My little old 88 and 5 speed does me good, funny though a couple dudes I have ridden with have 96ers and they see my pull away from them quite a bit once the rrs come up.They probably cannot operate their bike correctly !

 

Maybe the best fortune would be to find a reasonably priced 96 with cams already installed.

 

I have owned both and both are great motors. To me, the main difference is that 6th gear is much more "usable" with the 103.

 

I had a 2010 96 and now a 2012 103. I like the 103 better. More torque and it pulls 6th way better (you don't feel like you need to be doing 70mph+ to use 6th)
Everyone saying that a few bucks can make a 96 run with a 103 are forgetting that those same dollars can make a 103 run even better!

 

I think a lot of us forget, a 103 is a 96 which has been bored out for a few extra CI's......Set of decent cams in a 96 with a stage 1 and your HP & TQ are more then a stock 103. It all depends on your budget what you can buy and if it's available. The 103 was not available in 2009 so I was stuck with a 96 but I'll put my 96 against a stock 103 any day of the week....

 

Depends on how long you keep the bike. If quite awhile, then I'd go with the 103. Coming from a Sporty myself find a bike with the cruise. Your right hand will appreciate it.

Looks like your budget with trade can afford you a fairly newer bike, maybe even a brand spanking new '14 RK.

 

What about buying an older 88 twinkie thats really clean low milage for cheap. Then grab a 120 and throw it in there cheaper than buying a newer 103 or 96. Dont tell them what you have. Whatch there jaw drop as you leave them in the dust...... for $500 bucks you can transform a older twinkie to a 6 spd (real 6 speed buy the way) .86 final drive or something close to that....

 

There's a lot more to the newer bikes besides the bigger engine and six speed than the 88" had, bigger gas tank, longer frame for better handling, throttle by wire and much more. No way I would pay for this engine and stick it in an old 88" frame.

 

Agreed, but I think his point was that just having a 103 wouldn't be enough for most to trade up to from a 96. If your just buying now than why not go a 103 if you can afford it? But if the price is between a 96 and a 103 and the 96 is what you can afford than go with it, perfectly fine engine.
And my 96 that had tuner/intake/full exhaust and TW-555 cams would out perform a stage 1 110 easily, not just the 103. Baggers that is, not softails or dynas.

 

I will tell you my stock 2014 SG 103, will run away from my 2007 RK 96 Stage1 in a
heart beat, and that is the truth.