I really enjoyed watching this build. If I weren't already neck deep in my bobber/chopper build on my sportster I would totally make something like this! You inspired my next build for sure man. Keep up the good work and stay safe!
After watching you rip that wheelie I want to build my sportster to this I wanted to make a stunt bike but this looks like I would get a ton more use out of it I have to watch the whole series really liked the rear front wheel
This build turned out really nicely. I'm not a huge fan of the headlight assembly, b/c I prefer the old school look, but overall super sweet bike, Thanks for documenting your build.
I originally planned to go with the old school look, but I could not figure out a way to mount a light in the big number plate. This was different, easy and free. Wheelies...
awesome build man this is one badass bike hoping to document my sportser-to-street tracker/roadster project soon. im using an 06 xl883l to start so ill have a bit of a heavier bike but a 1250 conversion should make up for the weight and then some!! but im also looking forward to your fxr build. those bikes are wheelie stunt machines when set up right and real classic too
Bike looks great as a flat tracker. Maybe a smaller profile Harley color orange black and white paint gas tank? Have you ever gone over on your wheelies?
I would love an orange and black peanut tank.last time I looped out a wheelie was thirty four years ago. Hope it does not happen again any time soon. I'm keeping my foot on the brake pedal, and hoping for the best...
+Joel Tarquin. How would you rate your Sportster as easy, moderate or hard to continue to ride a wheelie? Any bikes you can say are easy to ride wheelies?
I have owned, or raced more than sixty motorcycles. The Harleys are by far the most difficult to wheelie. They are heavy, they don't typically have the mid and top end punch, they don't rev out as high and the weight is generally distributed further forward than most any other style of bike. If you want to buy a bike to learn to wheelie, the un-disputed champ of "easy to wheelie" bikes would be an old XR/XL 500. Old XT 600s are also awesome. As for modern bikes, the KTM Duke, or most any other big single cylinder dual sport is awesome. If you like nicer, or more exotic bikes, all of the Ducati Monsters and Hyper Motards are wheelie machines...
How about adding a single uncovered paper/metal screen type air filter, the type you see on fhe XR750 Flat Trackers? That would give you an additional 5-10% look of the XR for not too much money and a simple bolt on 1-2 hour job.
+dvac9 I have a K&N air filter kit. I just cut the cover to make it look a little cooler, still keep roost out from the front while flat tracking, and let more air in. Not sure it makes any difference, but I didn't like the big clunky air cover that it came with.
Thanks James. I found the header at some hippies used bike parts sale, when I went over to pick up a front wheel. The muffler is from Cone Industries. Wheelies,
In your last video I noticed you downsized the rear rim diameter. Is that back to stock size for street tracker mode? I am in the process of doing the same build to a 99 1200 and am wondering what makes the most sense for my rear rim for building a street tracker.
+Joe LeMoine I could not find any 19" tires that i liked that could hold up to wheelies and burn outs. Plus, the 19" wheel made my stock gearing way too tall, which took all the fun out of the bike. I love the look of the 19's, but the 16" is way more practical for street use.
Ok awesome! I will check that out. You also said in your first video that 83-02 were the best years to buy, due to the hard mounted motor? Did i hear that correctly? and if you dont mind me asking what that means? I was thinking of getting something with fuel injection, but it sounds like that doesnt matter.
The newer bikes have rubber mounted motors. I think they are a bit heavier and maybe a bit larger. If you are building for looks. It won't matter at all. If you are building a race bike, some might say that the rubber mounts rob a bit of horse power.
Fantastic bike man, im truly jealous. Being that im in my final year of highschool i plan on building one of these as soon as possible, what were the final costs for this bike? Being that im also on a budget it would be very helpful, and that is one sweet bike man, if i wasnt half way across the country and had money i would buy it in a heartbeat!
Thanks Man. Cost all depends upon how much you can find a Sporty for, how resourceful you are, and how trick you want your parts to be. You could make a lot of progress on a Sporty with as little as $1000 if you are smart about it. I got lots of free stuff, otherwise I think I would be in for about $6500 with all the trick parts I have now.
Joel Tarquin Alright cool man thanks a lot, and would you recommend this type of bike to beginning riders? Because for me this would be my ideal bike being that i like both harleys and old cafe racers.
@@JoelTarquin21 55 and broke my tibia in 2 places and my fibula in one sept 1 2019 .got a 14 inch long half inch diameter stainless rod in there now as well first broken bones in over 30 years of racing motorcycles guess how that happened .why riding an xs650 flat track bike i built now im building a 1200 sporty hooligan class bike so i can race both classes ill never quit
Joel i think your Hd Dirt tracker is cool, i had a 883 factory racer... after 3 HD dealers pissed me off... i'm looking at Indian....but HD seems unphased by what people want.... I got a question, what do you think of Indian releasing a FTR 1200? I ran the full gambit on this and i'm betting it's a winner... and do you think HD has their head in the sand on this?
joracer1 The FTR is the only Indian that is not on my list of ugliest bikes ever made, and I think it is a really cool idea. As for HD, I have never understood how such a once successful company could be so out of touch with what is actually in demand. Every bike in their current lineup needs customization before I would even ride it...
