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Bad news, good news, help me spend a couple grand will ya?

3K views 24 replies 16 participants last post by  reacher 
#1 · (Edited)
Two weeks ago today a guy decided to turn left in front of me, then stop halfway through his turn blocking my entire lane. Unfortunately I was only about 75' away and was going 55mph.

The 2008 105th Anniversary FLTR I was on ended up totaled by the insurance. Fortunately I had a helmet on and didn't end up in too bad of shape aside from a broken rib, concussion, and some minor road rash. So State Farm just cut me a huge check (they were pretty fair I thought with value, even if a few bucks less than I think I could've sold it for) to put towards a new bike.

So I closed a deal this afternoon on a 2016 Road Glide Special. Supposedly a guy special ordered it last fall then backed out this winter when it arrived. He basically wanted it set up exactly like an Ultra, except with the air cooled motor instead of the Rushmore. Two tone Velocity Red/Sunglo Red, tour pack, lower fairings, and pretty much every bell and whistle short of heated grips. I'm having the dealer convert the tour pack to be quick detach (had that on my '08 and absolutely LOVED it) before I pick it up.







I set aside $2500-3000 to do some basic mods almost immediately.

I'd like to upgrade the exhaust, probably in the form of at least a Stage I. Maybe full exhaust, air cleaner, programming, mini-apes (my Indy does these WAY cheaper than the dealer, was like $360 including bars on my last bike), garage door opener switch, highway pegs, and new grips.

I would love to see specific recommendations on exhaust, or other small things that you guys have seen value in modding. I'm mainly looking for things that will improve performance and improve comfort on long rides. FYI, it already has the touring seat, so I doubt I'll need to do that quickly.


Thoughts, suggestions and feedback welcome!
 
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#5 ·
To me the mini-apes would come before cam just because of how much they help my shoulders and neck on long rides. You think I could do all that and still fit cams in the budget?

You think I'll need extra speakers on top of the upgraded audio and even with rear speakers?

#1-#5. Russell Day Long Saddle.
I love my S&S air cleaner, V&H Power Duals, V&H Twin Slash Ovals, and FP3 tuner.

Glad you're okay. I had the same thing happen to me. Walked away from it, still don't know why.

BTW, that looks more like an ultra or limited than a special. Special doesn't have a trunk and lowers AFAIK. ?

Notice my comments in the OP. The guy who ordered it and backed out of it basically ordered it loaded out with almost every Ultra option before he backed out of the deal. He basically wanted an Ultra but didn't want the Rushmore motor, so he technically had to add all the other stuff to a Special. So even though it's built like an Ultra, it's a Special.
 
#4 ·
Nice bike. The guy ordered all the expensive stuff for it already.

BTW, that looks more like an ultra or limited than a special. Special doesn't have a trunk and lowers AFAIK. ?


OP said that someone special ordered it with the t pak & lowers. Also has the liquid cooled motor. Basically it was converted into an Ultra.

Lil Chief
 
#7 ·
Sorry, I was just impressed with your bike & read your post too fast. I think ya did well on that one.
Anyway, I would say the pipes depend on what your in to. I ended up putting a Fuel Moto ceramic coated 2-1-2 header on mine with White Bros mufflers, and a Fuel Moto AC. I also used a Powevision tuner from Fuel Moto & they loaded a map into it for me. I don't plan on doing any motor work to mine for quite awhile, after the stock motor gets tired. A stage 1 setup will wake that baby up a bit.

Lil Chief
 
#9 ·
No worries, thanks.

I want something to wake it up a touch performance wise. I also want something louder than stock as much for safety as anything. Loud, but not obnoxious.

Nice looking bike. Welcome to the forum.
Thanks. Lurked off and on for a long time, finally decided to post. Appreciate all the suggestions and responses.
 
#8 ·
Nice looking bike. Welcome to the forum.
 
#10 · (Edited)
#13 ·
The guy had the tour pack put on. I'm the one having them add the quick detach option.

That hardware comes with turn signals to mount on the rear bags as well as the license plate bracket needed. Supposedly (this is coming from the sales guy the turn signals on the bags will be very bright compared to most replacement signals.

All of that is getting wired up before I pick up the bike, so I should be able to see how I like it before taking delivery.
 
