Looking for some advice
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6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 10
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From:
Looking for some advice
Hi everyone/anyone,
I am a newbee looking for some advice from guys that might have been there before.
I am looking hard at buying a new Street Bob, and of course adding or changing a few things. My basic question for anyone out there is "Is it worth my time to buy some of these, such as diff. pipes, chrome, chrome hand control kit, and a diff. seat and install them myself - or am I better off having the dealer install them?"
What it comes down to for me is that I have a definate budget and I'm trying to get as much out of it as I can.
Any thoughts/help are greatly appreciated.
BTW- This is a great forum. I'm learning every day!
I am a newbee looking for some advice from guys that might have been there before.
I am looking hard at buying a new Street Bob, and of course adding or changing a few things. My basic question for anyone out there is "Is it worth my time to buy some of these, such as diff. pipes, chrome, chrome hand control kit, and a diff. seat and install them myself - or am I better off having the dealer install them?"
What it comes down to for me is that I have a definate budget and I'm trying to get as much out of it as I can.
Any thoughts/help are greatly appreciated.
BTW- This is a great forum. I'm learning every day!
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,530
Likes: 0
From: Sussex County NJ
RE: Looking for some advice
Welcome,
My $.02 is buy a manual. By far it will be the best money spent on your ride. Now with the manual and a little bit of timeand a lot of help from everyone here you will be set.
best of luck and Congrats
My $.02 is buy a manual. By far it will be the best money spent on your ride. Now with the manual and a little bit of timeand a lot of help from everyone here you will be set.
best of luck and Congrats
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 284
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From:
RE: Looking for some advice
It's always going to cost more than you planned. Most people start with intake and exhaust and some sort of fuel enrichment. It really is a crime that the bikes don't come running at optimal performance but we're stuck with that.
Bikes are going to run a little lean from the factory and if you want to get some louder exhaust then they are going to run a little more lean, but the situation really needs improvement when you add a free breathing intake like the screamin eagle model or Ness Big Sucker, etc. That's when you need some sort of fuel enrichment like the HD download at least, a Screamin Eagle Race Tuner or SERT for short, or a powercommander. There are a few others. All the standalone cpu add ons are pricey so it sounds like you might want to decide what kind of exhaust sound you want and how much a SE intake and download is going to cost you.
Personally I don't think Harleys and the word budget go in the same sentence unless the word beyond or busted is in there somewhere. Are you purchasing a new bike or a used one, lots of good deals out there on barely used bikes with low miles and plenty of warranty.
Good luck
Bikes are going to run a little lean from the factory and if you want to get some louder exhaust then they are going to run a little more lean, but the situation really needs improvement when you add a free breathing intake like the screamin eagle model or Ness Big Sucker, etc. That's when you need some sort of fuel enrichment like the HD download at least, a Screamin Eagle Race Tuner or SERT for short, or a powercommander. There are a few others. All the standalone cpu add ons are pricey so it sounds like you might want to decide what kind of exhaust sound you want and how much a SE intake and download is going to cost you.
Personally I don't think Harleys and the word budget go in the same sentence unless the word beyond or busted is in there somewhere. Are you purchasing a new bike or a used one, lots of good deals out there on barely used bikes with low miles and plenty of warranty.
Good luck
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Looking for some advice
Your knowledge level may be beyond mylastpost but you said you were new so I kept it basic. Not trying to be a KIA just not sure where you're at. I second what Punty said about the manual. I'd say most people can accomplish the different installs involved with parts replacement. The real question for me is how long is this going to takeME to do cause I don't want to get caught with a floor full of parts on a sunny day.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 54
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RE: Looking for some advice
There seem to be good used low mileage Street Bob's available. The good thing about a used bike is that it might already have the accessories you are looking for on it. When selling used, an owner never (say again-never) gets what he put into the bike. That could be a great opportunity to get what you want and to stay within eye shot of your budget.
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6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2008
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RE: Looking for some advice
Thanks to all of you - sorry I didn't keep up -had to take care of a couple things I get paid for...
Anyway, all of this is good information and much appreciated. Thanks to TheGuyWhoPosted for the info. on intake and exhaust. I am pretty sure that's where I'll start also.
I know I'll blow my budget - but I had to start somewhere or I would be out of control from the start! hahaha. Then the wife would beat me silly!
My latest thought was to buy a new bike - pretty basic and ride it through this year. (too short in Montana.) And then start doing some work with it over the winter. Maybe if I work it this way it will be more reasonable. I think I can handle most of it, but this forum will be a great help!
Thanks again guys.
Anyway, all of this is good information and much appreciated. Thanks to TheGuyWhoPosted for the info. on intake and exhaust. I am pretty sure that's where I'll start also.
I know I'll blow my budget - but I had to start somewhere or I would be out of control from the start! hahaha. Then the wife would beat me silly!
My latest thought was to buy a new bike - pretty basic and ride it through this year. (too short in Montana.) And then start doing some work with it over the winter. Maybe if I work it this way it will be more reasonable. I think I can handle most of it, but this forum will be a great help!
Thanks again guys.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,900
Likes: 1
From: Backwoods of NH
RE: Looking for some advice
And if you're thinking of buying new, lots of dealers are overstocked and may have some leftover street bobs. IMO an '07 is preferable to the '08 for two reasons:
a) lower base price and as a leftover dealer will dicker more
b) integrated risers with the triple tree on the '08 is really limiting and just plain STUPID
Also, as to whether to have dealer do the work and buy parts from them, generally you can get at least 20% off mail order on harley parts (Zanotti's, etc) and with a service manual you can do a lot yourself. One caveat to this is the dealer may a discount on parts bought and installed prior to (or just after) purchase as an incentive to close the deal - might end up being worth it if you've researched prices and know what you want up front.
Good Luck!
a) lower base price and as a leftover dealer will dicker more
b) integrated risers with the triple tree on the '08 is really limiting and just plain STUPID
Also, as to whether to have dealer do the work and buy parts from them, generally you can get at least 20% off mail order on harley parts (Zanotti's, etc) and with a service manual you can do a lot yourself. One caveat to this is the dealer may a discount on parts bought and installed prior to (or just after) purchase as an incentive to close the deal - might end up being worth it if you've researched prices and know what you want up front.
Good Luck!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,448
Likes: 0
From: Massachusetts
RE: Looking for some advice
Personally I don't think Harleys and the word budget go in the same sentence unless the word beyond or busted is in there somewhere.
Definately buy a manual. If your on a budget you better learn how to alot of this stuff yourself! Owning a Harley is not a cheap sport!
I'm somewhat mechanically inclined & have put on/taken-off alot of the parts on my bike myself. But I know my limits. When it comes to the "bigger stuff" I feel alot better having an HD tech do it. This way if somethin's wrong I have someone else to blame other than myself & usually no time is wasted. You gotta weigh the positives & negatives of the situation...do I attempt something I'm really not that familiar with & risk screwing it up but at the same time saving myself alot of money, or do I pay an HD tech guy to do it right (usually) the first time? Again, you gotta be comfortable with your capabilities & know your mechanical-limits...manual or no manual. You could give me a manual on rocket science but it doesn't mean I'm going to be good at it.