Springer Softail Classic
Year: 2005
Make: H-D
MSRP: $16,995
Mileage: 4,075
Rider: Jeff
The press photo from H-D. Stock and pretty
When I first saw a Springer Softail Classic I loved it. I don't know if it was the springer, the all-black paint, or the fake '50s Panhead look, but I saw myself happily riding one, so I bought a vivid black one. I kept it as my second bike and barely rode it, but when I did it was one step up from my Shovelhead, but I found it not to be as comfortable as my well broken in '97 Road King.
If you know one thing about me it would be that I can't leave any vehicle I own in its stock form, so since I wasn't really riding the Springer I decided that it was going to get a major overhaul. A parking lot mishap just facilitated the inevitable. Though the bike sustained little damage; the front fender and floorboard mounts were kind of bent up, so off they went. I then went whole-hog and swapped the Springer frontend for a blacked-out, slammed and shaved Wide Glide as well as an all-black Ride Wright 23-inch front wheel with Avon Tire. Now that the front looked so good, I had to do something with the rear of the bike. Off came the stock fender, wheel, and seat, which were replaced by a modified RWD fender I scored at a swap meet, an 18-inch Ride Wright wheel with a 180 Avon tire, a belt-to-chain conversion with George's Garage sprotor and custom-stitched C&C seat. I dropped the rear with an Arnott air ride system and I rode it like this with a set of 16-inch apes for a bit. I then decided that a set of Joker Machine risers and a set of drag bars would look better on it. There are a few other changes that I made along the way, such as the Klock Werks dash, Hooker pipes and Goodson air cleaner that further separate the bike from its stock appearance.
This is how she looks now. Down and dirty.
When I look back on how the bike originally was when it rolled out of the factory, even I can't believe that it is the same bike. It was a ton of fun to build, and it even rides better than stock due to a more compliant frontend and adjustable on-the-fly suspension.