Is paying more up front for a Harley-Davidson with the ability to rebuild more important than paying less for a metric with limited parts in the future?
I had a 2000 Yamaha Rd. star. It ran great and was air cooled and carbureted. The mono shock system went out on it and it was going to be $700 for the shocks themselves because they are a discontinued item. My 02 Heritage runs great also
My 48 FL was in 5 gallon buckets except the frame and springer front end. The fella I bought it from said his grandfather bought it new and rode it over driving a vehicle. The mileage was unknown. I rebuilt that bike at work with two Buddies, lived in my van behind the shop. I needed parts of every kind. Hard to find stuff. That was 1990, now that bike shuttles my nephew around at college. I'd say that bike has 300k on it easy.
I live in Norway and Harley has a big following here. Harleys are not just bikes they are sort of a culture phenomenon and while they have their fair share of critics there is no other brand even close to have the same dedicated following as Harley´s have. People are always asking whats the best bike but what does that mean? Most powerful? Best performance? Fastest? Nah Harleys aint none of that but they have never been about that either. I recently bought an 98 Fatboy as i like carbed bikes more than EFI and like to tinker with them. The amount of parts available for a motor that has not been produced for almost 25 years is just amazing and will keep me tinkering and pondering for many years to come and i bloody love that!
Yep, nothing out there compares to a Harley. I too have a 1998 Fatboy carbed love riding it and the great part is I can work on it! Finding time is the problem but winter makes for repairs if needed.
You would be surprised what those evo engines can do in a lighter frame, i am buell xb12r owner. I have had the bike for 8 years, and it still runs like a dream and handles as well as any sport bike.
My old 1982 Goldwing is still running strong at over a 100K. Still starts on a dime and the current owner says he’s only had to lube the clutch cable. A buddy of mine has an ‘81 Goldwing on over 200k miles(and it looks like it, lol) still running with mostly basic maintenance.
i have a 1998 FLHR Road King EVO and a 2003 XL1200S, which I recently gave to my son. With normal routine maintenance these bikes have been flawless. They just feel like solid, well engineered motorcycles. And I also have a Yamaha SR500 and have owned Hondas and Kawasakis. by far the Road King is my favorite all around bike.
😂😂😂😂😂 You're one of those guys who have been around Harleys so long that upgrading the tensioners, cams, and exhaust is just a part of life! It's tough, but I'm starting to enjoy draining my wallet.........
At first I wasn't a fan, but after owning a Harley for a few years I totally agree. I bought mine used just to see what owning a Harley was like. Coming from metrics and Victory it was definitely a learning curve. Some things I thought were problems weren't. Just characteristics of a Harley. It hasn't let me down yet. The first owner took good care of it. I'm at 62,000 miles and still running strong.
62000 huh... my honda sits at just under 300,000 and 30 years. it starts nearly instantly on a button push and has never left me stranded on the side of the road. that's reliable. that's not harley.
Good to hear. 1st bike was Suzuki M50 (800 cc). 2nd bike is a Victory Cross Roads with 28,000 miles and counting. But I worry about parts. Got it for $5900 in 2022. However, I have test ridden a 2003 Sportster and 1996 Softail that were both absurd. The level of vibration made them miserable above 50 mph - not worth $500 to me. A 2003 CVO Road King I wanted to buy had the classic heavy vibration at a stop light, but smoothed out above 40 mph. The HD dealer was at least $3,000 above what I was going to pay for a 20 year old motorcycle with handlebars that vibrated so much I couldn't safely mount my phone to them. The two recent Road Kings I tested were great, but were more than 2X what I ended up paying for the Victory. If a major system fails on the Victory, it's pretty much scrapped, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts. And taking good care of it. My KLR 650 would likely be more bulletproof if I didn't crash it on trails periodically. The Harley-Davidson dealers appeal in that they only carry motorcycles. With metrics and Indians, you have to walk through the dealer, past the jet skis, Can-Ams, quads, Side-by-Sides, and dirt bikes, before finding some street-capable motorcycles. If you are riding across the US, something I won't have time to do until retirement, there are HD dealers in nearly every mid-size to large city. When (not if) you have trouble on a long tour, it's critical to have dealer support out there. Also, every Harley dealer I have visited allows very quick and easy test rides. Most of the other dealers don't and that's pretty much a deal breaker for me.
I have a 2011 Honda Shadow Aero 750 with 95,000 something miles. Honda makes the exact same model today with the only difference is an added rear disc brake instead of a drum. Parts are plentiful with at least an additional 10 years worth from the time they stop making this model. The nice thing is I rarely need parts.
I got a 95 Dyna Lowrider that was passed through the family. It coughed and spit a lot. I have never seen any machine that just wanted to run. After 3 months of working on it i have gained so much respect for the Evo and the Harley Brand. Great ride!
Yep, well said !! I had a Kawasaki 1500 Nomad and an Evo Ultra at the same time -- was doing lots of commuting at the time (I'd ride one bike until it needed an oil change, then change and run the other while I pulled maintenance on the first ); neither was perfect, but neither ever left me stranded either and I put just about the same amount of miles under identical conditions on both of them; my daily commute was just short of 160 miles roundtrip. I put right at 100K miles on both of them -- yep, just short of 195K over about six years, and I was in my 60s -- the Kawa died to a deer one December morning (shoulder surgery for the rider) and I sold the Harley after a non-motorcycling injury looked like it would end my motorcycling... Both saw lots of rain, occasional snow flurries and summer heat -- as well as occasional longer trips from the east coast to the Dakotas and back in a long weekend... The Evo engine was a faithful as the hype, the Kawasaki leaked more oil between oil changes than the Harley did in its life -- but the Harley had so many electro-gremlins (remember it was an Ultra with all the useless bells and whistles...) it was the most frustrating... Lesson/opinion; with proper maintenance, longevity is not an issue -- at least with both metric and HD of the 90s... Am in my id-70s now, not so many miles these days, but I still have a mixed garage with Metric sport-tourer and Twin-cam Softail... maintenance is the key... neglect or ham-fisted wrenching, can kill the best machine...
The best bang-for-the-buck was the Evo Sportster. They were worth the price tag and lasted every bit as long as the big Harleys. Totally rebuildable too.
Absolutely, my 98 Sportster S is still the best bang for buck, the most fun and sounds and handles great... Cruiser, Sport, Tourer, it does it all.... Love it
As a guy who is on his 7th sportster and will continue to buy them (evos), they are reliable and have low maintenance and they look and sound cool. However after purchasing 2 brand new ones a 2020 bring the last , they are not with the price . At all. A stage 1 on a roadster is worth 10 k not a stock 1200 with a fancy tank . It's 7 k at best. I did pay that though, so.......
@@missingremote4388 as the owner of one I will say no I don't think so. You can buy a fuel injected 1200 for 4 grand , spend a grand on tins and bars then bam you have my bike.
Agree 100%. I have Harleys and metrics. My metric bikes that I have picked up cheap always need some kind of basic part that I have a hard time finding. Harley parts are cheap and plentiful especially used parts. Came home after a 7300 mile trip on my Harley this summer to oil on the floor from a leaking shock on one of my Kawasakis. Used Harley market is so soft right now, you can find a great used bike for a really good price.
The first thing I want to say is that I am old (72), and the first bike I owned was a 1959 Sportster which I paid $300.00 for in 1965. Over the years I have owned so many bikes I have lost count, but the last HD product I bought was a 99 Roadking brand new (I have owned 16 HD touring bikes). I kept the bike for 15 months, and out of those 15 months it was in the shop 7 times for 7 months. The last time was on a Trail of Tears ride in North Alabama and when I left heading home after about30 miles I noticed a burning smell. I pulled over and found that the wiring had burned up on most of the bike. HD would not fix the bike under warranty just like the last two times it was at the shop. I sold the bike, and found a 1999 Yamaha Roadstar with 10K on it and bought it for $7000.00. When I sold the Roadstar it had 181K showing and I never had to do anything but tires, oil, filter, brakes, plugs, air filter and a drive belt at 100K. The last time I took the bike to the dealer for the wiring problem they had a no trespass put on me since I acted such a fool. Not that they need to because there is no way in hell I will ever set foot in a HD dealership again.
Bought my 05 electra glide 88 cubic inch with 85000 and change she now has 95000 and change runs and ride great..starts every time with no trouble. Glad I bought a harley davidson..
In 1998 the agency I worked for started a motor unit. They bought 3 Honda Ace tourers and had the dealer add police lights and sirens. The Hondas cost 11,000 bucks but with the added police equipment they had over 13K in the bikes. Why Hondas instead of H.D. police bikes? The Major liked Hondas and said they were cheaper. By the time they added the equipment and the labor, they were the same price as the Harleys. They sent us for police training on the new Hondas with no break in miles, in 100 degree heat, 10 hours a day for 2 weeks. By the time these bikes had 3K miles on them, they were burning a quart of oil every 300 miles. The suspensions were shot by 10K and clutches and brakes were worn out every 3K miles. The Hondas just couldn't stand up to the severe police duty. The next year we got new FLHTP's. H.D. police bikes are the exact same as the civilian version except they came with all the police gear. We kept the Hondas as spares since their re-sale value was dismal. The Harleys stood up to the police duty with zero issues and we rode them hard. The H.D.'S were built like a tank. While the Hondas would be fine for civilian use, they just couldn't stand up to the rigors of police duty. The Harley's are built tough and 2 years later, since their re-sale value was so high, we could trade them in for a new bike, for 1 dollar. That's why so many agencys use H.D. police bikes.
Love your Videos Bro. I have a 2000 FLSTF Fatboy carbureted twin cam "88" with 45k miles on it and it's been Bad to the Bone Reliable and still going Strong!! Old school & Solid Motorcycle.. Maintenance is Key. 👍🏼
I'm in a 55+ park in Florida and there's a man here with an old Ultra with over 500k miles on it. He got the rings replaced at 490k because it was smoking. He goes on long cruises with a riding group in the park and logs 1,000 plus miles a week. Maintenance!
