Wth all the high-dollar customs on the market today, building a ground-up bike can seem like a daunting task. Jesse Greenhalgh of Huntington Beach, California, took on this challenge by piecing together a bike of his own. Having just become a proud new father, Jesse was determined to find a way to start putting together his bike without spending all his hard earned cash. He started with a frame from Kraft/Tech and a '99 H-D Evo motor. The tank is from Indian Larry Legacy, and the frontend is a '36 I-beam Springer that he was able to pick up from a friend. Shopping the local swap meets, Jesse found a '99 five-speed Softail transmission and a unique oil bag that matches the gas tank perfectly. His bike is rolling on wheels and tires from Midwest Motorcycle Supply.
Mixing together parts from dealers and swap meets, Jesse was able to keep the cost of his build down. Once he had most of what he needed to get started, he turned to Paughco to find the pipes, bars, and risers he had in mind, all for under $400. Using his mechanical skills, Jesse slapped on the Paughco parts and came one step closer to finishing his bike.
1. Here is what Jesse was...
1. Here is what Jesse was able to score from Paughco. For the frontend, he went with a drag bar with 4 inches of pullback, 29 inches from end to end (Part # I19, $40.95); an early Springer top clamp, dogbone-style, 4-3/4-inch center to center (Part #160, $110.95); and dogbone-style 5-inch risers (Part # 357, $100.95). For pipes, Jesse went with 34-inch straight drag pipes (Part # 731, $109.95), along with the recommended clamps with a tail for easy installation (Part #725D, $12.95).
2. Here is the bike before...
2. Here is the bike before installation, stripped-down and bare. Some pipes and handlebars will help give this bike a more complete look.
3. With the older frontends...
3. With the older frontends you can run into some clearance issues with a new top clamp. Older frontends tend to get bent out of shape over the years, but with a few modifications it will bolt right on.
4. You can use a dremel tool...
4. You can use a dremel tool to shave off the clearance needed for the top clamp to fit.
5. With the top clamp securely...
5. With the top clamp securely tightened, next came the 5-inch risers. A quick turn of the ratchet and the risers were ready for some bars.
6. A little adjustment to...
6. A little adjustment to make sure the Paughco drag bar was centered and ready to be tightened down.
7. Always make sure the handlebars...
7. Always make sure the handlebars are in a comfortable position before moving on. It will help prevent your arms from getting exhausted too quickly and save you from some unnecessary back problems.
8. A quick line-up of the...
8. A quick line-up of the exhaust flanges and the Paughco pipes fit right into place.
9. Make sure the flanges...
9. Make sure the flanges are nice and tight to prevent any exhaust leaks.
10. The new drag pipes mounted...
10. The new drag pipes mounted up nicely and followed the lines of the bike.
11. Now with new pipes and...
11. Now with new pipes and some handlebars for the frontend, this bike is starting to come together. With a feel for the older-style bikes, Jesse is on his way to having a unique bike of his own without cashing in all his chips.