What would you have done differently?
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 261
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville, Arkansas and Afghanistan
First of all welcome home and have a speedy recovery. The only thing I did to my bike was a Stage 1 kit, air intake, pipes, and tuner. If I did it over again I would get some apes. Something shoulder height and feels comfortable to you.
Semper Fi.
Semper Fi.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: KY
Lots of invaluable advice flowing in here. I'm glad I asked the question.
I think Molnar and Ragnar hit the nail on the head for me. Have a vision first and then execute. Try to do most of the work yourself. I bought the Breakout because it's the best blank canvas I've ever come across, but for some reason I have serious builders block now. I can't even decide on the style of exhaust. Shotgun air ride is the only mod that I'm 100% on. Anyway, I know it will come to me. I'm also happy to associated with a group of solid dudes and I'm sure a few gals. Thanks again for the advice and kind words. This PJ appreciates it.
I think Molnar and Ragnar hit the nail on the head for me. Have a vision first and then execute. Try to do most of the work yourself. I bought the Breakout because it's the best blank canvas I've ever come across, but for some reason I have serious builders block now. I can't even decide on the style of exhaust. Shotgun air ride is the only mod that I'm 100% on. Anyway, I know it will come to me. I'm also happy to associated with a group of solid dudes and I'm sure a few gals. Thanks again for the advice and kind words. This PJ appreciates it.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
From: Kentucky
Heal up. I have 21+ years and counting active duty (Army). Always great to bump into a teammate.
Some excellent advice here already. My biggest regret on my first bike (the 04 heritage) is that after I had the dealer install a 95" kit with V&H 2:1, I allowed a riding buddy to talk me into another big $$ upgrade sooner than I needed to. It's running great now but I've had some problems along the way that cost me lots of riding time (but thankfully not too much $$), and I wish I would have left it alone at 95" until I really knew how to ride well and what I wanted out of my bike.
So on my 2nd bike, which I've had for 3 years, I'm being a lot more patient. That would be my #1 piece of advice. Let yourself have some time to see lots of other bikes and gather up some ideas from those. Now the other thing I would recommend, which may seem a bit contradictory, is get as much done at once as you possibly can once you know what you want to do. If you piecemeal your build, it's going to cost a lot more in the long run. Shouldn't be a huge problem for you if you're just looking at a stage I type set-up.
Have fun and good luck!
Some excellent advice here already. My biggest regret on my first bike (the 04 heritage) is that after I had the dealer install a 95" kit with V&H 2:1, I allowed a riding buddy to talk me into another big $$ upgrade sooner than I needed to. It's running great now but I've had some problems along the way that cost me lots of riding time (but thankfully not too much $$), and I wish I would have left it alone at 95" until I really knew how to ride well and what I wanted out of my bike.
So on my 2nd bike, which I've had for 3 years, I'm being a lot more patient. That would be my #1 piece of advice. Let yourself have some time to see lots of other bikes and gather up some ideas from those. Now the other thing I would recommend, which may seem a bit contradictory, is get as much done at once as you possibly can once you know what you want to do. If you piecemeal your build, it's going to cost a lot more in the long run. Shouldn't be a huge problem for you if you're just looking at a stage I type set-up.
Have fun and good luck!
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
I too want to thank you for your service and pray for you to have a fast and complete healing..
Now for your ??.... I can't thing for a single thing I've done to our bike that I wish I didn't do.
Thinking the worse thing one could do is be in a rush to make mods. Sounds like you're doing it right. Research and think about your Needs on your bike before you buy them..
First, Almost every part I've added has come off the wall from MoCo.. I've never had a part that didn't fit correctly and the chrome is among the best.
I've added a bunch of chrome for looks and Comfort. Then I added the Stg1 and cams to the help the engine.
Stg1 (Rush muffs, SE/AC, SERT tuner, Syn oils and a dyno) I did at the 1k service and the cams I added at 15K service..
I did the Stg1 for sound and to help her run better and cooler.
I added the Cams to even help her run even better and cooler while also improving fuel mileage another 2-5mpg.
The front seat and bars are still stock as the Heritage is perfect for me in stock form.
The rear passenger comfort sucked and I needed to add the bigger seat, bigger touring sissybar pad and Floorboards for the wife's comfort. Made a huge difference for her back there. She only 120#'s but has a bad tailbone
My favorites mods, I'd have to say are
(1.) Cams
(2) the changes I made for the wife's comfort
(3) the HI-Way pegs I added just last yr, (They really help on comfort for me on all day long rides)
So Take your time choosing them as just looking good sometimes is not practical for comfort.
If you only do short trips then most any mod will work, BUT if long trips are in your future, Then you'll want to try to get what works for you, without having to buy 2 or 3 times to get the comfort.
Good luck and thanks again....
..
Now for your ??.... I can't thing for a single thing I've done to our bike that I wish I didn't do.
Thinking the worse thing one could do is be in a rush to make mods. Sounds like you're doing it right. Research and think about your Needs on your bike before you buy them..
