Tossing around long term ideas on putting together an M8 powered CrossBones style bike, with one of them and an M8 Slim.

And yes, I am aware of the frame rake difference.

Thanks.

Main difference the built in rake of the Springer forks complete.

All the chit ( calipers etc front fender etc) transfers over with occasional spacer needing made.

I put a Cross Bones front end on my 2008 CVO Springer ( loooong story) and it all worked out well.

I looked at the Meatballs Springers at the time before I found the Crossbones unit.

Direct copy of one of the HD fronts from memory the Heritage Springer setup ( FL I think). Chrome or black.

Asian made I remember (apologies if that's wrong but I don't think so !)

Shortly after that Frasers Perth built from a dealer Custom build comp a Springer front ended M8 Fatboy.

That used a MEATBALLS complete front end, not "Genuine HD" stuff.

They never did get the front ABS to work but were CLOSE when Frasers Perth very quickly shut the doors and retreated east.

Nor did they have a fender worked out. 

Hope that helps ?

The workshop manager at the time (good guy) reckoned they had sussed it, but the doors shut literally days later

With zero warning. They were "looking for new premises ("were they fuck") they let us all believe for months.

they had sold the premises for high density flats and units. (still not been started in 2024 so somebody fucked up big time)

mate of mine bought the very last new bike they sold , one of them 114 Streetbob ugly cunt of a things.

Went back to arrange his 1000 K's service and doors closed !

The unfinished M8 Fatboy Springer went east we kinda figured. Never heard the end story.

Remember HD's supposed reason for no more Springers was that it wouldn't work with ABS

I'm OK with no ABS, only one of my bikes has it, the Vic bagger.

From info on their website, Meat Ball's can provide raked steering head bearing cups  which let's you compensate for frame rake differences. They're upfront about them being Asian made, but say that they are made to their quality and material specs. Specced to hd's dimensions for the narrow springer for a 21" front, or a 16" for the wide ones in their modern series with the hydraulic damper. And they say they can provide a mudguard link to float the guard.

While I've not ridden a CrossBones, I have spent some time on a mates 90 Springer and love it. He's happy to hammer it down dirt roads keeping up with me, although he does replace steering head bearings a lot.

Supposedly HD sold the springer tooling to Paughco.

Again I looked closely at the various offerings from Paughco back then. Quite the choice. USA made of course.

I'm not a fabricator at all, and plumped for the Crossbones front end as maybe 80% of the parts had the same part # as the OEM CVO Springer front end. Ronnies HD partsfinder website a godsend here.

So I knew it would fit up with minimal fuckaround. As it happens I blended in as much CVO stuff as would work, fender etc etc.

The Crossbones has less rake, the CVO Springer front had the front axle maybe 1 inch further out if that makes sense.

It all fits and works and even the HD dealers today wouldn't know. It would take a "Springer geek" like me haha..

I sold the Crossbones perfect black front fender etc thru the forum at the time , and some other Crossbones bits.

ANY other Springer front would have required fabrication and I have neither the skill (nor patience) I admit.

With regard to offing the ABS , I believe that yer insurance Co "could" get gobby AND a constant yellow idiot light in the dash plus Fault codes a plenty. And it's still active on the rear. It's that chit that was griefing Frasers at the time.

I am well used to the Springer ride now , had it since 2011. Tele fork bikes feel "divey" and "wallowey"

here's a photo of mine and my mate's CVO Springers. This is after the "Crossbones transfusion"

I don't insist on my bikes being original, one look at any of them gives that away.

Didn't think of error codes thrown by half the ABS not working, too used to carbs and points.

Was thinking of Mear Ball's FLSTS fork, set up for a 16" wheel, Heritage Softail style. The geometry of the fork should be good, and compensating for the 6° difference in frame rake with with 3° raked neck cups and a lifted rear suspension set up if necessary. Will have to check for differences between the 2 generations of Softail frames steering heads, bearing sizes, steering stem lengths, thicknesses. Anyone know?

I should say that they come OEM front brake with the EVO style single piston sliding caliper.