Harley question

[westy1970]

I have never owned an American bike (or any cruiser for that matter) and am considering a frame up build. I have done many restorations on old BMW's so I am confident with the idea. I found a 2002 sportster with no front end as a starting point. It is a 1200cc and bone stock from what I can tell. The guy wants $2k for what's left, which is everything from the forks back. Nothing on the front is salvageable. My question is: Is that a good motor and what issues are there with that type of Harley motor?

CJ
PS, I found a rigid tail frame for $700. Now all i need is a speedbag for a seat.

[Great-Kazoo]

first off book on a running moderate mileage 1200 sporty is $4200 high side in season. thats $1300 more then your non-running salvage title from the sound of it, project.
whats your age how long street riding etc. while the rigid look is neat it beats the hell out of you. resale wise a chopper sporty is a boat anchor to sell if you needed cash in a hurry. regular sporty's are slow movers to begin with, in the used market. they always seem to go to the "new HD rider" who feels a big twin is too big/fast for their first HD. after 6-12 mths most sportys are back at the dealers looking to be traded in on something bigger.

any "project/chopper" should be approached by figuring out how much it will cost to get it road worthy less paint (forget chrome at this point) X's it by 2
do you want show or go ? paint will run $6-1200 easy your chrome will cost as much right there you have $4K + into a book value $4200.00 stock sporty
buy a big twin ride it for 1 season then decide where you want to go from there.
Keep in mind you need a place to keep your chopper project while building. IF you don't have a place to keep it, for at least 1 year forget it. everytime you move it around parts get lost, real small parts that cost way more then they are worth.
AND you should have a lift. i built my indian in a studio apt. same for my 66 shovel, rode that one down the stairs less motor (yeeha)
i've built a few mc's in my time. not one of them in the past 15 years has not been apart to make it faster, tinker, normal service etc. its a learning curve so sit back rethink, put on paper your ideas then go from there
if you need help or have ?'s drop me a pm

[shrapmetal]

go with a bigger motor or you'll regret it.

[rondog]

I've had 7 Harley's and only one was a Sportster. Sporty's are OK for short rides around town, but for serious riding they'll wear you out quickly. I'm sure you'll get lots of opinions on this, Sportsters have some die-hard fans, but the fact remains that most Sporty buyers will trade up quickly to a Big Twin. And Jim is right about the rigid, or "hard tail" frames, they'll beat you to death.

But, it's all about what you want and can tolerate. There's damn sure been a lot of fun had on hard-tail Sportsters over the years. As far as building one ground-up, go for it if you have the place to do it! It's a lot of fun and very satisfying/frustrating. You want some REAL fun? Get an early 60's Sporty with a magneto and a kickstarter!

Just remember that the resale on Sportsters sucks, most people don't want them, but that doesn't mean they're impossible to sell either.

[thedave1164]

funny, when I was a teenager it was just rebels and outlaws that rode hogs.......

[HunterCO]

I have no idea where a rigid frame got brought into this since an 02 sporty is not. I will say that everbody always starts with a sporty and with in one year they want a big bike.

A 1200 sporty will smoke any big twin but they are a bar hopper bike. For 2K I would buy it fix it and you will make some money. If you want a fast bike as far as Harleys go, The 1200 sporty is your choice. If you however want a bike you can ride for long distances you will want a big twin.

If you don't want to buy it let me know I will buy that in a heart beat. I don't know where the others are getting there numbers from but I can tell you this I could sell an 02 sporty for 12K plus in a heart beat.

[Great-Kazoo]

I have no idea where a rigid frame got brought into this since an 02 sporty is not. I will say that everbody always starts with a sporty and with in one year they want a big bike.

A 1200 sporty will smoke any big twin but they are a bar hopper bike. For 2K I would buy it fix it and you will make some money. If you want a fast bike as far as Harleys go, The 1200 sporty is your choice. If you however want a bike you can ride for long distances you will want a big twin.

If you don't want to buy it let me know I will buy that in a heart beat. I don't know where the others are getting there numbers from but I can tell you this I could sell an 02 sporty for 12K plus in a heart beat.

NADA.com and KBB.com
there are big twins on dealers floors that are collecting dust @ $11,500
RMN has at least 3-4 ads for "Custom Chopper" over $30K invested first $15 takes it.
if you can sell an 02 sporty for $12K i have a stock (less h/bars) FLH shovel i'll sell you for $6500. with under 25k on odometer real clean unit
no ones paying $12K for a sporty and with a potential salvage title not one bank will carry the note on a 6yr old sporty with a salvage title for less then $15% interest. 3 more years and no finance co would touch it. not for $12K not for $2K and if they did they'd keep it to a 24mth note

as for the rigid frame he said he found one for $700.00 sure the sporty's are fast but resale wise, boat anchors look in the papers, on bike trader.com, hdforums.com etc any sporty for over $5K is still there ,has been there, and will be there. Unless it's a new 05-07
and they want someone to take over payments. the no money down 72 mth finance, first time HD buyers that will take an easy $2-3K in the shorts on trade in. more on private sale

[thedave1164]

FYI guys, jim works in the industry and has for years. I would trust what he has to say on this subject.

And jim resembles the rebel/outlaw remark

[stubbicatt]

Man, save your money. Buy a good motorcycle.