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.
My 2008 Crossbones a few weeks after I bought her brand new...
What she looks like some five years later...
I did all the work except for paint and powder coating. The paint job I got for free. The powder coating is done by a local guy who charges really reasonable prices. The time spent to hunt everything down after spending twice as long to make sure I knew what would fit and what wouldn't can be daunting. I'm lucky that I sit at a computer to do my job so I get lots of opportunity to screw around and browse the net for parts. I have found some crazy deals on things, whether it be eBay, Craigslist and the Forums' Classifieds. Oh yeah! That brings up another point. If you the route I did you have to worry about making sure you buy from someone reputable and not get stiffed somewhere along the way! I was very fortunate (or at least have been so far) that I have never been screwed on a deal. In some case I have passed up opportunities because I didn't feel real good about the seller but that's just part of the game.
I believe the slim is a bike that you would want to mod into your vision. But if your vision is a heritage, I would buy a heritage. I don't even like the looks of bags on a slim. Both great bikes but different. My friend has a deuce and a heritage. If he does not need the bags, he takes the deuce. His deuce has 40,000 mile and the heritage has 8,000.
you may not be that far off as you can build the exact bike you want. I have been looking for a Heritage or a Deluxe lately as I am looking to build a softail bagger with hardbags. Having priced used bikes of both models I started looking for a Standard and start there. They are all basicly the same thing just the fenders and tires and forks. When you buy a stock model you get a lot of stuff you don't really want to keep, at least for me. With proper shopping it could be done. If it were my only bike then it would take a few years to be done as there is riding time to think about.
I'm all for being a little frugal but it does seem like a lot of work for a few bucks. Did you price things out? I'm guessing that you'll see it will probably be a wash.
I was doing the same thing when I bought the slim. I was between the FB Lo and the slim. I upgraded because my lady wanted to be on the back. To add the passenger set up it essentially was the FB Lo with the set up already on. I ended up with the slim because I got all detachable stuff for when I'm riding solo. I just liked the look of the slim better.
Just get the bike you want and don't sweat the extra couple bucks.
Hey I'm interested in putting a heritage front fender on my slim as well. I like the look of it and think it would be an awesome mod. Anyone done this yet? Did it bolt right on or need mods? Thanks
Not to offend anybody, but mod your bike the way you like it! Be creative and you can have both worlds! Not a slim but my FXST has the Deluxe look. The front and rear fenders are reversible to a bobber. I set-up my bike where the lights, plates, turn signals, etc are relocated where i can easily remove/replaced the fenders. Reverse mods is around 30 mins.
I also recommend going with Klockwerk fenders, if you are going for quality aftermarket.
Last edited by sgt_gman2005; Jan 1, 2015 at 08:31 PM.
You would be better off just getting a heritage or deluxe
Have to agree. I was thinking the same when I bought my 2013 Heritage. I did some research and figured by the time I added in my own time, it was much easier, and probably cheaper, to go with the Heritage.
This thread is pretty much my bike. I have always love the Deluxe but right now I'm not a chrome guy.
The slim is a very paticular bike, not many things aft of the engine are shared with other bikes.
The rear fender is approximately 1/4 more narrow than a deluxe, the fender struts are closer together, they are also slimmer below the seat.
This being said, I couldn't by a use deluxe or heritage rear fender without both inner and outer struts. The answer came from JP Cycles were I purchased a 95 heritage 7" wide tailight less fender. None of the existing holes will work including rear pillion.
You will also have to cut out the front to allow for the computer and bend it to replicate o.e. quite easy with a little confidence.
Front and rear fenders and used seat welded prepped and painted $1800
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.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
