Delores and Franklin | Custom Harley-Davidson Sportsters
1985 Harley-Davidson Ironhead Sportster and 1983 Harley-Davidson Sportster
Photo: Peter Linney
Ride the Hot Bike Tour and you’ll see the crossover between streetbike stunt riding and custom iron up close and personal. If you couldn’t make it, Michael Rickman has you covered with these two feature bikes. A veteran street hooligan with a decade of stunting at shows, competitions, on the street, and in parking lots all over the place, he’s logged his share of cockpit time on two wheels. He’s also the guy who built Delores and Franklin here—’83 and ’85 Ironhead Sportsters transformed into two sweet chop jobs. They marked the end of one era and the start of Michael’s next.
Michael Rickman and Jamie Thissen
Photo: Peter Linney
Unless you’re a glacier or a volcano, 10 years is a long time to do anything. Michael hit the decade mark as a street stunter and that was enough. He’d taken that ride as far as he wanted to go. Michael wasn’t alone because a few of his good buddies left that life too. Kendall Thompson was among them. He found a little treasure cache in his grandpa’s garage—dad’s original ’72 kicker Ironhead. “He told me he was gonna rebuild it and that I could probably find one cheap as well,” Michael recalls. “Then we could ride together again. This was in 2010. I found my ’83 on Craigslist then bought it for $1,900.”
Naturally, the bike was in the pristine condition we’ve all come to know and expect from buying used scoots online for cheap. By that I mean it was great for holding dozens of Easter eggs. You know, a basket case. At least it started. “With the help of my son Deaven and my girlfriend Jamie, I chopped, customized, and finally finished it up,” Michael says.
1983 Harley-Davidson Sportster
Photo: Peter Linney
We’re talking about a lot of help here. The bike started, but it only ran in the most basic sense. Its motor had parts, and when you hit the kickstarter, they moved together, making noise and, theoretically, motion. Transforming it back into an Ironhead motor someone might actually want in a chopper took thorough degreasing and rebuilding.
Paint/Graphics by Joel England
Photo: Peter Linney
Michael Rickman
Photo: Peter Linney
1983 Harley-Davidson Sportster
Photo: Peter Linney
1983 Harley-Davidson Ironhead Sportster
Photo: Peter Linney
1983 Harley-Davidson Ironhead Sportster
Photo: Peter Linney
1983 Harley-Davidson Ironhead Sportster
Photo: Peter Linney
Michael Rickman and Jamie Thissen
Photo: Peter Linney
Michael Rickman and Jamie Thissen
Photo: Peter Linney
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Owner | Michael Rickman |
| Year/Make/Model | 1983/Harley-Davidson/Sportster| |
| Fabrication | Slim Fab | |
| Build Time | A long time |
| Engine | |
| Year/Type/Size | ’83/H-D/Ironhead Sportster |
| Builder | Michael Rickman |
| Cases | H-D |
| Cylinders | H-D | |
| Heads | Sporty Parts |
| Rocker Boxes | H-D |
| Cams | P Cams |
| Throttle Body | H-D |
| Exhaust | Slim Fab |
| Air Cleaner | Benchmark |
| Transmission | | |
| Year/Type | ’83/Andrews |
| Gears | 4-speed |
| Clutch | Barnett Scorpion |
| Primary Drive | H-D |
| Frame | |
| Year/Type | ’99/H-D and Michael Rickman| |
| Rake/Stretch | Stock/None |
| Suspension | |
| Front End | H-D 39mm Narrow Glide |
| Length | 28 in. |
| Rear | Burly Slammer Shocks |
| Wheels, Tires, and Brakes | |
| Front | |
| Builder/Size | Sum Rims, Buchannan spokes 21 x 1.85 in. | |
| Tire/Size | Avon Speedmaster 21 x 1.85 in.| |
| Calipers | None |
| Rotors | None |
