| Author | Message | ||
     Canyonwlf7 |
I could spend 3k upgrading my 08 Fatbob, supposed to raise HP and Torque to over 100. Or spend 6k and find a good used Ss or STT and have the Lightning for the power and lightweight handling, and the Fatbob for more mellow cruising? What do ya'll think? | ||
| Bads1 |
I'd rather have two bikes. | ||
| Schleppy |
Buy the Lightning. That way you'll have two bikes that will be worth something, instead of one with a lot of money blown on it that you will never get back. | ||
| 2008xb12scg |
If you raise the h/p to 100 it's still weighs alot more as than a ss. If you buy the SS you got the fatbob for nice long highway trips, and the Buell for the twisties. | ||
| Bads1 |
Only way to get more out the HD is to spend more money. An SS 124 would do the trick. Sell your stock motor for ??? and buy the SS for 3-4 grand more. Then you'll run with a Buell or beat it. (Message edited by bads1 on January 17, 2009) (Message edited by bads1 on January 17, 2009) | ||
| Canyonwlf7 |
Yeah, I'm kinda leaning towards the 2 bike scenario................ | ||
| Kaveman |
Canyonwlf7, I got one better... Come to FLA and buy my 03 XB9SL with low miles and other goodies for $4500... Then you'll have two bikes and 1500 or so for other goodies! Kaveman... | ||
| Xb1200rick |
Go for two bikes . I have a glide that runs fairly good for it's size but it still is a big bike that scrapes way too soon in the corners and takes three days to stop. Now that I have the XB I can enjoy the glide for what it was made for and run the crap out of the XB , what it was made for! Rick | ||
| Concor |
If you remember, keep us posted on your decision Canyon. Im in a similar situation as you except i own a 06 12s. Im going to buy a 09 fat bob in march and im torn between selling my 12 and using that money to upgrade the fat bob's motor or just keeping both. Are the 103 inch stage one and two kits what your looking at or is it more of a engine upgrade than that? | ||
| Canyonwlf7 |
I love the Fatbob! You will too, the upgrade consists of big bore to 103", head work and cams, pistons. It is ok right now, but only makes I think 68 HP stock, I'm sure it would be more fun with the upgrade, but it is still fun stock. | ||
| Dano_12s |
2 bikes. | ||
| Clutchless |
I'm thinkin get rid of the fatbob. I am biased tho: I dont like the handlebars, they hurts my wrists. Not A fan of the exhaust, wheels, seat, or the twin headlights. hmm, so that means I dont like the bike. If YOU like all those things, I would say keep the fatbob, pay the sucker off and start bringing more horses in your barn. and lets say you want that dyna to keep up? I would go mid range, not just hp, or a huge bore size. S&S wont do that, they just rape hp and the rest of the bike suffers. not too much for going to work or just out for a cruise then. Snorting beasts dont like to be pet. It wont be "cool" to your friends to see you barely holding on to a 124 with stock tires trying to get traction in 3rd and smoking a wall or something. A nice set of tires, and a stroke / cam / port combo will make you hurt lots of peoples feelings. 96cid is plenty, buells have way less and they do it. there is my two pennys  p.s. dare I say....that fatbob handles quite well, you really gonna use that extra ground clearance in turning on a Buell? gotta start weighing the truths if your torn between. | ||
| Bads1 |
Sorry Clutchless, My Brother has a 124 in his Road King. He can't beat me on my Buell but put a better rider on it and it will. The bike is putting down 135 HP and its running a sticky 180 on the back. The bike is a animal. BTW its a crate motor.... bought just the way it came. The fat bob has a pretty wide tire on from the factory in comparison to older model HD's. | ||
| Hr_puffinstuff |
my neighbor drooped WAAAY too much money upgrading the motor on his bagger. he sure was pissed when i out-ran him on my stock Ss. | ||
| Fung |
I would just do the 2 bikes. I have a XT and a 01 fxd. My buddy has a 05 fxd with the Crusher kit and dyno 120 something hp. Lots of $. it still stops and turns like any dyna. Needs to keep an eye on all the heavy mods. I'd keep it stock or just mild. Unless you want to keep putting $ into it. just my 2 cents | ||
| Ratbuell |
2 bikes. The FXDB will never handle like the Buell - it's a backbone frame, and if you carry speed through sweepers on it and hit a dip or a bump, it's gonna oscillate. Physics. If you like the FX for it's comfort and use it mainly for relaxed cruising, but want something that will accelerate, handle, and brake as a whole package - you're better off buying a bike that's designed to brake, accelerate, and handle. I like the 'bob, it's a nice bike to ride and the handling is fairly neutral, and the Dyna chassis is a very good one...for a cruiser. If, however, you want musclecar power - straight line acceleration only - go ahead and upgrade. Nothing wrong with that at all...different strokes, different folks. Me? I thought my 1996 FLHP (police Road King) with warmed over 80" evo (90hp/90tq at the rear wheel) was pretty damned nice. Then I bought my Uly. I no longer own (nor do I miss) my FLHP. | ||
| Saratoga |
2 bikes. It takes way too much $$ to get up to where the Buell is stock power wise. And then you're still stuck with a bike that weighs almost 2X as much and doesn't handle nearly as good when you feel the urge to throw it around. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Don't waste your money trying to make a slow bike fast.... been there, done that It was fun... could pull a wheelie with my Road King.... cost me about 6 grand.. after about a year and half the rear head cracked... Traded it for the ULY... The Uly came from the factory able to pull wheelies...I'm VERY happy! I wish I had that Road Thing back in its un-molested state.... it would have run forever.... IF I would have just left it alone. | ||
| Canyonwlf7 |
Thanks for all the help guys, I really love the Fatbob, it handles well for a cruiser. Some background on me, I grew up riding dirt bikes, then got married and had kids and did not get back into bikes until 2001. I wanted a bike similar to my last bike (1978 Yamaha DT 175 Enduro) so I bought a 2002 Suzuki DRZ400S (Dual Sport). Loved it, thought I would enjoy it off road, but it was TOO much fun on road, handled like it was on rails, even with dual sport tires. Decided I needed a bigger bike and bought a 2004 Triumph Speedmaster (900cc cruiser). I sold that and started buying ever increasing larger displacement bikes. I have had a 1700cc Yamaha Warrior, a Suzuki M109R, a kawasaki Versys (650cc twin, based on the Ninja 650) The versys handled great too. Now I own a 2007 Triumph Speedmaster, and the 08 Fatbob. I am not the best rider in the world, with only 8 years of street riding experience, but I do like a lighter bike I can flick around, therefore I'm thinking the Buell. I could sell the Speedmaster, but it is kinda fun too, weighs 500#, and the motor likes to rev... | ||
| Dynasport |
I have an FXDX and I too thought about upgrading the engine, but in the end I decided I still wouldn't have the bike I wanted. Still, I love my FXDX. It is all day comfortable to me and I like the looks of it too. So, I have been waiting until I could afford a second bike. I am not patient, but I think I will be happier in the long run this way. Best of luck to you. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
go with the lightning, you will have the dirt bike riding position, the power you want and then you still have the harley to go crusing on | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
In the end, you'd have a really fast, high torque Fat Bob. Nothing wrong with that, but a Buell does more better right out of the box than $10,000 poured into your HD can buy. 68hp's plenty for a cruiser. Any more, and your HP will outstrip your bike's handling capabilities. The two bike solution's the way to go. |
