Don,
Glad to see that the bike is together and that the engine issue was minor. Great project and a beautiful bike!
Thanks Ernie. Appreciate the good thoughts. It's been a fun project. I enjoy both the search process and the assembly so something like this is a lot of fun.
It has turned out well. Really nothing I wish was done significantly differently. There was a pivot toward quicker completion rather than total completion when that used engine was discovered. But that's ok.
The change only means it can be ridden this year and that there will be more enjoyment to be had with the bike later finishing the as yet unfinished details. The saddle will need some re-work for its appearance to satisfy me. It'll get a different speedometer sometime; probably one of the Dakota Digital units. My preference was for an anolog instrument for this bike. But the Dakota piece has its benefits too.
Still have to get the FLHX tail piece painted. No filler strips at all now. When that rear fascia gets painted it and the red powdered Bushtec hitch will go on.
All that can be done over time though. When time and play money see fit. Winter next year will (hopefully) see the motor get bumped. Making it a nice pulling 95" will be a fun project in and of itself. Raising the torque curve significantly and moving it to the left may then make a six speed part of the equation.
That's part of the process now too. Rather than the bike still be slowly assembled for another year as all that got assembled and done now it'll get to be ridden. It'll be down the occasional weekend or few days as something gets done. But now can be enjoyed both for use and as a continuing project.