03 or 04 big dogs

[mikes07mastiff]

just had a question about the 04 and later big dogs that are left hand drive. a buddy of mine is looking at one so he talked to are local bike shop where i bought my 07 mastiff. and the owner of the shop told him not to buy it cause they are not balanced good and hard to ride. just did not know if he was saying that just cause he wants him to buy a bike from there or if it is true. any feedback would be good, thanks

 

[Dakotabos]

I have a 2004 Big Dog and I have put on over 24000 miles on it (over 1200 more this weekend). The only time I notice the balance is a little left is when I let go of the handlebars but all I do is shift my a$$ a little right and lock the throttle and lean back and ride. 22K miles and I dont think I can ride anything but.
You can pick up 04 Big Dog Choppers for under 18,000

 

[LDO]

Ok,
I may be biased owning an 03 Mastiff however, I will say this, the balance IS better on the RSD bikes but it shouldn't be THE reason not to get an older dog.

Older dogs have alot going for them as far as the (greater) reliability of the electronics and the less EPA regulated 107c.i motors (more stock power).

The balancing act is nothing you can't get used to. Unnoticeable, after a few minutes on the bike as far as I'm concerned.

Opinions vary.

Tell your buddy to take an older and a newer dog (maybe yours? ) for a ride and let him decide.

 

[mikes07mastiff]

thanks guys. i will tell him. yeah u can get an older one for a good price. the one he is looking at is an 03 pittbull with 7500 miles and they only want 12,500 for it and 400 to ship it to indiana.

 

[Dakotabos]

Very Nice price and nice Pup

 

[BorgerBigDog]

I would go for it. like LDO said something you wont care about or even notice when you ride for sometime you just get use to it !!!

 

[ChevroletSS1965]

I have an 03 pitbull and it isn't bad at all. The only time I notice is when I take both hands off the bars, like LDO said. In my opinion the only people that notice the difference are people that have rode a RSD bike quite a bit. I would say buy the older bike if money is a factor.

 

[watermeter]

I hav an 02 with LSD and and 07 with RSD and I don't really notice a balance issue at all. LDO is right about the electronics and the power though.

 

[barhopper]

I hear the nascar drivers buy the older dogs since they are used to driving left all day.

 

[Dakotabos]

I hear the nascar drivers buy the older dogs since they are used to driving left all day.

Funny Guy

Did you hear the Owner of the winning horse at the Kentucky Derby owned a Big Dog
He wrecked it a week earlier

He must have a left side drive one too :roll: :roll:
Mine That Bird shot from 30 lengths back to win Kentucky Derby - Tim Layden - SI.com

Mine That Bird prepared in anonymity. Early on the morning of Monday, April 20, trainer Bennie (Chip) Woolley Jr. loaded him into a three-stall horse trailer and set out with groom-exercise rider Charlie Figueroa from Sunland Park Race Track in New Mexico, 10 miles west of El Paso. "His GPS brought him to Kentucky," says Woolley's girlfriend, Kim Carr. Woolley, 45, had broken both bones in his lower right leg when his Big Dog Chopper motorcycle slid out on gravel in late February; he was forced to drive with the other foot. Horse, trainer and groom spent Monday night at Lone Star Park, a track outside Dallas, and finished the drive the next day, arriving at Churchill Downs at nearly midnight on Tuesday, 11 days before the Derby.

 

[Trashman]

I bought an 04 chopper and one of the simple things that I did was install Dyna Beads in the front and rear. I was skeptical but am now a believer. It made a huge differance in smoothing out the ride. As far as balance, I notice nothing from this left side drive bike.

 

[ChimesCFL]

I've been riding my 04 Ridgeback since 04 and can't feel any left side heaviness, just used to it I guess. I did get on a RSD drive at the dealership, picked it up off the kickstand and almost throught the bike over on it's right side. I'm used to hefting my LSD off the kickstand with some force. Anyway, I've talked to others with a RSD and once you get e'm rolling they are similar I'm told.

 

[WB Cycles]

04 Chopper since the beginning. After the first couple of days ... never really thought about it until I ride with no hands Even then a little shift to the right helps out

That being said ... if I change bikes ... I think I would enjoy the K-9 RSD :up:

 

[woodbutcher]

I think I would enjoy the K-9 RSD :up:

that you would, nelson, that you would. :2thumbs: