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Trade up or not?

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  • inkaporka
    inkaporka
    4 years ago
    G'day

    I have a '13 FXDF that I am pretty happy with, apart from believing it lacks a bit of power. I am thinking about either trading up to a Breakout or getting a Stage 4 kit fitted to the FatBob and maybe a paint job, polish the wheels, etc.
    Option 1 looks like costing me upward of 20k, gives me a flash new bike with a warranty & probably all the power I need,
    Option 2 would probably run to less than 10k but I would still have an ageing bike, albeit one I am comfortable with and happy with power increase (I assume).

    Has anyone traded a FatBob up to a Breakout of late, and if so whats your take on the difference? I am in no hurry and would appreciate points of view.
    Any opinions on what difference the Stage 4 kit makes would also be appreciated.

    Thanks.


  • mickle
    mickle
    4 years ago
    Depending on how/where you ride your stock Fatbob will kill a 114 Breakout around the twisty stuff.
  • inkaporka
    inkaporka
    4 years ago
    Quoting mickle on 01 May 2020 12:16 AM

    Depending on how/where you ride your stock Fatbob will kill a 114 Breakout around the twisty stuff.

    Right. Should have added in the OP that I haven't test ridden the Breakout - thanks for that. I did ride the Fatboy but found the riding position uncomfortable, prefer the legs out on the fwd controls style.
  • wello
    wello
    4 years ago
    Quoting mickle on 01 May 2020 12:16 AM

    Depending on how/where you ride your stock Fatbob will kill a 114 Breakout around the twisty stuff.

    Quoting inkaporka on 01 May 2020 12:30 AM

    Right. Should have added in the OP that I haven't test ridden the Breakout - thanks for that. I did ride the Fatboy but found the riding position uncomfortable, prefer the legs out on the fwd controls style.

    sportglide : )
  • Ratbob
    Ratbob
    4 years ago
    I have a 2009 FXDFSE. Very happy with the handling and torquey motor but like you thought it was getting old so why not change, mind you I never considered moving to a Fatboy or Breakout as trading UP. 
    For one they are Softails, Twin Cam or M8 they run balance shafts that rob them of the Dyna’s bite.
    That said I really wanted an M8 Fatboy, like the look, then I rode one, bloody thing tried to kill me. They simply don’t handle with ease. So then I tried both a Twin Cam and M8 Breakout. The lighter wheels gave it an edge on handling but during the test I didn’t find a huge difference in handling characteristics both fucking horrid. 
    I see a few guys add the 50mm longer Wideglide forks to lift the front plus pulled back bars or apes for comfort. 
    Really looking forward to hearing your thoughts after a ride. 
  • inkaporka
    inkaporka
    4 years ago
    Quoting Ratbob on 01 May 2020 05:04 AMedited: 01 May 2020 05:15 AM

    I have a 2009 FXDFSE. Very happy with the handling and torquey motor but like you thought it was getting old so why not change, mind you I never considered moving to a Fatboy or Breakout as trading UP. 

    For one they are Softails, Twin Cam or M8 they run balance shafts that rob them of the Dyna’s bite.
    That said I really wanted an M8 Fatboy, like the look, then I rode one, bloody thing tried to kill me. They simply don’t handle with ease. So then I tried both a Twin Cam and M8 Breakout. The lighter wheels gave it an edge on handling but during the test I didn’t find a huge difference in handling characteristics both fucking horrid. 
    I see a few guys add the 50mm longer Wideglide forks to lift the front plus pulled back bars or apes for comfort. 
    Really looking forward to hearing your thoughts after a ride. 

    Thanks for your comments mate, appreciated - you're probably right, it wouldn't actually be a "trade up" , only in terms of the age of the bike.

    My test ride on the Fat Boy was cut short as i was really unimpressed with the riding position, couldn't get comfortable enough to relax and enjoy the bike at all. I am not overly tall (6'2") but felt very cramped up - mate of mine has one and is putting fwd controls on his as he has the same issue. I was also not that keen on the motor - seemed to pull alright but in too refined a way, if that makes sense, the Dyna I have seems to have a very direct throttle response in comparison.

    I will test ride the Breakout but with reservations, as I said I really like the way the Dyna rides, and maybe the Stage 4 kit will be the best option, perhaps even some attention to the suspension & brakes also in the $10k budget.
  • fatbat
    fatbat
    4 years ago
    When you say upgrade to stage 4 kit do you mean the screaming eagle stage 4 kit (103). Can build a much better 110. 
    I agree with the other about the limitations of the breakout (and fatboy) which may or may not matter depending on how you ride 
  • JFE
    JFE
    4 years ago
    I reckon test ride a M8 Fat Bob. Comparing like for like with your older one that way. 
    It’s partly about how long you want to keep the bike, right? If you see it long term, perhaps upgrading the current one the way you want and keeping the saved $$$ is the way to go .... as long it makes you happy!
  • fatbat
    fatbat
    4 years ago
    Does your twin cam fatbob have abs? I reckon it’s a good feature to have. So is cruise control but don’t know if the m8 softails have that or not. If I was looking at any m8 softail it’d be the sportglide. The only thing I don’t like about it are the wheels 
  • inkaporka
    inkaporka
    4 years ago
    Quoting fatbat on 01 May 2020 06:53 AM

    When you say upgrade to stage 4 kit do you mean the screaming eagle stage 4 kit (103). Can build a much better 110. 

