Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Spiderman]

This thread was opened in all seriousness as favor to a friend who has had several baggers and is currently riding a V-Rod and speaking with me about building a from scratch custom bagger due to his past experience with modifying stock bikes. The whole issue was why after a couple years of lurking I have begin posting. Perhaps we can begin again. We (my friend and I ) are looking for a A-Z list of what the members of this forum consider to be the best parts one could find to build the "perfect" bagger from. If it's been discussed to the nth degree previously, I apologize for not having paticipated in those past discussions. With the 2011 H-D line-up on the showroom floor, my friend does not see anything he likes.

[Twolanerider]

Tell him he should definitely use Mobil 1 in the tires and nitrogen in the engine.  Start there and any project is a success!


But I digress....



Seriously, as long as it's red he can't go wrong.

[VaEagle]

Just my .02 but trying to get a comprehensive A-Z list of parts to build the perfect bike could be endless and depends on many variables. Just because one part is the best doesn't mean it will work with another part that is the best of it's type, they need to work together and be used for a particular situation. Ex. what gets you top speed may not give you low or midrange torque.
If I was a builder/ supplier for the person I would want to know things like is the bike for speed or comfort? Also heavy rider/ passenger or light rider/cargo weight. Is it a bar hopper or a long haul bike?
Does the owner want style and bling vs handling? Some fad things look good but are not practical from a performance standpoint. Some performance mods are not practical on a daily driven in town commuter bike.( ex. runs too hot for stop and go driving.)

I also agree with other posts that modifying a factory bike and engine can be easier when it comes to insurance but it draws less attention from law enforcement at rallies or checkpoints when they are checking for matching numbers for possible stolen parts bikes. It is easier at the DMV for registration too.
Good luck with the build.

[fourstar]

Beserker, I wasn't trying to dampen enthusiasm for the discussion with my comment.  It was actually just a pointless observation.  Please accept my apology if I offended you!

BTW, red is the fastest color!!

[Twolanerider]

Maybe the guy should just get a Honda ?

[Spiderman]

Just my .02 but trying to get a comprehensive A-Z list of parts to build the perfect bike could be endless and depends on many variables. Just because one part is the best doesn't mean it will work with another part that is the best of it's type, they need to work together and be used for a particular situation. Ex. what gets you top speed may not give you low or midrange torque.
If I was a builder/ supplier for the person I would want to know things like is the bike for speed or comfort? Also heavy rider/ passenger or light rider/cargo weight. Is it a bar hopper or a long haul bike?
Does the owner want style and bling vs handling? Some fad things look good but are not practical from a performance standpoint. Some performance mods are not practical on a daily driven in town commuter bike.( ex. runs too hot for stop and go driving.)

I also agree with other posts that modifying a factory bike and engine can be easier when it comes to insurance but it draws less attention from law enforcement at rallies or checkpoints when they are checking for matching numbers for possible stolen parts bikes. It is easier at the DMV for registration too.
Good luck with the build.

With all due respect, I'd appreciate it if folks would post their thoughts anyway. I'll separate the wheat from the chaff as to what works with what.

Henry