My personal view... 1) Build them all in the USA! 2) Bring the original Sportster back (a chinese copy already exist in europe) 3) Bring the Springer back 4) Bring the Ducktail fender back 5) Bring more colourful paintings (like in the Evo era) 6) Bring back the smaller tires (especially the back tyre) 6) Create a decent Café Racer 7) Erase the new sportster and the Pan America 8) Be closer to customers like Willie was...
@@TheBandit7613I cannot figure out why Harley people are so damn against water cooled bikes. Absolutely zero worry about your bike over heating is a great thing
@@edgardocenteno4618 He is. But if you don't let it intimidate you, having some snitches in the system to report in on what they are seeing can simplify repairs, more than complicate them.
I shunned the Evo when it came out. Kept riding my Shovel and Pan, which were very reliable because I did all my own wrenching, know what I'm doing and used good parts. But the Evos did impress me and I finally bought a low-milage '97 ex-Police Roadking, after I saw the new Twin Cam! 😕 I'll keep riding my Evo Roadking , Shovel and Pan. They do what I want from a motorcycle, I can maintain and if needed rebuild them nut by bolt myself. They'll take me where I want to go for the years I have left.
Harley could learn from Triumph in how they incorporated water cooling into the design of their ‘classic’ twins. A 1960s Bonneville next to the latest version is still recognisably the ‘same’ bike, whereas the new Sportster lost everything that made the original so iconic.
The funny part is that "Harley guys" never respected the Sportster anyways. They call it the "girls bike" and shame you for not paying 30k for a "real mans bike" then they tip it over on the freeway onramp lmao
I agree. I miss the Softail springers and deluxe. I also think the old fat boys looked much better than the newer ones. The redesigned street and road glides look worse too.
Cause Harley is becoming woke!!! Of course they are mandated to meet epa, crap. But Harley could still stay true with its riders. The fluff Harley is putting on there bikes, has nothing to do with EPA, crap!!! Lose the fluff!!! The rider comfort garbage!! Keep your Harley simple!!! Even Harley riders have become soft!! Heated grips!!! Really??? Man up!! Folks. Hell yeah my hands get cold in cold weather. Loose the fluff!! Man up , and ride your Harley!!
My absolute cutoff year would be 2007. I simply will not own a computerized motorcycle. I am not a fan of the Twin Cam engine, but back when they were relatively new, I didn't know all the bad things about them that I know now. The biggest issue being the cheap pressed together crankshaft. That is an absolute deal breaker for me. But, almost unbelievably, things actually did get far worse. The early Twin Cams did still look, sound, and feel like Harleys, even if they were not reliable, and were prone to catastrophic engine failure. There are two things I think H-D needs to do right now, even though they are pretty much stuck with the M8 engine and computers. First, they need to completely remove the counterbalancers from those engines. The Harley shake is a HUGE part of the Harley riding experience. I love sitting on my EVO Harley at a stop light, with the bike shaking at idle, and making that wonderful lumpy exhaust sound. Very much the same way I love driving my '55 Chevy with a carbureted bored and stroked small block with a hot cam. They sound and feel very similar. The other thing is to get FAR away from all the black on top of black on top of even more black. No more black everything, no more flat black, no more matte paint. They need to have bright shiny paint, lots of bright aluminum, and lots of chrome. The Sportster Iron is one of the UGLIEST motorcycles ever made. It happened because the price of chrome went up quite a bit, due to government interference in things they have no business messing with. So the entire car and motorcycle industry pulled off what is probably the biggest scam ever on car and motorcycle buyers. In an effort to save money and increase their profits, they somehow managed to con people into believing that flat black everything was cool. And people fell for it hook, line, and sinker. People tend to have a herd mentality, and follow the crowd. If H-D can just bring back the Harley look and feel, their bikes would be a lot more attractive. And they also need to eliminate all the TRASH technology that they can get away with. They may be stuck with EFI for now, but they can get rid of all the other electronics.
Tc88 catastrophic failure? Most of that comes from beefing up the engine with alot of extras and doing more than riding hard. Change the cam chain tensioner and you have a great motor.
@@brandonmacon3317 Most Twin Cams have an out of alignment crank. And while I don't remember the exact number, H-D says it can be way out of alignment and still be within spec. IMO, if it is too far out of alignment to install a gear drive cam setup, then the life of the engine is going to seriously compromised. I consider a geared cam drive setup to be the only way to fix the cam chain tensioner problem.
@@kencarp57 I highly recommend folks learn to shoot paint. Start fairly basic and before you know it your doing line work and tri colours.I'm cheap so I only buy old stuff. Rough paint usually means the bike comes really cheap. And yes to chrome.
Absolutely love my 2016 Heritage classic! The 103 has all the power you'll ever need and has so far given me 30,000 problem free miles and looks great from any angle! Nothing they've put out since then has enticed me to even think about replacing it. Harleys had more individual style back then, and nothing they have come up with since has even come close!
