need some advice
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 8
From: Wheeling, WV
I'd do it, and I would never own a Ford....ever! That bike looks like it's been somewhat taken care of. I see the chopped rear fender, aftermarket mini bullet signals, aftermarket seat for more comfort, plenty of add-on chrome, probably a stage one done looking at the pipes. Do any of the original/take off parts come with the bike? It's a '96 so it's a solid mount engine and it has a carb. I do see some small cosmetic damage to the tank....I'd ask how that got there. Like did he just dump it in his driveway, drop the tank while working on the bike, wife drop the bike while moving it out of her road in the garage, or is this a salvage titled bike? There's no magor engine issues. The engines are easy to work on even if any of the leaks stated above start to leak, which almost all engines develope leaks-new or old. Sure, it will have some vibration & you will not be able to see out of the mirrors, but nothing that is really a big deal. I don't get the people that want it to have no vibrations......I like to feel the bike & it's HP....the GF likes the vibes too!
Road Captain
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 629
Likes: 1
From: Virginia Beach, VA
It's definitely worth the trade in value. If you're like me, you'll like that Sportster a hell of a lot more than that Explorer. These are 2 very different vehicles though. You won't be able to take much with you on a Sportster, so if you go anywhere where you need a bunch of stuff, you may still need another vehicle.
Banned
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 405
Likes: 1
From: Midwest
Yes - I would trade it in a heartbeat. If you don't need the truck and timing chain issues have started - trade it. Bike looks really good. Sportster are fun bikes and easy to fix and a heck of a lot more fun than the explorer. JMO
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Land of the Free, Home of Jack Daniel's
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,073
Likes: 6
hello,
new to the forum so please forgive me if im in the wrong area.
i am talking to someone about trading my 98 explorer for a 96' sprortster 1200 custom. i'm just wondering if this would be a good deal from what i've seen they are about equal in value, but i'm just wondering if there are any notorious problems for these bikes. if so around what milage and is it a major problem
any help would be appreciated
thanks guys(or girls)
new to the forum so please forgive me if im in the wrong area.
i am talking to someone about trading my 98 explorer for a 96' sprortster 1200 custom. i'm just wondering if this would be a good deal from what i've seen they are about equal in value, but i'm just wondering if there are any notorious problems for these bikes. if so around what milage and is it a major problem
any help would be appreciated
thanks guys(or girls)
Will the bike be your sole mode of transportation or will you still own a cage?
This can be a significant question because, while many folks here are MC only households - and most of us have, at one point or another, been in the same situation - it is not for everyone and it takes a lot of compromising in order to do it.
If you have another car, then I think you already know the answer or you wouldn't have asked, young Jedi.
If you'll be dependent upon the bike to get your groceries in the rain, then you need to ask yourself if you are willing to sacrifice the ability to carry anything that doesn't fit in your backpack and ride in the rain, cold, snow, whatever because that's your only option.
For what it's worth, I have been a MC only person far more often than I've been a car only person or car & MC person. I really, really enjoyed it, even when the weather was crap and I had to ride 60 miles to get to school for a physics final. I would not trade the experience of being a MC only person for anything. But, then again, I really liked walking out to the bike in freezing and wet weather a couple weeks ago and saying "Screw this, I'm taking the van to work"