I raise up the front forks when riding on the street for two reasons: First, I can use all the travel, which is needed for wheelies. Secondly, when the forks are higher it makes the head angle less aggressive, which is better for street. Lowered forks make the bike turn much tighter, better on the dirt track...
Lousy looking flat track bike lol my low rider looks fabulous compared to what you tried to accomplish and looks more like a flat tracker you sound of been looking at old xr and wr you bombed out sorry my friend and no paint scheme to go with it terribly thought out project!!! No front wheel brace no imagination!
k ent shuster Maybe you should learn to read. The title is “How to build a Harley dirt tracker ON A BUDGET”, not “ How to build the ULTIMATE Harley dirt tracker”. Big difference! Of course I would like a fork brace, or a custom paint job, a chain drive, a peanut tank, and many other things. But this entire project only cost about $4000 (including the bike) and I was able to finish on the podium numerous times, learned to ride Harley wheelies, and made lots of new friends. Best $4000 bucks I ever spent.
just watched this whole series great videos man keep up the good work bike came out great! do another build and make some more videos haha
I really enjoyed watching this build. If I weren't already neck deep in my bobber/chopper build on my sportster I would totally make something like this! You inspired my next build for sure man. Keep up the good work and stay safe!
Thanks Man...
After watching you rip that wheelie I want to build my sportster to this I wanted to make a stunt bike but this looks like I would get a ton more use out of it I have to watch the whole series really liked the rear front wheel
This build turned out really nicely. I'm not a huge fan of the headlight assembly, b/c I prefer the old school look, but overall super sweet bike, Thanks for documenting your build.
I originally planned to go with the old school look, but I could not figure out a way to mount a light in the big number plate. This was different, easy and free.
Wheelies...
Love the way the bike came out, really looks good. 👍
these videos really make me regret selling my sportster/buying another to do a build like this! awesome job awesome bike
Thanks Man👍🏼
Great little series, the bike looks like a ton of fun! I want to build one!
NitroRoo Thanks Man! Such a fun project, and SO much fun to ride...
awesome build man this is one badass bike hoping to document my
sportser-to-street tracker/roadster project soon. im using an 06 xl883l to
start so ill have a bit of a heavier bike but a 1250 conversion should
make up for the weight and then some!! but im also looking forward to your fxr build. those bikes are wheelie stunt machines when set up right and real classic too
Sweet build.
Bike looks great as a flat tracker. Maybe a smaller profile Harley color orange black and white paint gas tank? Have you ever gone over on your wheelies?
I would love an orange and black peanut tank.last time I looped out a wheelie was thirty four years ago. Hope it does not happen again any time soon. I'm keeping my foot on the brake pedal, and hoping for the best...
+Joel Tarquin. How would you rate your Sportster as easy, moderate or hard to continue to ride a wheelie? Any bikes you can say are easy to ride wheelies?
I have owned, or raced more than sixty motorcycles. The Harleys are by far the most difficult to wheelie. They are heavy, they don't typically have the mid and top end punch, they don't rev out as high and the weight is generally distributed further forward than most any other style of bike.
If you want to buy a bike to learn to wheelie, the un-disputed champ of "easy to wheelie" bikes would be an old XR/XL 500. Old XT 600s are also awesome. As for modern bikes, the KTM Duke, or most any other big single cylinder dual sport is awesome. If you like nicer, or more exotic bikes, all of the Ducati Monsters and Hyper Motards are wheelie machines...
How about adding a single uncovered paper/metal screen type air filter, the type you see on fhe XR750 Flat Trackers? That would give you an additional 5-10% look of the XR for not too much money and a simple bolt on 1-2 hour job.
This bike is pretty much done. Looking into an FXR OR FXDX project.
awesome video. I always wanted to build a street tracker sportster. what year is it?
1998 Sportster 1200.
Which seat/fender kit did you get ? Who makes it ?is it the saddlemen eliminator kit ?
Can you let me know what you did to your air cleaner??? Breather?? Or is the cover just cut?? K&n. Thanks. Keep the videos and wheelies coming.
+dvac9 I have a K&N air filter kit. I just cut the cover to make it look a little cooler, still keep roost out from the front while flat tracking, and let more air in. Not sure it makes any difference, but I didn't like the big clunky air cover that it came with.
You got my sub brother! This is all sick! Keep up the great work!
Great series Joel! What bars and riser are you using?
Builtwell Tracker bars, and some 4.5" riders from Custom Chrome. Glad you liked the vids...
Cool wheelies.
Thanks Man...
Great Video! Great Bike! What muffler is that? Sounds great. I def will build an exhaust like yours.
Thanks James. I found the header at some hippies used bike parts sale, when I went over to pick up a front wheel. The muffler is from Cone Industries.
Wheelies,
Wish I could afford inverted forks but that’s later way later, thinking of just putting heavier fork oil
In your last video I noticed you downsized the rear rim diameter. Is that back to stock size for street tracker mode? I am in the process of doing the same build to a 99 1200 and am wondering what makes the most sense for my rear rim for building a street tracker.