2016 Heritage is a good bike. have a 2017 Heritage 22,000 miles no issues. I had a 2002 Heritage with 67,000 miles with no issues. Sold it bought the 17. Hoping to get 100,000 on it. Because I don't like the newer Harleys as much.🎉
I went to the local bike shop that sold Harley parts to buy a oil filter for my 2003 Road King Classic. The parts guy asked if I wanted a black one or chrome, I said if your under 40 it would black, I am75 so you know what I got. Love all the chrome on my bike.
My Local Power Sports Dealer sold a Fram oil Filter for my Buell for $8.00 in 2022 NAPA sold a Wix for $11.00 The next year my Power Sports Dealer wanted $12.00 I googled the part Number and bought two from Walmart for $4.11 each .. There is some greed out there.
I'll be 67 next month, I still prefer the black, or the orange from the auto parts store. I don't have much chrome on my three Harleys, my favorite is my 42 WLA, my old one I built in 95 and even the paint is well faded. I don't spend much time looking at them, just riding. I do have chrome fork tubes and triple trees. I just don't like polishing chrome.
I've owned 20 Harleys over the past 40yrs, and not one of them was bought new. I gave up on Harley back in the '80s, when they went "boutique" and drove all of the mom and pop shops outta business. Since then, Harley has never cared about it's customers as much as it's customers cared about them, and it's not all about the EPA. Harley has sucked just about all it could out of america, and it's changing everything, even it's looks, to compete in the international market, that's why they put the Eurodick Zits in charge. Harley lost most of it's heart and soul after the Evo engines, and Harley's not even interested in getting it back, because they don't care what you want. Good video, as usual.👍
I am surprised that they don't give a chit what we think. They hired a group of douchebags to run the place. I thought for sure they would fire the CEO when we threatened to boycott. They probably laughed behind closed doors. Maybe they think a bunch of cross dressers are going to start riding.
The problem with the new bikes, especially the Sporty is that it looks like a big blob of parts and there isn't much you can do to make it 'yours'. The bigger bikes are also leaning in that direction.
Yeah - the voltage regulator wiring is routed badly, and can rub against the engine frame and short circuit. SERIOUSLY? It absolutely floors me that Harley spends so much money on redesigning the '24 SG and RG, and on a bunch of other stupid shit, yet allows the voltage regulator wire to be routed so close to the engine case like that. Makes me wonder if there are ANY real quality control processes left there these days. That was a stupid, careless mistake that will cost Harley dearly.
Started riding on an old iron head then switched to an Evo in 95. Loved the bike but started doing more wrenching than riding. I’ve settled on 2016 switchback with the 103. I hated the idea of fuel injection and the whole ECM thing but now having knowledge and experience with the technology I’m glad I did. My evo’s were great but the 103 with a good tune is bad ass. Unfortunately I’m a Dyna fan and my Harley purchasing will strictly be pre 2017 for the rest of my time.
I have a 1994 ElectraGlide carbureted. I will keep and ride her until I die. I would have to say the cutoff would be when they quit making carbureted Evos.
I pull up to a red light and makes me appreciate my 2004, 100"/ 100hp road king, all I see are road glides!! Road Glides are like opinions and assholes, everyone has one! They everywhere!!!
I'll say again Harley died in 07 the EVO is the best engine they ever built . They will last longer & take more abuse then any of the other engines past or present !
@@Mainecat21that's not even close to what I said . But now that you brought it up how long do you think a 120 to 150 HP M8 will last & how much do you have to spend to make it some what dependable ?
@@Mainecat21he was talking about the evolution of reliability. That 120 - 150 hp M8 is not reliable. If you are after big power there are many bikes that do that right off the showroom floor for a lot less money that are dependable as hell
@@leonardstanford1877 I had an '89 Evo Softail. I loved that bike and the sound. Recently bought a '19 Low Rider because it reminded me of the Evo. I really like it, but it doesn't sound as good and the engine gear whine is annoying and disappointing.
I'm 70 and have been riding Harleys for well over 50 of those years. I don't have a cutoff year. Quite honestly, I'm waiting on that liquid cooled bagger to show up. I'm tired of cooking my... well you know... every time I get stuck in traffic. I have considered getting a Nightster and dressing it. But until then I'll keep riding my Shovel. Oh, I love Sportsters but you are right that the new ones are very ugly.
I'm 67 and have owned many motorcycles, Harleys included. I will never buy another Harley for many reasons, price and the dealer experience for outdated technology being first and foremost. As much as I love my Goldwing, my two thirtysomething son's have absolutely no interest in motorcycles, neither do their friends. It's a dying pastime like Golf. Small motorcycles because of their low cost and high efficiency will always be with us. Huge outdated Dinosaurs like Harleys will be the first disappear. The Japanese with their modern small affordable motorcycle will succeed in the world wide market long after Harley is forgotten.