    I agree with the other about the limitations of the breakout (and fatboy) which may or may not matter depending on how you ride 

    Yes I would go the 110 if I did the engine upgrade for sure. One of the things I like about the twin cam 103 on the FXDF is the tactile feedback, something I found lacking in the M8 on the Fat Boy, it just seemed too refined.
  • inkaporka
    inkaporka
    4 years ago
    Quoting fatbat on 01 May 2020 07:46 AM

    Does your twin cam fatbob have abs? I reckon it’s a good feature to have. So is cruise control but don’t know if the m8 softails have that or not. If I was looking at any m8 softail it’d be the sportglide. The only thing I don’t like about it are the wheels 

    Yep it has ABS. I hadn't considered the Sportglide actually, but prefer the look of the Breakout. I am not a really aggressive rider, prefer relaxed cruising so I guess superior handling is probably desired but not essential.

    The more I think about it the more I am leaning toward doing the 110 engine upgrade & maybe spending a bit on paint, polish the wheels etc.
  • Baloffski
    Baloffski
    4 years ago
    Shit inpoka, sorry inkaporka, 
    you is one ugly motherfucker if you don't mind me mentioning, concerning your picture avatar.
    Anyway, I absolutely get where your coming from to make a motorcycle  look so cool and attractive, not in a gayish way, not that there is anything wrong with that, but what you have I'd say is a beautiful bike that you can, or could rejuvenate. 
    I love the new bikes too, but wat the fuck, you get a good root ya ride it for long as you can, bike same, but you can model a bike, reshape those curves, and bumps, and give her some good juice to liven things up, now thats a challenge. Any one can buy a new Harley, but not anyone can make it the way you want or need it to be.
     My 1 cent man.

  • imoo6170
    imoo6170
    4 years ago
    For me personally it really depends on couple of things. 
    1 - Are you sick of it and want a new bike. If yes then trade it. 
    2 - if you are not sick of it, what type of riding do you like - straights (just normal riding) or twisties (not the snack food). As Mickle said yours will kill a breakout (and probably most other Harley's) in the twisties. If you want to go even faster in the twisties look at your suspension front and back - it will help. If it is the straights then do an engine upgrade (although I would still do the suspension as well). 

    For the twisties I have an 2010 XR which has the stock XR 1200 engine (be it that the factory put a bit more effort into it than the normal stock sporty 1200) and none of the new bikes get near it. Of course it is a very different situation in the straights but for me "who cares" as I like twisties.   
  • inkaporka
    inkaporka
    4 years ago
    Quoting Baloffski on 01 May 2020 12:25 PM

    Shit inpoka, sorry inkaporka, 

    you is one ugly motherfucker if you don't mind me mentioning, concerning your picture avatar.
    Anyway, I absolutely get where your coming from to make a motorcycle  look so cool and attractive, not in a gayish way, not that there is anything wrong with that, but what you have I'd say is a beautiful bike that you can, or could rejuvenate. 
    I love the new bikes too, but wat the fuck, you get a good root ya ride it for long as you can, bike same, but you can model a bike, reshape those curves, and bumps, and give her some good juice to liven things up, now thats a challenge. Any one can buy a new Harley, but not anyone can make it the way you want or need it to be.
     My 1 cent man.

    Thanks mate, and yes I have been called "aesthetically challenged" before today so water off a duck's back on the looks comments, though I do have to say I was having a very bad hair day when that shot was taken.
    In amongst your apparently chemically assisted word salad there was actually some good sense and advice, and I am now definitely leaning toward keeping the Fat Bob, spending some cash on the bits I find wanting - engine power & torque, suspension & brakes and maybe some cosmetic detail - paint etc if the budget holds up.
  • inkaporka
    inkaporka
    4 years ago
    Quoting imoo6170 on 01 May 2020 10:56 PM

    For me personally it really depends on couple of things. 

    1 - Are you sick of it and want a new bike. If yes then trade it. 
    2 - if you are not sick of it, what type of riding do you like - straights (just normal riding) or twisties (not the snack food). As Mickle said yours will kill a breakout (and probably most other Harley's) in the twisties. If you want to go even faster in the twisties look at your suspension front and back - it will help. If it is the straights then do an engine upgrade (although I would still do the suspension as well). 

