99 Vulcan 800A Bobber project

[IMB4U]

Alright. So on Friday I will be picking up a Vulcan 800A for my third bobber project, well really second, the classic I did wasnt really a bobber but was merrly styled after one. I am starting this thread to document its progress along the way. I will be working consistantly on it throughout the winter, hopefully done for riding season 09. Here are pictures of the first two.

[Alley Rat]

what are you gonna do with this one?

[jeffs99vulcan]

Can't wait!!! I love the last one! Just curious... do you have a preference working on the A or B, and why?

[El Skitzo]

Yeah spill the beans, what's the plan!?!?!

[jeffs99vulcan]

Oh, and I'm collecting pics of 800's for a collage I want to have mounted and put on my wall... do you have any full-size pics I can use? Please?!

Here's the thread...

[IMB4U]

I just picked up the bike today so the plan is moving along, I will take a picture of the bike tomorrow, it is dark right now. I dont really have a preference A or B. The plan is as follows: Right now i have a VN800B which is the second picture on my first post. I am taking the wheels off of that and putting them on the new bobber project. Taking the wheels off of the 800A and making the classic have the 21" wheel. I am going to mod the classic front fender by taking about an 1" or so out of the middle to make it skinnier. Then taking the new 12" fatty apes i got for the classic and making the wires internal. The classic will be done. Now the VN800A will have the 16" red wheels white wall tires, I am now in the process of buying a sportster tank cap and petcock, dirt bike style handle bars and grips, adjustable lowering kit for the rear, solo rear fender, solo seat, side mount plate and tail light and what ever other ideas i may come up with along the way. Now this is a fresh start so any input would be great.

[jeffs99vulcan]

I prefer the solo seat on the bobbers... glad to see you are going with that. What's the plan for the exhaust, and what's on the B in the second pic?

[El Skitzo]

Originally Posted by IMB4U

Taking the wheels off of the 800A and making the classic have the 21" wheel.

I'll be interested to see if you have to lower the front end on the classic after putting the 21" wheel on, given it has an overall larger diameter than the 16" even with tyres on. I'd love to put a 21" on the front of mine!

[Alley Rat]

no you dont have to lower the front end on the classic after changing tires. it leans a little farther over on the kickstand but that is it. if you want to go true old school i would leave the stock wheels on there, not the red.

[IMB4U]

So the 21" wheel is on the classic. I actually had to swap out the fork tubes because the base of the fork tubes on the B and A are differant so in order for the axles to fit the swap had to be done. I also had to switch the brake calipers as well. The front of the B now has to be dropped an 1" or so so the fork covers cover the dust guards. Next I have to mod the classic fender to fit around the 21". Now for the bobber project I have the front wheel installed. I have some pictures which will be uploaded tonight.

[IMB4U]

Here is the bike when I first picked it up yesterday. The "offical before" picture.

[El Skitzo]

Wow I'm in shock at how much it took to swap the wheels over!!

[Alley Rat]

You can just change the bearings in the wheels too, for future reference, instead of changing the whole frontend.

[IMB4U]

It wasnt just the bearings that had the problem though. The fork tube lowers have a differant bore as well to fit the differant size axles.

[Alley Rat]

well yeah you still have to change the axles, but the hubs are the same so bearings will fix that. How are you gonna paint it?

[IMB4U]

I hear ya, thought about it after the post and slapped my head, ha Just going to do a flat black on the bobber nothing crazy. I am going to take a picture of the classic and the way the bobber sits after work today.

[Alley Rat]

You should think of doing something different with this bike unless you are just dead set on what you got in your head. Your first two bikes were like that and obviously you know your way around the bike with the work you did in the first two so you could really do somethin with this one. These bikes are so versatile. Just my opinion but yours is all that matters. Do it up.

[IMB4U]

Ok, so I have purchased the Handlebars, Solo seat, side mount plate and tail light, and the rear fender. Now i just have to wait for them to come in. In the mean time I took apart the bike. I also snapped some shots of the Classic while i am also doing some finishing touches on that during the "bobber" project

[IMB4U]

So, when I pick up the sportster tank, it was mentioned that the vacuum lines would have to be blocked or cut off? I noticed that the sporty tank only has a petcock, how is this hooked up so the gas does not keep pouring in the carb when at a stop light or a short or long stand still.

[Alley Rat]

The petcock has to stay open at a stop light but when you get to where you are going all you do is turn the petcock off.