For 40yrs I have owned a 1970 shovel head dresser ..all original paint ..gets all the attention bike night...can't duplicate that sound .Just a pleasure to own. 😊
I have a 2011 SG that I bought new. I’ve added an ultra cool fan assisted oil cooler that really makes a huge difference in on hot days. I do most of my own work which you won’t be able to do with all that tech stuff in the new bikes. What happens when HD stops updating the software 5 years from now forcing you to buy a new bike or system to install in your bike. Apple does it with their phones. I’ll be happy to keep my old v twin and when the time comes I’ll rebuild the motor vs buy a new bike.
I'm gonna say 2018 and only because of the hard candy paint of the year and the boss paint set I loved. Apart from those examples, I agree with you 2016 was a good cut-off. The cvo paint sets for 2015 and 2016, I thought were amazing. The 2014 road king cvo is hella popular. Just my nickles' worth. Thank you for the videos
Love is in the eyes of the beholder .. Same comes to bikes Choose you're weapon Some go old some go new .. I'm old school and like carbs and air cooled '. Great content gixxer Great subjet to speak about also ... Remember bigger cubes and more power comes with new tech ...
I bought a brand new 1981 FXB back in 1982, it came with a factory oil cooler on the front. It was not a problem functionally or visually. The Sturgis model was all about style!
I bought a brand new FXSB Low Rider in 1984. I believe it was the last year for a shovel in the Dyna and touring, the Softail's got the Evo. I don't remember if it had an oil cooler or not.
@@kencraig7308 YES , the Sturgis is the only one of my 5 Harleys that left me stranded on the side of the road. The baked primary was one of the contributing factors in its sale.
The "new" Harley Davidson logo without words is appropriate. Just like the logo, Harley Davidson is an empty shell of what it used to be. To answer your question: The cut off for me was in 1986 when the last 4 speed kicker left the production line. That cut off moved up after I bought my 1999 Night Train 9 years ago. It has turned out to be an outstanding machine
That "new" empty logo is not very new... it appears in several places on my 2012 FLHXSE3 CVO Street Glide - notably on the speaker grills on the lower fairings and on the saddlebag lid speaker grills, and some other places. I don't know when it first appeared, but it is not what I would consider "new" at all.
In 2001 I paid $7,000 for my Sportster and that was the biggest purchase outside of my house. I have had that fight now for 25 years almost. There is nothing on the sales floor brand new that would make me go into debt for. Sensei drop the evolution motor I have had no use for anything that hardly puts out.. what's a have now is too complicated too much electronics to unreliable and way too expensive answer me not desirable at all.
The oil cooler actually looks professional to me. Harley could take a page out of Triumph’s old book. In 1970 triumph came out with a new frame called the oil in frame (OIF). It was about a 5 to 6 inch tube that ran from the steering head downloads over the engine and then down behind the engine to the bottom of the frame. I had a 79T140 D. I measured the oil several times, and it was only A little over 100°. The frame was made for racing. It cooled the oil too much on the street. Harley could do the same thing but instead of one big tube, they could use several tubes of much smaller diameter than the 70’s triumphs. The frame tubes are hollow anyway. They could even relocate the oil cooler in the rear somewhere, with a fan assist and it would probably work. With or without the oil in frame.
I gave up on Harley Davidson after trying to get a deal at multiple stealerships. In different states. I always seem to get treated like the bastard love child showing up at the family reunion. There's no way I'm paying full list prices on a 2 year old unsold unit. Nor am i purchasing anything with aftermarket bling. I want a new unit, completely stock, without any markups. I must be looking for a unicorn. They say they exist, but some say Harley Davidson has decent dealers too. I've yet to meet either.
I bought 3 trikes over the years I only use Falcons Fury Harley Davidson in Conyers Georgia . I have gotten good deals on all of them. They wanted 47,000 out the door I offered them 41,000 they said no way. 3 weeks later they called and said come get it. The trick is be willing to walk away from the deal.
I actually went from a 1340 shovel to a 117 cammed m8 and I miss lots of things from my shovel but the smiles per miles factor when getting on the throttle on my lowrider is very big !, it’s growing on me. Though I think this will be my last .. I’m not going water cooled. Love your videos 👍🏼 regards from Spain
The 2024 is the reason I bought 1) Harley 2) Bagger. That 117ci torque monster needs those heads cooled. It brought me from Japanese liter+ bikes to American thunder. IMO, the Engineers and Designers had a second honeymoon.