| Rear | |
| Builder/Size | Sun rims 16 x 4 in. |
| Tire/Size | Avon 16 x 4 in. |
| Caliper | V-Twin Manufacturing |
| Rotor | V-Twin Manufacturing |
| Pulley | 48-tooth with chain final drive| |
| Finish/Paint | |
| Colors | House of Kolor silver mega flake under Sun Burst |
| Paint/Graphics | Joel England | |
| Accessories | | |
| Rear Fender | H-D |
| Gas Tank | Throttle Addiction |
| Handlebars | Slim Fab | |
| Grips | Avon |
| Mirrors | Not so much |
| Hand Controls | H-D |
| Foot Controls | H-D| |
| Footpegs | CCI |
| Headlight | 5-in. Bates |
| Taillight | After Hours Choppers |
| Seat | Biltwell |
1985 Harley-Davidson Ironhead Sportster
Photo: Peter Linney
Franklin wasn’t any better off to start either. It was rough shape, needing serious love to coax it back to rideable. The ’85 XL was also a perfect opportunity, according to Michael: “My son Deaven and I made it our first bike build together. He was 14 years old. We tore it down and started customizing it with a lot of help from friends and family.” That was more than five years back. Now, they ride them together or, as seen here, Michael’s lady Jamie rides it. “I’m in the process of finishing my third Ironhead now,” he says. “Kendall, Deaven, Jamie, and I all ride and have a blast together. We go to campouts, all the Born-Free shows, Hippy Killer, and many more events. I live for building, riding, and hanging out with my friends, sons, and girlfriend.”
1985 Harley-Davidson Ironhead 1000cc
Photo: Peter Linney
1985 Harley-Davidson Ironhead 1000cc
Photo: Peter Linney
Paint/Graphics by Joel England
Photo: Peter Linney
RELATED | MORE CUSTOM SPORTSTERS
1985 Harley-Davidson Ironhead 1000cc
Photo: Peter Linney
1985 Harley-Davidson Ironhead Sportster
Photo: Peter Linney
Jamie Thissen
Photo: Peter Linney
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Owner | Jamie Thissen |
| Year/Make/Model | 1985/H-D/Ironhead Sportster| |
| Fabrication | Slim Fab and Michael Rickman |
| Build Time | Quite some time |
| Engine | |
| Year/Type/Size | ’85/H-D Ironhead/1000cc |
| Builder | Michael Rickman |
| Cases | H-D |
| Cylinders | H-D |
| Heads | Boar’s Nest |
| Rocker Boxes | H-D |
| Cams | Q Cams |
| Throttle Body | H-D with S&S Super E Carb |
| Exhaust | Slim Fab |
| Air Cleaner | Spitfire aluminum swirl |
| Transmission | |
| Year/Type | ’85/H-D Ironhead |
| Gears | 4-speed |
| Clutch | H-D |
| Primary Drive | H-D | |
| Frame | |
| Year/Type | ’85/H-D Sportster | |
| Rake/Stretch | Stock/None |
| Suspension | | |
| Frontend | H-D 39mm Narrow Glide |
| Wheels, Tires, and Brakes | |
| Front | |
| Builder/Size | V-Twin Manufacturing 21 x 2 in. | |
| Tire/Size | Avon 21 x 2 in. |
| Calipers | Performance Machine 4-piston |
| Rotors | Custom Chrome |
| Rear | |
| Builder/Size | V-Twin Manufacturing 16 x 4 in. |
| Tire/Size | Shinko 16 x 4 in. |
| Caliper | Performance Machine |
| Rotor | Custom Chrome |
| Pulley | 48-tooth chain drive| |
| Finish/Paint | |
| Colors | House of Kolor silver mega flake, Honda Piano Black, Candy Blue |
| Paint/Graphics | Joel England| |
| Powdercoating | 951 Powdercoating |
| Accessories | |
| Rear Fender | Low Brow and Michael Rickman| |
| Gas Tank | Joel England |
| Handlebars | Kendall Thompson | |
| Grips | Pangea White| |
| Mirrors | Custom Chrome |
| Hand Controls | Honda CBR600RR | |
| Foot Controls | V-Twin Manufacturing/H-D| |
| Footpegs | H-D | |
| Headlight | 5-in. Bates |
| Taillight | Biltwell |
| License Mount | Low Brow |
| Seat | Biltwell |
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