I saw a 1988 FLHTC the other day that had new paint and a new 88ci engine for sale. It made me wonder why. It was made to look like a street glide but still had the original 1988 gas tank. I was wondering why. Just me, before I would drop a ton of money on my old bike I would spend that on a newer bike. I'll bet the new engine, carb and paint cost as much as a much, much newer bike.

The more I thought about it the less it made sense.

 

If not for reliability or performance reasons, sometimes after looking at the expense of a complete rebuild it makes a lot of sense to go for the new unit to keep the old girl on the road. Not everyone looks at their bike as a disposeable commodity.

 

Some people just like having a new old bike

 

I agree. I'm done spending on up grades. Unless something breaks, my ride is staying the way it is.

 

I rather old than new.

 

For me I like the simplicity of my old bike compared to a new one.

I would much rather upgrade my old one than try and fix a new one.

As for why a new engine I think Tim the Tool Man said it best......
MORE POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Is anybody believing this?

 

I don't think anybody here believes that!!!

We all lie to ourselves saying that we are done then we find something that we just have to put on our bikes.....That is just the way it is...

 

A new motor will give you a greater degree of dependability. When I had mine done the dealer said they could rebuild it , and I would get a 90 day warranty good only at that dealer. A remaned motor would have a 1 year warranty, and was good in all 50 states. After I had the work done, I realised I did have another option. I could have gotten a new after-market motor with more HP and TQ for about what I paid. Some offered a 2 year warranty. And if you really like what your ridding, and want to keep it as simple as possible, a replacement motor isn't a bad way to go.,,

 

we had a guy put 40 thousand into an iron head sporty

i have a 1946 Indain Chief in the shop under resto and so far PARTS has come to $26,000 - not including Re cad plating < it has to aircraft type for the color yea aircraft spec cad plating well they give that away - soda blasting and painting small parts and frame forks ect - the small amount that it has re chromed - than comes the paint and the shops painter is under the idea he is the next Michael Angelo -- then shop labor rate we started it last august - all not in the 26,000 BUT - yes a BUT -- the first 500 bikes that were built after WW2 late 45 / 46 were all painted black and had 18inch Military black wheels - the only ones ever to have 18 inch wheels on a plunger frame Indian Chief - i could go on for a 1/2 hour about this special production bike but you get the idea its all in what the customer thinks he wants and needs in a machine and how and much ZOOM he wants to spend