Turning a Harley Davidson Sportster into a Dirtbike!!! (Part 1)

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  • čas přidán 19. 01. 2023
  • Building a custom Harley Davidson sportster Dirtbike aka “Dirtster”
    On part one I start with a frame and motor donated from a wrecked 1996 sportster. I add a Dirtbike front end, 19in rear wheel and other goodies. I will be uploading many more videos as I progress and test. Subscribe for more videos related to two wheels.

Komentáře • 54

  • @kylecrawford2671
    @kylecrawford2671 Před rokem +11

    KTM big bike stems/ trees are also a direct fit for sportster necks and bearings. A little easier to source these more modern parts for anyone else tackling a project like this.
    Looks great dude!

  • @nohopeforthekids
    @nohopeforthekids Před rokem +3

    Just watched this and clicked on your channel for more and realized it was posted an hour ago! Looking forward to the rest of the build!

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před rokem +1

      Thank you, I’m excited to make more content and post more builds in the future. Hoping to update parts of this build series every 2-3 weeks

  • @Thunder_and_Fury
    @Thunder_and_Fury Před rokem +1

    already starting to look cool...look forward to the next vid.

  • @BlueMountainBandit
    @BlueMountainBandit Před 4 měsíci +2

    I wish every day I had the knowledge and the finances to do this

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před 3 měsíci +1

      Finances are hard but hey man the knowledge comes with just trying something out. You won’t learn if you don’t try!

  • @speedbuggy16v
    @speedbuggy16v Před rokem +1

    your killing me...... I NEED this!

  • @methinjgti1
    @methinjgti1 Před rokem +1

    This is awesome!

  • @BarterBales
    @BarterBales Před rokem +1

    oooo GPR is a very interesting addition, helped on my old r6

  • @bbroelke
    @bbroelke Před rokem +1

    Great video!!.. eagerly awaiting Part 3!

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před rokem

      I will be pulling it back in soon for part 3 but need some more parts for the next part.

  • @rp75heavy
    @rp75heavy Před 10 měsíci +1

    🎉🎉nice ..!

  • @JordanRay
    @JordanRay Před rokem +1

    Nice work.

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před rokem

      Thanks man, a lot more to come but I will be uploading more as it goes along

  • @jonnymac8925
    @jonnymac8925 Před rokem +1

    There are GPR sportster brackets out there! I plan on swapping from the linear to a rotary stabilizer and it will definitely be a GPR! I'd love to find a set of sport inverted trees with radial calipers to swap to my 2018 but I'm unsure which ones would work with the least amount of work hahaha

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před rokem

      Yes there are, but the ones seem to be a different style units. I have a hayabusa front end converted using xs650 bearings and a custom axle for a tracker but it’s a little shorter than I would want to go

  • @scottfree8848
    @scottfree8848 Před rokem +3

    Gonna build me a dirtster. Collecting info now. Also gonna do a Harley 4wheeler.

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před rokem +1

      I still think a trike using an atv rear suspension would be a blast

    • @scottfree8848
      @scottfree8848 Před rokem +2

      @@SlappysGarage For sure. Had a friend of mine owns a salvage yard and a Yamaha fzr or something come through. Made a racing 4wheeler out of it. 110mph in third gear. Was a six speed. No one ever got it out of third. Widow maker that one was. Anyway, trike would be super cool of course. I was thinking 4wheelet for the unusualness of it. Not the fat tire type but the independent long travel front end types. Like a banshee frame.

    • @scottfree8848
      @scottfree8848 Před rokem +2

      @@SlappysGarage I like building off the wall things. I also want to do a lifted Harley golf cart.

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před rokem +1

      @@scottfree8848 sounds like a fun build. Those old yfz rollers go for cheap would be a good start

    • @scottfree8848
      @scottfree8848 Před rokem +2

      @@SlappysGarage when I was a kid I had that toy called a big wheel. Rode that thing everywhere. Gonna try and design me one that's street legal and looks a close as I can get it to look and be an adult size big wheel.

  • @timszlem6986
    @timszlem6986 Před rokem +1

    Hey man looks like its going to be a dope build. Looking forward to seeing more videos on it. Do you know if the 1999-2002 yz426 tipple trees are also plug and play in the sportster?

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před rokem

      So trees may be easy as a shim and taper bearing but off hand I do not know. These husky trees are as cheep as 150 on eBay

    • @timszlem6986
      @timszlem6986 Před rokem +1

      @@SlappysGarage For sure. Thank you for replying.

