04,05 Ridegeback

[Red Bull]

Hey All, thinking of buying an 04 or 05 ridgeback. Seams like I can can find a good few of them around cheap. IS THERE ANY ISSUES I SHOULD BE AWARE OF IN THOSE MODEL YEARS???. I really like the 08 Ridge back I got a chance to ride one in Myrtel Beach and really liked it. I ride an 08 HD Road Glide now and this would be an add on. Thanks...

 

[Raywood]

Major difference between the 04 and 05 is RSD came with the 05 and I personaly would rather have the RSD having owned both.

Otherwise both fine bikes.

 

[Show]

I love my '05!! Only "issue" I had with mine was the clutch problem. http://www.bigdogbiker.com/forums/drive-train/3156-major-clutch-failure.html

 

[V]

I had a 05 Pit but once a rode the chop realized I didn't have what I wanted. Right side drive is more balanced but less aftermarket options are available if you are going to do a bunch of modds. Ended up I got the 08 ridgeback rides and handles great:2thumbs:

 

[lee]

some of the 05's seem to be prone to a few issues ( the aformentioned clutch basket for example) - having said I have an 05 and haven't had any major issues and Ray's 05 has got over 50K miles on it without any of these issues either - luck of the draw I guess

 

[lee]

also the 05's come with a E carb rather than a G and restrictor plates in the intake manifold due to emissions

 

[Mario77746]

Let's not forget the bump from a 250 tire in 2004 to a 300 tire in 2005.:2thumbs:

With that said, My 05 RB has done me right from the day I bought it.

 

[surferdude]

Go with the 08' Ridgeback 330m tire .... :up:

 

[bdmridgeback]

I have owned both, 2004 and 2005. I put 6200 miles on my 2004 and I now have about 6000 miles on my 2005. The ride between the two is almost exactly the same only difference where you feel the 300 tire over the 250 is going into a steep drive on a sharp angle and it fights a little more. The DSSC as far as I am concerned is piss poor and I would trade it back for the LSD. The Left drive was heavier on the left and would not track straight down the road with your hands off the bars unless I leaned a bit to the right off the seat, but it didn't bother me a bit. The 2005 goes perfectly straight down the road. A lot more aftermarket options for the 2004 than the RSD 2005 and less money to buy them to.

Now the stock 107 in the 2004 will have much more power than the 2005 stock and you will have to put the G carb, good pipes, and a .600 cam in the 117" to get the same power as the 107" in 2004.

The clutch is better in the 2004, the electronics are better in the 2004, the 2005 just handles better.
If I would have known in 2004 that BDM screwed the 2005 models up so much and so drastic, I would have kept my 2005. They just changed too much in one model year and changed stuff that didn't need to be that they changed back in 2006 on the other models.

My 2005 had the top end of the motor rebuilt due to excessive valvetrain wear.

I love my 2005 Ridgeback to death but I would trade it back for my old 2004 Ridge in a heartbeat.

I would say that a 2005 model is probably the worst model year BDM to buy out of anything from 2003 & newer!!!

 

[ChuckRB05]

re

I have the 05 and most of my problems were solved by recall. Some 05's like mine had to have their top ends rebuilt due to irregular valveguide wear. Overall I've been very happy with mine and I think all the general problems these bikes have, is in direct relation to the riding habits of the owner...not all but some There are lemons out there as some members of this site will testify.