Guy's I bought a used 02 electra glide classic a few years ago. It's a nice bike, and the wife and I really enjoy it when time permits. I also own the bike. It's got a few things, I don't like, or need replaced. (Broken saddlebag lock, oil-pressure guage never works right, aftermarket fuel pet-****=no reserve) Just small things really, the list goes on and on though. The way the economy is, I wonder what the future holds, but more importantly should I just fix this bike or go buy a new one? All the 09 threads really make me want a new one. What kind of upgrades can I do to the 02 to give it the new bike feel? The 02 is just stock engine wise with a stage 1 and slip-on V&H Ovals. Give me some ideas/suggestions. Thanks.

 

If you're at all worried about losing your job, keep the 2002. If you're secure and have the disposable income, ABS is great. However, if you're not interested in the Brembo ABS, it's usually cheaper to upgrade than to buy. If you're bike is paid for, you'd be amazed at what upgrades you can do for a few thousand bucks. Of course, you won't recoup it when you sell, but we all know that.

Cheers, geeded

 

The things you mentioned that are wrong are easy and a hight cost to repair. However, if you can afford a new bike, there is nothing like the excitement of a new Harley!

 

How many miles you put on in a year? Are you happy with power,handling of your bike? Can you do the work yourself? Lots of factors to consider.You can do a lot to improve your bike and make it special,custom paint,engine mods etc. New isnt always better.I dont need abs or 6 gal.tank so im going to continue to improve what I have.

 

If you ride an 09 Classic or Ultra, you'll probably throw rocks at the 02. That makes this primarily a financial decision. As the previous post stated, plenty of upgrades are available, but at some point, you'll invest about as much as the difference between your bike and the 09. And you'll still have an 02 when resale time comes. Base the decision on your financial condition and how much you ride. A new bike that just sits loses value just as fast as one the stays on the road.
One other factor in this is also whether you are interested in doing some or all of the work yourself. It's tough for a newbie wrench to tear into a $24k bike. If you've got time and interest, there is no better way to learn your bike than to take it apart and put it back together. And the older bike is going to be easier to work on, since it has less of the high tech gadgets to have to deal with.
Good luck with your decision. Either way, you can't lose. After all, these are Harleys we're talking about.

 

Nothing sounds too big there, just a lot of little stuff. If you like the bike, and don't have to put too much into it, I say keep it. New is nice, but expensive. In today's economy, I am working to get everything paid off, including the house, before I buy anything else large. Not that I wouldn't like a new bike, but my 03 Harley is the best bike I have ever owned, and I don't have plans of getting rid of it. I already have the wife's blessing to replace it once the house is paid off. Only a handful of years to go, and she's all mine!!!!

 

It takes a long time, (and ALOT of money), to get a machine the way you like and to make it FIT you. Yeah, a new bike or car is nice, but those payments get old really fast and you still have a stocker that looks like everyone elses. You will always look back too and wish that you still had the one that got away. I have alot of time and money in mine and I know I won't get it all back - that is in real money. I'm keeping mine and I'll keep upgrading it along the way. I don't have a payment book and that's the best part. Who says you can't buy hapiness? Look at me, I'm still smiling!

 

Agreed on the time it takes to get your machine fixed up your way. I'va had brand new and just picked up a 99 EGc for 9000 and am putting the same things on this 99 that i would be on an 09-except the 1550 kit of course. But for my riding needs and the ecpnomy being fubared for the next few YEARS to come. I'm happy I went this direction. BTW I traded in an 08 Streetglide after just 1 payment because my daughter needs braces and our insurance won't cut it. I lost a few thousand but the offset in my case was a great used bike with far less outstanding debt.

 

My vote is for fix the minor issues and make any mods you've contemplated in the past. A few grand will go a long way toward refreshing your current ride. A new set of wheels and some custom paint and you're in love with it all over again.

 

I had an '01 Ultra. Custom paint, Stage 1, 95 kit, BUB true duals and lots of extras. Now, I ride a lot so the bike had plenty of miles on it but then it seemed like I was having one problem after the other. It finally got to the point that I lost the confidence to take long trips on it. I bought a '08 RG and have never been happier. So, it wasn't just money but the reliability factor and not wanting to continue putting money in an older bike that influenced my decision.