Know Your Man's Motorcycle: Hardtailing your Softtail?

One of my most popular posts would have to be the 

Know Your Man's Motor...

It seemed to be something that was helpful to many. We recently bought a 1952 panhead and my mom used her skills from the post to identify the motor : ) 

Based on that I am going to do a monthly post for Know Your Man's Motorcycle -This month is it a Hardtail or Softail?

First off, knowing what this is even talking about will help. Hardtail and Softail are referring to rear suspension on the motorcycle.

-A HARDTAIL has NO REAR suspension, it is also known as rigid. The frame and rear section on this motorcycle are all one piece.

-A SOFTAIL has REAR suspension, it is also known as a swing-arm bike. The frame and rear section on this motorcycle is two pieces, that pivot to absorb shock from riding.

Notice tail section laying down near rear not connected  

 -SOFTTAIL SIDE NOTE-

**All SOFTAILS are SWING ARM BIKES...BUT not all SWING ARMS are SOFTTAIL**

-Softtails you CANNOT see the shocks, but you can see a pivot point (hinge) centered in-between the rear wheel and transmission -         

SOFTAIL - NO SHOCKS

No Shocks

See Pivot bolt - Left lower corner 

-Swing Arms you CAN see the shocks-

 Shocks

So can you explain what hardtailing a softtail is?

 It is when you take off the swing arm portion and weld on a hardtail section that will not pivot anymore. The bike will now be rigid.

Weld-On Hardtail

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Garage Co Customs Moved

We have moved the SHOP OFFICIALLY.... 

Thanks to all our friends for making this so easy and helping us get it done!

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The Chop Lot in Daytona

Daytona Bike Week 2012 starts Friday...

If you are gonna be in Daytona - Make sure to stop by!

The raddest bikes, coolest shops and always a good time!

ALSO including Biltwell, Lowbrow and Chop Cult!

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Know your man's motor

Since Larry owns Garage Company Customs, a motorcycle shop, all of our time revolves around motorcycles, so knowing which motor is which is a must.  Impressing the guys with all this knowledge is fun and it helps me understand most of what they are talking about. If your man is anything like mine, a girl that knows her motors is level 10....so study up and flex your knowledge on him!! 

First, you must know what to look for....

Rocker boxes are the easiest way to distinguish american v-twins from each other. Even with after market  rocker boxes, they look close enough to the originals that you should still tell them apart. 

ROCKER BOXES are the tops/caps/covers on TOP of each end of the "V" or heads on the motor.  

Flathead

1930-1948 (1973 THANKS RICKY)

These do not have rocker boxes that sit on top of the "V" or heads, like later models. 

Look for the "fins" on the head of the motor 

Knucklehead

1936-1947

These rocker boxes have 2 large nuts on each box and the front looks similar to a knuckles on your hand. They are bulky looking 

Panhead

1948-1965

These rocker boxes are completely enclosed on top, with a lip running around the bottom. They look similar to a pan or hat sitting on top of the "V" or heads. 

Shovelhead

1966-1985

These rocker boxes are horse shoe shaped from the top and have 2 nuts on the front and each side. 

They do resemble the knucklehead (just don't tell your man that), but these nuts are much smaller and not as bulky. Shovelhead rocker boxes have a much sleeker and smaller look.

Ironhead Sporster

1957-1985

These rocker boxes look very similar to shovel heads, but the main thing that sets Ironhead sporsters apart is their transmission being connected in one case with the motor. With the other motors these two parts are completely separate. 

The transmission (part sticking out on bottom left) is connected to motor

SHOVELHEAD- The transmission is not connected or pictured 

So go get 'em girls!!!