#14 ·
Nice looking bike! Sounds like the guy that ordered it knew what he was doing! Good luck picking out your extras. I like my 4" Rineharts by the way.
 
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#15 ·
Looks good.

Just curious, why did the guy not want the Rushmore motor?
 
#18 ·
I do not know. All I was told (and I have a friend who works at the dealership in a service role, and they confirmed the basic story) was that the guy ordered it and backed out of the deal when the bike arrived. Not sure if he didn't want it, could no longer afford it, had health issues, lost his job, or what. The sales guy claimed it was a customer who had bought other bikes there in the past so they really thought he'd honor the deal but he didn't.

With 3K to play with, that is about a Stage 1 with proper tuning (Dyno Tuned, not just map load) - If you want to chase HP then that will take up your bank right there - I (as many have) did the research on all the systems and much like you, had about the same to play with - I spread my bread around a bit and went with slips to start and then did back rests and knick knacks & such - If I had to do it all over, I would have gone full system right out of the gate - Sound is in the ear hole of the owner - I have had the V&H Straights that rattled the garage, had the Rein's that I loved and then I heard the Bassani 4 inch DNT and the sound is exactly what I wanted (that and I dig old man Bassani.....greatest mustache on the planet) - Quiet at idle so I don't piss off the hood when I roll out at 7a on a Sunday and Loud enough when I am on the beans that traffic can hear me - My next stage is the Headers, Intake, ECU and Dyno Run as I have ridden both mapped only and mapped with a proper Dyno Tune and to me, I can surely feel a difference - A good tuner spending the time on the Dyno can find stuff in a motor that a map cannot alone.

So, in closing, when asking for opinions, I would drop the loot into a proper Stage 1 with sound of your choice

BTW, sweet bike man - Congrats on the score
Thanks for the input. I'm hoping with my Indy's killer labor rate I can do the Stage 1 properly and still have a few bucks left. We'll see.
 
#16 ·
With 3K to play with, that is about a Stage 1 with proper tuning (Dyno Tuned, not just map load) - If you want to chase HP then that will take up your bank right there - I (as many have) did the research on all the systems and much like you, had about the same to play with - I spread my bread around a bit and went with slips to start and then did back rests and knick knacks & such - If I had to do it all over, I would have gone full system right out of the gate - Sound is in the ear hole of the owner - I have had the V&H Straights that rattled the garage, had the Rein's that I loved and then I heard the Bassani 4 inch DNT and the sound is exactly what I wanted (that and I dig old man Bassani.....greatest mustache on the planet) - Quiet at idle so I don't piss off the hood when I roll out at 7a on a Sunday and Loud enough when I am on the beans that traffic can hear me - My next stage is the Headers, Intake, ECU and Dyno Run as I have ridden both mapped only and mapped with a proper Dyno Tune and to me, I can surely feel a difference - A good tuner spending the time on the Dyno can find stuff in a motor that a map cannot alone.

So, in closing, when asking for opinions, I would drop the loot into a proper Stage 1 with sound of your choice

BTW, sweet bike man - Congrats on the score
 
#21 ·
Good looking bike and welcome from San Diego.

For the bars I would look at the Road 6 Customs, you can go up to 13's with no cable mods. They have a couple different styles to check out.

As for the exhaust like its been said depends on your taste and how much you want to hear your radio. I like the Screaming Eagle street cannons, nice bark to them. I put them on the wives bike after she was running with stock pipes with baffles removed and she thinks they are too quiet. Its definitely nice on long trips to be able to hear the radio.
 
#25 ·
Ended up working things out to pick the bike up today.

Threw the highway pegs on it when I got home. Picked up some grips and saddlebag guards that my indy guy says he'll throw on for free..............when I drop the bike off next Tues for true dual headers, 4" Big Louie mufflers, Big Sucker AC, tuning, Wild One 502 12.5" apes, and a garage door opener, lol.

Have to get some more miles on it during a less windy day, but whoever suggested upgraded speakers might've been correct too. Above 60-65 my music wasn't as easy to listen to as I prefer. We'll see what it's like on a calm day. Plus I often wear ear plugs on a highway ride, which tend to cut the wind noise but not the music noise, and I didn't have any with me today. We'll see.
 
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