When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'd like your thoughts on which platform to start on. First, its going to be a daily rider so I'd like smooth as possible. I'm going to do all the work, only tire mounting and paint being outsourced unless I'm forgetting something. Sort of a bobber/mild chopper look. No ABS or EFI. Refresh the top end ( new pistons and cylinders. ok- valve job out sourced) I also want a 4.5 gal. tank. Looking for a starting point ( not a twinky fan ) and how far off do you think my 20K budget is ?
Picked this up at the local HD dealer for $1000. They were asking $2000,LMFAO. Really in rough shape. Test Ride around the building cause it couldn't make it to the street. No brakes, down shift from 2 to 1 and shifter fell down to the ground. Trailered it home. 3 1/2 years for me to restore with the only worked farmed out was valve seats & valve guides and cylinder boring. Got 3,500 miles on a new 1977 XLH 1000. I've got around $2,500 into it. Not a lot of $$$, but I did all the work myself including the paint.
For 20K you can build a pretty nice scoot. I would look for a mid 90s FXR, lots of them around, good starting point for customization, EVO motor is easy to work on and maintain. You can probably find one in decent shape for 3000-5000 bucks.
I have built one from scratch it cost me about 20k. a lot of the parts were at a good discount .
it would have been cheaper to by a new bike. but me and my sons built it in that case.
the 20 k was worth it.
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom
Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Planning a build