I'm on my fourth and fifth HD (two owned now), and I've never had any problems with reliability. My TC88 didn't have the cam chain adjuster problem in the 50K miles I put on it before I sold it, and my 103 Fatboy and Evo Sportsters are all great too. I do pay attention to routine maintenance, and I only do Stage 1 mods.
After 2 metrics, I've bought a Harley. And thanks to you, I've gained some valuable knowledge that will help me maintain and customize my bike in the future. My mechanic also says that it's better to invest in harley, rather than in metrics.
The fit and finish on a Harley is undeniable. I bought my 2014 Ultra Limited and at 24,000 miles it shelled the stock camplate and oil pump. Under warranty the dealership upgraded it to the fueling cam plate and high flow oil pump. Runs like a champ now and still packing on the miles
I've had twenty or so Harleys starting with the EVO. I've had good luck with all of them. I do follow the maintenance to factory specs. A technician at my local dealer has over 1,000,000 miles on his EVO and is now tearing it down for a complete rebuild.
My 2003 Road King has 117,500 miles on it. I change the cam tensioners about every 30K and they all were still usable when I took them out. I never had an electrical or mechanical failure. The only time the bike let me down was when an o ring failed in the pressure relief valve. I even totaled it once and got it back on the road for 750$ when the estimate for repair was nearly 10 grand and that was mostly PAINT and other cosmetics. A few trips to swap meets, got me the parts I needed. I owned Triumps BSA old HDs and the worst one that leaked oil was a KZ1000. But I believe the reason people go for metrics is because of their lack of mechanical ability, they shy away from HD.
I have had many Harleys and have an FXLRST now, which is as solid as a rock and an awesome bike. Harleys are built like tanks and all of my Harleys have been great bikes. Metrics are very well designed and decently built, but not as solid as a Harley; not by a mile. But metrics have a lot of tech features, are light, get incredible gas mileage, so they have some pretty nice virtues too. Great to have choices.
I've had a 79 Ironhead that I bought in 89 and have over 140,000 miles on it. It had the top end redone at around 70,000 but still runs great. People that say that the old ironheads were undependable, are wrong (at least with mine). I've had 3 twin cams and no problem with them. I also have 2 shovelthead without any problems. Maybe I'm just lucky but I believe that you get out what you put into them and by that I mean maintenance is key.
I have a 1991 FLHTCU with 125,300 miles on it and it runs absolutely beautifully. Motor and transmission was rebuilt at 100,000. Bike is very clean and have no reason for a new one.
I like it when an American manufacturer keeps the same true and tested engine design. Always have any parts available that you may need is a huge stress reduction. Makes them well worth keeping. I have a twin cam, And an evo, they work just fine.
I have to agree with that, Harley keeping the same motor for so long allows you to keep that bike and make it what you want. Yes Harley is expensive, but upgrading the same bike is cheaper than trading in every few years for a new one.
I’ve had almost a dozen Harley’s in 40 years of riding them and other than a blown tire they have never left me on the side of the road, and I mean never. Yes the early ones like to mark their spot with the occasional oil leak but other than that no problems and I have never babied them. And not to mention the resale was always much higher than the metric bikes. Now I will say that I’ve had my share of Honda’s and such but they were throw away bikes in my opinion. I’ll never ride anything but a Harley now.
Absolutely agree. My biggest issue was a voltage regulator that died on a 1999 FXDX. I was riding the Shenandoah valley and just kept parking where I could go downhill and push start it. Called Roanoke Valley HD, they got one overnighter, took great care of me as I was traveling. Kept going on into NC blueridge parkway.
Just got my first Harley. A 2013 sporster 48 with only 2300 miles. Looking forward to a long life on the engine. Had metric bikes from go fast to Goldwings all my life and always did my own maintenance. Never ever had a problem with them. Also NEVER ever had any problem getting parts ever.
On A 250 mile ride yesterday in east central Pa. With perfect fall weather,Saw approximately 300- maybe 400 motorcycles on the road or at various hangouts. At least 98% were Harley’s. Did not see one bike broke down
Fit and finish of HD is hands down better than any metric with all their plasti-chrome, cheap paint, pleather and rattling parts as you roll down the road. The only bike to ever leave me stranded on the side of the road was a VTX 1300. I don’t knock anyone for riding a metric but prefer HD myself. 57k on my ‘14 Ultra Limited and still running smooth.
You are right... My 2018 Yamaha Eluder had the worst saddlebag design. They sounded like a can of marbles when you hit a bump. The whole bike was plastic. HD fit and finish is second to none.
i've owned many metric bikes, and it is true, there is alot of plastic. i never had any rattling issues, but maybe some folks do, i don't know. the plastic doesn't bother me, but i can understand why some folks don't like it. you can't tell from 10' away.
Thanks for mentioning the Voyager. Seriously long lasting and reliable bike with no major issues. Same engine since 2009 and proven over the years. 100,000 miles is no problem. Why would you want a bike after 100,000 miles anyway. Everyone buys a new one after that. Not a very good point, but I enjoy watching your content.
I have an intruder 1400, which I crashed into a mini bus, and could not find spares at all, even new spares were a problem. Eventually I bought a bike that had hit the bearing, and fixed mine. It's not perfect, but it runs now.
I've never had a metric leave me stranded, ever, but I can't say the same thing about HD. Definitely been towed a few times on a Harley. That being said there is nothing like owning a HD. The aftermarket alone is reason enough to own one. You can make it almost anything you want and the community for the most part is pretty awesome. I owned a Yamaha Road Star 1700 for years and that engine was just incredible. If Harley had put that in their bikes in the early 2000's I don't think there would be another bike company left on the planet. Harleys are so kick ass though.
I have a 2002 Duece i bought brand new. Just turned over 70k on the clock. It was an 88" new i put the 100" in aboutva year ago. Mine still had the Timken bearings in the lower end so all of that is still original. Hydraulic tentioners seem to be lasting twice or even three times longer than the spring ones.
Many of the things about HD you mention think are negatives are what I like. I have an XVS650 Custom as we are only allowed to ride up to a certain power to weight ratio on learners, and yes, I'm newly back on a bike. Fortunately once I get my full licence tomorrow there are no restrictions, but I don't like anything straight off the showroom floor in HD. My bike has lots of chrome, and a metal fleck blue paintjob with pinstriping, mid to almost forward controls, nice low upright riding position, no fairings and low down torque. HDs are either black, my knees are above the tank, bars too low - I don't care how many people don't like how it looks, I do, and I don't want to spend upwards of 26k on a bike, then that again to customise it. Here second hand HDs with 210,000km (130,000miles) are selling for 20k plus. Gone are the days when my skills would allow be to find a worn out bike and build it, I'm sticking with the Yamaha for the moment and I don't know - maybe find a dyna, or go for an Indian or Triumph. Still looking for direction. Even a decently priced 45WLA would be better than most that's on offer, but I'd have to do a chopper. 😀
That's awesome! I am big supporter of ride what you like and what makes you happy, don't care what other think. I ride a Sportster cause that's what fits me well and l just like them, especially after suspension upgrades and a little motor work.
If you keep the engine oil within the normal operating temperature, they will run for years... Maintenance is a must. If you ride it like you stole it, problems will rear their ugly head. I have owned three metric bikes. Two had engine problems with low miles. My 2007 Yamaha Stratoliner with the 113 engine was a fantastic machine that ran strong for 55,000 miles before I sold it. The HD factory tune is smooth compared to my metric bikes. I love my stock 107. It runs fantastic. Fingers crossed. HD makes the best looking cruisers on the planet. Great video :-)
I agree, they're definitely the best looking. Sadly, the best looking of the best looking has been discontinued. Which one? The Deluxe. Please bring it back H-D, ya hear me?
Agreed! I've put a lot of miles on my Harleys and they have NEVER broken down on the road. Never. I had to replace the compensator on one of them and I do maintain them properly, but they have given me many years of reliable riding. Great video! Keep up the good work. Mine are 103 twin cams. Best Harleys ever made! Soon I'll know how the Pan America works because I'm getting one of those. Harleys are the best.
I love Harleys myself too, that Twin Cam 103 has a special place for me. They sound good, make good power even close to stock. Pan America is an awesome bike, I would love to have one myself.
Thanks for doing this video about Harleys longevity. I always wondered how long you could go on a Harley before it needed rebuilding. On my 79 Triumph T-140, I could only go 15,000 miles before it needed a top end rebuild. Sold it as there money pits. Bought a 01 Kawasaki W-650. Love it. The things I like about HD is a single carb and push rods and floor boards. A twin cylinder with a single carb is way more tractable than 2 carbs. 2 carbs are only needed at speeds above 60 mph. Push rods are preferred at engine speeds below 7000 rpm. HD didn’t try to ‘sell’ its customers on overhead cams or multiple carburetors. That’s a basic honesty in my view.
I've got 97 Road king 157,000 miles done one top end at 121,000 just changed the old fuel injection over to carburetor I was told from day one I made a mistake by getting that fuel injection but 25 years all them miles with no problems at all it just started giving me problems I just wore it out everything else that I have replaced like motor mounts just regular things that wore with time and miles the bike I had before this one 1978 Electra Glide first year for the 80 cubic inch shovel at 127,000 miles a clutch done top end same time think I could have went longer didn't want to chance it everything else on it was just regular maintenance tires, brakes batteries I've had good luck with these old Harleys rode them to death. Thanks for your good content I enjoy watching your channel your straight up and to the point
I've had friends who've had warped cylinder heads on their Honda Goldwings. Pumping engine coolant into the combustion chambers isn't my idea of fun. I know of three guys who've had gears go bad in their Yamaha Stratoliners. It's like what GixxerFoo alluded to -- don't beat on Harley-Ds and keep them maintained. My Pop rode a pre-WWII Knuckle. He rode it the way it should be ridden and kept it well maintained. That Knuck never had any serious issues. My Dad had close to 60 K on the clock before the front exhaust valve seized in its guide. My Pop was also an aircraft mechanic and machinist. That helped a hell of a lot. Though I never had a working odometer on my Pan/Shovel, I rode it a lot - including a trip from Cleveland, OH, to all of the New England states and then to NYC. I had only one breakdown on that trip -- a flat rear tire. Over time, I had generator problems and a bad oil leak from the trans main shaft seal. Other than that, my old beast was pretty reliable. I just didn't beat on it. I kept the service up on it, as well. Ride safe.
