a question for motorcycle riders

[Blackwater 53393]

2 hours ago, JP McLintock said:

Blackwater, definitely sounds secure, but some of us have old guy shovels, and the battery and coil are out in front of everyone! 

 

Here’s a picture of my Shovel Head.  It started life as a ‘79 Lowrider, but there’s practically nothing on it that I haven’t changed or modified!

 

The saddle bags can be installed in about ten minutes and I have a prepacked bedroll with my possibles that lashes to the luggage rack.

 

I’ve worn out three speedometers on this old bike. We built the engine using the original heads with bigger valves and the original crank pin and counterweights, (they have been balanced) but everything else is now aftermarket, including the crankcase which is a Delkron nitro case.

 

We switched out the four speed with an S&S 5 into 4 case and then installed a RevTech 6 into 5 gearset. This was the first six speed Shovel that S&S or RevTech knew about back in 1998!

 

I ran a Sturgis belt drive for a while, but that hopped up engine would break the primary belt at the drop of a hat, so we went back to an Evo chain drive primary. 
 

 

Edited May 5 by Blackwater 53393

[JP McLintock]

I like that one!, especially the bibs!

[sassnetguy50]

On 5/4/2026 at 7:37 PM, Blackwater 53393 said:

When we redid my old Shovel Head, I put the on/off switch in a custom dash that fits between the tanks.  It’s an antique looking chrome flip-top switch with key and tumbler built in.  We disassembled the tumbler and a locksmith buddy of mine re-keyed it so that the factory keys would not work. The dash is held on with a lock-lug similar to what you find on custom wheels and two of the three bolts are hidden. Thieves would have to probably destroy the dash to get to the back side of the switch.

 

 The slickest trick I have seen in the stealing bikes business was two fairly large guys with a piece of pipe and a pickup truck. They just shoved the pipe through the spokes on the back wheel and lifted that end of the bike into the bed of the truck then one guy steadied the front end while the other one put the pipe through the front wheel. With the two of them balancing the bike, they rolled it in to where the front wheel was on the tailgate and then one of ‘em climbed into the bed and rolled the bike the rest of the way in and the other one threw a couple of ratchet straps onto the handlebars and tied the bike down.

 

It might have taken them a whole minute and a half and they were headed out of the parking lot!

Sounds like motivation for solid wheels.  

[Blackwater 53393]

16 hours ago, sassnetguy50 said:

Sounds like motivation for solid wheels.  

You ever ride a bike with solid wheels in a stiff crosswind, you will probably change your mind about that!

[sassnetguy50]

5 hours ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

You ever ride a bike with solid wheels in a stiff crosswind, you will probably change your mind about that!

No, just around the block for a couple quick pulls.  Is it worse than an Ultra in a cross wind?

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

7 hours ago, Blackwater 53393 said:

You ever ride a bike with solid wheels in a stiff crosswind, you will probably change your mind about that!

 

Or full skirted fenders! BTDT!

[Blackwater 53393]

2 hours ago, sassnetguy50 said:

No, just around the block for a couple quick pulls.  Is it worse than an Ultra in a cross wind?

I found the Ultra Classic to be pretty stable, It’s a heavy bike and with spokes or mag wheels it doesn’t catch as much sidewind as you might imagine.

[Eyesa Horg]

Never had any issues with our Ultra, two up and pulling a 400 pound trailer/camper!  75-80mph, cruise on and stereo keeping ya entertained for a typical 10 hour day when travelin'. Run gas tank to gas tank! Miss those days and trips!

[sassnetguy50]

Does that mean "Yes, a V-rod with solid wheels is worse in a crosswind than an Ultra with spokes."?

[Eyesa Horg]

9 minutes ago, sassnetguy50 said:

Does that mean "Yes, a V-rod with solid wheels is worse in a crosswind than an Ultra with spokes."?

I would guess they are, guys with solid wheel Fatboys would bitch about it. I have no experience with them. But I've heard a lot of dresser riders whine about semi trucks pushing them around and can't say that was really an issue for me. I guess I just naturally corrected for it and subconsciously knew where and when the vacuum/ push was going to happen when passing.

In the more open Midwest, we had some high winds that you had to lean into a tad and be ready for the sudden loss of it when going under a bridge. Overall never gave it much concern. Now hail sucked!!