First Ride on my 1988 Sportster XLH 1200 - Chopper Build Series Video 3

[@georgeknox]

You now have a bike that has a soul. Welcome to Team Old Sporty!

[@MrRourk]

Best Team Around

[@davidpiikkila5235]

Nice bike! I wouldn't do anything but ride it like it is. Had a 2004 Sportster, now I ride a 2005 V Rod. I really miss my Sporty! Still looking forward to what you do to it.

[@nooowayyjose]

Thanks David, I will share progress as I go along. Thanks for watching.

[@FreedomRider1982]

Beautiful! I just came across your channel and I'm happy to support you and other fellow motovloggers. Keep up the great work and ride safe out there 💯👍

[@nooowayyjose]

Thanks! Really appreciate the support! I hope to have some more videos out soon and keep posting the progress on my build! Thanks for watching.

[@arthurleino]

I helped a friend put stiffer springs and did some other work on his 90 Sportster. We were in the Philippines at Subic when we did this. Nice Sportster you have there.

[@justaguy6307]

Nice bike, nice video. congrats. this older guy looking at his first bike. so bike vids like this are coming up. // word of advice from a dad of 2 ...forget abt worrying about the 'noise for the baby' - let the baby acclimate to the parents, the world, not the other way around. peace. stay safe..

[@nooowayyjose]

Thanks! I’ve really been enjoying the process and journey, both with my bike and also baby haha. Yeah, she is definitely part of a lively family, I just know she was down for a nap and I was going to roll past her window, didn’t want to risk the last few minutes of quite I had left 😅 those minutes are precious at this point! Thanks for watching

[@87ricer]

Great ride along video

[@nooowayyjose]

Thanks, working on making this video thing overall fun, down to earth and easy to follow. Thanks for watching.

[@garrisonconnors854]

Yo excited to watch the rest of this series! I just got my 02 back after not having it for years and I'm getting a parts list together to make mine beautiful! Wish it was also a 1200 but it will be eventually!

[@vincentvega8210]

You made a good deal and especially for your plans to chop it up..I have an 06 sporty 1200 xlc ive had it for 8 years ,I love it . But ive been getting that chopper ich myself.good luck with the bike im sure she will make you happy.

[@mikevest3761]

Thanks for the video, this will be the first bike I get here soon. Im about an hour south of you west of oly

[@JIMBOBALOU]

The 88 was the first year of the CV carburetor and didn't have an accelerator pump, so the needle is thinner than later model Sportster carbs. I would suggest that you go up in size on your carb jets. They come from the factory on the lean side(EPA). So by going up in size it will idle and run better. IE: 180 main and 45 pilot. And if it hasn't been done already, you should run the idle mixture screw all the way in and then back it out 2.5-3 turns.

[@nooowayyjose]

Awesome insight, super helpful info. I will look into this and incorporate some suggestion into the work I do on the bike. Thanks!

[@JIMBOBALOU]

@@nooowayyjose you're welcome man

[@geraldscott4302]

I agree. I got a tuning kit that came with new jets, a new needle, and a thumbscrew type pilot screw that could be adjusted with the engine running.

[@geraldscott4302]

That 1988 is absolutely beautiful. It's as beautiful as that Iron is UGLY. It has bright shiny paint, and lots of chrome and shiny aluminum, like a motorcycle should have. The Iron is just flat black over flat black over still more flat black. It looks like they built it first, then just dipped it in flat black. It's just a flat black blob. I would remove the windshield, put a better sounding chrome exhaust on it, and leave everything else alone. That is a classic bike. If you want to chop something up, use the Iron. The brakes work the way they are supposed to. They are not supposed to lock the front wheel with the slightest touch. If you need brakes like that you are doing it wrong. Rest assured they will lock the front wheel if you squeeze the lever hard enough. I never ride mine until it is warm enough to run good with the choke off. Get a temperature gauge that replaces the oil cap/dipstick, so you can keep track of the oil temperature. The 1200 can be short shifted without lugging the engine "within reason" it has tons of torque.

[@lovingmylifeasIage6741]

Yeah if you don't challenge yourself, you can't grow. Building you own bike is very rewarding. I'm rebuilding my 71 Triumph chopper now and hope to have it going in a couple of months.

[@nooowayyjose]

That’s awesome, thanks for the words of encouragement. I’m excited to get this project going, feel like a great platform, hope it all works out! Thanks for watching.

[@TeddCookerly]

Just found your channel and saw that you were in my area when you bought the bike. I recently finished converting an 883 to a 70's style chopper and it was a blast and worth the learning experience. I am near by, if you need help hit me up. Always down to lean a hand!

