I have been thinking of totally re-doing my 04 Road King Custom with new paint, bars, cams, heads, exhaust....etc
The conundrum is do I rebuild my bike or do I buy a newer 96" like an 07????

I have already poured thousands into my current ride including custom paint, 3 seats, and buckets of chrome. I'd have to re-purchase some of this stuff or go without but with an 07 I would have the 96" motor and a 6 speed tranny.

All idea's are welcome. I think I've over-thought it to the point that I can't think rationally anymore.

 

Did you buy iy new?
How many miles are on it?

 

Yeah, but 08 gets you a bigger gas tank, no 5th gear whine, and 09+ gets you a much better frame.

 

Another thought...keep the 04, and buy a newer bike. I have had 5 Harleys and I think I may keep my 11 RKC for years... enjoy it.

 

Only you can make that decision. I would not let anyone on here sway you one way or another. You'll have most just telling you to get a new bike. Things to look at are is your current ride paid off? Can you afford another payment? In the end what is it exactly that will make you happy? New paint and some engine work, or a newer platform on which to build?

 

your bike is a known known.

a used bike is an unknown known


if you know your bike is crap and about to blow up, unload it and take a chance on someone else's bike ( which may be good or bad).


If you know your bike is good, continue to enjoy it and save your ready cash toward a new bike when the 04 becomes a money pit.

you can spend alot on performance enhancements and end up with a less-streetable, less reliable bike that gets worse mileage and less people will be able to work on it for you - if they are not familiar with the parts and mods used on your build.

So consider those aspects.

Mike

 

Well, I had an 04. Then I bought an 08. Then I bought a 10.

Should have stayed with the 04. Easy to install a Thundermax. Easy to install a Baker Tranny. Change spring arm bushings and stabiliser for the ride. Or change the swing arm and put on a bigger tire, etc.

Bottom line, I could have dumped 10,000 in to the 04 and had a much better machine that what I bought. I ended up doing all that to the new machine.

It's your cash, but if I were doing it all over again, I would have built the 04. I got swayed by the bigger gas tank and then by the new frame. I doubt that I will ever upgrade again. I will just keep giving her some new trinkets to keep her happy.

Good luck.

 

You quit thinking rationally when you got into motorcycling.

Do whatever you gotta do. You can't buy a new Road King Custom and the 96/6 is nice but I don't know if it is that much better than an 88/5.

You will probably want to re-do whatever new bike you get also. We seem to be that way.

 

tsfxstrider is right. the 96/6 isn't that much better or more capable than the 88/5.

 

If you can find an 07 buy it before, you sell your 04.
A lot of your 04 chrome will fit the 07, that will save
you some money. You can also jack an 07 up to a 103
alot cheaper than you can an 04. The 3 seats for your
04 will fit the 07 aswell