I’ve often pondered why I stopped getting excited about the new Harley models back in 2016. The Milwaukee 8 came out and I didn’t even care once I saw it. The new Harleys have everything we always wanted: high power, big stereos, updated electrics, modernization and easy financing. I remember people always complained that Harleys were slow out-dated dinosaurs. Harley addressed that now people complain that the bikes are not like the old ones. I remember when it was difficult to get financing for a Harley. 1998 I had a good job mediocre credit and hell no they wouldn’t do it. Now they’ll finance anybody for a $50k CVO no problem. But then maybe Harleys are like music, you have your genre and time range. For example I like music from 1968 to 1995. After 1995 I stopped paying attention, even to favorites like Metallica, they put out a new album last year and I didn’t even care to hear it, but I love Master of Puppets, Justice, Kill em All. Maybe that’s how it is with Harleys? With Harley I like years 1936 to 2016. Before 1936 they’re too much like bicycles; after 2016 they look and sound too different from what I’ve always loved. But I do want Harley to succeed but it’ll have to be the millennial and Y generation that’s after me (gen X) that does it cuz I’m in love with my twin cams, Evos and Shovels. GOD BLESS HARLEY-DAVIDSON
@BachelorHarley-- Nice post. You make a great point...HD addressed the things people said they wanted, and now they're criticized for modernizing. I've had an Evo, a TC88 carb, TC96 fuel injected and now a M8 114. The new engine is powerful, grunty--everything you could want in a Harley engine, but it doesn't shake... and I miss that shake. But I'm loving the new bike! (Hydra Glide Revival FLI)
The Harley revival series are awesome especially the first one. One major problem. They didn’t make enough! They’re too exclusive to those that either got lucky, owned a dealership, knew somebody or was willing to spend a ton to beat out all the other potential buyers. For what the price is I could go get an actual original paint 1965 Electraglide, the bike they’re model after. Also, I too love the vibration of the old Harleys. The way the front wheel bounces, the slow shake of a lumpy idle from the trademark potatoe-potatoe. But I remember people constantly complained about the vibration. We must support Harley-Davidson but fire the CEO and destructive board members.
I bought a '19 Ultra for my wife and I. I sold my '11 Road King and my '99 Jeep Wrangler so I could buy it outright. I did it because I want my wife to ride with me and the Road King wasn't comfortable enough for her outside of 20 minutes. I like the bike, but my wife doesn't want to ride all the time. After this summer, I realised how much I missed the Road King. So I looked around and found a '16 Street Glide Special with 3k miles that had been sitting in an old man's garage for the last 5 years. I brought it home and have been slowly making it mine: Rhinehart Air Breather, Vance and Hines pipes, Tank Lift and Floorboard extenders from DK Customs. Removed the fairing mirrors and put on some nice chrome ones with flames. I pulled the back pegs off and am putting a single seat on it along with a Thundermax tuner and then new handlebars and grips. Hopefully, I'll have an overlay of pearlescent flames on the tank and fenders by springtime. The '19 Ultra is too pretty to tear apart and redo, but this Street Glide is just mine and will do fine. New bikes, I don't think you can give them the character you can on the older ones. I am starting to miss that old Wrangler, too, but don't tell the wife, or else she'll know what I'll be up to next.
There were a few models that I would throw money at if I had had it prior to 2017. After 2017, I have lost interest in new models. Prior to that, I could point out a few models that stuck out to me as unappealing. I was never a fan of how the vrod looked. I was excited about the rocker when it came out until I saw one in person. The rear tire width and passenger seat completely turned me off to it.
I will stick with my2008 FXSTC softail custom. a lot of bikes now are 1200s so I picked up a 2013 XL1200c never buy a new one, never thought I own a sporty but it is a great bike
I don't have a cut off year. I just would never buy a new bike making what I make. Harley is Harley. I am not a fan of the liquid cooled. Nostalgia is a huge influence on me, old-school.
Almost 66 . Change is hard to accept . Myself the twin cam is the most reliable of some I've had . Still have my iron heads. But change is inevitable for whatever reason .
They lost me around 2006, but, having said that water cooled motors are coming. Water cooled brings more hp, more longevity , and, it’s the only way they will satisfy EPA. If you on a EVO, TWINCAM or earlier hang on to them. They are going to 😅increase in price.
I’ve put an oil cooler on my 2009 FXDB . It sits low, probably would’ve been better in black to hide it but even in chrome it doesn’t look too bad really. It keeps the oil cooler which is really what mattered most for me on my twin cam.
2002 is the last year I'd even consider. Twin cams had Timkin main bearings and the Sportster was solid mounted and relatively light. They went to hell after this
Looks like my 2023 Anniversary Road Glide will probably be my last new Harley. My most favorite is my 2020 Road King only 14,000 on it, now stage 2. More power than I need but alot of fun.
