2005 Harley Davidson Roadster

Michael J - click this image to see my build

What was your intended objective when you started the build?

I wanted to be the Harley that wasn’t what everyone else had. I started out building from RSD cafe stuff and really ended up with a really cool bobber.

What motivated you to start your project?

I wanted a Harley and I found this guy that who needed to repair his bike and the cost to me was little. I also wanted a bike with a story and some wear and tear on it. A bike I wasn’t afraid to cut into.

What was the most unique and creative thing you did to the bike?

I used red throughout the bike. I used a design concept from a woman’s shoe designer Christian Louboutin, where the underside of the shoe is red. I used that same element in the underside of my rear fender. Plus there are a hundred other things hidden in plain view. I also have the ashes of my Father in a bag in the handle bars. My Dad had the same model of bike. He now rides with me everywhere I go.

What are you most proud of?

I have turned every single nut and bolt on that bike. I built that bike.

What do other people say about your motorcycle?

Mostly everyone loves it but there are the few that just want to be negative. They are mostly the Bagger guys. I get the “Nice Girls Bike” line all the time. I love to ride this bike. I can ride 400 miles I a day and honestly I don’t want to go any farther in a day.

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Submitted by: Michael J

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Specifics

Make, Model & Year: 2005 Harley Davidson Roadster

Fondly known as: Griffin Fly. Because if it’s shape.

Time spent: Countless. This was a basket case bike.

Motorcycle cost: Let just say I paid not much for the bike but I still paid what it cost to get on and go.

Money spent: About $4500.00

Engine: The engine is a high compression 1250cc with Stage 4 Screamin Eagle heads machines for pop up pistons. It has 690 lift cams and a Mikuni 42 Screamin Eagle carb. The cams come in around 4000 and don’t stop till 7500. I had to have the crank balanced to accommodate that.

Intake: The intake is from RSD and it feeds into the Mikuni carb.

Exhaust: I the the Screamin Eagle ll exhaust. The pipes are wrapped and the tops are hollow. I made my own torque tubes with fender washers welded on 5/16 bolts. They call them lollipops. They mount in the mufflers and tune as needed. This produces a really nice rumble.

Frame: I cut the frame back is that the fender could be bobbed

Suspension: The slammer shock have been the best thing to do to change the visual symmetry of the bike.

Wheels, tires and brakes: I put the Commander ll’s on when I had the rims powder coated red. The Commander ll’s are the best tires I have ever rode on. This Sportster is a Roadster model. The roadsters came with a twin disc front end. The brake are stock but do an excellent job.

Finish – Paint: Rattle can flat black and some other tricks. The side is the tank are the original graphics.

Accessories: I used a stock Sportster solo seat. The interesting thing is that it has been reshaped with all new memory foam. I had them narrow the seat as well. It has been covered in a marine grade leather/vinyl and stitched in red.