I am sure I will even catch more poop for my comment than you, the OP, and what you said but here goes. I don't think there are any stock bikes out there that looks good as they sit out of the box. When I see a new bike sitting on the showroom floor I don't see a stock bike. I see a bike and what it would look like once I got it home and I was done with it. That even rings more true for me mechanically then cosmetically. A stock bike doesn't sound right, runs hot and lacks *****, IMHO. I have never even owned a stock bike. It's one of the main reasons I have always looked for a used, mint, low mileage bike. I could never afford to pay showroom floor prices and be able to afford what I wanted to do to them in the past. I'm not knocking stock bikes or anyone who rides one, I'm just saying for me, it's not for me. I think "creating your bike" is as much fun, if not more, than riding them or at the very least more fun riding what you have created than riding a stock bike.

 

If you found a bike that you completely like stock, be happy - you will save a lot of cash
I would also be happy most of us mod our bikes, it makes the stock ones a little more unique. Gotta say, though, when I am at the local dealer, and there are rows of customer bikes outside, I am not interested in looking at the stock bikes and most everyone I see are looking at the modified ones.

 

i completely agree with you nomad. the slim is beautiful exactly the way it comes. i would throw some pipes on there a kn filter and new map and i would put different emblems on the tank. thats it. probably go with one of the different vintage emblems on there and that bike is a beauty.

 

I don't have a 23, or a 200, or apes, or Firestones.
And I'm still an *******.
What am I doing wrong?

 

The OP left out a category. I love the look of my slim, the few things that i changed, the headlight, pipes and everything else i could to change from chrome to black, left my bike the same shape and style. The changes I have to make next are beyond my control. The wife was very unhappy that i brought home a bike that only carries one person. So, now I have to find a new seat and fabricate a sissy bar. If Mom ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

 

Proud owner of a 2013 Red slim(btw..where are all the Red slims in the "show us your slim" thread? Anyway, so I have 1500 bucks to spend and have been day dreaming constantly about what mods im gonna start off with when my up and coming 1000 mile service arrives and It dawned on me as im staring at it in my garage that its perfect as is(to me). This is my 3rd harley and this one runs so well stock that I dont even want to do a stg 1 on it....for now anyway. I do think that the front end could come down a tad but thats pretty much it. The rear fender/tire gap on mine is not pronounced at all. So I now find myself struggling to find ways to spend more money on it......and I really want to find a reason darnit!! Maybe I'll just buy a telecaster instead cause u can never have too many of those. And why no apparent love for the Red ones??? I will say that gloss black looks fantastic on a slim.

 

Everyone has their own taste. For me, I agree that the styling for the slim is pretty spot on. I do want to make some small changes so it is my perfect bike. Really, the only other thing I have on the docket is to put some mini apes on it-I'm more comfortable with some type of mini ape.

I don't think it's uncommon for someone to buy a bike and then want to make it "their own". It's in our blood not to want our bike to look like every other one out there. Some do it drastically with wheels and carving up the frame while others do it more subtly. We like our bikes to say something about who we are. I agree that once you start putting 23" wheels etc. on your bike that it's really not a slim anymore. For one, I think some guys are doing some real cool things with their bikes. I don't really care if it's not a slim anymore.

 

Save your dough, seriously. If you like it the way it is, no reason to spend it.

But get a Stratocaster.

 

Almost word perfect for what a HOG Road Captain once said to me! That did it - burned the patches and sold the bondage gear!

 

Why should we give a **** If somebody changes HIS bike as he pleases? It's his bike he can make any changes he wants. With no mods everyone would look like clones. i for one wouldn't spend the money on a new bike and then make radical changes to it when I can buy a used bike and redo it, but hey, to each his own.