117" Revisited

GREAT POST BROTHER!

Another reason for upgrading is that it allows me to learn more about how these engines/ bikes tick. Buying a brand new bike gets in the way of that. Just my opinion, but there isn't a better way to learn than to tear the bike almost all the way down to nothing and then putting it back together. If one does their due diligence thoroughly, you can and will discover what you can do safely and effectively. Just saying this, but it isn't like I woke up one day and said, "yep, today I am going to convert my bike to fuel injection or put the biggest badest engine in my bike." My education started the day I joined this forum, (and others).

You are so right, I had the green light to buy that brand spanking new underwhelming Road Glide but I chose to stay with what I have. This Road Glide is like my favorite pair of riding boots, you wear them until you can't fix it anymore, until one has reached that point, you just can't let it go. And everbody's threshold is different.

But let's really break this down. This bike has been really really good to me. Other than the stuff that I have chosen to change and routine maintenance, I haven't had to fix a thing. What's going on with it now after thinking about it, I have a good idea of what happened and is my fault. Actually, 2 things. The first being when I went to South Dakota and what happened there, then a most recent event.

Johnny is still is playing with old Technology.

The new bikes are a lot different than the older stuff.
Different kind of Hydraulic cam chain tensioners.
Different heads. Different cams.
TB instead of Carbs.
Different frames, brakes.
Different compensator sprockets.
Clutch's changed on how they come apart.
You got a computer on the bike.

I just want to have a mild build.
And when I walk out to the bike, I can turn the switch on and push the button and it cranks.

Don't want to turn the petcock valve on under the gas tank. Don't want to pull a choke knob.
Don't want to kick start it.

Just want to walk out and ride.
I retired and don't want another job working on the bike all the time.

There are other things to do in life. Like ride with friends.

Know yer trying to explain it to me. But it don't matter.
Done wasted all my time and money for years jacking with them.
Gets tired and expensive working on them all the time.

I didn't work on my 64 Panhead that much.

Got a buddy that used to be a ship Captain.
He built 103's, 107's and 124's and 117's.
Non of them are still running.
He went and got a 110cu motor for his 07 bike and put it in it.Put a Woods cam and a Thunder-Max in it and that is what he rides.

He spend 30,000 or more on motors in a few years.
And no tellling how much working on them.

One of my buddy's has 3 harleys.
He went 2 yrs ago and bought a Stock BMW that puts out 160 hp.
Nobody has gotten even close to running with him.

Problem with johmny is he couldn't touch the ground on it.

When you got a fever.
You can't hear & have a 1 track mind
And have every excuse why you want it.

Glad I don't have the fever.
Too much money you throw onto a build.

Ok, the voices of reason have finally taken over, well, sort of. Screw it, buy an S&S 124 crate. Cheaper.

I think S&S is letting people test ride the 124 in a FXR at a drag strip at the Sturgis rally this year (last year too). Try to get there and take a ride before you buy to see if you really want a drag engine in your touring bike.

Ya ever hear about the people that build these bikes and get killed or hurt real bad because of all the H.P. ?

Yea you got the money, so do it.

A 124 in a FXR? wow, gonna have to look into this

http://www.sscycle.com/feature/demo-days/