New bike, where to start with the custom stuff?
Road Captain
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 659
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Thank for your service!
I am graduation as a 22 year old in August of 2010 with a business managment/marketing degree but have always thought more about the service and my enlist....
I respect the He** out of you for what your doing for our country...
2nd) GET THE RINEHARTS TD! a must in my opinion, first mod i did to the SG, other then that i agree with other posts ride it a bit and slowly add!!!
Good luck
I am graduation as a 22 year old in August of 2010 with a business managment/marketing degree but have always thought more about the service and my enlist....
I respect the He** out of you for what your doing for our country...
2nd) GET THE RINEHARTS TD! a must in my opinion, first mod i did to the SG, other then that i agree with other posts ride it a bit and slowly add!!!
Good luck
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,921
Likes: 33
From: Lewisberry PA
Enjoy the new ride
Congrats on the new bike... thanks for your service....
What I did was added the AC first..if you can, do the AC, Pipes, and ECM all at the same time. I would not recommend the remap (although many are happy with the remap) seems like you may be like many of us....make a few changes...and look to make the next changes...
Make sure you have fun looking at all the options, listening to pipes enjoy the ride...
What I did was added the AC first..if you can, do the AC, Pipes, and ECM all at the same time. I would not recommend the remap (although many are happy with the remap) seems like you may be like many of us....make a few changes...and look to make the next changes...
Make sure you have fun looking at all the options, listening to pipes enjoy the ride...
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 4
From: Austin, TX - Some call it heaven.
Thanks for your service, I hope you enjoy your new bike, you certainly deserve it.
I always suggest riders focus on comfort first. Not sure how tall you are, but riders that are shorter or taller than average usually need to do a bit of customizing to make it feel right for you. Most find the stock seat to be less than ideal for long distance touring. You can get it redone though places like Mean City Cycles (do a search), or replace it outright. There are as many different opinions on seats as there are types to choose from, and sometimes it boils down to trial and error. But if you choose wrong, you can usually sell it and recoup most of what you have in it.
Handlebars come next. If you have shoulder or back pain, it could be from straining to reach the bars, or not being stretched out enough. They are also hard to pick because you won't know for sure until after you've been on the bike for 300 miles, but you can usually tell if you want to go up, or back. Remeber a couple of inches difference in the bars can mean a big change in riding posture. You don't always need to go to extremes.
Floorboard spacers, new grips and even shift and brake lever changes can also add to comfort, especially if you have big feet like me.
Once the bike fits, get a stage one kit. Look at the packages from Fuel Moto. Easy to install and much cheaper than having the dealer do the work. Your bike will run and sound much better.
After you get all that done, it's time to decide how you want your bike to look, but that's the fun part, and most of us consider it a work in progress. We're never really done.
Have fun and ride safe.
I always suggest riders focus on comfort first. Not sure how tall you are, but riders that are shorter or taller than average usually need to do a bit of customizing to make it feel right for you. Most find the stock seat to be less than ideal for long distance touring. You can get it redone though places like Mean City Cycles (do a search), or replace it outright. There are as many different opinions on seats as there are types to choose from, and sometimes it boils down to trial and error. But if you choose wrong, you can usually sell it and recoup most of what you have in it.
Handlebars come next. If you have shoulder or back pain, it could be from straining to reach the bars, or not being stretched out enough. They are also hard to pick because you won't know for sure until after you've been on the bike for 300 miles, but you can usually tell if you want to go up, or back. Remeber a couple of inches difference in the bars can mean a big change in riding posture. You don't always need to go to extremes.
Floorboard spacers, new grips and even shift and brake lever changes can also add to comfort, especially if you have big feet like me.
Once the bike fits, get a stage one kit. Look at the packages from Fuel Moto. Easy to install and much cheaper than having the dealer do the work. Your bike will run and sound much better.
After you get all that done, it's time to decide how you want your bike to look, but that's the fun part, and most of us consider it a work in progress. We're never really done.
Have fun and ride safe.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 605
Likes: 1
From: Minnesota
buffaloobob give good advice. Before you start moding the bike, think about what your priorities are and the type of riding you will be doing. If you plan to take a lot of long trips, then for sure comfort ought to be one of your priorities. A bad seat or handle bars can ruin a road trip in a hurry. You will also be glad to have a nice set of bags and windshield. Problem is that until you ride your new bike, you won't know how it fits you, so you may need to wait until you get back.
