Ironhorse or Dogs

[waternazzi]

I just got off the phone with IronHorse and they said....there not going out of business???So i inquired about a 07/08 slammer can you guess how much?Try reight around 45,000 give or take a few more thousand depending on which motor,paint,crome package etc.looks like i'll have to go to the ashtray again.. ha ha

 

[lee]

you could say everyone on hear says Big Dog are better because they have one , or you could say everyone on here has one because they are better.....

 

[jwoolf]

I went with intentions of buying a slammer but, I was talked out of it.

Also, after all that talk from the salesman, I insisted on riding the slammer. After I did, I got on a bd. After that, I had to have the BD.

Also, you should hear the mechanics over at Stroker's talk about AIH. They HATE them. I've spent more time over there than most lately and all I hear is, "you think you've been waiting on parts, It's a GOOD thing this isn't an AIH".

So, get what you want but, there are some good points about BDM.

 

[05chop]

Well said Just ask a mechanic! 05chop

 

[scubaman15]

This was a good thread ..I know a friend who has a Swift... and I think my bike is better looking at half the price,with a polished motor at that "can wait to drag him this summer.":.LOL

 

[txchopperguy]

The AIH does NOT use Baker primary or transmissions...the price of just the DSSC setup from baker is about $8000.00 alone. AIH has had some tranny problems as well...spitting out gears when they first swithced to the 113 motor.

 

[moesterman]

Decisions'

When I started shopping I looked at the companys. Take a look at the history of the two companys and I am confident it will help you make your decision.

 

[bdmridgeback]

The NEW tank on the 08 texas choppers are HUGE!!!! Not Long, but Wide as a Mack truck!!!

They went from super skinny to one that looks like the K9 but twice as wide.

Mu buddy has a 05 Texas Chopper (280tire) and he jumped on my Ridgeback (300tire) , he was amazed that my ridged rode better than his softail!! He also said it felt like mine was going to rip his arms off compared to his bike!! He was ready that day to go trade his bike in. Actually he called around and checked into trade in costs and decided against it because he was going to loose his ass on his bike.

Ride both before you buy and talk to people.

He wants to ride mine again tomorrow night when we go to bike night to see the difference the 600 cam and Bandit Clutch made.

 

[P8RIOT]

Here's as close as I'll ever get to an American Iron Horse:

I was pretty well turned off by their marginal quality on the fit 'n finish. Their designs look more like parts cobbled together, rather than an integral design effort. And their prices are pretty high, from the dealers I have visited.

 

[waternazzi]

Enough said my ash tray is empty anyway..I personally think (we) as bigdog owners have the BEST custom out there. just my 2cents...

 

[WB Cycles]

Coincidentally .... I just heard a customer at Strokers ripping AIH because of not only a lack of parts, but they ship the wrong parts for service (he was from the Houston area)

 

[txchopperguy]

P8RIOT is exactly correct, and Nelson confirmed it...
The AIH are not proprietary parts, but whatever happens to be on the shelf, and this will change throughout the model year depending on inventories. They have such a hard time supplying repair parts because half the time the factory does not know what went on the bike...like "Gee what DID we have on the shelf during that production run?" They throw all this together and boom...you have a bike. They are also known to be HORRIBLE about reimbursing dealers for repairs done under warranty...one of the reasons their dealer list is growing painfully short. I know for a fact that Big Dog pays warranty claims monthly, like clockwork. AIH may take six months to finally pay the dealer, if they reimburse them at all.

 

[Show]

I almost had an AIH. I actually won it on eBay before I won the Dog. Lucky for me the deal fell through on the AIH because I love my Dog. I did like the look of the LSC better than the Ridgeback. (personnal preferance) but after riding both.....I was torn. The Ridgeback deal worked out for me and I stole it from the dealership that had it posted on eBay. I LOVE this bike. I have not had ONE problem with it since I got it, except that my wife is mad because I am always on it.....

 

[WB Cycles]

Info from Cincinnati: Just happened to meet up with an advertising rep who used to work at AIH and still has contacts over there. She said they're REALLY hurting right now from a management/operations standpoint. Random conversation on the walk out to the rental car location, she noticed my logo on my jacket and asked if I was going to the show. That's when she told me about working for AIH and that they're in trouble now.

 

[s&spwr]

BDM, Part for part they are the best built factory custom on the market. Compare each part and I think you will agree. PM brakes, autometer guages etc.......all good American made stuff.

 

[Vegas]

I do have to say the 08 Texas Chopper is hot with the drop seat. I just can't own something with weak backing. I may as well go through all the headaches of building one from scratch.

 

[WB Cycles]

Lot of "chatter" at the show about the future of AIH. Pretty much what we've been talking about here on the forum.

 

[Cephus]

I rode with a guy who has a AIH this past September. He asked me about any "issues" I have had with my bike, and I told him other than normal crap it has ran fine. Also a member of club I am prospecting for has an AIH and he has grown tired of the problems and is getting a Harley. I asked if he has looked at getting a BD, but he said he is turned off by customs due to the problems with his AIH.
Before I bought my bike I compared the bikes based on design, price, and reliability, and got the BD. The 2003 Pit Bull/Mastiff design is exactly what I wanted.

 

[KnotSo]

There is a rider from Australia that goes ny Horse and he says he loves his AIH, no issues.

 

[Vegas]

Depends on mileage.