I"m with everyone else. Go with the 88 and upgrade to 95.

My local indy shop will do the 95" using Headquarters cylinders, along with 203 cams, set up the whole works for 1600 bucks. A guaranteed 3 day turn around. If you leave out the cams they'll have you in and out the same day. That leaves 2900 bucks for other stuff. Buy the '02.

Pauly

 

I'm speaking with the condition that "all other factors are equal," including gearing. If you gear it down it will of course make a difference in acceleration, as in the case of those early TC's with EFI, although I wonder if the difference is that much considering the gearing of the first five gears for 96-inchers is also shorter than "normal" 5-speed TC's.

I have a friend with a 2000 EFI bike and he has this shorter gearing, but he hates it for, in his opinion, its need for an extra gear for highway cruising. This is the bike I mentioned in my earlier post, who doesn't pull my stock 96" bike in the low-end and midrange. I do think he is making more peak HP and could beat me in a drag race where RPM's remain high, but this isn't a practical scenario since I don't routinely drag race and am interested in passing trucks in 5th gear, not outrunning my friends at 6k RPM's.

 

You're replying to someone else, but I never said you can't make a TC88/95 perform in the low end if you throw enough money at it. My statements revolve around stock engines with no more than Stage 1 upgrades (EFI controller, AC, and exhaust mods). Throw the same money at a TC96 and let's compare low-end performance.

 

to me its the old two side cion thing.The 07 only year old better value later.the 04 if has mods you like or can sell to pay for new mods and its in good shape then maybe you could spend half differance.on 04.make it your bike and add what you want.You said your finances where part of it maybe the 04 and add somethings later would be best.I bought 06 alst year with the 95 ci mods and It was roadking custom which was hwat i had befors some a--hole stole it ,plus insurance covered the cost of it.Like I said two sides whats most important to you and which can you best afford.
As for not many road trips dont bet on it ince the bug bites youll be riding across country.I know I use to bar hopper now heading to california in may for my second cross country in 3 years.