5 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 throughout Baja California. And why not? The Californian elements 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 trip. Stripped right down to its elements, the second Sporty rode in Biltwell’s chase van simply in case one thing broke. However because it seems, most of these elements have been nonetheless sitting within the van by the top of the race.
In true Biltwell style, the complete smorgasbord of spare and ex-race elements was then gathered right into a pile and massaged into one other totally functioning dust bike, courtesy of standard Biltwell collaborator, Rob ‘Rouser’ Galan. Dubbed the ‘Spare Elements Sportster,’ that bike was enthusiastically thrashed all via the Mint 400, and the primary two Biltwell 100 desert races.
The Sportster finally began exhibiting indicators of the continuous abuse it had suffered. So when Biltwell head honcho Invoice Bryant began jonesing for an journey bike to name his personal, he figured it was time to offer the unkillable 883 one more makeover.
“Within the spring of this 12 months, Rouser traveled from his surf lair in distant Panama to come back up for his annual work journey in Temecula, California,” says Biltwell head honcho, Invoice Bryan. “We brainstormed about what it might take to transform this semi-retired race-slash-thrash bike to grow to be a extra common all-rounder.”
“First, we outlined the mission; a street-legal bike that’s able to 300-500 mile days whereas having some trendy options, further gas capability, and the flexibility to haul loads of gear. After all, it needed to be off-road succesful and never lose any of the race-proven provenance inherited from the unique Frijole, and likewise be cozy and competent on the freeway.”
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 by way of a CV carb with Rouser’s common unfold of go-to mods and exhales by way of a {custom} exhaust with a modified Cone Engineering muffler. The exhaust wears a Jet-Scorching ceramic coating and has a kink ultimately 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, Invoice wasn’t about to neglect the chassis. The body and swingarm have been beefed up in key locations, and the oil tank was connected on to the body fairly than by way of the OEM rubber mounts. It’s a confirmed mod that Biltwell used on their NORRA 1000 bike—as is the follow of swapping the push-in oil tank cap for an aluminum one with a threaded bung.
“These oil tank mods are sometimes missed by novice desert racers hopping up a Sporty,” Invoice explains. “All it takes is one tip-over for the inventory oil cap to pop off and all is misplaced in the course 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 extensive and grippy Hugo Moto foot pegs.
The Sportster’s radically redesigned cockpit reads like an journey rider’s Christmas checklist. The mods embody a Manic! Rally navigation tower, with two Baja Designs Squadron Professional 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 fairly bougie for chopper varieties, however they certain are good when it’s chilly,” says Invoice.
All that was left was to prime the Sportster for lengthy days within the saddle. “We went spherical and spherical about remedy the additional gas capability difficulty,” says Invoice. “We didn’t desire a unusually big plastic tank—it simply wouldn’t look or really feel like a Harley.”
The best answer was to connect two one-gallon Rotopax gas cells to an SW-Motech prime field. The highest 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 with out an exterior fuel cease,” Invoice provides. “I would like a snack about each 100 miles or so anyway.”
Resplendent in Subaru ‘Journey Inexperienced’ and flat black, courtesy of Pete Finlan, Biltwell’s ‘ADVXL’ is as purpose-built as they arrive. However how does it trip?
“Rob’s rebuild with the S&S 1,200 cc Hooligan package makes this bike far more peppy than the unique Frijole,” Invoice confirms. “The gearing is ideal for mixed-use. It’ll run 70 mph all day on the freeway with out feeling taxed, however nonetheless has loads of grunt down low to get this 500-pound wannabe dust bike out of difficult conditions off-road.”
“Rob’s consideration to element on the construct confused fellow riders on a current ferry trip within the Pacific Northwest. Most of them insisted that it have to be a brand new motorbike and had a tough time believing it was a 20-year-old Sporty.”
“This motorbike could have been born and raised within the deserts of So Cal and Baja, nevertheless it’s getting a brand new lease on life up on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington State. I moved up right here to the higher left in Port Angeles this summer time and the ADVXL is the bike that will get essentially the most use up to now because it behaves so properly in all environments.”
“I’ve but to take it on any multi-day epic adventures however that’s completely the plan!”
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