First, Almost every part I've added has come off the wall from MoCo.. I've never had a part that didn't fit correctly and the chrome is among the best.
I've added a bunch of chrome for looks and Comfort. Then I added the Stg1 and cams to the help the engine.
Stg1 (Rush muffs, SE/AC, SERT tuner, Syn oils and a dyno) I did at the 1k service and the cams I added at 15K service..
I did the Stg1 for sound and to help her run better and cooler.
I added the Cams to even help her run even better and cooler while also improving fuel mileage another 2-5mpg.
The front seat and bars are still stock as the Heritage is perfect for me in stock form.
The rear passenger comfort sucked and I needed to add the bigger seat, bigger touring sissybar pad and Floorboards for the wife's comfort. Made a huge difference for her back there. She only 120#'s but has a bad tailbone
My favorites mods, I'd have to say are
(1.) Cams
(2) the changes I made for the wife's comfort
(3) the HI-Way pegs I added just last yr, (They really help on comfort for me on all day long rides)
So Take your time choosing them as just looking good sometimes is not practical for comfort.
If you only do short trips then most any mod will work, BUT if long trips are in your future, Then you'll want to try to get what works for you, without having to buy 2 or 3 times to get the comfort.
Good luck and thanks again....
..
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
Likes: 69
From: Badlands of ND
Welcome to the forum. Thank you for your service, and get well soon. The one thing I regret doing was lowering my Heritage. It now scrapes on almost every corner. I will be changing that back.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 9,705
Likes: 18,485
From: Displaced Texan
<--- This former Army guy thanks you for your sacrifice.
That in mind, lots of good advice given. Keep lurking and reading. All I can add...
You have a Breakout.. It needs to be broken out with a good stage one setup. You already have plenty of power, but is enough ever enough?
Get a bright @$$ HID or LED headlight. EVERYONE is on their #$%^* phone now days when driving. Anything you can do to be seen and heard, might help keep you from ever being medevac'd again.
My BIGGEST mistake ever... NEVER, EVER SELL IT UNLESS YOU HAVE ANOTHER PURCHASE LINED UP!!!! It is truly amazing how quickly a couple of months can turn into a couple of years if life decides to get in the way. I will NEVER do this again. I am finally getting ready to get back on the road after four years, instead of four months.
Oh... And damned with what anyone else thinks. If YOU like it... DO it. You are the one that needs to be happy with what you have. This is about individualism.
That in mind, lots of good advice given. Keep lurking and reading. All I can add...
You have a Breakout.. It needs to be broken out with a good stage one setup. You already have plenty of power, but is enough ever enough?
Get a bright @$$ HID or LED headlight. EVERYONE is on their #$%^* phone now days when driving. Anything you can do to be seen and heard, might help keep you from ever being medevac'd again.
My BIGGEST mistake ever... NEVER, EVER SELL IT UNLESS YOU HAVE ANOTHER PURCHASE LINED UP!!!! It is truly amazing how quickly a couple of months can turn into a couple of years if life decides to get in the way. I will NEVER do this again. I am finally getting ready to get back on the road after four years, instead of four months.
Oh... And damned with what anyone else thinks. If YOU like it... DO it. You are the one that needs to be happy with what you have. This is about individualism.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 281
Likes: 2
From: STL, MO
Favorite mods on my breakout:
1) Andrews 57H Cams
2) Shotgun Air Shock
3) Power Vision 2
Regrets:
1) Big Radius 2:2. (everybody and their brother has them). I'll be swapping this winter when I install my apes=)
1) Andrews 57H Cams
2) Shotgun Air Shock
3) Power Vision 2
Regrets:
1) Big Radius 2:2. (everybody and their brother has them). I'll be swapping this winter when I install my apes=)
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 9,238
Likes: 5,784
From: On the Big Blue marble
Few things
A) Thank you for your service
B) Heal up quick!
My only regrets would be
A) Not getting what I really wanted i the first place and doing it twice
B) Not realizing how much using the proper tools really makes your life easy
C) "Willing" myself into a purchase because of price (Guess this is part of A)
End of the day I changed
-- Mirrors, floor boards, grips, air horn, bib
-- Pipes, PC, intake
-- Whitewalls
ALL with no regrets..
B) Heal up quick!
My only regrets would be
A) Not getting what I really wanted i the first place and doing it twice
B) Not realizing how much using the proper tools really makes your life easy
C) "Willing" myself into a purchase because of price (Guess this is part of A)
End of the day I changed
-- Mirrors, floor boards, grips, air horn, bib
-- Pipes, PC, intake
-- Whitewalls
ALL with no regrets..
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 322,622
Likes: 3,077
From: .....
I waited 5 months to do my pipes and AC and wish I hadn't waited that long. I would have liked to have gotten 8" risers instead of 6". And I wish my sissy bar was chromed but considering it was free, I can't complain too much. That's about it.