The TwinCam with its Blockhead inherited from the EVO is definitely much better than the Bumphead M8, in fact it may be the best looking engine even more than the Panhead, and than is really saying something…
So Ive got a twin-cooled 2017 CVO Street Glide. Love this bike. It looks so good, especially with those cooling outriggers. Next, I bought a 2023 Anniversary Fat Boy. Man, the bike is so iconic with that nascell headlight and the echoes back to T2 and Arnold. The red and gold plus all the chrome looks so good.. Ive got a 2017 Roadster with mustache guards and an oil cooler. Bike looks awesome even with that oil cooler on the left. Im looking forward to that 2025 V-Rod.
Those complaining about the EPA don't remember or never lived the 1970's when smog was always an issue on the news in the big cities. There are also a lot more cars on the roads now.
2017 is exactly the same year for me that Harley-Davidson killed most of the models I would buy. But at least we still had the Evo Sportster. Harley-Davidson died the day the last Evo Sportster rolled off the assembly line. I never had a problem with liquid cooling. I've seen bikes with radiators that look damn good with them. I would not have had a problem with Harley-Davidson adding a radiator to the Sportster as long as it was done tastefully and the engine looks the same.
Just sold my 117 my23 Breakout and gone back to the Twin Cam Breakout. Wanted a Harley that looked like I Harley.. The M8 is good but just doesn’t do it for me.
@@ThatGuy-nb7zf but my road king has pipes on both sides. i always thought they put both pipes on the right side in an effort to impress girls walking on the sidewalk. but people don't walk outside as much as they did back in the day
I love my old twin cam Fatboy but can’t argue against having good cooling. I was on my ‘02 Fatboy a couple times the summer on 100 degree days. One of those days I got stuck in traffic. Every alternate route I tried was stopped too. I felt bad for my 88 but didn’t have any options other than pulling over and waiting for hours.
For me it's the paint. The HD paint booth always had colors and quality that were the best anywhere. Look at the bikes from about 1990 to 2018 or so. You could find bright red, various blues, two tones, gold, metallic paint like a bass boat, purple, teal reminicent of the 1950's, pearl white, copper, green, metallic silver.... the colors were really vibrant and exciting. They tried just about everything except pink. The bikes were visible on the road and because the hues were produced a year or two you'd see a huge variety at motorcycle events. Today's paint is so boring. They've had similar colors for about 5 years now. Also, I miss the chrome. I know black is what they're trying to promote. We're also missing the Dyna. Just a basic no frills bike that's better than the Sportster but not too expensive. I looked at the new bikes and did a ride on a Road Glide. It's really nice. I don't know what I've got in my Street Glide but I think it starts with a 4. I can't imagine taking a beating trading that when I finally got it dialed in and giving them another $20,000 for a motorcycle that's functionally pretty similar. I know why they had to update the appearance on some of their flagship models. Unless you have a trained eye, you can't tell the difference between a 2010 Street Glide and a 2022.
As a daily commuter on my ‘24 fxlrs… lane splitting tight traffic to all out, ballz out stretches… I appreciate whatever cooling is avail/installed. Oil cooled in this case. Not sure how the older models would have handled this type of daily commute or rides since this is my first HD. All I can say is she rides like a dream… with authority!
I think if they're going to put oil-coolers and radiators on them they should make the front fenders longer in the back, to protect the things from rocks & gravel.
I’ve owned and ridden my Panhead, Shovelhead, and Evo many miles over the years. The Panhead was beautiful but the Shovel was a huge improvement in reliability and rideability. The Evo was leaps and bounds better than the Shovel but there is no comparison to my 2017 M8. The M8 is a beautiful motor that has so much more power that it makes the Evo seem anemic. I’m sure that there are guys that say everything after The Silent Gray Fellow suck, but if you are avoiding the M8 you are only hurting yourself, they are a great improvement. I’ve been looking for an FXR and recently found one and now will probably go broke trying to swap an M8 into it.
I run a 2016 twin cam breakout it's heaverly modified, I run 91 octane in summer and 98 in winter, I like the look of bike and it simplicity,the newer models look soleless .
I ride a 2012 FLHXSE3 CVO Street Glide, and I love the classic Harley look of it. I really do NOT like the look of the new RG and SG fairing and saddlebags. They no longer have the beautiful curves of the previous fairings and saddlebags. They look like all other manufacturers' bikes to me. I would, however, welcome a big liquid-cooled engine on the touring bikes. It's very difficult to keep up with ever-tightening EPA regs using air cooling - even with liquid-cooled heads. I have owned liquid-cooled bikes, and they run way cooler and are more comfortable. Having the classic fins is nice, but it's not a mechanical necessity. The reason the Revolution engine used in the V-Rod was not acceptable for touring bikes was not that it didn't make enough power, but that it was only 1200 cc and the power band was too too high for a big heavy touring bike. No one wants to tour at highway speeds at 6000 RPM. Harley should focus on engineering a big 1800 to 2000 cc liquid cooled engine specifically for the touring bikes that would make lots of power down low and would run much cooler. They could keep the big fins on it to make it look "proper HD". I would consider buying a Harley touring bike with a liquid-cooled engine like that. But I wouldn't want it to look super sleek and modern like every other bike out there... I would want it to still look like a Harley. Maybe that's too tall of an order though.
