Rebuild '05 or Upgrade to Newer?

This is something I won't be acting on for a while, but I like to kick it around and would appreciate hearing some thoughts.

At some point I want to mod my Rocket to the extreme, with some of the best performance options available. The question is, do I get rid of my '05 and get something like a lightly used '12 to build up? Or do I tear apart the '05 and rebuild it from the ground up?

I care nothing for fancy looks, and if anything am likely to customize with spray paint. So a newer appearance holds no value to me. I'm looking only for the most cost effective path to performance and reliability, considering I already own a bike.

I had always assumed I'd upgrade to newer, but if it's something like $5k to upgrade, that's a lot of money I could put toward a complete rebuild including new/undercut gears, etc. If I'm willing to go to those lengths, would I end up with a more robust bike just sticking with what I've got? If I upgrade, it's a newer platform to build on, but much of the internals would remain stock and be untouched as long as they show no problems. I'm more interested in a bike I KNOW is as solid as it can possibly be.

Did I just answer my own question, or is there more to consider?

Personally I'd stick with the bike, and rebuild. New internals and change the hoses. You'd have a new motor without the extra cost.

Steel said:

Personally I'd stick with the bike, and rebuild. New internals and change the hoses. You'd have a new motor without the extra cost.

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I'm leaning towards that more and more. Thanks for your comment.

Would love to hear more thoughts on this!

I think you will find the original is almost always the best ........look at muscle cars from the late 60's into 70's they got rubbish and even worse in 80's

you already a have a iconic original ....keep it !

After tearing into mine more times then I remember I would just pull her down. Of vourse if its running I would aldo not be aposed to picking up a extra motor to start early.

warp9.9 said:

After tearing into mine more times then I remember I would just pull her down. Of vourse if its running I would aldo not be aposed to picking up a extra motor to start early.

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Compelling. How much would you look to pay for one?

ThisGuy said:

Compelling. How much would you look to pay for one?

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Figure around 2500. I havent look at vopart in a while you might find a complet bike there for parts. Motor color means nothing although the rids changed in the 06 black engines. I have a extra one just in case. Especially since I already went thru my other one except for the cases. I have enough to build a complete 05 stsndard (bobbed)if I ever get the time.