I started out with Japanese bikes and we’ve had 5. Once I got a Harley there was no going back. The fit and finish along with more metal on the Harleys are second to none. It’s like one person said. The Japanese bikes are missing something… a soul. If you have a Harley you know !
Got a 97’ FXDL and starter went out and the dealer had an HD replacement on the shelf… Out on a weekend road trip grinding some twisties and slammed into a guard rail bending the engine guard on my 12’ FLHTK (yes a geezer glide can get down😎 lol) and a dealer just happened to be 7 miles from the accident I pulled up they dropped everything and put a new set a bars on for me. I bought’em lunch, we all toasted a shot of crown from my stash-flask and on down the road I went. You ain’t getting none of that at a metric dealer ship… RIDE FREE!!
I have a 2010 Ultra Limited that I bought new with only 8 miles on the odo, currently it has 105k+ miles and I'm about to put another 1500 miles on it next week riding with a bunch of friends in the Smoky Mountains. Only items replaced has been 3 compensators, 1 stator/voltage reg and that damn shift shaft O ring 3 times.
I’ve put 140, 000 km in 18 years on my dyna, the only issue I’ve had is recently. The ECM packed it in! Other than that, super reliable, with regular maintenance
Were you able to get a replacement module? If you did, then that's a thumbs up for H-D. Reliablity includes many factors, such as dealership network, aftermarket supply, parts availability and expertise.
I have an 06 TC88, and the timing chain tensioner thing still is a problem but not as much as the first couple of years. The chains wore out the shoes because they were sometimes sharp on the back side, and the plastic those years sucked. The hydraulic tensioner from 06 in the dynas, and 07 in others fixed that problem. Better shoes, and not full tension all the time like a spring. You can get aftermarket hydro tensioner setups OR you can just replace the shoes with this kit from Cyco Gaskets, and they dont wear out like the factory ones do. It takes 10 extra min at a 10k mile service to inspect them - just do it.
They are reliable bikes. Only issue I ever had on my new 2013 streetglide i had a speed sensor go out on me which caused my speedometer to work. No issues since and I’m on my 4th one.
One thing about a Harley compared to a metric cruiser. Even if you look and sound like Wally Cox, the Harley will up your game and make you look cool, even if you're not.
I like Harley Davidson, the only thing that upsets me HD dealers will not work on bikes 10 years and older. I like the dealership experience, it's a great place to hang out, meet people, see something new. However to say that a product that costs 20 to 30 k has an expiration date and you can't get it fixed is just not fair.
I think they are really reliable if you just put good oil in them. If I would have listened to the dealer it would have been not as good of a bike. I remember riding down the Palmetto expressway in Miami in a torrential downpour with water almost up to the axles and praying "Oh please don't stall". It never missed a beat.
I agree with you. I do 3 point oil changes every 3,000 on my bikes since my 1st Sportster I was mad that the stealerships cost $400 for a first oil change. I am not made of money. Air filter and oil holes tires breaks and check my tires. Just bought a. Service manual by Clymer. Im doing my 20k service a little at a time and I started. It at 17,500. I enjoy riding and wrenching and learning more. That's why im here. I do think oil and air will keep a Harley going for a long time. I love that people sell them with 5 thousand miles on them and move on. F.T.W
EVO and Twin certainly. Had a brother in law that has had 3 Milwaukee 8's grenade on him because of bad cooling. He spent crazy money on all the stages on each and lost big bucks. I have a 2019 Roadster and probably will not have any problems for decades. Had a Yamaha Warrior where I was scrambling for parts on Ebay all over Europe and I lived in WA State.
I wish I woulda got one of those late model Roadsters, they came out after I just bought another bike. Inverted forks and tall suspension, they got a lot of potential with some killer suspension upgrades, install a Hammer 1275 kit with some cams. It would really harken back to the Buell days, won't handle as good as Buell with the the tube frame but it would sure be a fun ride!
I bought my first Harley Davison 2018... Road Glide special after owning metrics and a Victory, the M8 was the main reason but i always wait for that next year of a new model cars, trucks, bikes just encase of any issues, i also got the extended warranty Ha the bike has. 35,000 trouble free exciting miles i love Harleys! s&s 475 cam and plate, oil pump, and many upgrades, tuner full exhaust, intake T body, oil cooler fan, bike hauled ass ❤
Any mass production motors can incur some problems, the reason harley gets a bad rap is because its the most heavily modified motorcycle, as you mentioned in an earlier video,if your gonna build it correctly you start with the crank, which most people don't (myself included) harley sells all their engine kits even crate motors,that don't address the pressed crankshaft, the kind of numbers these motors are putting out your gonna have problems, however if you just do some mild work ,say cam ,headers, high-low air, it should go 100k with proper maintenance,
I have owned a Softail deuce and now own a 48 and a 2016 Fat. My fat I bought brand new. Since then I've had it in and out of the shop mostly for electrical problems. At 60k I blew out my stator. But, keep in mind I ride all my bikes really hard. I've been on motorcycles since I was a kid. So I ride em hard. Right now I have 14k on the 48, 72k on the fat, and when I sold my Softail I had 68k. I'm in complete agreement with this young man and this vid.
02 Wide Glide Twin Cam 88 , picked it up on 9/11/01. Weird day to say the least! I I have always done regular fluid changes on it. Put S&S 510 gear drive cams in at 42k. It was time, tensioners were pretty wore. Just had it gone through at 92k. Was starting to burn a little oil. Ended up being a bad valve seal. otherwise engine was pretty good. Could have got by with a light hone and rering. But had it bored to 95 just cause. Valves were ready for regrind. Only other thing was tranny race had worked out. Found that out cause I had new belt put on. said that was typical on that bike. New cables and all that too. Pretty nice running bike now!
Everything is reliable when "properly taken care of". A reliable engine has few failure points. Harley engines hav 2:29 e lots. Just count the number of external oil lines and gaskets that can fail. Harleys look great, sound great and ride great. Reliable?
A year and a half ago I would have gotten a Harley-Davidson the nightster but the MSRP was $13,000 they came back and said they would give it to me for $19,000. I walked out after that after that. I'm am extremely happy with my 2023 Indian scout Rogue. The scout is what I wanted to begin with so I'm happy I didn't get the nightster. Next bike is a ninja Zh2. I don't hate on any bike. I love them all!
I’d take a Harley any day over a metric cruiser. Everything is out in the open, very easy to work on and very easy to get parts for. Doesn’t get any easier than a push rod ohv engine in terms of servicing. All the work I’ve done to my 07 Sportster has been very straight forward.
My initial problems is setting up my bike the way I like it. So even though it is officially 4 years old some of the parts I have put on it are under 2 years old. Engine just purrrs.
At 65, I just bought my first HD. I've wanted one for a long time, but couldn't justify the expense of a new HD. I have been riding a 1994 Honda Shadow VT1100, my brother gave me for my birthday after I retired. It's been a good bike? Yes, but it's getting hard to get parts, and find someone to repair it. I was having a clutch issue, the wife said fix it and get another bike. Found a 2012 Heritage Classic, 16000 miles, Tequila Sunrise & HD Orange. Gator HD in Leesburg Fl did the service, and new Whitewalls. Glad I got the right bike for the right price; wish I could've gotten one sooner.
Yes, I have owned a Suzuki and I had a Honda, rode a Yamaha and Kawasaki. Then a family came along and I had no moto. But I jumped back in as a promise to my son in '08 that I'd ride with him. Since that time I've owned a Sporty, to see if I could support a 2 wheeler physically. Rode that for eight and a half months and 10k only to upgrade to a Heritage which logged 57K+ in 35 months to my current Electra glide Classic '12 which I've owned for 11 yrs in July. It's been trailered a half dozen times, 3 for convenience and 3 for repair, but when you ride a Harley for 150K you have to address wear, I have only replaced a reg/rectifier, a fuel pump, an ECM, batteries of course and a drive belt. Most of those recently. I have ridden the heck out of these vehicles and if you maintain them, only usage will impact replacement. It's never been in for motor issues. The brake pads have been replaced twice for safety considerations and I put new rotors on it last year. 48 contiguous states, 4 provinces and Mexico. Fluid changes as recommended by the owners manual etc. I have had metric but I'll stay with Harley for the rest of my time. Licensed rider for 50 years....
Just bought my first Harley not long ago. 2018 Road King with 25K on it. I never rode anything but metrics up till now. All of them were what I like. Bare bones bikes with no bells or whistles. Wheels, motor, and the stuff that hooks them together. LOL! But I’m sure loving my Road King. It’s still mostly a bare bones bike. No fairing, no radio but I have cruise control now. Which is really nice for eating or maybe getting a drink while you’re cruising.
My 94 Electra-Glide Classic is still running smoothly, without an engine rebuild at 360,395 miles. I did have to replace the throttle cables that snapped on me, leaving me with a wide open throttle at 90mph
No. I was 200 miles from home @coronalandsucks & was worried that if I switched it off, I wouldn't be able to restart it. It was actually the return cable that snapped. So I was reaching under the fuel tank to unjam it. It worked & was returning to idle. So, for 200 miles, I would open the throttle a little before reaching under the tank & unjamming it again. I managed to get home. Luckily it was mostly hwy all the way back home
I love ALL motorcycles and ride both Harley and a Metric (GoldWing). My Harley is 23 years old and has NEVER left me stranded. My GoldWing recently did. July 4th weekend. On I-10 just N of El Paso TX. I suspect a vapor lock because it ran perfectly fine afterward with no repairs needed. I have several videos taken while stranded. Not fun! [yes, I took care of the tensioner issue on my TC-88]
My Honda 08 VTX 1800n is an unbelievable value. I do basic maintenance and it never lets me down. I don't consider it rebuildable but if i can buy it for $5k with 30k miles and ride it till 150k basically trouble free, I consider that a win. The cost also allows me to afford a second or third motorcycle for different types of riding.