The radiator on my M109r is neatly hidden in the bodywork, so Suzuki actually went to the effort of completely stying the bike, and the heyabusa of the same era. It just seems like Harley was so anti-liquid of oil cooled, they just don’t know what to do with those parts. I agree though, when they and Porsche went to effort on the vrod, it was very well done. Form and function together, just like the Indian scout too.
H-D's used to be aesthetically pleasing, works of art, heirloom motorcycles. Proportions/materials on the latest bikes gives them a cookie cutter look. Tank graphics and colors are no longer unique. Nothing currently in showrooms would make me part with my money. I'm a big Evo fan, that's my cut off from now on.
Absolutely TRUE! The 2024 SG and RG fairings look like ASS compared to the sexy-looking old ones. I love the look of my 2012 FLHXSE3 CVO Street Glide in "Hot Citrus" and "Antique Gunstock" with ghost flames. I think it has the best factory paint job of any Harley ever produced. The Hot Citrus (metallic orange) paint literally GLOWS in the sun! I wouldn't trade my bike for anything, and I'll rebuild the SE 110 CI engine when it wears out. Harley hasn't made a bike as pretty as mine since, and likely never will. The old CVOs had very expensive factory custom paint jobs, and the MoCO is all about cutting costs these days. The 2024 CVO Street Glide in Legendary Orange is nice, but there is no way ANY new bike is worth over $50,000 MSRP... the OTD price would be over $55,000, which is simply ABSURD!
I looked up photos of the 2012 you have. Don't ever sell that bike, it's beautiful! I like the tank badging as well. The bike was well thought out. Style is purely subjective to the viewer, but I feel HD needs a modern day Willie G. to revive what's been lost. Prices are getting insane for just about everything, I don't think we'll see things balance out anytime soon. Safe travels to you.
I’m getting rid of my second twin cam. Each to their own but I’ve decided anything beyond an Evo anything is Not anything I want. Maybe I’ve just got old. 🇺🇸✊☝️
Form over function is not an edge. At the rock bottom very least they could have put a fan cooled, high flow oil cooler on there decades ago for bikes across the board. They have them on the new bikes, so what's the problem? You can't do both--You can't stay in the past while having modern performance at the same time. Oh wait. That's what Indian has been doing since 2016. Never mind.
As an engineer I like mechanical parts that stand out. If the new bikes put the radiator between the forks in a upside down V it does not bother me. Japanese did it for decades. You want something chopped buy an EVO and build it from the frame up. The new Sportster is a monstrosity.
Oilcooler wise, I like the Oilbud system, it mounts under the engine between the lower frame and not visible looking at the bike. But living in the Netherlands its way to expensive for me to buy. The sportster is just to hard to look at, the left side anyway.
I loved my 2007 softail custom, the look and feel of the bike were great. It was a different style than what HD puts out today. I’m not sure if they were adapting to the changing tastes or something else. I loved the look and the dynas that were just like it. Have the tastes truly changed? I don’t know.
The new faring is just weird on the street glide, those new saddle bags are simply ugly but putting a crease in the gas tank is the last straw for me . Glad I’m not in the market for a new one at this time.
I’ll just keep my 2012 Ultra Classic. The new Harley’s with this big screen display turns me off. If that screen goes out you’re screwed if it’s out of warranty. It’s dead in the water and you’re calling a rollback to haul it to the dealer. Who knows what that will cost?
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm just glad I kept upgrading & riding the evo bought in 1991
What like 200 miles per year? Haha
I wish I would have kept my EVO. Thought I was moving up in 2019 with an M8.
Just bought my first bike. 1992 evo softail it's got 43k miles on it and runs like a champ.
My personal view...
1) Build them all in the USA!
2) Bring the original Sportster back (a chinese copy already exist in europe)
3) Bring the Springer back
4) Bring the Ducktail fender back
5) Bring more colourful paintings (like in the Evo era)
6) Bring back the smaller tires (especially the back tyre)
6) Create a decent Café Racer
7) Erase the new sportster and the Pan America
8) Be closer to customers like Willie was...
Love #4
The prices are a big problem.
Definitely Zero Electric !!
The new Sportster is One Ugly Bike !!
I like the new Sportster S. I don't do air cooling except on a lawn mower.
@@TheBandit7613I cannot figure out why Harley people are so damn against water cooled bikes. Absolutely zero worry about your bike over heating is a great thing
Buy an Indian Scout.
Harley killed the Evo Sportster, killed the Dyna, and thus killed my interest in buying a new one.
