What would you do???

[Bill]

I am about to pull the trigger on another Bagger and wanted to get some opinions...

I know some of you have bought brand new bikes and chopped them up soon after... Do you regret doing it to a new bike knowing you could have saved 4K-5K buying a used bike with under 5000 miles?

I want to go all out this time with probably an FLHX Bags, Fenders, Raked, 26" Wheel, etc, etc, etc... I am just having a hard time convincing myself to start with a new bike even though I really want a new bike.

What would you do???

 

[QuikHD]

Well, here is a couple pics of mine. After this winter I will have just under $30k in it and it will have a 124" motor with nitrous, and really the only changes I would like to make after that is rake the front and sell the 21" for a 23". At $30k, IMO it is a much better deal than buying a stock bike new for what $25k out the door? $5k goes VERY fast in a bagger.

I did all the work myself except for the paint and machine shop work on the heads and bottom end of the engine.

Buy a used street glide for cheap and build it up. Mine is a 07 and had 6500 miles on it, I paid $15,400 for it totally stock.

 

[Bill]

One of the things I am really considering is chopping my existing King and dropping a 124" in it. With that comes two hurdles/questions...

1- How will my fairing work out with the raked front end? If I remanufacture the brackets to account for the rake will it look right???

2- When it is in King mode how well do those raked headlight/nacelle extensions look? I know they make the fiberglass versions but I am not sure if I want that. Anyone know of a raked nacelle that is metal?


Probably the BIGGEST reason I am not thrilled about starting over on my current bike is I LOVE it just the way it is. It would kill me to yank of everything I have done and start over... I think I want my next bike to have a lot less chrome on it so the King's Bling would have to all be powder coated.

Man, I just don't know what to do...

 

[QuikHD]

Thats a tough call. I still like chrome, while it isnt the most popular right now, its timeless and will never go out of style.

Are you thinking about getting a second bike? If so, reconisder. I have 3 and if you think one is expensive....... I am selling my dyna's this spring. I just dont ride them enough to justify them.

 

[Bill]

I definately don't want to have two in the stable, or at least not for long..

 

[Bill]

You know...

Maybe the right thing to do is turn my King into a Street Glide. Considering I would already be buying half the fairing "raked outer," trees, legs, etc it probably wouldn't be a bad move.

I know there are some serious wiring differences between the two and I "assume" I could get all the wiring from a salvaged bike on Ebay pretty cheap. Get some stock take-out gauges "after Marty works his majic" and I would have a Street Glide in no time...

This might be an interesting project!

If anyone has any first hand knowledge of the wiring differences, small parts, etc between the two PLEASE educate me. "I don't want to go to those other forums to get the info."

 

[Bill]

The more I think about it, the more I think converting the King to a Street Glide is a good move.

Knowing that the wheels, entire front end, fairing, tunes, seat, gauges, bars, controls, cables, rotors, bags, tank, and fenders are all going to change anyway I might as well start with what I have.

I did some rough math and I figure I can get $6500 out of what I sell off of the King
-Entire Front end from Nacelled down, $1000
-Entire Body, $1000
-Quadzilla Fairing, $1000
-Engine, $1500
-Wheels, $1500
-Misc small parts, $500


So basically I would keep my frame, trans, primary and thats about it...

Now if I could only find a good write up I would be in business!

Anybody know of an info-packed article?

 

[QuikHD]

I would relocate the speedo and addding a tach would be easy. Replace two of the small gauge holes with tweeters and two with voltage and oil pressure. I wouldnt look for a harness, its just added cluster to the fairing.

I wouldnt use a quadzilla, IMO they look pretty cheesy.

 

[vrog]

I started with a brand new bike and basically threw everything away. kind of a dumb move. Basically I kept the frame, tranny and wiring. I got a few dollars in my bike but at this point I dont care to keep track.

If I were to do another one i would prob see if I could score a nice used road king police bike at the auction for $5-$6K. Convert it into a road glide and do all the cool body work and wheel stuff.

 

[Bill]

I would relocate the speedo and addding a tach would be easy. Replace two of the small gauge holes with tweeters and two with voltage and oil pressure. I wouldnt look for a harness, its just added cluster to the fairing.

I wouldnt use a quadzilla, IMO they look pretty cheesy.

Ouch!!! Knife to the heart!!! "I have a Quadzilla now"

 

[QuikHD]

Sorry man, everyone has their own opinion.....Mine sucks sometimes

 

[Bill]

It's all good, I will agree with you that they don't "quite" look correct.

 

[yardsale]

Havinig lost 10's of thousands of dollars in vehicle depreciation over the years, I wouldn't start with a new bike. You will be proud of your decision to rebuild what you have later in life.

 

[Bill]

If anyone cares... I ended up buying a 2010 Ultra Classic with 1800 miles on it. It is the new victim....

 

[HogWild]

Gonna sell the RK now?

 

[HogWild]

I personally took a brand new Road Glide and dropped several thousand into it before I even brought it home. Expensive venture but I don't regret a thing. I've sold almost every piece I replaced and recouped a nice chunk of it though. Didn't you know?...the bike is just the down payment.

 

[Bill]

Yup, 12K with the Fairing and the King Tour Pack...

Know anyone interested???

 

[Wanna Ride]

QuikHD, that's a gorgeous StreetGlide! I see you live in Aurora, I work near the mall.

 

[QuikHD]

QuikHD, that's a gorgeous StreetGlide! I see you live in Aurora, I work near the mall.

Cool! I actually live in North Aurora. We'll have to get together for a ride sometime!

Thanks for the compliment!