Hey gang! Lookin' for some input, recommendations and advice regarding my 1985 softail FXST. Just received it last year from my baby brother when he bought a new Road King and passed his old timer on to me. Hellofa birthday present! However, last two months I've had lots of annoying breakdowns that keep popping up and my bike is spending more time in the garage than on the road. Spending so miuch time in the dealer, I'm starting to get tempted by some of the newer models... Anybody out there wanna give their two cents worth? Should I stay or should I go?

 

Go big

 

I would say if you can't fix it yourself, you better get rid of it. It costs too much to have someone fix things for you.

 

Old bikes are cool but if you don't want to work on it or it's getting to be a pain in the azz then get rid of it for something reliable that you can ride.

 

My mindset for the past couple of years has been that I am going to keep mine from now on, repairing, rebuilding, modifying as necessary. That said, when mine starts to become a pain in the butt I might change my mind.

 

If you like the 85 and the repairs are considerably less than what you would spend a year in loan payments and insurance on a new bike, I would say keep it and enjoy.

 

A big +1 on that!

 

I'd weigh out the options, you sound pretty annoyed by the problems and attracted to the new bikes.

If it was me, I don't want my scoot in the garage constantly. I wanna ride and ride some more.

 

He doesn't have to get a new bike. A "less used" bike from the late 90's or early 00's would give him better reliability for not much money.

 

I disagree somethings are worth the money. Op states it spends more time in the garage than on the road. Leads me to believe he can't ride as much as he wants to. If I couldn't ride I'd be very upset.


Op I say trade up to something new(ish)