this silly bike.
Again I played with different bars trying to obtain the lookand feel I was after.
April 2007 I saved enough scratch to have the rear endlowered and have the stock 88 inch upgraded to 95” with cams. MAN WHAT ADIFFERENCE that made. This bike came alive. The lowered stance really improvedthe look and made the bike look even longer. I was falling in love.
August 2008-The bike stayed that way besides minor barchanges over the next 18 months and I made a second trip to Sturgis on thebike.The slammed rear end and Heartland seat made it an absolute bear to ridemore than 50 miles. I mean, on the way home we were stopping every 65-70 milesso Mike could re-fuel his peanut tank on his rigid chopper. He rode my bike onestretch and said he’d stay with the chopper and it’s spring seat. Hmmm…that gotme thinking.
Danny Fransen Bobbers and jockey journal to the rescue.
October 2008-I found an old “tractor style Spring seat” onEbay and installed. LOVED LOVED LOVED it.
December 2008-Installed wide rear wheel from Ebay and 180tire. Also installed 1932 Ford taillight/ stop lens and side bracket.
This was how the bike stayed and how I rode it until Itraded the bike in. With just under 40,000 miles, this Springer Classic providedan education of sorts for both my family and I as I really became enamored withthe modification of a stock H-D. I learned that I am in no way meant to be acustom bike builder, so I just write about what I do so others can enjoy, pokefun, and maybe learn from my ignorance. Either way, I still ride and enjoy thepiss outta it, so it really doesn’t matter if people like it or not, just thatI enjoy it and am willing to share my love with others.
Keep riding my friends, and share what you know with thosewho will listen Enjoy the New Year!
I changed bars several times to get the right look and feel.Bandit sent me to Kent Weeks, of Lucky Devil Metalworks forsome inspiration and to learn “The Code”. It was obvious I was clueless asthere’s more to choppin than just cutting off crap.I sent Bandit a few pics proud of my “bobber”. Bandit immediatelycalled and explained why it looked terrible. He recommended pipes and a tunerto start. October 2006, I installed Hooker Header pipes and a TerryComponents tuner. I also removed the tank trim until I could decide onsomething better.December 2006 I cut down the stock seat and shaved all thefoam off. I re-covered the seat with a pair of chaps I had. Again, I sent picsto Bandit and he had to rescue me again. We talked through the details andHeartland Biker sent a 180 rear fender and seat my way. January 2007, I removed the stock fender and cut the frameto modify it so the Heartland kit would fit the bike. At this point, my wifewas sure I was either out of my mind or lost it entirely. No matter my scheduleat work, I was constantly messing with this silly bike.Again I played with different bars trying to obtain the lookand feel I was after.April 2007 I saved enough scratch to have the rear endlowered and have the stock 88 inch upgraded to 95” with cams. MAN WHAT ADIFFERENCE that made. This bike came alive. The lowered stance really improvedthe look and made the bike look even longer. I was falling in love.August 2008-The bike stayed that way besides minor barchanges over the next 18 months and I made a second trip to Sturgis on thebike.The slammed rear end and Heartland seat made it an absolute bear to ridemore than 50 miles. I mean, on the way home we were stopping every 65-70 milesso Mike could re-fuel his peanut tank on his rigid chopper. He rode my bike onestretch and said he’d stay with the chopper and it’s spring seat. Hmmm…that gotme thinking.Danny Fransen Bobbers and jockey journal to the rescue.October 2008-I found an old “tractor style Spring seat” onEbay and installed. LOVED LOVED LOVED it.December 2008-Installed wide rear wheel from Ebay and 180tire. Also installed 1932 Ford taillight/ stop lens and side bracket.This was how the bike stayed and how I rode it until Itraded the bike in. With just under 40,000 miles, this Springer Classic providedan education of sorts for both my family and I as I really became enamored withthe modification of a stock H-D. I learned that I am in no way meant to be acustom bike builder, so I just write about what I do so others can enjoy, pokefun, and maybe learn from my ignorance. Either way, I still ride and enjoy thepiss outta it, so it really doesn’t matter if people like it or not, just thatI enjoy it and am willing to share my love with others.Keep riding my friends, and share what you know with thosewho will listen Enjoy the New Year! Please follow and like us:
