883 Iron. First round of mods.

  • speakeasy
    speakeasy
    7 years ago
    Hi all.
    Just picked up an Iron from HH Melb and have started the mods. So far have fitted burly shocks, v&h slip ons, drag bars, air filter and tank lift. Doing wire tuck, speedo and coil relocation and a few little other things this week while waiting for some more parts to arrive. 

    I'm thinking of sanding the tank back to bare metal and letting it rust a little before clear coat. Also need a new seat (stock sucks) and i'll probably remount the license plate to the side. 1200 kit later in the year.


  • speakeasy
    speakeasy
    7 years ago
    Updates from today's tinkering. 

  • TC883
    TC883
    7 years ago
    Mate, looking good. Love the courage to strip the paint from the tank of a brand new bike - maximum cohones! Suggest the coil relocation and wire tuck next to complete the look. It also needs a bare bones style seat. Shame because the seat you have is pretty comfy by sportster standards, but does not work with the look you have going. Keep the pics coming. Cheers, TC
  • Kingchops
    Kingchops
    7 years ago
    Nice job on the tank finish, that looks brilliant against the black.  Personally I think that seat looks fine on there.  How did you get the rust finish on the tank, and did you clear coat it after?

  • speakeasy
    speakeasy
    7 years ago
    Thanks guys!
    The wire tuck has been started, just need to relocate the coil to tidy it up a little more.
    I've got a 48 seat on the way, i hate the stock iron seat. 
    for the rust effect I used paint stripper to get rid of the paint then a light sanding. made a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and salt and sprayed it on the tank multiple times. after a while i got a hair dryer out so i could control the dripping rust and pattern it how i wanted. then a few rounds of clear coat to seal it in. Next time the tank is off i'll run a few more coats over it to give it a deeper shine, i was running out of motivation and sun light.
  • speakeasy
    speakeasy
    7 years ago
    Finished the wire tuck, coil relocation, added a headlight grill, painted the turn signal lens caps and did another round of rust and clear on the tank. 

  • TC883
    TC883
    7 years ago
    Awesome. Looks fantastic mate, well done.
  • steelo
    steelo
    7 years ago
    Love the bike and what you've done. What about something like this seat on Gumtree stained a brown colour. 
  • speakeasy
    speakeasy
    7 years ago
    New seat went on today. So much better than the stock saddle. 
    Still playing around with different finishes on the tank while figuring out what to do next. 


  • speakeasy
    speakeasy
    7 years ago
    Haven't posted for a bit. Here are some more recent photos of the build. I've done a few little things since but nothing major. 
    After the initial joy of the new seat I now hate it and I'm waiting on a mustang tripper. 
    Forwards are ready to go on as well.  


  • skirtster
    skirtster
    7 years ago
    reflectors on front forks don't suit the look your trying for.
  • punkin
    punkin
    7 years ago
    Starting to look really good. I agree with the reflectors, see them left on too many bikes. The mirrors look great there in that cafe racer style.
    Are you looking at doing something with the oil tank next?
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    7 years ago
    I do not think the copper highlights work either... they are too light/bright and do not sit well with the rust look.
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    7 years ago
    can't half do it get Steel rim spoke wheels get em rusty!!
  • punkin
    punkin
    7 years ago
    I think the copper highlights work really well.
  • IronThunder
    IronThunder
    7 years ago
    It's looking very very nice. Is that the Burly Slammer 10.5" Shocks you put on? How does the ride compare with the stock shocks?