Sean's price sheet shows a stroker & big bore built engine is $8700 before the core allowance. That's more than my entire bike is worth.
http://www.morleysmuscle.com/muscle-bikes/vmax/engine/engine_builds
Plus, there are many other variables, depending on what you want. Building a reliable, good performing engine is definitely an art, and throwing $$$ at a project isn't enough if you're doing it for the first time. People like Sean and others who build reliable big-block Vmaxes and other bikes have tens of thousands of dollars, probably even-more, in damaged parts to-show for their hard-won efforts. You can build a great engine, but if the idiot owner runs it low on oil, coolant, or insists on running the engine beyond its maximum rev-range then your best efforts can be reduced to expensive slag very quickly.
Will it be faster than stock? Yes, if you know how to ride. Will it require more maintenance? Probably. Is there more potential for things to go-wrong? That depends on so-many variables, besides stressing an engine above its original design, you need to ask questions of the builder so you understand what you are going to be facing when you commit to a hot-rod.
Bolt-ons like carbs and a pipe are capable of ruining an engine if not done correctly, or at-least in-making it much worse for street use, compared to a stocker. That multiplies exponentially when you go to a stroker/big-bore engine. For most of us, the mild hop-up is probably a safer route. For the deep-pocketed & adventurous, we all want to read about your successes, and also your failures. We all learn and have vicarious thrills from hearing about your successes, and thank our 'lucky-stars' we didn't own the engine that spins a big-end bearing or throws a rod through the case. "Broken-in half cams," well, with the barest bit of luck, maybe you can come-out ahead on that one, and still attend Daytona Bike Week.
The best way to go is to buy a complete assembly from a vendor you trust, someone who has put product into the drag racing scene, or who has built reliable street engines on the highways. A
"set of cams" isn't going to do it!