Im on my 5th bike(HD's) since I started riding in 81. All of them good bikes. 79,83,86,08,14. I still own/ and have the last 3 bikes. 83 XLX put 30xxx,86 FXRD 0xxx, still stock, 08FLHX has 150xxx, (which has had total upgrades, and is a blast to ride 111hp-115tq) 14 FLHTK has 46xxx stock mi. on it and all these all from me.
Harley quality has improved steadily over the last 30 years. If you know how to wrench on one they do last forever. I own Evo, TC and M8 and they are great bikes. Saying that however….. I have an Honda Aero Shadow 750 and that thing is almost indestructible. Only issues I’m having is the seat is coming apart and the dash gauge is peeling. Otherwise it’s about as handsfree a bike I have ever seen. Parts issue struggle is real though!
Hi 👋, Gixxerfoo , great comments, My first HD 1200s , 15,000 + , no problems, FXRS 1340, 27,500+ no problems, I did spend a lot of money on it, but nothing what had failed, Softail Deuce, from new, 1999/2 , I had cam chain start to rattle, I had a big bore kit on it 1550 , new cams gear driven, oil pump, New larger carburettor, two into one exhaust, DD Boom can, I had to sell it because of my ex in 2019, but I’ve got around 60,000 miles on the clock, it never let me down, unlike my ex. Phil from the moulin, I enjoy listening to your comments , very wise, wisdom, 😂, I don’t like Metric Bikes, Though I did have a Suzuki hustler, in 1968 at age of 17, passed my test, in 1969 , Norton 750 , , Phil from the moulin
For the price of one Harley, I could invest the money on the stock market, and make a small fortune (from a larger fortune). But then I'd have nothing to ride.
Old technology is one of the main reasons I like Harley-Davidsons so much. I was a government fleet mechanic for 41 years, starting at age 18 in 1977. I started back when cars and trucks were simple and reliable. The designs were great. Most of the problems were caused by a lack of quality. I have been a hot rodder and drag racer all my life, and at 64 I'm still at it. I want nothing to do with any of this new disposable BS. Cars designed to have a finite lifespan, then be replaced with something supposedly "better". I love the old school small block Chevy. GM no longer makes them, but like the older Harley engines, you can build one from all aftermarket parts, and built right, it will be far more reliable than anything that came off the GM assembly line back then. Harleys have much the same problem, especially the EVO. It is a wonderful design. IMO, Harleys best design ever. After that they started going downhill. The Twin Cam and especially the M8 are just like the Japanese bikes. They are built to be used up and scrapped, and be replaced by something more modern. I have a 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan 750 that I bought new, back when buying a new Harley was out of the question due to price gouging by dealers. It now has 118,000 miles on it, and other than a couple of fairly minor problems, has held up very well. But it is pretty well worn out. It's been all over the U.S., and parts of Mexico and Canada. But I would no longer trust it to go very far on. Unlike a Harley, it cannot be rebuilt. When it fails, it's nothing but scrap metal. Just like old cars, Harleys can literally be kept going forever. Everybody puts Harleys down because they are slow and at least used to have old technology. IMO, newer Harleys have way too much "new" technology. They have become like the metric bikes. If you want speed, power, and lots of new technology, get a new Japanese crotch rocket. That's the last thing I want. I found this from a magazine test of a Harley from 1980, and pretty much agree with it. "Harley-Davidsons, the factory tells us, are more than machines. It has to do with producing a motorcycle that isn't evaluated just on the basis of function, but on the way it makes a rider feel while functioning" Harleys are all about the look, sound, and feel. If function as an appliance is what you want, a Harley is not for you. Unfortunately newer Harleys are more appliance like than ever.
I have a 1997 Harley Davidson Sportster XL 1200 Evolution. That is, in my mind, is the greatest engine that HDMC ever made. Regular maintenance plus I rebuilt the clutch intake seals rebuilt carburetor belt tires pads fluids. Be nice to it, and it will be nice to you.. lol 1997 is the 40th anniversary of The HD Sportster.
Love your videos. I have a 2010 Ultra Ltd. TC 103 and it has 147,400 miles. I have owned this bike since 2019 and bought it with 96,700 miles. I have my own channel and most everything I have done to the bike is on it.
Been working at YVO for 6 years now and I’m ready to get one under me finally. Still trying to decide new or used. Been riding for 26 years now and could never afford a Harley upfront but, like the video states, had I put all the money spent on the metrics over the years I’d have had a nice Harley and then some.
FXRs, Dynas, And pretty much all evo and twincam baggers are what you can call a "forever bike". M8, remains to be seen since it looks like Harley trying to "move on" to 21st century with revolution engines. HD parts catalog goes all the way back to 1974 and you can pretty much get anything aftermarket. from single bolt to whole engine. Looks are sort of classic too. I own '07 dyna street bob and I am planning on riding it forever unless I am not physically able or urgently need the money. There is no reason to "upgrade" to more modern motorcycle. It's just not worth the $$. And if you look at "metrics". How many Japanese or European cruisers you see around that are more than 5 years old?
I am a little biased, my dad ran a Kawasaki shop for 30 years. Back in the 90's when you couldn't get a Harley, we sold the hell out of the 1500 vulcans. We put V&H pipes on them and power commanders, they have the single pin crank and they sounded very close to Harleys. Built a few customs that at first glance you thought it was Harley by the way it looked and sounded. They are some very reliable bikes, excellent power and they last for years.
I agree 100% Metrics don't have aftermarket parts for engines and rebuilding one costs more than it's worth. I've had many twin cams the 2001 had 40K miles and the tensioners were super close to the metal. Also have a 2004 and 2006 they have practically zero wear on the original tensioners. It's not the springs or the pads it's the chain on those 99-01 years.
The thing I never liked is that HD was slow to fix known issues. The death wobble and the crappie evo cases that cracked the last 2 years of production.
I had a Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 for a couple years. Now I have a 2016 heritage softail. First of all…the harley would smoke the Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 I had. I don’t care a thing about that but thought I’d point it out since so many assume the Japan bike is always faster than Harley’s. That’s not true at all. 2nd….the Vulcan just all around felt like a cheap bike. All the plastic chrome and such. It had a rattle somewhere around the radiator I never could find. It rode good but handled like a dump truck. The heritage softail handles so much better and feels lighter and more nimble. The first time I rode the heritage it was immediately made known that there was in fact quite a difference. Oh and last…the Kawasaki 1600 only had 16k miles on it. I had to sell it for 3k dollars just to get rid of it 😂. If you buy a new metric be prepared to be RAPED if you ever sell it
I had a 1993 FXLR that I got with 28,000 miles and sold it with 93,000. I only released cylinder base gaskets once and updated the cam and the breather gear to a metal one. I regret getting rid of that bike every time I think about it...
Just did a camchest kit for worn tensioners on my 120R powered 2008 FLHTCUI with 45,000 miles. Cam, lifters, etc looked good but got replaced with the fueling kit. Runs great.....shooting for 100K.
Is paying more up front for a Harley-Davidson with the ability to rebuild more important than paying less for a metric with limited parts in the future?
I don't ride a Harley Davidson; My Triumph Boneville Speedmaster 2023 counts as a Metric through. I love it but I envy the Harley aftermarket.
How many people are realy rebuilding their bikes anyway, I've bought an evo that needed a carb rebuild and the owner had given up on it
I had a 2000 Yamaha Rd. star. It ran great and was air cooled and carbureted. The mono shock system went out on it and it was going to be $700 for the shocks themselves because they are a discontinued item. My 02 Heritage runs great also
It's the reason I started riding harleys
I bought a 2002 FXDL with 71k miles from the original owner with all paper work , new chain ,cam tensioner, bearings ,ect
My 48 FL was in 5 gallon buckets except the frame and springer front end. The fella I bought it from said his grandfather bought it new and rode it over driving a vehicle. The mileage was unknown. I rebuilt that bike at work with two Buddies, lived in my van behind the shop. I needed parts of every kind. Hard to find stuff. That was 1990, now that bike shuttles my nephew around at college. I'd say that bike has 300k on it easy.
That is a very cool story. Thanks for sharing!
Awesome story
There you go even the old , old stuff is available in the aftermarket world.
I live in Norway and Harley has a big following here. Harleys are not just bikes they are sort of a culture phenomenon and while they have their fair share of critics there is no other brand even close to have the same dedicated following as Harley´s have.
People are always asking whats the best bike but what does that mean? Most powerful? Best performance? Fastest?
Nah Harleys aint none of that but they have never been about that either.
I recently bought an 98 Fatboy as i like carbed bikes more than EFI and like to tinker with them. The amount of parts available for a motor that has not been produced for almost 25 years is just amazing and will keep me tinkering and pondering for many years to come and i bloody love that!
Harley Fucking Davidson. Right there with you, brother.
Yep, nothing out there compares to a Harley. I too have a 1998 Fatboy carbed love riding it and the great part is I can work on it! Finding time is the problem but winter makes for repairs if needed.
You would be surprised what those evo engines can do in a lighter frame, i am buell xb12r owner. I have had the bike for 8 years, and it still runs like a dream and handles as well as any sport bike.
My old 1982 Goldwing is still running strong at over a 100K. Still starts on a dime and the current owner says he’s only had to lube the clutch cable.
A buddy of mine has an ‘81 Goldwing on over 200k miles(and it looks like it, lol) still running with mostly basic maintenance.
i have a 1998 FLHR Road King EVO and a 2003 XL1200S, which I recently gave to my son. With normal routine maintenance these bikes have been flawless. They just feel like solid, well engineered motorcycles. And I also have a Yamaha SR500 and have owned Hondas and Kawasakis. by far the Road King is my favorite all around bike.
😂😂😂😂😂 You're one of those guys who have been around Harleys so long that upgrading the tensioners, cams, and exhaust is just a part of life! It's tough, but I'm starting to enjoy draining my wallet.........
At first I wasn't a fan, but after owning a Harley for a few years I totally agree. I bought mine used just to see what owning a Harley was like. Coming from metrics and Victory it was definitely a learning curve. Some things I thought were problems weren't. Just characteristics of a Harley. It hasn't let me down yet. The first owner took good care of it. I'm at 62,000 miles and still running strong.
62000 huh... my honda sits at just under 300,000 and 30 years. it starts nearly instantly on a button push and has never left me stranded on the side of the road. that's reliable. that's not harley.
OK, you like your honda... most beta males do, go brag about it on a honda video...
How is your Prius doing?@@mehere9524
Good to hear. 1st bike was Suzuki M50 (800 cc). 2nd bike is a Victory Cross Roads with 28,000 miles and counting. But I worry about parts. Got it for $5900 in 2022. However, I have test ridden a 2003 Sportster and 1996 Softail that were both absurd. The level of vibration made them miserable above 50 mph - not worth $500 to me. A 2003 CVO Road King I wanted to buy had the classic heavy vibration at a stop light, but smoothed out above 40 mph. The HD dealer was at least $3,000 above what I was going to pay for a 20 year old motorcycle with handlebars that vibrated so much I couldn't safely mount my phone to them. The two recent Road Kings I tested were great, but were more than 2X what I ended up paying for the Victory. If a major system fails on the Victory, it's pretty much scrapped, but I'm enjoying it while it lasts. And taking good care of it.
My KLR 650 would likely be more bulletproof if I didn't crash it on trails periodically.
The Harley-Davidson dealers appeal in that they only carry motorcycles. With metrics and Indians, you have to walk through the dealer, past the jet skis, Can-Ams, quads, Side-by-Sides, and dirt bikes, before finding some street-capable motorcycles. If you are riding across the US, something I won't have time to do until retirement, there are HD dealers in nearly every mid-size to large city. When (not if) you have trouble on a long tour, it's critical to have dealer support out there.
Also, every Harley dealer I have visited allows very quick and easy test rides. Most of the other dealers don't and that's pretty much a deal breaker for me.
I have a 2011 Honda Shadow Aero 750 with 95,000 something miles. Honda makes the exact same model today with the only difference is an added rear disc brake instead of a drum. Parts are plentiful with at least an additional 10 years worth from the time they stop making this model. The nice thing is I rarely need parts.
@mehere9524 at this point its not even comments about reliability, its just a competition of who does most mileage
I got a 95 Dyna Lowrider that was passed through the family. It coughed and spit a lot. I have never seen any machine that just wanted to run. After 3 months of working on it i have gained so much respect for the Evo and the Harley Brand. Great ride!
I'm never letting go of my 95 FXDL.
Maybe on a trade for a 80 Sturgis would tempt me.
@@Goldencountry63right on EVOs Rule !
Yep, well said !! I had a Kawasaki 1500 Nomad and an Evo Ultra at the same time -- was doing lots of commuting at the time (I'd ride one bike until it needed an oil change, then change and run the other while I pulled maintenance on the first ); neither was perfect, but neither ever left me stranded either and I put just about the same amount of miles under identical conditions on both of them; my daily commute was just short of 160 miles roundtrip. I put right at 100K miles on both of them -- yep, just short of 195K over about six years, and I was in my 60s -- the Kawa died to a deer one December morning (shoulder surgery for the rider) and I sold the Harley after a non-motorcycling injury looked like it would end my motorcycling... Both saw lots of rain, occasional snow flurries and summer heat -- as well as occasional longer trips from the east coast to the Dakotas and back in a long weekend... The Evo engine was a faithful as the hype, the Kawasaki leaked more oil between oil changes than the Harley did in its life -- but the Harley had so many electro-gremlins (remember it was an Ultra with all the useless bells and whistles...) it was the most frustrating... Lesson/opinion; with proper maintenance, longevity is not an issue -- at least with both metric and HD of the 90s... Am in my id-70s now, not so many miles these days, but I still have a mixed garage with Metric sport-tourer and Twin-cam Softail... maintenance is the key... neglect or ham-fisted wrenching, can kill the best machine...
The best bang-for-the-buck was the Evo Sportster. They were worth the price tag and lasted every bit as long as the big Harleys. Totally rebuildable too.
Absolutely, my 98 Sportster S is still the best bang for buck, the most fun and sounds and handles great... Cruiser, Sport, Tourer, it does it all.... Love it
As a guy who is on his 7th sportster and will continue to buy them (evos), they are reliable and have low maintenance and they look and sound cool. However after purchasing 2 brand new ones a 2020 bring the last , they are not with the price . At all. A stage 1 on a roadster is worth 10 k not a stock 1200 with a fancy tank . It's 7 k at best. I did pay that though, so.......
@robertbelote5273 However a 2020 model is not worth the price?
@@missingremote4388 as the owner of one I will say no I don't think so. You can buy a fuel injected 1200 for 4 grand , spend a grand on tins and bars then bam you have my bike.
@@missingremote4388
The new model is er modern... You lose the ability to work on your bike, it's all electronic, dealer only. Ok for some....
Met a guy who had 120,000 miles on a 2020 limited this year! Definitely has me trusting my bike more
Agree 100%. I have Harleys and metrics. My metric bikes that I have picked up cheap always need some kind of basic part that I have a hard time finding. Harley parts are cheap and plentiful especially used parts. Came home after a 7300 mile trip on my Harley this summer to oil on the floor from a leaking shock on one of my Kawasakis. Used Harley market is so soft right now, you can find a great used bike for a really good price.
The first thing I want to say is that I am old (72), and the first bike I owned was a 1959 Sportster which I paid $300.00 for in 1965. Over the years I have owned so many bikes I have lost count, but the last HD product I bought was a 99 Roadking brand new (I have owned 16 HD touring bikes). I kept the bike for 15 months, and out of those 15 months it was in the shop 7 times for 7 months. The last time was on a Trail of Tears ride in North Alabama and when I left heading home after about30 miles I noticed a burning smell. I pulled over and found that the wiring had burned up on most of the bike. HD would not fix the bike under warranty just like the last two times it was at the shop. I sold the bike, and found a 1999 Yamaha Roadstar with 10K on it and bought it for $7000.00. When I sold the Roadstar it had 181K showing and I never had to do anything but tires, oil, filter, brakes, plugs, air filter and a drive belt at 100K. The last time I took the bike to the dealer for the wiring problem they had a no trespass put on me since I acted such a fool. Not that they need to because there is no way in hell I will ever set foot in a HD dealership again.
I have a 82 iron head 1000. It has 383,238 miles with stock clutch, and never been rebuilt. Still runs strong.
That's the highest sportster mileage I've heard of. What a testament to durability.
That's like beyond Guinness world record for stock clutch and no issues
Bought my 05 electra glide 88 cubic inch with 85000 and change she now has 95000 and change runs and ride great..starts every time with no trouble. Glad I bought a harley davidson..
Amazing!
Damn
In 1998 the agency I worked for started a motor unit. They bought 3 Honda Ace tourers and had the dealer add police lights and sirens. The Hondas cost 11,000 bucks but with the added police equipment they had over 13K in the bikes. Why Hondas instead of H.D. police bikes? The Major liked Hondas and said they were cheaper. By the time they added the equipment and the labor, they were the same price as the Harleys. They sent us for police training on the new Hondas with no break in miles, in 100 degree heat, 10 hours a day for 2 weeks. By the time these bikes had 3K miles on them, they were burning a quart of oil every 300 miles. The suspensions were shot by 10K and clutches and brakes were worn out every 3K miles. The Hondas just couldn't stand up to the severe police duty. The next year we got new FLHTP's. H.D. police bikes are the exact same as the civilian version except they came with all the police gear. We kept the Hondas as spares since their re-sale value was dismal. The Harleys stood up to the police duty with zero issues and we rode them hard. The H.D.'S were built like a tank. While the Hondas would be fine for civilian use, they just couldn't stand up to the rigors of police duty. The Harley's are built tough and 2 years later, since their re-sale value was so high, we could trade them in for a new bike, for 1 dollar. That's why so many agencys use H.D. police bikes.
Love your Videos Bro. I have a 2000 FLSTF Fatboy carbureted twin cam "88" with 45k miles on it and it's been Bad to the Bone Reliable and still going Strong!! Old school & Solid Motorcycle.. Maintenance is Key. 👍🏼
I'm in a 55+ park in Florida and there's a man here with an old Ultra with over 500k miles on it. He got the rings replaced at 490k because it was smoking. He goes on long cruises with a riding group in the park and logs 1,000 plus miles a week. Maintenance!
2012 Heritage Softail Classic. 103. Stage one. Rebuilt top end at 56k. Now going on 98K miles and still purrs well.
I have the same bike, why the top end rebuild? I have 34,000kms on mine. Hope not to have to lol
I'm on my fourth and fifth HD (two owned now), and I've never had any problems with reliability. My TC88 didn't have the cam chain adjuster problem in the 50K miles I put on it before I sold it, and my 103 Fatboy and Evo Sportsters are all great too. I do pay attention to routine maintenance, and I only do Stage 1 mods.
After 2 metrics, I've bought a Harley. And thanks to you, I've gained some valuable knowledge that will help me maintain and customize my bike in the future. My mechanic also says that it's better to invest in harley, rather than in metrics.
When the glasses come off...Gixx means business 😃
The fit and finish on a Harley is undeniable. I bought my 2014 Ultra Limited and at 24,000 miles it shelled the stock camplate and oil pump. Under warranty the dealership upgraded it to the fueling cam plate and high flow oil pump. Runs like a champ now and still packing on the miles
I've had twenty or so Harleys starting with the EVO. I've had good luck with all of them. I do follow the maintenance to factory specs. A technician at my local dealer has over 1,000,000 miles on his EVO and is now tearing it down for a complete rebuild.
Bull shit
My 2003 Road King has 117,500 miles on it. I change the cam tensioners about every 30K and they all were still usable when I took them out. I never had an electrical or mechanical failure. The only time the bike let me down was when an o ring failed in the pressure relief valve. I even totaled it once and got it back on the road for 750$ when the estimate for repair was nearly 10 grand and that was mostly PAINT and other cosmetics. A few trips to swap meets, got me the parts I needed. I owned Triumps BSA old HDs and the worst one that leaked oil was a KZ1000. But I believe the reason people go for metrics is because of their lack of mechanical ability, they shy away from HD.