[@nooowayyjose]

Thanks Tedd, that sounds awesome! I’m excited to get started, i hope to hear from you as I move forward in the project. Thanks for watching!

[@EastCoastLessLethal]

Hey Jose, I chopped many sportsters over the years. I can always make some suggestions. It’s great you got a sportster with a chain if your going to chop it.

[@nooowayyjose]

Thanks for the offer, I’ll definitely be gathering info and feedback as I go along, hope people stay engaged as I share more progress. Thanks for watching.

[@theodavies8754]

I had a new 1988 883 hugger in that colour. No tach. Loved it for what it was but couldn't live with the tank range. Now have a 1999 FXDL. Still think of it as new, terrible image quality short on my channel. Took off most of the aftermarket catalogue but still a few things that can stay.

[@poroushook0065]

I wouldn’t worry about your bike being a year older than it’s registered I have a 1988 xlh1200 sportster that’s registered as a 1989 and everything is fine. Nice looking bike as well 👍

[@nooowayyjose]

Definitely off the ledge now haha, I was a bit frustrated day off, but totally over it now. I’m moving forward with my project, thanks for watching!

[@poroushook0065]

Good looking forward to seeing what you do with it

[@LuisLopez-lj8lw]

I believe the petcock was in the “reserve” position when you first started, you then flipped it to “on”. The position closest to you is the “off” position. Keep pumping out the videos man! 👍🏽

[@nooowayyjose]

Thanks for the tip, I noticed that this one has 3 markings on it, one down at the 6oclock and it says ON, one at the 9oclock and has a little • and then one at the 12oclock that has RES… when I left it on at the 6, it spit out fuel when I stood the bike straight up. So I figured the 9oclock is off! Thanks for watching!

[@kellyharden9894]

You can take off driving while choke is on and as you ride and bike warms up you can push choke back in.

[@nooowayyjose]

Definitely figuring it out, thanks for the heads up. It felt pretty good after a few mins and pushed that choke back in as I was going down the road, never had another issue, it ran great. Thanks for watching

[@ilovecarnitas]

you should be ok to leave the gas to “on”. well i do on my 04. hah I never turn it off for the many years i’ve owned it. (and it doesnt leak) and i flip it to reserve when its started to putt out but that doesnt matter much for you with you new build since you’ll get a different petcock. (when then you may need to turn it to off depending on what you get) my choke routine is i do 30 seconds full out, then i go to 1/2 way in, I pull away and ride for a min or 2 and then all in as along as I can keep the revs up its good. some people say to get off the choke as soon as possible to not foul the plugs and to use the throttle to warm it but to each their own. i do more or less what the manual says.

[@ajheck98]

You should only use the choke to start it. When you drive around with it on even half way it’ll file the plugs

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

The belt drive on the newer Sportster smooth out the bike so much you would not believe the difference. Especially with only having a four-speed gearbox. I love my 1999 Sportster with the 5-speed and the belt drive and I have almost 400,000 miles on her and a 20 plus years I've ridden the bike. I would get better hand grip so you get less vibration yet to handlebar.

[@vector6977]

Hard to find the belt drive kits for the 4 speeds these days. the best thing to do is get a 22 tooth front sprocket and 48 rear with a good O ring chain. It will make it far more livable on the highway.

[@nooowayyjose]

Yeah, I have a 2017 Iron 883 with a 5-speed belt drive, that thing is pretty turn key, nothing much to do to it. This will be a fun project bike to learn on and get my hands dirty! Thanks for watching!

[@nooowayyjose]

Great suggestion!

[@michaelroche1987]

Hey bro, cool vids! I live in the area, do you run any particular tires for the wet weather?

[@nooowayyjose]

Hey Michael, nothing specific for the rain at this point but I also don’t tend to go out when its wet. I should look into it.

[@johncross3469]

This classic harley survived 34 years. Take my advice. Do not change it. You will destroy it. Clean it up. Improve the suspension, handling etc, but keep it as close to original as possible. You will ride a hardtail chopper about 5 miles before your back gives up the ghost. Seriously, this is a very cool bike as it is. Keep it that way.

[@nooowayyjose]

Sorry to disappoint. It will be chopped. Thanks for watching though!

[@r.artilesuriarte599]

Bro, there's a fuckton of sportsters out there, nothing really special about them

[@williammiller1732]

Six feet you need forward I'm five six mids are great ebc brake pads huge upgrade

[@eloyanzaldua7433]

Lol, old man seat. Im 60 wit several spinal surgeries n have riden me whole life. Lol in 30 yrs u will learn to appreciate the old mens seats. Hang in there, u will do well.