The heritage is the only thing that looks like a Harley now a days
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
It isn't since the first day they put the M8 on it
Yea , Radiator, on Harley's Are a Catch Can for Gravel , Road Trash Ect.
I will not own any Harley that I need to own a code reader to be able to ride it…..PERIOD
There has never been one built that requires that?
@@ranchodeluxe1no, I think he means the technology advancements and transition to cambust systems
@@edgardocenteno4618 He is. But if you don't let it intimidate you, having some snitches in the system to report in on what they are seeing can simplify repairs, more than complicate them.
I shunned the Evo when it came out. Kept riding my Shovel and Pan, which were very reliable because I did all my own wrenching, know what I'm doing and used good parts. But the Evos did impress me and I finally bought a low-milage '97 ex-Police Roadking, after I saw the new Twin Cam! 😕
I'll keep riding my Evo Roadking , Shovel and Pan. They do what I want from a motorcycle, I can maintain and if needed rebuild them nut by bolt myself. They'll take me where I want to go for the years I have left.
Next week do a segment on all of the Stealerships that are closing their doors
That's not a bad idea, a lot of them are getting run out. I've even noticed large dealers are expanding into other brands, it's quite a curiosity.
Harley could learn from Triumph in how they incorporated water cooling into the design of their ‘classic’ twins. A 1960s Bonneville next to the latest version is still recognisably the ‘same’ bike, whereas the new Sportster lost everything that made the original so iconic.
The funny part is that "Harley guys" never respected the Sportster anyways. They call it the "girls bike" and shame you for not paying 30k for a "real mans bike" then they tip it over on the freeway onramp lmao
@@welfare_baybee 🤣🤣🤣
As the rider of a 17 Bonneville black, I couldn't agree with you more.
@@dmelson7502 ✔
Softail deluxe, softail slim, and roadking classic were the last good looking bikes. All gone now.
The solid beige Dyna ST is peak "wtf are you doing". It looks like Office Depot on 2 wheels.
Office Depot on two wheels, lmfao
I agree. I miss the Softail springers and deluxe. I also think the old fat boys looked much better than the newer ones. The redesigned street and road glides look worse too.
They had the Deluxe, which was the best looking bike on the planet. Numb nuts H.D. stops. To me, that's stupid on stupid.
I loved the springers! I came close to buying a CVO Springer Softail at one point years ago. Nothing beats a springer for looks!
Recently got a 2018 Deluxe which I am very happy with. The design is still true to Harley's soul.
Remind me why we're complaining about Harley-Davidson when we should be complaining to our government for these stupid EPA laws?
Nailed it
Word 👍🏼
Yep
I do both.
Cause Harley is becoming woke!!!
Of course they are mandated to meet epa, crap.
But Harley could still stay true with its riders.
The fluff Harley is putting on there bikes, has nothing to do with EPA, crap!!!
Lose the fluff!!! The rider comfort garbage!!
Keep your Harley simple!!!
Even Harley riders have become soft!!
Heated grips!!!
Really???
Man up!! Folks.
Hell yeah my hands get cold in cold weather.
Loose the fluff!!
Man up , and ride your Harley!!
My absolute cutoff year would be 2007. I simply will not own a computerized motorcycle. I am not a fan of the Twin Cam engine, but back when they were relatively new, I didn't know all the bad things about them that I know now. The biggest issue being the cheap pressed together crankshaft. That is an absolute deal breaker for me. But, almost unbelievably, things actually did get far worse. The early Twin Cams did still look, sound, and feel like Harleys, even if they were not reliable, and were prone to catastrophic engine failure. There are two things I think H-D needs to do right now, even though they are pretty much stuck with the M8 engine and computers. First, they need to completely remove the counterbalancers from those engines. The Harley shake is a HUGE part of the Harley riding experience. I love sitting on my EVO Harley at a stop light, with the bike shaking at idle, and making that wonderful lumpy exhaust sound. Very much the same way I love driving my '55 Chevy with a carbureted bored and stroked small block with a hot cam. They sound and feel very similar. The other thing is to get FAR away from all the black on top of black on top of even more black. No more black everything, no more flat black, no more matte paint. They need to have bright shiny paint, lots of bright aluminum, and lots of chrome. The Sportster Iron is one of the UGLIEST motorcycles ever made. It happened because the price of chrome went up quite a bit, due to government interference in things they have no business messing with. So the entire car and motorcycle industry pulled off what is probably the biggest scam ever on car and motorcycle buyers. In an effort to save money and increase their profits, they somehow managed to con people into believing that flat black everything was cool. And people fell for it hook, line, and sinker. People tend to have a herd mentality, and follow the crowd. If H-D can just bring back the Harley look and feel, their bikes would be a lot more attractive. And they also need to eliminate all the TRASH technology that they can get away with. They may be stuck with EFI for now, but they can get rid of all the other electronics.