I have had many Harleys and have an FXLRST now, which is as solid as a rock and an awesome bike. Harleys are built like tanks and all of my Harleys have been great bikes. Metrics are very well designed and decently built, but not as solid as a Harley; not by a mile. But metrics have a lot of tech features, are light, get incredible gas mileage, so they have some pretty nice virtues too. Great to have choices.
yeah they have great features... like cooling systems (standard on virtually every engine bigger than a 50cc scooter except harley).
I've had a 79 Ironhead that I bought in 89 and have over 140,000 miles on it. It had the top end redone at around 70,000 but still runs great. People that say that the old ironheads were undependable, are wrong (at least with mine). I've had 3 twin cams and no problem with them. I also have 2 shovelthead without any problems. Maybe I'm just lucky but I believe that you get out what you put into them and by that I mean maintenance is key.
" It had the top end redone at around 70,000 but still runs great" needing to have the top end redone doesn't scream reliable...
Riding your honda to Starbucks for a latte does scream I'm a fag!@@mehere9524
My Twin Cam Super Glide is 20 years old, no issues except fuel gauge. I do my own maintenance.
I have a 1991 FLHTCU with 125,300 miles on it and it runs absolutely beautifully. Motor and transmission was rebuilt at 100,000. Bike is very clean and have no reason for a new one.
Have a 1991 flhs, 68,000 mi. , all stock no complaints do my own maintaining.
My 1986 FXR has 120,000 miles and still goes! Rebuilt it 40,000 miles ago but it's still running great!
I like it when an American manufacturer keeps the same true and tested engine design. Always have any parts available that you may need is a huge stress reduction. Makes them well worth keeping. I have a twin cam, And an evo, they work just fine.
I have to agree with that, Harley keeping the same motor for so long allows you to keep that bike and make it what you want. Yes Harley is expensive, but upgrading the same bike is cheaper than trading in every few years for a new one.
My 08 elctra glide classic just hit 64k miles. No major problems from the 96" TC. I plan on keeping this bike forever.
I’ve had almost a dozen Harley’s in 40 years of riding them and other than a blown tire they have never left me on the side of the road, and I mean never. Yes the early ones like to mark their spot with the occasional oil leak but other than that no problems and I have never babied them. And not to mention the resale was always much higher than the metric bikes. Now I will say that I’ve had my share of Honda’s and such but they were throw away bikes in my opinion. I’ll never ride anything but a Harley now.
Absolutely agree. My biggest issue was a voltage regulator that died on a 1999 FXDX. I was riding the Shenandoah valley and just kept parking where I could go downhill and push start it. Called Roanoke Valley HD, they got one overnighter, took great care of me as I was traveling. Kept going on into NC blueridge parkway.
Well ain't you special😂😂😂😂
Just got my first Harley. A 2013 sporster 48 with only 2300 miles. Looking forward to a long life on the engine. Had metric bikes from go fast to Goldwings all my life and always did my own maintenance. Never ever had a problem with them. Also NEVER ever had any problem getting parts ever.
On A 250 mile ride yesterday in east central Pa. With perfect fall weather,Saw approximately 300- maybe 400 motorcycles on the road or at various hangouts. At least 98% were Harley’s. Did not see one bike broke down
Fit and finish of HD is hands down better than any metric with all their plasti-chrome, cheap paint, pleather and rattling parts as you roll down the road. The only bike to ever leave me stranded on the side of the road was a VTX 1300. I don’t knock anyone for riding a metric but prefer HD myself. 57k on my ‘14 Ultra Limited and still running smooth.
You are right... My 2018 Yamaha Eluder had the worst saddlebag design. They sounded like a can of marbles when you hit a bump. The whole bike was plastic. HD fit and finish is second to none.
In my country, that 'plasti-chrome' you refer to is what we call 'Hongkong Silver' :)
i've owned many metric bikes, and it is true, there is alot of plastic. i never had any rattling issues, but maybe some folks do, i don't know. the plastic doesn't bother me, but i can understand why some folks don't like it. you can't tell from 10' away.
@@cheezyridr rattles on my HD Street Glide are non-existent...
In reality nobody really gives a damn what you like to ride. Make sure you take care of that oil leak on that Harley
Thanks for mentioning the Voyager. Seriously long lasting and reliable bike with no major issues. Same engine since 2009 and proven over the years. 100,000 miles is no problem. Why would you want a bike after 100,000 miles anyway. Everyone buys a new one after that. Not a very good point, but I enjoy watching your content.
I have an intruder 1400, which I crashed into a mini bus, and could not find spares at all, even new spares were a problem. Eventually I bought a bike that had hit the bearing, and fixed mine. It's not perfect, but it runs now.
It's crazy trying to find parts anything metric!
HDs and ARs.. the Lego kits for grownups
You forgot Wranglers. A jeep catalog might make a Harley owner blush.
As a new Harley owner and longtime gun nut….Im learning that very thing xD
I've never had a metric leave me stranded, ever, but I can't say the same thing about HD. Definitely been towed a few times on a Harley. That being said there is nothing like owning a HD. The aftermarket alone is reason enough to own one. You can make it almost anything you want and the community for the most part is pretty awesome. I owned a Yamaha Road Star 1700 for years and that engine was just incredible. If Harley had put that in their bikes in the early 2000's I don't think there would be another bike company left on the planet. Harleys are so kick ass though.
Great post! Our problem is tinkering with the damn thing and then blaming the company when something goes wrong. I’m pretty happy.
Yep, a friend of mine blew the engine on his Yamaha, and was told it would cost more to fix than the bike was worth.
I have a 2002 Duece i bought brand new. Just turned over 70k on the clock. It was an 88" new i put the 100" in aboutva year ago. Mine still had the Timken bearings in the lower end so all of that is still original. Hydraulic tentioners seem to be lasting twice or even three times longer than the spring ones.
Many of the things about HD you mention think are negatives are what I like. I have an XVS650 Custom as we are only allowed to ride up to a certain power to weight ratio on learners, and yes, I'm newly back on a bike. Fortunately once I get my full licence tomorrow there are no restrictions, but I don't like anything straight off the showroom floor in HD. My bike has lots of chrome, and a metal fleck blue paintjob with pinstriping, mid to almost forward controls, nice low upright riding position, no fairings and low down torque. HDs are either black, my knees are above the tank, bars too low - I don't care how many people don't like how it looks, I do, and I don't want to spend upwards of 26k on a bike, then that again to customise it. Here second hand HDs with 210,000km (130,000miles) are selling for 20k plus. Gone are the days when my skills would allow be to find a worn out bike and build it, I'm sticking with the Yamaha for the moment and I don't know - maybe find a dyna, or go for an Indian or Triumph. Still looking for direction. Even a decently priced 45WLA would be better than most that's on offer, but I'd have to do a chopper. 😀
That's awesome! I am big supporter of ride what you like and what makes you happy, don't care what other think. I ride a Sportster cause that's what fits me well and l just like them, especially after suspension upgrades and a little motor work.
96 electra glide with 64000 miles. Well balanced, easy to ride. Has ev27 cam and new lifters. Ultra ignition. Awesome bike. Love it.
ev27 yes, freaking great cam
If you keep the engine oil within the normal operating temperature, they will run for years... Maintenance is a must. If you ride it like you stole it, problems will rear their ugly head. I have owned three metric bikes. Two had engine problems with low miles. My 2007 Yamaha Stratoliner with the 113 engine was a fantastic machine that ran strong for 55,000 miles before I sold it. The HD factory tune is smooth compared to my metric bikes. I love my stock 107. It runs fantastic. Fingers crossed. HD makes the best looking cruisers on the planet. Great video :-)
I agree, they're definitely the best looking. Sadly, the best looking of the best looking has been discontinued. Which one? The Deluxe. Please bring it back H-D, ya hear me?
@@Jonathan-L yes... the Deluxe was a nice looking machine : - )
Agreed! I've put a lot of miles on my Harleys and they have NEVER broken down on the road. Never. I had to replace the compensator on one of them and I do maintain them properly, but they have given me many years of reliable riding. Great video! Keep up the good work. Mine are 103 twin cams. Best Harleys ever made! Soon I'll know how the Pan America works because I'm getting one of those. Harleys are the best.
I love Harleys myself too, that Twin Cam 103 has a special place for me. They sound good, make good power even close to stock. Pan America is an awesome bike, I would love to have one myself.
57 thousand on a 2002 flstc and now 18 thousand on a 103 flstc so far. Both bikes no issues. Great video! Great points made.
Thanks for doing this video about Harleys longevity. I always wondered how long you could go on a Harley before it needed rebuilding. On my 79 Triumph T-140, I could only go 15,000 miles before it needed a top end rebuild. Sold it as there money pits. Bought a 01 Kawasaki W-650. Love it. The things I like about HD is a single carb and push rods and floor boards. A twin cylinder with a single carb is way more tractable than 2 carbs. 2 carbs are only needed at speeds above 60 mph. Push rods are preferred at engine speeds below 7000 rpm. HD didn’t try to ‘sell’ its customers on overhead cams or multiple carburetors. That’s a basic honesty in my view.