  • @Makermook
    @Makermook Před 7 měsíci +1

    I'm doing the opposite: converting a dirt bike into a chopper :)

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před 7 měsíci

      I hope it’s a big bore 2 stroke 🤘🏼

  • @Harley1Mike
    @Harley1Mike Před rokem +1

    Hey man, love the dirtster vids. Part 3 coming up?

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před rokem

      Yes, I would love to do them a lot faster but I need more money to fund the build. After my next 2 videos I should have enough parts to get back on track with the dirtster

  • @timszlem6986
    @timszlem6986 Před 8 měsíci +1

    What are doing for your front springs? Are you able to get stiff enough springs. For example the 96 kx250 weighs around 240lbs and a sportster weighs 500lbs. I got yz426 forks, but now I can’t find much stiffer springs. Is this going to be an issue?
    Thanks for your response.

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před 8 měsíci

      I’m going to orient express to revalve and stiffen the front end. I’ve read about guys running yz426 suspension on tr650s which are 406 lbs as an upgrade from stock.

    • @timszlem6986
      @timszlem6986 Před 8 měsíci +1

      @@SlappysGarage thanks so much for the response. I’m going to get the stiffest springs I can find and heavier weight oil. I’m not going to be doing anything crazy with the bike but it still needs to perform.

  • @ranchodeluxe1
    @ranchodeluxe1 Před rokem

    You have a lot to learn, Son.

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před rokem

      If you ain’t trying, you ain’t learning

    • @ranchodeluxe1
      @ranchodeluxe1 Před rokem

      @@SlappysGarage Good attitude! YOU'LL do fine. If you come to Sturgis, stop by and have a look at mine.

  • @timszlem6986
    @timszlem6986 Před 10 měsíci

    How did you modify the triple trees? I have an opportunity to get a cheap set of 96 KX250 forks so I may go that route and I was able to get the same trees as you.

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před 10 měsíci

      I bought a wrecked TR 650 and these trees stayed on the bike. They milled out the tree for the legs to fit. But I think it was in the video the yz426 forks swap over into these trees

  • @edward-7479
    @edward-7479 Před 7 měsíci

    i wanna do the opposite with a Chinese dirt bike but i cant find a nice low suspension to fit it but it looks great lowered but sadly i might not do it 😢

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před 7 měsíci

      Should be able to slide the tubes down in the front and make a linkage for the rear if it has one

  • @GGT2501
    @GGT2501 Před 7 měsíci +1

    Not much space between back wheel and swing arm, will trap mud like a blanket

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před 7 měsíci

      I had the idea to extend the swingarm 1-2 inches but for the amount of work to do so I’ll wait until o test ride it first. It’s also a concern that the knob is tire will hit the swingarm

  • @jamesmacpherson8467
    @jamesmacpherson8467 Před rokem +1

    U have a good phone number for slimfab? Prolly buy two of those oil bags.

  • @oldamericaniron5767
    @oldamericaniron5767 Před 8 měsíci +5

    You make it a dirt bike by turning off of the pavement into the dirt.

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před 8 měsíci +2

      While you are not wrong ground clearance and rider position are my big concerns when I want to hit hill climbs and any jumps I can find

    • @oldamericaniron5767
      @oldamericaniron5767 Před 8 měsíci +2

      @@SlappysGarage I understand completely. I don’t know how old you are or if you ever heard of the TV series “ Then Came Bronson” from the early 70s. If you’ve never seen it you should look it up. We used to chuckle how he could do anything with that Sportster albeit in some scenes it was a Sprint. He could even pound out bent fenders perfectly with a rock.

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před 8 měsíci

      @@oldamericaniron5767 this is my first time hearing of that but I will check it out. It sounds like he knew how to get rowdy and have some fun!!

    • @mchristr
      @mchristr Před 6 měsíci

      Yup, until you tuck the front end. Then it feels like a street bike as you’re trying to pick it up.

  • @nicholasgilson1412
    @nicholasgilson1412 Před rokem

    Why wouldn't you use the husqvarna forks it is a adventure type bike I'm building a dirtster just curious this is my first build

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před rokem

      They are kx250 tubes. I had the front end off another bike I bought they were milled to fit the tr650 trees.

  • @nicholasgilson1412
    @nicholasgilson1412 Před rokem +1

    Can you email me? I need help with my dirtster Thank you so much

    • @SlappysGarage
      @SlappysGarage  Před rokem

      If you have instagram a direct message on there slappys_garage