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Bitter End-Old School Choppers' Hardtail Sportster Conversion
Story by Buck Manning, Photos by Tanner "Big T" Sulser
You know that old Sporty you’ve got laying around that isn’t cool enough for you to get excited about anymore ‘cause it’s just an old Sportster, nuthin’ special? Well take a look at this bike belonging to Steve DeGeest and imagine yours looking this cool. It’s not only possible, but also affordable and garage-doable and that’s worth its weight in gold these days. Steve’s gotta be a pretty smart guy and knows a good thing when he sees one like the Sporty hardtail conversions Al “Big Daddy” Wilkerson of Bitter End-Old School Choppers in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, offers. This springer/hardtail conversion hits all the right notes while it tries not to hit your wallet very hard. “We’ve been offering complete hardtail conversions for about a year-and-half. We started out by offering just hardtails then we developed a kit. A local guy came along and not only wanted the whole rear end kit, but wanted a springer and handlebars too,” said Al. “The more we got into it, the more we decided to make it look like a WWII-era Panhead bobber. It just elevated into a black nasty thing you see here”
Building an eye catcher is what custom bikes are all about. “In most towns, this would be the coolest bike in town. If most towns are like Des Moines, when you go to a bike night the coolest bike you’re gonna see is the Softail with tons of bolt-on chrome,” said Al. “Something like this little bobber will blow it out of the water. There’s nothing better than a blacked-out, stripped-down bobber right now.”
Steve’s bike has a 2.5” stretch in the V-Twin Mfg. hardtail and that really makes this bike look proportionately correct, something stock frame Sporty’s with springers don’t. Bitter End will also build you a hardtail to any length too if that’s not enough. The choice of 150mm Avon Venom tires front and rear on Black Bike spoked wheels gives it the beefy Old School bobber look Al was going for. “It’s really easy and fun to ride too,” said Al. “For me to enjoy riding a Sportster is quite a feat ‘cause I’m 6’2” and 310 pounds. I feel like a circus bear riding a tricycle on stock Sportsters, but this bike feels really natural. Part of that is the kit lengthens the bike, but the other thing is the Panhead replica handlebars are three-feet wide. I don’t feel cramped on it at all even with my size.”
The drivetrain is still a lady-in-waiting as Steve stuck with the stock 883 mill but did add a cool Bitter End air cleaner and exhaust for the right look. “If he did the 1200cc conversion and hopped it up he’d have a helluva bike!” said Al.
The Bitter End conversions are not only available as a turn-key Bitter End build like Steve’s bike is, but four different levels of parts for you to work with in your garage. What you’re actually looking at on Steve’s bike is the Level 4 kit ($4,866) that includes every piece you see other than the original Sportster frame around the engine, the engine, exhaust, and stock gas tank. At the other extreme, the Level 1 kit is the least expensive, but pretty comprehensive and includes the hardtail (good for up to a 200 tire), DNA springer (w/front axle), a chrome springer disc brake setup, a sprung solo seat (brackets and stanchions included), flat fender and struts, rear axle (with hardware, adjuster kit, and DIY axle spacer), round oil tank, offset front pulley/sprocket and longer belt or chain with spacers, battery tray, and an internal throttle. Phew! That’s a lot for only $2,842. There are two more kits in-between and you can find out about all of them at Bitter End’s entertaining and informative website at www.bitterendchoppers.com. Every level is clearly shown with what’s included in pictures and words so you know exactly what you’re getting.
“We’re trying to be as reasonable as we can and we’ve gotten tons of positive feedback on the kits. Our customer base is mainly the home builder, the humble blue-collar guy that builds his own stuff in his garage,” said Al. “The reason we do levels is that not everybody can afford the whole shebang and many of our customers just want to improvise and save money and we try and give them the opportunity to do that. To me it’s fun just to do a quick, simple project that anybody can afford.”
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