Lifelong Dream to come true - first Big Dog Motorcycle

[BDOGBavaria]

Hi there!

New to the forum - and looking forward to getting my first BIG DOG motorcycle. I always wanted one, and I am about to buy a used one. Before doing so, I would like to have some feedback from you. Are there any "big mechanical Gremlins" I need to be aware off? Something that can really stuff up all my joy? I remember I bought this SXV550 many years back, and got the first ones where the bearing cups failed inside the gearbox. Everything fucked from that damage. They changed that later on, but I had not known and bought the wrong year. Long story short, what about:

1) Fuel injection versus carby?

2) Those 117 S&S engines, anything wrong with them? Milage before rebuild?

I have my eyes on this 2007 Mastiff:



Or this 2011 Bulldog. Well it says 2011 because that was the year it was first registered here in Germany. I guess it is 2005? It has a carburettor.



I do not want a hard tail, both of these are soft tail. I dont know which one to get. Carby or fuel injected? Both have the 6-speed right side drive. Mastiff is longer and has that awesome paint job, but also love the black Bulldog. Are there any significant differences between these? Mass? Both handle reasonably shitty I assume?



PS: my supercharged V-ROD, love this bike, best Harley ever made (go hate me!), tuned to 160hp; it is too perfect of a motorcycle, I spend years tuning engine and suspension (increased ride height), etc. etc. never misses a beat, almost too perfect to be fun!





My Road Glide:

 

[HMAN]

Welcome from Kansas. Personally I would stick with a carb. I'll catch crap but thats my personal opinion. With parts becoming tough to find, simplicity to me would be king. As far as issues, its a custom production bike. Basiclly a stripped down HD. You will have issues from time to time. Like any hotrod ya gotta keep em rolling. Check under the seat to see if the harness or EHC had been hacked up. Good luck!

Edit: reach out to @bikeone here. Hans is in Germany and he may have some better insight?

 

[mleach72]

Hi there!

New to the forum - and looking forward to getting my first BIG DOG motorcycle. I always wanted one, and I am about to buy a used one. Before doing so, I would like to have some feedback from you. Are there any "big mechanical Gremlins" I need to be aware off? Something that can really stuff up all my joy? I remember I bought this SXV550 many years back, and got the first ones where the bearing cups failed inside the gearbox. Everything fucked from that damage. They changed that later on, but I had not known and bought the wrong year. Long story short, what about:

1) Fuel injection versus carby?

2) Those 117 S&S engines, anything wrong with them? Milage before rebuild?

I have my eyes on this 2007 Mastiff:

View attachment 139864 View attachment 139867

Or this 2011 Bulldog. Well it says 2011 because that was the year it was first registered here in Germany. I guess it is 2005? It has a carburettor.

View attachment 139866

I do not want a hard tail, both of these are soft tail. I dont know which one to get. Carby or fuel injected? Both have the 6-speed right side drive. Mastiff is longer and has that awesome paint job, but also love the black Bulldog. Are there any significant differences between these? Mass? Both handle reasonably shitty I assume?



PS: my supercharged V-ROD, love this bike, best Harley ever made (go hate me!), tuned to 160hp; it is too perfect of a motorcycle, I spend years tuning engine and suspension (increased ride height), etc. etc. never misses a beat, almost too perfect to be fun!

View attachment 139869

View attachment 139873

My Road Glide:

View attachment 139874

Welcome! Both bikes are really nice! The Bulldog appears to be an '04. It should have the 107 engine, although the 117 was an option that year. It looks like it has air ride, so it is adjustable. As far as efi vs carb, it's just preference. If you make any engine upgrades on the efi bike, like a cam or headwork, you will need the unlocked vfi, which i don't think is available anymore. You may want to ask if it still has the original vfi. Any upgrades on a carb bike will just need rejetted.
The EHC on these bikes can go bad. Luckily, they make a new one, which is plug and play. I've heard it's really good.

 

[Rottweiler]

You almost have to go sit on them. Both good bikes. You will know which one fits you as soon as you sit on it.

 

[SKOGDOG]

Your bikes are beautiful and a BD will round out your collection so you’ll have a bike for every mood!!! Badass, Cool, Conservative, etc……loving the paint on th orange, but recalling the PITA changing the fuel pump in my Bulldog Bagger…….

 

[Roaming Wolf]

I have VFI. If I had more time I would downgrade to a carb. The main issue of BD is the electronics, and the more you have it on your bike, the more issues you will get. The VFI will be locked, you won't be able to unlock it, though you can get a new unlocked one from S&S. You will have to learn how to use protune, a software that controls your bike. You might need to change most of the sensors, re-wire or re-pin them. You might have some issues with switching to neutral, some people do. You will probably have to change the battery to a lithium one or charge your bike every time you go for a ride. There might be some starter issues. S&S engines should be reliable and you have plenty of parts if something goes wrong.

 

[Reddickracing]

Welcome from Louisiana, I bet that Vrod is a badass!

 

[Chong]

Welcome from Michigan..
Yeah bottom bike is a Bulldog. From the picture a 04 most likely. They were RSD starting around 02. Example 05 Bulldog went to triangle shaped rear swingarm like most the other Bigdog softails use. Bulldog back then was a bit of a flagship model. inverted front forks, RSD (but still use the Harley type primary), single arm rear swing arm, chin spoiler.