+Joe LeMoine I could not find any 19" tires that i liked that could hold up to wheelies and burn outs. Plus, the 19" wheel made my stock gearing way too tall, which took all the fun out of the bike. I love the look of the 19's, but the 16" is way more practical for street use.
Any information on the seat & fender combo you received in the first build video? That is what I am looking for when I start my build.
Darren Fortin Got it off EBay. Don't know who makes it, but I see the exact seat all the time.
Ok awesome! I will check that out. You also said in your first video that 83-02 were the best years to buy, due to the hard mounted motor? Did i hear that correctly? and if you dont mind me asking what that means? I was thinking of getting something with fuel injection, but it sounds like that doesnt matter.
The newer bikes have rubber mounted motors. I think they are a bit heavier and maybe a bit larger. If you are building for looks. It won't matter at all. If you are building a race bike, some might say that the rubber mounts rob a bit of horse power.
Awesome info! Thank you very much!!
Did you do anything to the inner works of the forks? I’m building one also and wish I could afoul
I put heavy duty fork springs and 20 weight oil.
Thanks for the tip, I’ll try it tomorrow,thanks for the video
James Polucha I also installed some Burly Brand preload adjusters, that screw onto the top of the fork tube.
How did you break your leg and what bones? Riding on a track?
Broke my tib and fib, skateboarding in an empty pool. However, I do have quite a titanium parts collection from motorcycle crashes as well...
Fantastic bike man, im truly jealous. Being that im in my final year of highschool i plan on building one of these as soon as possible, what were the final costs for this bike? Being that im also on a budget it would be very helpful, and that is one sweet bike man, if i wasnt half way across the country and had money i would buy it in a heartbeat!
Thanks Man. Cost all depends upon how much you can find a Sporty for, how resourceful you are, and how trick you want your parts to be. You could make a lot of progress on a Sporty with as little as $1000 if you are smart about it. I got lots of free stuff, otherwise I think I would be in for about $6500 with all the trick parts I have now.
Joel Tarquin Alright cool man thanks a lot, and would you recommend this type of bike to beginning riders? Because for me this would be my ideal bike being that i like both harleys and old cafe racers.
This is an awesome bike for ANYBODY!!!
When I saw that bones sticker.. I was like what are the chances this dude still skateboards..
50 years old, eight months out of a broken tibia and fibula, and just skated a pool last night...
@@JoelTarquin21 55 and broke my tibia in 2 places and my fibula in one sept 1 2019 .got a 14 inch long half inch diameter stainless rod in there now as well first broken bones in over 30 years of racing motorcycles guess how that happened .why riding an xs650 flat track bike i built now im building a 1200 sporty hooligan class bike so i can race both classes ill never quit
Joel i think your Hd Dirt tracker is cool, i had a 883 factory racer... after 3 HD dealers pissed me off... i'm looking at Indian....but HD seems unphased by what people want.... I got a question, what do you think of Indian releasing a FTR 1200? I ran the full gambit on this and i'm betting it's a winner... and do you think HD has their head in the sand on this?
joracer1 The FTR is the only Indian that is not on my list of ugliest bikes ever made, and I think it is a really cool idea. As for HD, I have never understood how such a once successful company could be so out of touch with what is actually in demand. Every bike in their current lineup needs customization before I would even ride it...
Keep rolling and send some more expenses.
What is the bike in the background??
Another Sporty. Belonged to a friend that died while we were skating a pool. I was holding it until I was able to get it shipped to his family.
You raised up the front shocks again. why?
I raise up the front forks when riding on the street for two reasons: First, I can use all the travel, which is needed for wheelies. Secondly, when the forks are higher it makes the head angle less aggressive, which is better for street. Lowered forks make the bike turn much tighter, better on the dirt track...
Hey Joel, did you ever end up selling this bike?
JazzzMee 2 Not yet. It is SO damn fun to ride that I have not tried yet. But I'm planning to sell it as soon as I have the time...
nice amazon header tape haha
what bike is that me and my friend are thinking about building somthing just like that
98' Sportster 1200
+Joel Tarquin would aa 650 work just as good ? I'm not going to do the racing just a little off road but I want the look of it
+MTB Ginger Lots of 650 trackers. You can make a cool tracker out of lots of things...
Should have gotten the 15 inch burly shocks
ConditionRed I have 15" and 13"...
Cone Engineering*
AND PLEASE CHECK OUT FXDP !!!
XX TRACKER
WRONG SITS TO LOW
Lousy looking flat track bike lol my low rider looks fabulous compared to what you tried to accomplish and looks more like a flat tracker you sound of been looking at old xr and wr you bombed out sorry my friend and no paint scheme to go with it terribly thought out project!!! No front wheel brace no imagination!
k ent shuster Maybe you should learn to read. The title is “How to build a Harley dirt tracker ON A BUDGET”, not “ How to build the ULTIMATE Harley dirt tracker”. Big difference! Of course I would like a fork brace, or a custom paint job, a chain drive, a peanut tank, and many other things. But this entire project only cost about $4000 (including the bike) and I was able to finish on the podium numerous times, learned to ride Harley wheelies, and made lots of new friends. Best $4000 bucks I ever spent.