Need Opinions

I have been fretting over what I should do with my scooter for when it comes time to convert it to a hardtail. In this case, I am undecided if I should powder coat the whole engine, or if I should get it all polished to a high mirror finish and chrome everything? If I were to polish it, I would most likely have the jugs and heads accented in black (inside the fins). Opinions? But if I were to powder coat it, I would like to stagger the color scheme using black and orange.

Here is an example. Rocker box=Orange Heads/Jugs=Black Case=Orange and so on.

If you have different suggestions, I would love to hear them. I don't mind crazy ideas either so let them fly.

Thanks.

Here is a picture of my bike for a better visual.

I'm just a noob here, but FWIW, how much time do you want to invest cleaning it? If it's a fair weather riding machine I would say chrome might not be bad. If your gonna use it often and in different weather, powder coating would be a lot easier to maintain. The differentiating color scheme would be pretty cool looking....just my 0.02

What is FWIW? Last season was my first season on a scoot and I rode only in nice weather. This year, I have been riding when it has been 35* out because we are having some weird weather up here and can't wait for it to get really nice out in order to ride. So I guess the answer to your question is "whenever", but when I do the conversion I guess it will be more of a show bike.

BTW, Welcome to the Forum. We like to give each other a lot of crap around here. We are fairly close knit.

Fender - saddle bags,tour pak,fairing/radio,comfy seat/backrest and as always more cubic inches - then you'll have a big boy bike!! :roflmao::roflmao:

Get the motor diamond cut and maybe some engraving if you know someone.
I would keep the sportster as a daily driver and build yourself a chopper hardtail your already 95% there with what your talkin about doin to the sporty!

Not sure what you mean by "I am already 95% there?" I want to convert this to a hardtail. Are you saying leave this as is then start completely from scratch??

Yup buy frame,motor,tranny etc swap meets craigs list and so on. It's only a little more than what you are thinkin with your sporty!

This has always been in the back of my mind. I think this is an excellent point. Thanks Chucktx.

My suggestion is buy the bike in the picture below and sell the skirtster.

OK, Here is another question. I like Twisted Choppers so far as the place to buy a rolling chassis as of now. I have looked into the paughco's but I just think that I get more for my money through twisted. So that being said, does anyone else know of a good and reputable place to buy rolling chassis? Also which is the most popular choice for engine and the most practical, a shovel head or twin cam? I browsed the good ol' ebay last night and found some good deals on both of them.

Here ya need a bill of sale for all major parts used with serial numbers if there is one, then when it is completed ya have to have it inspected by the state and the state will issue you a vin number. Sometimes is a pain, but all the guys I know that have built there own eventually have gotten titles.

Johnny, I've been told it's a bad idea to powder coat the cylinders, and this from a powdercoater himself! High temp. engine paint works just fine, or just sandblast them if you like the raw metal look. The cylinders have to be able to "breathe". Powdercoating the jugs makes them run hotter.

I think you'd be better off buying Tommyc's bike and make changes as desired. I made the big, BIG mistake of starting out with a rolling chassis and I've got $11,000 in my build and it still isn't running! Start out with a DONOR BIKE like Tommy's. You'll be glad you did.