Stu's Softail

This bike started life as a 1988 Softail custom. He acquired it in 1990 and up until 6 years ago it was fairly standard. In the Jan of 2003 it went in for its first metamorphosis, the bike was stripped the frame raked, so it sat level when a pair of 4" over hard chromed fork tubes were fitted. Then it was powder coated dark red along with the swing arm.

He never liked the colour of the frame when he saw it as it was much lighter than he had expected as the powder looked more maroon but because of the lack of time the bike had to be reassembled to be ready for the first run of the year at Easter.

The winter of 04/05 saw the standard carb junked in favor of a Mikuni 42 flat slide and a pair of Santee  pipes.

The rear wheel pulley was also changed from the original 72 toothed pulley to a smaller one which meant the purchase of a shorter belt. These three mods transformed the bike from always playing catch up to being up with the front runners.

This winter (05/06) the bike was stripped and the frame re-powder coated with a custom mix and the tanks and mudguards got a new metallic blue coat with hand painted sections. my fav is the one on the rear mudguard. An l.e.d rear light with indicators incorporated. Kev at Projex made the front  l.e.d indicator mount: new brakes were fitted a performance machine caliper & mount at the rear and a Yam R1 one at the front, the adapter bracket made by Stu also the sissy bar was formed by him and welded by Speash lack of time and funds prevented it being chromed so it has been temporarily powder coated and is still like it today.

March 06 saw a move of county from East Shropshire down to Bristol the winter of 07/08 saw a set of  ally slab yokes fitted and also the junking of the single R1 caliper in favor of a billet 6 which reduced the buttock clenching moments that the under rated R1 caliper had induced. 

As a pair R1 front brake calipers are very good but as a solo caliper you might as well squeeze the disc with two bars of soap to retard your forward motion The winter 08/09 saw mods to the fuel tanks and a digital speedo fitted and the replacement of all the wheel bearings, seals and break discs. Also at the same time a new primary chain was brought, This was not fitted till fortnight before the Belgium 25th anniversary run: while refitting the clutch the locking tool slipped and snapped a chunk off the clutch outer. That's gonna cost to replace thought Stu; and yes it did. After ringing the local H.D dealer, unofficial H.D dealers and club contacts it transpired that the clutch was now an "obsolete" part, If he had hair he'd have pulled it out. Fortunately a lead from Jon of N.C.C Somerset  Led to a  2nd hand complete later model clutch and main shaft  at A.F.B in Bridgewater; this was brought and fitted  and the bike was on the road 3 days before the county set off for Belgium.

Jobs on the board for this winter include hiding the rear mudguard struts, rechroming some of the original chrome and maybe changing the front forks but these things are always fluid.

"It's Not A Stocker"