I've got 97 Road king 157,000 miles done one top end at 121,000 just changed the old fuel injection over to carburetor I was told from day one I made a mistake by getting that fuel injection but 25 years all them miles with no problems at all it just started giving me problems I just wore it out everything else that I have replaced like motor mounts just regular things that wore with time and miles the bike I had before this one 1978 Electra Glide first year for the 80 cubic inch shovel at 127,000 miles a clutch done top end same time think I could have went longer didn't want to chance it everything else on it was just regular maintenance tires, brakes batteries I've had good luck with these old Harleys rode them to death. Thanks for your good content I enjoy watching your channel your straight up and to the point
I've had friends who've had warped cylinder heads on their Honda Goldwings. Pumping engine coolant into the combustion chambers isn't my idea of fun. I know of three guys who've had gears go bad in their Yamaha Stratoliners. It's like what GixxerFoo alluded to -- don't beat on Harley-Ds and keep them maintained. My Pop rode a pre-WWII Knuckle. He rode it the way it should be ridden and kept it well maintained. That Knuck never had any serious issues. My Dad had close to 60 K on the clock before the front exhaust valve seized in its guide. My Pop was also an aircraft mechanic and machinist. That helped a hell of a lot. Though I never had a working odometer on my Pan/Shovel, I rode it a lot - including a trip from Cleveland, OH, to all of the New England states and then to NYC. I had only one breakdown on that trip -- a flat rear tire. Over time, I had generator problems and a bad oil leak from the trans main shaft seal. Other than that, my old beast was pretty reliable. I just didn't beat on it. I kept the service up on it, as well. Ride safe.
1986 FXRD here, less than 900 built, mine has 78k on all original drivetrain and still pulls hard to due it’s previous owner’s religious maintenance.
I bought my 2003 Road Kind in 2006 and it's been great! I love it!
My 1994 Electra Glide classic has 125K+ miles, and it has never left me on the side of the road.
That right there is the power of the Evo!
I started out with Japanese bikes and we’ve had 5. Once I got a Harley there was no going back. The fit and finish along with more metal on the Harleys are second to none. It’s like one person said. The Japanese bikes are missing something… a soul. If you have a Harley you know !
Amen to that.
Got a 97’ FXDL and starter went out and the dealer had an HD replacement on the shelf… Out on a weekend road trip grinding some twisties and slammed into a guard rail bending the engine guard on my 12’ FLHTK (yes a geezer glide can get down😎 lol) and a dealer just happened to be 7 miles from the accident I pulled up they dropped everything and put a new set a bars on for me. I bought’em lunch, we all toasted a shot of crown from my stash-flask and on down the road I went. You ain’t getting none of that at a metric dealer ship… RIDE FREE!!
I have a 2010 Ultra Limited that I bought new with only 8 miles on the odo, currently it has 105k+ miles and I'm about to put another 1500 miles on it next week riding with a bunch of friends in the Smoky Mountains. Only items replaced has been 3 compensators, 1 stator/voltage reg and that damn shift shaft O ring 3 times.
I’ve put 140, 000 km in 18 years on my dyna, the only issue I’ve had is recently. The ECM packed it in! Other than that, super reliable, with regular maintenance
Were you able to get a replacement module? If you did, then that's a thumbs up for H-D. Reliablity includes many factors, such as dealership network, aftermarket supply, parts availability and expertise.
I have an 06 TC88, and the timing chain tensioner thing still is a problem but not as much as the first couple of years. The chains wore out the shoes because they were sometimes sharp on the back side, and the plastic those years sucked. The hydraulic tensioner from 06 in the dynas, and 07 in others fixed that problem. Better shoes, and not full tension all the time like a spring.
You can get aftermarket hydro tensioner setups OR you can just replace the shoes with this kit from Cyco Gaskets, and they dont wear out like the factory ones do. It takes 10 extra min at a 10k mile service to inspect them - just do it.
They are reliable bikes. Only issue I ever had on my new 2013 streetglide i had a speed sensor go out on me which caused my speedometer to work. No issues since and I’m on my 4th one.
One thing about a Harley compared to a metric cruiser. Even if you look and sound like Wally Cox, the Harley will up your game and make you look cool, even if you're not.
I like Harley Davidson, the only thing that upsets me HD dealers will not work on bikes 10 years and older. I like the dealership experience, it's a great place to hang out, meet people, see something new. However to say that a product that costs 20 to 30 k has an expiration date and you can't get it fixed is just not fair.
I think they are really reliable if you just put good oil in them. If I would have listened to the dealer it would have been not as good of a bike. I remember riding down the Palmetto expressway in Miami in a torrential downpour with water almost up to the axles and praying "Oh please don't stall". It never missed a beat.
hahaha i used to have a pic of my friend's dad on his softail, riding through a flooded area.
I agree with you. I do 3 point oil changes every 3,000 on my bikes since my 1st Sportster I was mad that the stealerships cost $400 for a first oil change. I am not made of money. Air filter and oil holes tires breaks and check my tires. Just bought a. Service manual by Clymer. Im doing my 20k service a little at a time and I started. It at 17,500. I enjoy riding and wrenching and learning more. That's why im here. I do think oil and air will keep a Harley going for a long time. I love that people sell them with 5 thousand miles on them and move on. F.T.W
EVO and Twin certainly. Had a brother in law that has had 3 Milwaukee 8's grenade on him because of bad cooling. He spent crazy money on all the stages on each and lost big bucks. I have a 2019 Roadster and probably will not have any problems for decades. Had a Yamaha Warrior where I was scrambling for parts on Ebay all over Europe and I lived in WA State.
I wish I woulda got one of those late model Roadsters, they came out after I just bought another bike. Inverted forks and tall suspension, they got a lot of potential with some killer suspension upgrades, install a Hammer 1275 kit with some cams. It would really harken back to the Buell days, won't handle as good as Buell with the the tube frame but it would sure be a fun ride!
I bought my first Harley Davison 2018... Road Glide special after owning metrics and a Victory, the M8 was the main reason but i always wait for that next year of a new model cars, trucks, bikes just encase of any issues, i also got the extended warranty Ha the bike has. 35,000 trouble free exciting miles i love Harleys! s&s 475 cam and plate, oil pump, and many upgrades, tuner full exhaust, intake T body, oil cooler fan, bike hauled ass ❤
Oh and I forgot no failures never left me on the side of the road!!
Any mass production motors can incur some problems, the reason harley gets a bad rap is because its the most heavily modified motorcycle, as you mentioned in an earlier video,if your gonna build it correctly you start with the crank, which most people don't (myself included) harley sells all their engine kits even crate motors,that don't address the pressed crankshaft, the kind of numbers these motors are putting out your gonna have problems, however if you just do some mild work ,say cam ,headers, high-low air, it should go 100k with proper maintenance,
I have owned a Softail deuce and now own a 48 and a 2016 Fat. My fat I bought brand new. Since then I've had it in and out of the shop mostly for electrical problems. At 60k I blew out my stator. But, keep in mind I ride all my bikes really hard. I've been on motorcycles since I was a kid. So I ride em hard. Right now I have 14k on the 48, 72k on the fat, and when I sold my Softail I had 68k. I'm in complete agreement with this young man and this vid.
Went to Folsom H.D. yesterday for a points/contact mounting/ adjustment screw for my 1973 XLH Sportster and damn they had ten of em😎
02 Wide Glide Twin Cam 88 , picked it up on 9/11/01. Weird day to say the least! I I have always done regular fluid changes on it. Put S&S 510 gear drive cams in at 42k. It was time, tensioners were pretty wore. Just had it gone through at 92k. Was starting to burn a little oil. Ended up being a bad valve seal. otherwise engine was pretty good. Could have got by with a light hone and rering. But had it bored to 95 just cause. Valves were ready for regrind. Only other thing was tranny race had worked out. Found that out cause I had new belt put on. said that was typical on that bike. New cables and all that too. Pretty nice running bike now!
Everything is reliable when "properly taken care of". A reliable engine has few failure points. Harley engines hav 2:29 e lots. Just count the number of external oil lines and gaskets that can fail.
Harleys look great, sound great and ride great. Reliable?
As always great video Gixxer , almost didn't recognize you without the coke bottles. I now have to where them to .keep it up brother
A year and a half ago I would have gotten a Harley-Davidson the nightster but the MSRP was $13,000 they came back and said they would give it to me for $19,000. I walked out after that after that. I'm am extremely happy with my 2023 Indian scout Rogue. The scout is what I wanted to begin with so I'm happy I didn't get the nightster. Next bike is a ninja Zh2. I don't hate on any bike. I love them all!
I’d take a Harley any day over a metric cruiser. Everything is out in the open, very easy to work on and very easy to get parts for. Doesn’t get any easier than a push rod ohv engine in terms of servicing. All the work I’ve done to my 07 Sportster has been very straight forward.
My 99 Dyna twin cam has over 85,000 miles no issues, my first Harley great bike
My initial problems is setting up my bike the way I like it. So even though it is officially 4 years old some of the parts I have put on it are under 2 years old. Engine just purrrs.
At 65, I just bought my first HD. I've wanted one for a long time, but couldn't justify the expense of a new HD. I have been riding a 1994 Honda Shadow VT1100, my brother gave me for my birthday after I retired. It's been a good bike? Yes, but it's getting hard to get parts, and find someone to repair it. I was having a clutch issue, the wife said fix it and get another bike. Found a 2012 Heritage Classic, 16000 miles, Tequila Sunrise & HD Orange. Gator HD in Leesburg Fl did the service, and new Whitewalls. Glad I got the right bike for the right price; wish I could've gotten one sooner.
Yes, I have owned a Suzuki and I had a Honda, rode a Yamaha and Kawasaki. Then a family came along and I had no moto. But I jumped back in as a promise to my son in '08 that I'd ride with him. Since that time I've owned a Sporty, to see if I could support a 2 wheeler physically. Rode that for eight and a half months and 10k only to upgrade to a Heritage which logged 57K+ in 35 months to my current Electra glide Classic '12 which I've owned for 11 yrs in July. It's been trailered a half dozen times, 3 for convenience and 3 for repair, but when you ride a Harley for 150K you have to address wear, I have only replaced a reg/rectifier, a fuel pump, an ECM, batteries of course and a drive belt. Most of those recently. I have ridden the heck out of these vehicles and if you maintain them, only usage will impact replacement. It's never been in for motor issues. The brake pads have been replaced twice for safety considerations and I put new rotors on it last year. 48 contiguous states, 4 provinces and Mexico. Fluid changes as recommended by the owners manual etc. I have had metric but I'll stay with Harley for the rest of my time. Licensed rider for 50 years....
