Best year Sportster for ridgid project

[svlhdleo]

I was wondering what is the best year Sportster engine to use for project I was wanting to build.Factor should be what years have a way to work on transmission without splitting cases,most horsepower or the least amount of factory problems. I want to build a little hot rod ridgid with a Kansas Kustoms hardtail on it.
Thanks for your help, Leo

[mayor]

if it was me, I would choose a Buell instead of a sporty if you have a frame option. Preferably a Buell with XB or Thunderstorm heads. 

if you are set on a sporty, go with '91 and up.  5sp, belt drives are pretty reliable...if your borrowing parts from the donor bike, '00 and up has the better brakes, '04 and up have the rubber mount. 

[fulldress79]

My vote would be '90 and under 1200. The 4 speeds are simpler and easier to work on,plus most parts from any 4 speed from '52 up work,making parts cheaper and easier to find. Also '90 and back have replaceable tappet guides which is a plus.

[traveler5769]

2003 and older.  Rigid mount motor.  I'd suggest 1994 and newer.  better clutch adjustment setup.  My rigid had a 1993 motor, and the clutch adjustment was a real pain.

~Joe

[chopper]

Does anyone actually MAKE a hardtail (ether bolt-on or weld-on) for the newer Sportsters?  I'm toying with the idea of a lightweight bobber project and EVO Sporties are going pretty cheap around here..

[traveler5769]

www.ledsledcustoms.com

I used their stuff on my bobber.

Good stuff.

~Joe

[svlhdleo]

Chopper,
I am looking at the Kansas Kustoms website. The sell hardtail kits for Sportsters that they can sell you or send them your frame and they will install it on your frame for a reasonable cost. That is what I want to do so I can keep my same title and insurance rates. Also I would like to thank everyone that has responded to my thread as I would not make a move till consulting with HTT first.
Leo