Five years in the past, the maniacs at Biltwell Inc. did one thing utterly unhinged, by racing a Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 within the NORRA 1000 desert race from Baja, California to Mexico. And why not? The Californian components and equipment firm is aware of their approach round a Sportster—they usually’re normally up for absolutely anything.
They’re additionally not silly, which is why they took a second Sportster 883 alongside for the journey. Stripped all the way down to its components, the second Sporty rode in Biltwell’s chase van simply in case one thing broke. But because it seems, most of these components have been nonetheless sitting within the van by the top of the race.
In true Biltwell trend, your entire smorgasbord of spare and ex-race components was then gathered right into a pile and massaged into one other totally functioning filth bike, courtesy of standard Biltwell collaborator, Rob ‘Rouser’ Galan. Dubbed the ‘Spare Parts Sportster,’ that bike was enthusiastically thrashed all by way of the Mint 400, and the primary two Biltwell 100 desert races.
The Sportster ultimately began displaying indicators of the continuous abuse it had suffered. So when Biltwell head honcho Bill Bryant began jonesing for an journey bike to name his personal, he figured it was time to offer the unkillable 883 one more makeover.
“In the spring of this year, Rouser traveled from his surf lair in remote Panama to come up for his annual work trip in Temecula, California,” says Biltwell head honcho, Bill Bryan. “We brainstormed about what it would take to convert this semi-retired race-slash-thrash bike to become a more universal all-rounder.”
“First, we defined the mission; a street-legal bike that is capable of 300-500 mile days while having some modern features, extra fuel capacity, and the ability to haul plenty of gear. Of course, it had to be off-road capable and not lose any of the race-proven provenance inherited from the original Frijole, and also be comfy and competent on the highway.”
Rouser tore into the 2003-model Harley-Davidson Sportster 883’s engine, rebuilding it with a 1,200 cc S&S Cycle package. It breathes in through a CV carb with Rouser’s common unfold of go-to mods and exhales through a {custom} exhaust with a modified Cone Engineering muffler. The exhaust wears a Jet-Hot ceramic coating and has a kink in the long run that factors scorching gasses away from the rider’s baggage.
The 883 additionally advantages from Buell XB valve covers and breathers, a Dyna 2000i ignition, and a Cycle Electrics charging system. It sports activities a Rekluse clutch, a Honda XR400 oil cooler, and a light-weight Antigravity battery.
It stands approach taller now, due to a set of 2005-spec Honda CRF250F forks and a pair of Elka rear shocks. Giga Cycle hooked Biltwell up with a set of {custom} triple timber with a barely extra relaxed head angle, and Biltwell moved the steering stops to enhance the bike’s turning radius.
The laced rims use 21F/18R Excel rims, wrapped in Metzler MC360 tires. Biltwell additionally put in a Giga Cycle rear brake provider, Galfer discs, and a GPR steering stabilizer.
With further energy and suspension journey available, Bill wasn’t about to neglect the chassis. The body and swingarm have been beefed up in key locations, and the oil tank was hooked up on to the body reasonably than through the OEM rubber mounts. It’s a confirmed mod that Biltwell used on their NORRA 1000 bike—as is the apply of swapping the push-in oil tank cap for an aluminum one with a threaded bung.
“These oil tank mods are often overlooked by novice desert racers hopping up a Sporty,” Bill explains. “All it takes is one tip-over for the stock oil cap to pop off and all is lost in the middle of nowhere.”
Burly crash bars sit up entrance, with a modified skid plate from the now-defunct Hugo Moto mounted decrease down. Biltwell turned the gear-shifter round, GP-style, to tuck it in tight, and added a pair of huge and grippy Hugo Moto foot pegs.
The Sportster’s radically redesigned cockpit reads like an journey rider’s Christmas listing. The mods embrace a Manic! Rally navigation tower, with two Baja Designs Squadron Pro lights poking out the entrance, and two extra mounted on the crash bars as fog lights.
Tucked behind the fairing is a Garmin Zumo XT2 GPS unit that doubles up as a speedo, with a bespoke change panel that makes use of aircraft-style circuit breakers. The crew additionally added outsized bars, hand guards, and Biltwell grips with heated grip liners. “It sounds pretty bougie for chopper types, but they sure are nice when it’s chilly,” says Bill.
All that was left was to prime the Sportster for lengthy days within the saddle. “We went round and round about how to solve the extra fuel capacity issue,” says Bill. “We didn’t want a strangely huge plastic tank—it just wouldn’t look or feel like a Harley.”
The easiest resolution was to connect two one-gallon Rotopax gasoline cells to an SW-Motech high field. The high field was then mounted to a custom-made rack, which extends downwards to accommodate a pair of Biltwell EXFIL-18 saddlebags .“This lends itself to roughly 200 miles without an external gas stop,” Bill provides. “I need a snack about every 100 miles or so anyway.”
Resplendent in Subaru ‘Adventure Green’ and flat black, courtesy of Pete Finlan, Biltwell’s ‘ADVXL’ is as purpose-built as they arrive. But how does it journey?
“Rob’s rebuild with the S&S 1,200 cc Hooligan kit makes this bike way more peppy than the original Frijole,” Bill confirms. “The gearing is perfect for mixed-use. It’ll run 70 mph all day on the highway without feeling taxed, but still has plenty of grunt down low to get this 500-pound wannabe dirt bike out of tricky situations off-road.”
“Rob’s attention to detail on the build confused fellow riders on a recent ferry ride in the Pacific Northwest. Most of them insisted that it must be a new motorcycle and had a hard time believing it was a 20-year-old Sporty.”
“This motorcycle may have been born and raised in the deserts of So Cal and Baja, but it’s getting a new lease on life up on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. I moved up here to the upper left in Port Angeles this summer and the ADVXL is the bike that gets the most use so far since it behaves so well in all environments.”
“I’ve yet to take it on any multi-day epic adventures but that is absolutely the plan!”
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Source: www.bikeexif.com