First Upgrade?
Stage I
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Upgrade your ability first
I would reccomend a rider's safety course first and foremost if you haven't already. Most HD dealers offer their Rider's Edge courses that will even count as your license test in most states. It will usually come with a MSF certificate that gets you a nice insurance discount as well. Otherwise, I agree with some of the other fellas. Pipes are a great place to start!
Got alot of Roadway down here along the St. Johns River that is virtually dead - gonna be great to get out and enjoy the scenery.
Chief:
Congrats on the new ride ... welcome aboard the forum
A lot of FXDFs on the forum ... you've been getting some rather good, if standard, advice ....
I'll echo a couple of posts ... do NOT automatically revert to your local 'stealership' to get your parts/upgrades/goodies .... There is a wealth of alternate sources, some of which already noted (J&P, Dennis Kirk, for example) e-bay, and craigslist are also good ... look for Drag Specialties Fat Book, Custom Chrome, V-Twin Mfg, and a bunch of others ...
Once you find what you want, shop around online ... Zanotti Motor, Chicago HD, Surdyke, New Roc, and a few others offer significant discounts on your genuine HD parts if bought via the internet (compare prices with shipping to get the best deal) ... another good place for non-HD parts is discountcycleparts.com ...
If you think a job may be more than you're up for (after consulting all of the 'experts' here on the forum), ask around for a referral to a local "indy" shop (indpendent bike mechanic) ... and you'll save a ton of money on the labor over what you'd pay at the 'stealership'
Find a powdercoater (Joe Knapp is a forum sponsor ... does some sick stuff) you might want to find one locally, and find a plater ... you might find that you'd like some of your stock parts much more if they were either powdercoated (PC for short) or chrome ... take 'em off and send them to be plated or PC'd ....
A couple of tips based on my personal preference ... (i) replace the stocker with a 7" Fat Boy style headlight; (ii) replace the 'tommy gun' exhaust with anything ... it'll make it go faster [J/K] ... purely cosmetic ... but it's not just me ... there are numerous examples you can find here .... I think the Vance and Hines (VH) Big Radius (BR) 2-into-2 pipes look good on the Fat Bob ...
* Here's an example (courtesy of Lorance66)
The Navy's basic rider course (BRC) and the experienced (ERC) are pretty much the same course, but the BRC has a more laborious classroom course of instruction which is why it is about twice as long ... you could do the BRC and then the ERC to build your experience ... or just do the BRC and then go find some deserted runway or low traffic area to practice ...
Good luck ... you're gonna have a blast
R/
'Chop
Congrats on the new ride ... welcome aboard the forum
A lot of FXDFs on the forum ... you've been getting some rather good, if standard, advice ....
I'll echo a couple of posts ... do NOT automatically revert to your local 'stealership' to get your parts/upgrades/goodies .... There is a wealth of alternate sources, some of which already noted (J&P, Dennis Kirk, for example) e-bay, and craigslist are also good ... look for Drag Specialties Fat Book, Custom Chrome, V-Twin Mfg, and a bunch of others ...
Once you find what you want, shop around online ... Zanotti Motor, Chicago HD, Surdyke, New Roc, and a few others offer significant discounts on your genuine HD parts if bought via the internet (compare prices with shipping to get the best deal) ... another good place for non-HD parts is discountcycleparts.com ...
If you think a job may be more than you're up for (after consulting all of the 'experts' here on the forum), ask around for a referral to a local "indy" shop (indpendent bike mechanic) ... and you'll save a ton of money on the labor over what you'd pay at the 'stealership'
Find a powdercoater (Joe Knapp is a forum sponsor ... does some sick stuff) you might want to find one locally, and find a plater ... you might find that you'd like some of your stock parts much more if they were either powdercoated (PC for short) or chrome ... take 'em off and send them to be plated or PC'd ....
A couple of tips based on my personal preference ... (i) replace the stocker with a 7" Fat Boy style headlight; (ii) replace the 'tommy gun' exhaust with anything ... it'll make it go faster [J/K] ... purely cosmetic ... but it's not just me ... there are numerous examples you can find here .... I think the Vance and Hines (VH) Big Radius (BR) 2-into-2 pipes look good on the Fat Bob ...
* Here's an example (courtesy of Lorance66)
The Navy's basic rider course (BRC) and the experienced (ERC) are pretty much the same course, but the BRC has a more laborious classroom course of instruction which is why it is about twice as long ... you could do the BRC and then the ERC to build your experience ... or just do the BRC and then go find some deserted runway or low traffic area to practice ...
Good luck ... you're gonna have a blast
R/
'Chop
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs
Rule #1: Listen to wife 
Now, once you get the seat and backrest (so she will actually ride with you) you should take your time on the next moves.