Just bought my first Harley not long ago. 2018 Road King with 25K on it. I never rode anything but metrics up till now. All of them were what I like. Bare bones bikes with no bells or whistles. Wheels, motor, and the stuff that hooks them together. LOL! But I’m sure loving my Road King. It’s still mostly a bare bones bike. No fairing, no radio but I have cruise control now. Which is really nice for eating or maybe getting a drink while you’re cruising.
My 94 Electra-Glide Classic is still running smoothly, without an engine rebuild at 360,395 miles. I did have to replace the throttle cables that snapped on me, leaving me with a wide open throttle at 90mph
😮👌🏾👍🏾
That’d be scary 😦. I bet you hit that engine button off really fast! 🤠
No. I was 200 miles from home @coronalandsucks & was worried that if I switched it off, I wouldn't be able to restart it. It was actually the return cable that snapped. So I was reaching under the fuel tank to unjam it. It worked & was returning to idle. So, for 200 miles, I would open the throttle a little before reaching under the tank & unjamming it again. I managed to get home. Luckily it was mostly hwy all the way back home
I love ALL motorcycles and ride both Harley and a Metric (GoldWing). My Harley is 23 years old and has NEVER left me stranded. My GoldWing recently did. July 4th weekend. On I-10 just N of El Paso TX. I suspect a vapor lock because it ran perfectly fine afterward with no repairs needed. I have several videos taken while stranded. Not fun! [yes, I took care of the tensioner issue on my TC-88]
My Honda 08 VTX 1800n is an unbelievable value. I do basic maintenance and it never lets me down. I don't consider it rebuildable but if i can buy it for $5k with 30k miles and ride it till 150k basically trouble free, I consider that a win. The cost also allows me to afford a second or third motorcycle for different types of riding.
My 2014 Triumph America has rust spots all over, especially the handle bars and my buddy's 2007 Sportster is flawless.
And Triumph's come from the land of RAIN (both the UK and Thailand!).
Im on my 5th bike(HD's) since I started riding in 81. All of them good bikes. 79,83,86,08,14. I still own/ and have the last 3 bikes. 83 XLX put 30xxx,86 FXRD 0xxx, still stock, 08FLHX has 150xxx, (which has had total upgrades, and is a blast to ride 111hp-115tq) 14 FLHTK has 46xxx stock mi. on it and all these all from me.
Love my 2008 Sporty 883.Ive had it for 10yrs.never an issue.Harley Forever Forever Harley
The EVO Sportster and big twins are heirloom bikes! The problem with the Milwaukee 8 is that IT SOUNDS LIKE A METRIC! 😉
Harley quality has improved steadily over the last 30 years. If you know how to wrench on one they do last forever. I own Evo, TC and M8 and they are great bikes. Saying that however…..
I have an Honda Aero Shadow 750 and that thing is almost indestructible. Only issues I’m having is the seat is coming apart and the dash gauge is peeling. Otherwise it’s about as handsfree a bike I have ever seen. Parts issue struggle is real though!
I ride a stock '99 Heritage Springer. Last year evolution it's bulletproof. Great reliable cruiser. My last motorcycle. Been riding since '73.
Hi 👋, Gixxerfoo , great comments, My first HD 1200s , 15,000 + , no problems, FXRS 1340, 27,500+ no problems, I did spend a lot of money on it, but nothing what had failed, Softail Deuce, from new, 1999/2 , I had cam chain start to rattle, I had a big bore kit on it 1550 , new cams gear driven, oil pump, New larger carburettor, two into one exhaust, DD Boom can, I had to sell it because of my ex in 2019, but I’ve got around 60,000 miles on the clock, it never let me down, unlike my ex. Phil from the moulin,
I enjoy listening to your comments , very wise, wisdom, 😂, I don’t like Metric Bikes, Though I did have a Suzuki hustler, in 1968 at age of 17, passed my test, in 1969 , Norton 750 , , Phil from the moulin
My 2008 roadking has the 96 ci engine with 65,000 miles on it and it's still going strong.
2000's Honda VTX's and Shadows are hard to beat. I've got a Harley too but i could have SEVERAL good metrics for the price of one Harley.
For the price of one Harley, I could invest the money on the stock market, and make a small fortune (from a larger fortune). But then I'd have nothing to ride.
Old technology is one of the main reasons I like Harley-Davidsons so much. I was a government fleet mechanic for 41 years, starting at age 18 in 1977. I started back when cars and trucks were simple and reliable. The designs were great. Most of the problems were caused by a lack of quality. I have been a hot rodder and drag racer all my life, and at 64 I'm still at it. I want nothing to do with any of this new disposable BS. Cars designed to have a finite lifespan, then be replaced with something supposedly "better". I love the old school small block Chevy. GM no longer makes them, but like the older Harley engines, you can build one from all aftermarket parts, and built right, it will be far more reliable than anything that came off the GM assembly line back then. Harleys have much the same problem, especially the EVO. It is a wonderful design. IMO, Harleys best design ever. After that they started going downhill. The Twin Cam and especially the M8 are just like the Japanese bikes. They are built to be used up and scrapped, and be replaced by something more modern. I have a 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan 750 that I bought new, back when buying a new Harley was out of the question due to price gouging by dealers. It now has 118,000 miles on it, and other than a couple of fairly minor problems, has held up very well. But it is pretty well worn out. It's been all over the U.S., and parts of Mexico and Canada. But I would no longer trust it to go very far on. Unlike a Harley, it cannot be rebuilt. When it fails, it's nothing but scrap metal. Just like old cars, Harleys can literally be kept going forever.
Everybody puts Harleys down because they are slow and at least used to have old technology. IMO, newer Harleys have way too much "new" technology. They have become like the metric bikes. If you want speed, power, and lots of new technology, get a new Japanese crotch rocket. That's the last thing I want. I found this from a magazine test of a Harley from 1980, and pretty much agree with it. "Harley-Davidsons, the factory tells us, are more than machines. It has to do with producing a motorcycle that isn't evaluated just on the basis of function, but on the way it makes a rider feel while functioning" Harleys are all about the look, sound, and feel. If function as an appliance is what you want, a Harley is not for you. Unfortunately newer Harleys are more appliance like than ever.
I have a 1997 Harley Davidson Sportster XL 1200 Evolution. That is, in my mind, is the greatest engine that HDMC ever made. Regular maintenance plus I rebuilt the clutch intake seals rebuilt carburetor belt tires pads fluids. Be nice to it, and it will be nice to you.. lol
1997 is the
40th anniversary of The HD Sportster.
Love your videos. I have a 2010 Ultra Ltd. TC 103 and it has 147,400 miles. I have owned this bike since 2019 and bought it with 96,700 miles. I have my own channel and most everything I have done to the bike is on it.
Been working at YVO for 6 years now and I’m ready to get one under me finally. Still trying to decide new or used. Been riding for 26 years now and could never afford a Harley upfront but, like the video states, had I put all the money spent on the metrics over the years I’d have had a nice Harley and then some.
FXRs, Dynas, And pretty much all evo and twincam baggers are what you can call a "forever bike". M8, remains to be seen since it looks like Harley trying to "move on" to 21st century with revolution engines. HD parts catalog goes all the way back to 1974 and you can pretty much get anything aftermarket. from single bolt to whole engine. Looks are sort of classic too. I own '07 dyna street bob and I am planning on riding it forever unless I am not physically able or urgently need the money. There is no reason to "upgrade" to more modern motorcycle. It's just not worth the $$. And if you look at "metrics". How many Japanese or European cruisers you see around that are more than 5 years old?
Just look outside the USA))
Very few people actually hold on to their bikes because they want the latest and greatest 😒
Thousands of Japanese cruisers out there. Thousands of Harley’s too
@@fatdmk168 Not that many cruisers outside. They just not that popular. And ironically enough HD is the most popular cruiser outside of US
@@joeplem5329 Squids, sure. Cruiser/Touring riders hold on to their bikes much longer on average.
Always wanted to try a Vulcan 1500, but nothing cooler than a soft-tail.
I am a little biased, my dad ran a Kawasaki shop for 30 years. Back in the 90's when you couldn't get a Harley, we sold the hell out of the 1500 vulcans. We put V&H pipes on them and power commanders, they have the single pin crank and they sounded very close to Harleys. Built a few customs that at first glance you thought it was Harley by the way it looked and sounded. They are some very reliable bikes, excellent power and they last for years.
I agree 100% Metrics don't have aftermarket parts for engines and rebuilding one costs more than it's worth. I've had many twin cams the 2001 had 40K miles and the tensioners were super close to the metal. Also have a 2004 and 2006 they have practically zero wear on the original tensioners. It's not the springs or the pads it's the chain on those 99-01 years.
My 97 RK. About to do full rebuild. 98,000 miles
Nothing wrong at getting a 100K out of an Evo!
The thing I never liked is that HD was slow to fix known issues. The death wobble and the crappie evo cases that cracked the last 2 years of production.
I had a Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 for a couple years. Now I have a 2016 heritage softail. First of all…the harley would smoke the Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 I had. I don’t care a thing about that but thought I’d point it out since so many assume the Japan bike is always faster than Harley’s. That’s not true at all. 2nd….the Vulcan just all around felt like a cheap bike. All the plastic chrome and such. It had a rattle somewhere around the radiator I never could find. It rode good but handled like a dump truck. The heritage softail handles so much better and feels lighter and more nimble. The first time I rode the heritage it was immediately made known that there was in fact quite a difference. Oh and last…the Kawasaki 1600 only had 16k miles on it. I had to sell it for 3k dollars just to get rid of it 😂. If you buy a new metric be prepared to be RAPED if you ever sell it
I had a 1993 FXLR that I got with 28,000 miles and sold it with 93,000. I only released cylinder base gaskets once and updated the cam and the breather gear to a metal one. I regret getting rid of that bike every time I think about it...
Just did a camchest kit for worn tensioners on my 120R powered 2008 FLHTCUI with 45,000 miles. Cam, lifters, etc looked good but got replaced with the fueling kit. Runs great.....shooting for 100K.
You'll never see a hundred thousand miles out that bike😂😂😂😂
@@earlgallup5223 almost 50k now.