Thread: Getting power out of a harley

I believe Indian has new models coming based on the FTR1200 platform. More low ride cruiser style etc but with the lighter weight and higher power of the FTR. Worth a look when they come out..

Nice nice bikes there FTX... I am surprised no-one has mentioned the Z1 900 Kwacka - that was another big leap forward in its day after the earlier milestone CB750F

I can't remember exactly but think it late 70's
Was a long time ago when built it... probably 30 yrs around about...

Originally Posted by mudgripz

I believe Indian has new models coming based on the FTR1200 platform. More low ride cruiser style etc but with the lighter weight and higher power of the FTR. Worth a look when they come out..

Nice nice bikes there FTX... I am surprised no-one has mentioned the Z1 900 Kwacka - that was another big leap forward in its day after the earlier milestone CB750F

The Z series is legendary. The retro Z900RS would be worth a look.
https://www.visordown.com/news/new-b...t-refresh-2020

That Kawasaki Z900RS looks AMAZING... make a beautiful cruiser. Always did.

Be good if honda also produced a retro style CB750 with modern motor etc - that would be popular. Or perhaps a retro CB900?

Originally Posted by Ftx325

And the shovel sporty I built out of a box of bits and spent a small fortune on....

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Nicely done. Small correction though, a 'shovel' is a different kettle of fish entirely. You had an an XLH Ironhead there and the year would have been after 1976, been a right disc brake bike. Like the Mikuni carb and electric foot. Wish mine had a button to push.

Originally Posted by Ftx325

Now the t150 trident in various stages of building.... the black car in background is the 68 monaro I was building at the same time..

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Lots of handmade parts inc forward controls , custom guard , seat , oil tank etc...

I see mischief there...it's the first hardtail Trident I've ever seen.

Originally Posted by Ftx325

My Cb 750 k4 I think it was ... with 4 into 1 exhaust to release the extra power... And fzr 1000.... And the black bike is old mans vfr 750.... Note the triumph herald in the shed and my escort 1600 sport in driveway..

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My 1974 Honda Four twisted it's camshaft in half. Still ran on two and got me the 100km home.

Originally Posted by Ftx325

XJ550 with black paint , swapped out front guard and fitted clip on bars after this pic taken..

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Cbr400 rr with custom paint...

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Daytona 955 again which I spent 40 hrs polishing rims and swingarm etc by hand...my fingers bled for days after that....

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Those CBR400R front brakes were the dogs' dangles in 1992. I would have thought that after fitting clip ons to the 550, you'd have given more though about polishing the Trumpies wheels...

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

Very very close to a twin of the one I had - right down to the narrow bars, is it a ‘81?
Oh, Mine did have twin front discs.

The twin discs appeared in 1978.

Originally Posted by mudgripz

I believe Indian has new models coming based on the FTR1200 platform. More low ride cruiser style etc but with the lighter weight and higher power of the FTR. Worth a look when they come out..

Nice nice bikes there FTX... I am surprised no-one has mentioned the Z1 900 Kwacka - that was another big leap forward in its day after the earlier milestone CB750F

The Z1 903 was a huge leap for mankind. I also had the KZ1000 in 1977 and the Z1 smoked it with it's bigger carbs and more pointy cam profile.

Originally Posted by mudgripz

That Kawasaki Z900RS looks AMAZING... make a beautiful cruiser. Always did.

Be good if honda also produced a retro style CB750 with modern motor etc - that would be popular. Or perhaps a retro CB900?

Honda did a CB1100 retro in the early 90's and possibly a Jap import in 750. Wide rims, twin shock etc.

Originally Posted by outlander

The twin discs appeared in 1978.

I was going by the battery location and the oil filler location, my iron head was an ‘81 and apart from that extra disc (which made for exciting panic stops!) looked identical to the pictured one.

Originally Posted by Proudkiwi

There isint a police car in the country that can hit the speeds you’re talking about.

And you would have been charged with reckless driving in those circumstances, not given a ticket. Regardless of how lazy the cop was. That’s without getting into the fantasy where they said ‘it’s obvious you’re a good rider by the way you’re driving’

It just didn’t happen.

There use to be police cars that would do that speed easily,down our way any how.Yrs ago our local copa was give a twin turbo suparoo,highly chipped.He was scare of it a bit till the local machanic took him for a drive in it on the canel road.The fire siren went one day and our copa was 3 doors up from me.Well that suparoo flu down our street.I thort wtf he will kill himself in it.He never did try it out flat but it wasn't governed,but the machanic said it would do 250-260 ks easily.

Originally Posted by outlander

Nicely done. Small correction though, a 'shovel' is a different kettle of fish entirely. You had an an XLH Ironhead there and the year would have been after 1976, been a right disc brake bike. Like the Mikuni carb and electric foot. Wish mine had a button to push.

All I know is that it was not a very inspiring bike to ride in my opinion and wished I hadn't swapped it for the bonnie cafe racer I was 90 per cent finished building but at the time I was made an offer I couldn't refuse for the cafe racer which included the harley in pieces and way too much cash.
The cafe racer was oil in frame 750 with the english breadbox tank and a replica tailpiece with molded in side panels from the flat track harley. Race cams , big two into one headers with muffler underseat, hand made rearsets, drilled discs with japanese forks and twin disc brakes , the list goes on. Everything was modified or custom. Painted it a metallic gun metal grey and she was a beauty. Never even got to ride it ....

Originally Posted by Finnwolf

I was going by the battery location and the oil filler location, my iron head was an ‘81 and apart from that extra disc (which made for exciting panic stops!) looked identical to the pictured one.

You guys know more about Harley's and the various models than I ever will or care too if I'm honest. I just liked the idea of owning one and loved building stuff and modding bikes and cars. It was after I sold the harley (3 weeks after finishing it, I really didn't like the ride) I bought and started building the trident , probably to prove it didn't have to be a Harley to be a cool standout cruiser. And dare I say it was a better bike in all respects to ride. Faster, better braking and cornered like on rails. Even with the hardtail,which was from an early triumph which I shortened slightly and then just bolted on to the trident frame using original mounting points, it handled like a dream... until you hit a big bump in the road!
The trident could be turned back to standard in a day. Everything was bolt on.