    For the twisties I have an 2010 XR which has the stock XR 1200 engine (be it that the factory put a bit more effort into it than the normal stock sporty 1200) and none of the new bikes get near it. Of course it is a very different situation in the straights but for me "who cares" as I like twisties.   

    Yep thanks for the input mate - I am not sick of the bike, and there is a lot about it I like. Its been great getting views and opinions from the forum, I will test ride the Breakout but am not committed one way or the other, but after the last few days of thought am leaning toward spending some cash on the Fat Bob and enjoying it for years to come.
  • inkaporka
    inkaporka
    4 years ago
    Quoting Ratbob on 01 May 2020 05:04 AMedited: 01 May 2020 05:15 AM

    I have a 2009 FXDFSE. Very happy with the handling and torquey motor but like you thought it was getting old so why not change, mind you I never considered moving to a Fatboy or Breakout as trading UP. 

    For one they are Softails, Twin Cam or M8 they run balance shafts that rob them of the Dyna’s bite.
    That said I really wanted an M8 Fatboy, like the look, then I rode one, bloody thing tried to kill me. They simply don’t handle with ease. So then I tried both a Twin Cam and M8 Breakout. The lighter wheels gave it an edge on handling but during the test I didn’t find a huge difference in handling characteristics both fucking horrid. 
    I see a few guys add the 50mm longer Wideglide forks to lift the front plus pulled back bars or apes for comfort. 
    Really looking forward to hearing your thoughts after a ride. 

    On longer forktubes, I would assume there's a handling penalty paid there, or not?
  • Ratbob
    Ratbob
    4 years ago
    Quoting Ratbob on 01 May 2020 05:04 AMedited: 01 May 2020 05:15 AM

    I have a 2009 FXDFSE. Very happy with the handling and torquey motor but like you thought it was getting old so why not change, mind you I never considered moving to a Fatboy or Breakout as trading UP. 

    For one they are Softails, Twin Cam or M8 they run balance shafts that rob them of the Dyna’s bite.
    That said I really wanted an M8 Fatboy, like the look, then I rode one, bloody thing tried to kill me. They simply don’t handle with ease. So then I tried both a Twin Cam and M8 Breakout. The lighter wheels gave it an edge on handling but during the test I didn’t find a huge difference in handling characteristics both fucking horrid. 
    I see a few guys add the 50mm longer Wideglide forks to lift the front plus pulled back bars or apes for comfort. 
    Really looking forward to hearing your thoughts after a ride. 

    Quoting inkaporka on 02 May 2020 03:06 AM

    On longer forktubes, I would assume there's a handling penalty paid there, or not?

    With a tad better ground clearance it’s an improvement in handling and comfort. I’m also 6’2” and find the Breakout’s flat drag style bars had me leaning too hard on my wrists. I tried a used one with the wideglide forks  + 5” risers and that was way better. 
    Nothing compensates for the 240 rear though. 
    Looking forward to hearing what you think.
  • Baloffski
    Baloffski
    4 years ago
    ME TOO..
    What a challenge, to make it your motorcycle, the way You want it, with a killer paint number, and suspension, and engine to what ever you want. man I'm an old cunt that shouldn't be a live and I like things that, just are, and grow..
  • mickle
    mickle
    4 years ago
    Quoting imoo6170 on 01 May 2020 10:56 PM

    For me personally it really depends on couple of things. 

    1 - Are you sick of it and want a new bike. If yes then trade it. 
    2 - if you are not sick of it, what type of riding do you like - straights (just normal riding) or twisties (not the snack food). As Mickle said yours will kill a breakout (and probably most other Harley's) in the twisties. If you want to go even faster in the twisties look at your suspension front and back - it will help. If it is the straights then do an engine upgrade (although I would still do the suspension as well). 

    For the twisties I have an 2010 XR which has the stock XR 1200 engine (be it that the factory put a bit more effort into it than the normal stock sporty 1200) and none of the new bikes get near it. Of course it is a very different situation in the straights but for me "who cares" as I like twisties.   

    Quoting inkaporka on 02 May 2020 03:04 AM

    Yep thanks for the input mate - I am not sick of the bike, and there is a lot about it I like. Its been great getting views and opinions from the forum, I will test ride the Breakout but am not committed one way or the other, but after the last few days of thought am leaning toward spending some cash on the Fat Bob and enjoying it for years to come.

    When you test ride ensure you take it around a couple of roundabouts.
  • liberator
    liberator
    4 years ago
    What you have to consider is that if you decide to modify your current ride, multiply your budgets estimate x2, then realize whatever you spend is money you will never see again, then go out and buy a new Sport Glide,
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