First cut...

The first header pipe cutting exercise just happened.
Number one of MANY before the little snails are mounted for real.
This test fit felt wrong before I even started to weld.
But what the heck, I must start somewhere to make this to the Cosmic Dreamer it will be in the end.

The first, way to snug test fit.

The christening

Any project should have a working name and so does mine......from now on.
Hereby I baptise you to Cosmic Dreamer, or CD for short.
Cosmic Dreamer, a suitable name for a build like this.
A girlie bike with out there, dreamy specs, use and time frame.  *Hehe*

Cosmic Dreamer

Note to self.... Sportster front hubs SUCK!

I have now laced three front Sportster front hubs.
The first, LAST & ONLY.
A Wideglide/rear hub is a walk in the park compared to this.
But now its finally laced and truing is up next.
Truing that I normally dread will be like meeting an old friend compared to lacing.

First I gave the brand new Morad rim a quick polish with the machine and then by hand. 

Then some protective tape to save the delicate, shiny rim. 

And then the madness begun...... There was times when I was very near a breakdown but finally I walked away as the winner. 

Rear wheel

So the transformation from a fancy pile of stuff to a wheel begun.

Step one, the parts:
# The now refurbished rear OEM HD hub with new bearings and shiny black powder coat
# A shiny Akront rim
# A set of new chrome spokes

Step two, lacing: Basicly to get everything in to place

And a while later a laced wheel was a reality

Step three, truing: Yours truly halfway ready truing and almost ready for a mental institution

Step four, completion: But after lots of anger, adrenaline and instant coffee the wheel was both round and straight

Straight like ruler in the frame

Now the tire must be a part of the setup so the rest of the mockup can continue.

Blackout

Finally the decision fell in the issue with the hubs.
A nice layer of black powdercoat became the final touch.
Now I'm gonna lace them it to a used Akront 17"x 5,0" rear rim and a new Morad 21"x 2,5" front rim.
But first some new fresh bearings will find their new home in the hubs.

Handle the bar....

So the handlebar issue was up on the Sportster build. I'm using Buell handcontrols and they are for 7/8" handlebar and the Harley risers I'm using is of course 1". To solve this I bought one of those new hip "fat bars" and they are 1-1/8".
So the very labour intensive job to take up the 1" Harley risers to 1-1/8" begun and for this I used a adjustable hand reamer I borrowed from my nice garage neighbor Bo.
As I mentioned, a very labour intensive job but some hours and a gallon of sweat later I had a perfect fit and it looked awesome.

In the making...

The perfect fit

Rear rim

This winter the Sportster project will have most focus in the speedshop.
Last year I bought a old used 17" Akront rim instead of the 16" I started with. It was in ok condition but needed some TLC to take the shine back to its former glory. First with machine polish and then some fine polish by hand and now it looks like new again.
Aluminum is a awesome material, if you are willing to put in the hours you are always rewarded with the unbeatable alu shine no matter what state the parts was in before.

The rear rim spec's

The restored glory