[@thekingsservant1104]

I wish I could ride a sporty, I'm completely happy on one but at 6ft 7, 350 pounds I look completely stupid on one 😂 I bought an 07 heritage and I even look big on that one. you've got a very nice bike and I think it's gonna make a nice chopper. looking forward to the build.

[@nooowayyjose]

😂 I sort of felt the same way on the first sporty and then again this one. I definitely think its right on the edge of being too small, but also the right size. I wanted to trade up to something a little bigger like a fat bob or lowrider but didn’t want to spend the cash and now I’m loving the idea of building this thing to my personal preferences and size! Thanks for watching!

[@williammiller1732]

Chain will require lube n adjustment but can be fixed on side of road two master links in tool kit four speed will suck sports always needed five my 91 finally got it get an accelorater pump cv carb

[@mikelackey6371]

Stumbled into your channel. Glad your excited about motorcycles. I love em too. My advice.....ride the 1200. Make some comfort changes (new seat, forward controls) and learn about Evo engines, how to weld etc. Your going from a 883 to building a chopper. Big jump and you seem like a new rider. Educate yourself, become a passable mechanic and good rider then build a chopper. You're jumping over a lot of key steps in the process. Just my 2 cents. The plans you describe as you ride is a tall order so instead of setting yourself up for frustration and maybe ending up with a bike in a heap of metal slow down and do all the intermediary steps first. Your bike obviously, do as you please but knowledge about the process is key to seeing your dream bike rolling down the road. Dont rush it. Enjoy the journey. Lots of stuff you can do to that 1200 to make it "cooler" while learning to work on bikes, learning Evo engines and carbs. Good luck.

[@nooowayyjose]

Hey Mike, thanks for the advice. I appreciate the words, definitely dont want to rush anything and very open and willing to learn. I hope to hear from you as I move forward in my project! Thanks for watching!

[@michaeldelio1870]

That sporty is too nice to change. The late models look stupid next to late 80s, early 90s sportsters. They have that great played back look.

[@williammiller1732]

Sports are good for 100 miles per tank

[@TV-jv5vs]

11:55 s2000

[@MrRourk]

You going to have to find another Sportster for your wife. Then you can go on camping trips together.

[@nooowayyjose]

She pretty much hates these things 😅 I’ll be lucky if she mustards up the courage to go out for a ride. Thanks for watching!

[@frankmarkovcijr5459]

I would buy a hardtail frame and build a bike from there with the engine and then go with the cycle parts I want instead of trying to drop frame welded and line it up and have everything straight that is an art in itself. Done poorly it would be dangerous in the extreme like I said I would go with a brand new frame.

[@grayghost1423]

It's a enricher not a choke. I hope you don't chop that bike up. That's a beautiful example of a survivor.. Those handlebars are called buckhorns. In the end its yours, do as you see fit. Yes the turn signals you have to hold down that year.

[@camdencrotwell349]

Harley idle is pretty low and running the bike with any choke is no go causes it run lean after bout 5 minutes no choke it should have a nice horse gallop idle

[@nooowayyjose]

Learning as I go, thanks for the insight. I let the bike warm up and the thing ran perfect, no hiccups! Thanks for watching!

[@vector6977]

set it right at 1000 RPM.

[@camdencrotwell349]

@@nooowayyjose no problem man figured I’d throw some insight tryna save your spark plugs haha!

[@wamps3370]

Turn off the choke asap after starting. Not good to leave it on too long.

[@calimilk1113]

Awesome hog!!!! Looks all original please dont chop it!!! A true classic!!! Damn what a steal!!! 3,200!!!

[@BjFoley]

Your def not a real biker want to be one its all good you will learn as u go be safe.

[@carterhart5435]

I wouldn't cut that bike up, too damn clean and a true survivor. NOTHING wrong with the 4 speed, same final drive of 1:1 as a 5 speed anyway. Even the 883 has plenty of torque for the 4 speed. Only difference with a chain is instant response because you don't have a rubber belt to cushion. Suspension can easily be improved, seats are readily available to improve comfort. FORWARD CONTROLS!!!! If your 883 feels sketchy at speed check your front motor mount bolt, they loosen and the whole bike goes to shit but you don't know it until you ride something else. Seriously, if you want to build a bike don't buy a mint bike and cut it up. You just PAID for a bunch of parts you will not be using.

[@nooowayyjose]

Sorry to disappoint. It will be chopped 🔪 Thanks for watching though

[@jonsixxx6569]

1888lol