Rocket Bob’s 79 H-D Sportster, Sloat Slayer

Words:Pete Pearson Photos:Horst Rosler

My pal Jo Discombe wanted her Ironhead Sportster transformed into something raw, beaten up and looking like it had been assembled in the middle of a battlefield. She wanted it a semi off-road style but also wanted the design to be far removed from a conventional flat track Sportster. Other than that we were pretty much given a free hand to build the bike anyway we deemed fit, which is exactly what we love to do. The result is a bike that we really are proud of and the customer is very happy about riding. The bike needed a nasty set of wheels and the only way to put a 190 race slick in the rear of a 79 Sportster with a 50’s arrowhead swingarm was to stretch it to widen it and then run a jackshaft through the original pivot point of the arrowhead. I’ve never been a big fan of Sportster right-side drive so this was a golden opportunity to convert one to left. wrapped around a full carbon race wheel. The pipes on this tracker are critical to it’s look and so the shock set up just had to be completely changed. I love fabricating monoshock systems, but the really massive advantage is that it gives you free rein to run the pipes anyhow you want. and so I did. My pal Jo Discombe wanted her Ironhead Sportster transformed into something raw, beaten up and looking like it had been assembled in the middle of a battlefield. She wanted it a semi off-road style but also wanted the design to be far removed from a conventional flat track Sportster. Other than that we were pretty much given a free hand to build the bike anyway we deemed fit, which is exactly what we love to do. The result is a bike that we really are proud of and the customer is very happy about riding. The bike needed a nasty set of wheels and the only way to put a 190 race slick in the rear of a 79 Sportster with a 50’s arrowhead swingarm was to stretch it to widen it and then run a jackshaft through the original pivot point of the arrowhead. I’ve never been a big fan of Sportster right-side drive so this was a golden opportunity to convert one to left. wrapped around a full carbon race wheel. The pipes on this tracker are critical to it’s look and so the shock set up just had to be completely changed. I love fabricating monoshock systems, but the really massive advantage is that it gives you free rein to run the pipes anyhow you want. and so I did. My pal Jo Discombe wanted her Ironhead Sportster transformed into something raw, beaten up and looking like it had been assembled in the middle of a battlefield. She wanted it a semi off-road style but also wanted the design to be far removed from a conventional flat track Sportster. Other than that we were pretty much given a free hand to build the bike anyway we deemed fit, which is exactly what we love to do. The result is a bike that we really are proud of and the customer is very happy about riding. The bike needed a nasty set of wheels and the only way to put a 190 race slick in the rear of a 79 Sportster with a 50’s arrowhead swingarm was to stretch it to widen it and then run a jackshaft through the original pivot point of the arrowhead. I’ve never been a big fan of Sportster right-side drive so this was a golden opportunity to convert one to left. wrapped around a full carbon race wheel. The pipes on this tracker are critical to it’s look and so the shock set up just had to be completely changed. I love fabricating monoshock systems, but the really massive advantage is that it gives you free rein to run the pipes anyhow you want. and so I did.

Spec Sheet

Builder - Rocket Bobs Cycle Works Owner - Jo Discombe Website - rocketbobs.biz Handle - @rocketbobs Year - 1979 Make - Harley-Davidson Model - Ironhead Sportster ENGINE Year - 1979 Type - Ironhead Size - 1000cc Builder- H-D Cases- H-D Cylinders- H-D Heads- H-D Rocker Boxes - H-D Cam - H-D Carburetor - S&S Air Cleaner - Rocket Bob’s Exhaust - Rocket Bob’s TRANSMISSION Year - 1979 Type - H-D Gears - H-D Clutch - H-D Primary Drive - H-D FRAME Year/Type - H-D Rocket Bob’s Rake/Stretch - Stock SUSPENSION Frontend - Marzocchi Length - 850mm Triple Trees - GSXR Swingarm - Modified 1957 H-D Rear Shocks - Nitron

ROLLING STOCK

FRONT WHEEL Builder - Rotobox Tire/Size - Michelin 120/17 Calipers - Rocket Bob’s Rotors - ZX10R REAR WHEEL Builder - Rotobox Tire/Size - Michelin 190/60 Caliper - Hope Rotor - Rocket Bob’s Sproket - Rotobox PAINT & PLATING Paint Manufacturer - Colors Used - None Painter - Not Much Graphics - Very Little Plating - None Polishing - Rocket Bob’s Powdercoating - Sunbase Ltd. ACCESSORIES Rear Section - Rocket Bob’s Gas Tank - Modified Yamaha DT175 Handlebars - Rocket Bob’s Grips - Biltwell Hand Controls - Joker Machine Foot Controls - Rocket Bob’s Pegs - Rocket Bob’s Headlight - Rocket Bob’s Taillight - Rocket Bob’s License Mount - Rocket Bob’s Seat - Rocket Bob’s