You need to ride the bike for awhile and be around some other bikes in order to get some ideas that you might like.
You don't want to jump right into some mods only to find out a few weeks later that you like something else better.
Lots of personal choices to be made when doing mods.
Now, once you get the seat and backrest (so she will actually ride with you) you should take your time on the next moves.
You need to ride the bike for awhile and be around some other bikes in order to get some ideas that you might like.
You don't want to jump right into some mods only to find out a few weeks later that you like something else better.
Lots of personal choices to be made when doing mods.
... Mod's that you can remove are always nice. Good luck and welcome to the Dyna family
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake, VA
Congratulations on your new bike! IMHO, if it's your first bike, then ride it for 500 miles, and get familiar with it. You'll then have a better idea on what upgrades you want to make -- fitment, performance, bling, etc. However, consider adding the Auxiliary Running Light / Brake Light / Turn Signal Conversion Kit and maybe an Engine Guard Kit (which you could take off later and sell on eBay) before you leave the dealership. BTW, I've bought parts from Zanotti, and I can recommend them -- prices usually 20% below MSRP.
Last edited by bqualls; Nov 1, 2009 at 06:55 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake, VA
First Upgrade?
Congratulations on your new bike! IMHO, if it's your first bike, then ride it for 500 miles, and get familiar with it. You'll then have a better idea on what upgrades you want to make -- fitment, performance, bling, etc. However, consider adding the Auxiliary Running Light / Brake Light / Turn Signal Conversion Kit and maybe an Engine Guard Kit (which you could take off later and sell on eBay) before you leave the dealership. BTW, I've bought parts from Zanotti, and I can recommend them -- prices usually 20% below MSRP.
Congratulations on your new bike! IMHO, if it's your first bike, then ride it for 500 miles, and get familiar with it. You'll then have a better idea on what upgrades you want to make -- fitment, performance, bling, etc. However, consider adding the Auxiliary Running Light / Brake Light / Turn Signal Conversion Kit and maybe an Engine Guard Kit (which you could take off later and sell on eBay) before you leave the dealership. BTW, I've bought parts from Zanotti, and I can recommend them -- prices usually 20% below MSRP.
Had someone talk to me about the engine guard kit, or at least a roll bar for "when" I lay the bike down :/ same thing?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,356
Likes: 8
From: Roswell, NM
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom
Verdad Gallardo
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public
Verdad Gallardo
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,919
Likes: 23
From: Seattle, WA
The running light/brake light/turn signal is an electronic module that turns the turn signal lights on 'low intensity' during normal operations (i.e., as running lights); then, when you brake, they light up to 'high intensity' to augment your brake light. They also flash 'high intensity' on the normal turn signal operation. They come with red lenses that replace the amber turn signal lenses that come on the bike stock.
They're a safety feature to help improve your visibility to careless cagers. There are a handful of makers in addition to the MoCo. I recently got them from the HD dealer--I had a store credit and thought it wouldn't be a bad idea ... had been contemplating it for a while ....
Strictly "plug and play" ... mods do not get any easier than this one ....
Would not be my "first" mod (obviously ... it was a couple of years later) ... but a good idea for improving your visibility / safety ....
R/
'Chop
They're a safety feature to help improve your visibility to careless cagers. There are a handful of makers in addition to the MoCo. I recently got them from the HD dealer--I had a store credit and thought it wouldn't be a bad idea ... had been contemplating it for a while ....
Strictly "plug and play" ... mods do not get any easier than this one ....
Would not be my "first" mod (obviously ... it was a couple of years later) ... but a good idea for improving your visibility / safety ....
R/
'Chop
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake, VA
First Upgrade?
SURFFOR Chop did a great job of explaining the Auxiliary Running Light / Brake Light / Turn Signal Conversion Kit. By Engine Guard Kit, I meant the curved bars you can install on the forward part of the frame to protect the gas tank if the bike tips. It might be a good investment until you become familiar with the bike's weight, center of gravity, and how turning the front fork (with the bike stopped) affects it leaning over. This is the voice of experience speaking, as I tipped my Sportster (first bike) twice shortly after getting it, and the engine guard saved it. The chrome on the engine guard was so hard, the engine guard wasn't even scratched. I think the Sportster has a higher center of gravity than the Dyna and is easier to tip, in spite of the Dyna being the heavier bike. I haven't tipped my Dyna (yet), haven't even come close (knock on wood), partly because it doesn't tip so easily and partly because I've learned how to handle it. Something to consider. You can judge your own confidence level. Again, congrats. Sweet ride.