Next would be performance mods. Most people do a Stage I (pipes, air cleaner and tuner) soon after they buy their ride because of the way it's set up from the factory to meet EPA. The only limitation on mods is the size of your check book. If you want to have a ride that has a little more performance, runs well and is a little cooler, you can probably stick with the Stage I. As mentioned, FuelMoto makes a great package that includes their Jackpot slipons, air cleaner and mapped tuner.
After that, you can begin to add asthetic components. Your best bet is to ride your bike for a while, look at it many times (you'll find yourself going out to the garage and just staring at your bike like it's a lover), then decide on a scheme versus just putting things on it.
THANKS for your service!
Next would be performance mods. Most people do a Stage I (pipes, air cleaner and tuner) soon after they buy their ride because of the way it's set up from the factory to meet EPA. The only limitation on mods is the size of your check book. If you want to have a ride that has a little more performance, runs well and is a little cooler, you can probably stick with the Stage I. As mentioned, FuelMoto makes a great package that includes their Jackpot slipons, air cleaner and mapped tuner.
After that, you can begin to add asthetic components. Your best bet is to ride your bike for a while, look at it many times (you'll find yourself going out to the garage and just staring at your bike like it's a lover), then decide on a scheme versus just putting things on it.
THANKS for your service!
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 2
From: St. Augustine Florida
First. Thanks for your service
Second. Stay safe
Ride For A While
Rubbit provided some good advice. Ride the bike for a while. Get a feel for the handle bars, foot positions etc.
Ergonomics.
Start off with the "ergonomics of the bike as this department will ensure a most comfortable ride. Seat position, control position, wind shield, lowering etc.
Exhaust.
My next step would be pipe/air and fuel management changes. This direction you take here is subjective to your riding style. Do you prefer loud pipes or a nice rumble. This decision will then determine the selection of a fuel package coupled with an air kit.
Service Manual.
This will be by far your most important and usefull purchase and will provide a wealth of information.
Chrome/Customization
Next.. begin to add the things that will make this bike "yours".
Chrome controls, wheels, timer-air cleaner-derby cover etc
Once you have done all this.....you will start looking at Ultras and the fever starts all over again!
Dont ask me how I know!
Ride safe bro!
Second. Stay safe
Ride For A While
Rubbit provided some good advice. Ride the bike for a while. Get a feel for the handle bars, foot positions etc.
Ergonomics.
Start off with the "ergonomics of the bike as this department will ensure a most comfortable ride. Seat position, control position, wind shield, lowering etc.
Exhaust.
My next step would be pipe/air and fuel management changes. This direction you take here is subjective to your riding style. Do you prefer loud pipes or a nice rumble. This decision will then determine the selection of a fuel package coupled with an air kit.
Service Manual.
This will be by far your most important and usefull purchase and will provide a wealth of information.
Chrome/Customization
Next.. begin to add the things that will make this bike "yours".
Chrome controls, wheels, timer-air cleaner-derby cover etc
Once you have done all this.....you will start looking at Ultras and the fever starts all over again!
Dont ask me how I know!
Ride safe bro!
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,244
Likes: 3
From: castalia oh
Thank you for your service!Secondly I would just slow you down a bit on the farkles for your ride.You must remember that they are only worth something to you and very very little to anyone else.At retail I put maybe $6000 in upgrades on my bike and when I traded the dealer or any private buyer either wanted the addons for nothing or offered me less for the bike with them.
If you swap stuff out keep the stock items like seat ,windscreen,stereo's and pegs.Buy used where you can and ride as often as you can.We owe ya.
T K
If you swap stuff out keep the stock items like seat ,windscreen,stereo's and pegs.Buy used where you can and ride as often as you can.We owe ya.
T K
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,045
Likes: 36
From: ST. Louis
Other than Ebay or the dealer whats the best site to order from? Ive found J&P Cycles looks like a good site so far...any body to stay away from? Thanks guys...I need all the help I can get...I'll be home in 89 days and wanna get the bike ready while Im here in Iraq so I can be ready for the road trips this summer....Thanks again
https://www.zanottimotor.com/
You can check prices right on line without speaking to anyone.
This is nice for dreaming/wishing about some upgrades.
They also sell aftermarket vendors stuff too.
They are a "cost plus" dealer, but it is usually around 20% off.
Shipping is usually less than your home dealer's state sales tax (figure all that in).
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 341
Likes: 14
From: Tiskilwa, Illinois
Thank you for your service to our country. Enjoy your bike. Spend some time on the bike before you rush into anything. Get to know it, look at other bikes, study this forum, and decide what you want as you go along. One person's likes is another's dislikes. Get what you like, it's your bike.
Have fun.
Have fun.
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