Tc88 catastrophic failure? Most of that comes from beefing up the engine with alot of extras and doing more than riding hard. Change the cam chain tensioner and you have a great motor.
Catastrophic no. Change the cam chain tensioner and the tc88 is a great motor.
@@brandonmacon3317 Most Twin Cams have an out of alignment crank. And while I don't remember the exact number, H-D says it can be way out of alignment and still be within spec. IMO, if it is too far out of alignment to install a gear drive cam setup, then the life of the engine is going to seriously compromised. I consider a geared cam drive setup to be the only way to fix the cam chain tensioner problem.
I will keep my 2011 103 Road King Classic forever. Reminds me of the Duo Glides.
I love the look of the RKCs with those leather bags with the slanted-down tops! They are beautiful machines!
Around 2017. Too much plastic. Blacked out everything. Too much electronic crap
I am old but I HATE the blacked-out look. It's boring and looks lifeless to me. Give me vivid colors and lots of shiny chrome any day!
@@kencarp57 yeah ugly and yuk,black rims ,like a military special
@@kencarp57 I highly recommend folks learn to shoot paint. Start fairly basic and before you know it your doing line work and tri colours.I'm cheap so I only buy old stuff. Rough paint usually means the bike comes really cheap. And yes to chrome.
Absolutely love my 2016 Heritage classic! The 103 has all the power you'll ever need and has so far given me 30,000 problem free miles and looks great from any angle! Nothing they've put out since then has enticed me to even think about replacing it. Harleys had more individual style back then, and nothing they have come up with since has even come close!
The 103 is a very good engine.
2016 Heritage is a good bike. have a 2017 Heritage 22,000 miles no issues. I had a 2002 Heritage with 67,000 miles with no issues. Sold it bought the 17. Hoping to get 100,000 on it. Because I don't like the newer Harleys as much.🎉
I went to the local bike shop that sold Harley parts to buy a oil filter for my 2003 Road King Classic. The parts guy asked if I wanted a black one or chrome, I said if your under 40 it would black, I am75 so you know what I got.
Love all the chrome on my bike.
The company that takes those filters sell them online for a fraction of what the dealer sells them for. I'm with you I buy the chrome.
E
My Local Power Sports Dealer sold a Fram oil Filter for my Buell for $8.00 in 2022 NAPA sold a Wix for $11.00 The next year my Power Sports Dealer wanted $12.00 I googled the part Number and bought two from Walmart for $4.11 each .. There is some greed out there.
I'll be 67 next month, I still prefer the black, or the orange from the auto parts store. I don't have much chrome on my three Harleys, my favorite is my 42 WLA, my old one I built in 95 and even the paint is well faded. I don't spend much time looking at them, just riding. I do have chrome fork tubes and triple trees. I just don't like polishing chrome.
@@martyravensbergen4035 odd, I'm 75, ride a Road King with a chrome filter.
@@mikeskidmore6754 is it greed or bidenomics?
I've owned 20 Harleys over the past 40yrs, and not one of them was bought new.
I gave up on Harley back in the '80s, when they went "boutique" and drove all of the mom and pop shops outta business.
Since then, Harley has never cared about it's customers as much as it's customers cared about them, and it's not all about the EPA.
Harley has sucked just about all it could out of america, and it's changing everything, even it's looks, to compete in the international market, that's why they put the Eurodick Zits in charge.
Harley lost most of it's heart and soul after the Evo engines, and Harley's not even interested in getting it back, because they don't care what you want.
Good video, as usual.👍
I am surprised that they don't give a chit what we think. They hired a group of douchebags to run the place. I thought for sure they would fire the CEO when we threatened to boycott. They probably laughed behind closed doors. Maybe they think a bunch of cross dressers are going to start riding.
That was Willie G's primary job! (Maintain the Look) Sadly since his departure the look as gone away.
I know it is very popular but I hate all that blacked out shit.
Me too! Give me gobs of shiny CHROME any day!
Me as well. I think people "bought into that". It is cheaper to produce than chrome parts. But people are paying the same
Oh no! 😉
polished alloy and nice paint ,rather than cheap shit ''cool'' black ugly bikes
The problem with the new bikes, especially the Sporty is that it looks like a big blob of parts and there isn't much you can do to make it 'yours'. The bigger bikes are also leaning in that direction.
Exactly
I’ve just seen on the news that 40,000+ Harley Davidson bikes are been recalled.
Yeah - the voltage regulator wiring is routed badly, and can rub against the engine frame and short circuit. SERIOUSLY? It absolutely floors me that Harley spends so much money on redesigning the '24 SG and RG, and on a bunch of other stupid shit, yet allows the voltage regulator wire to be routed so close to the engine case like that. Makes me wonder if there are ANY real quality control processes left there these days. That was a stupid, careless mistake that will cost Harley dearly.
Started riding on an old iron head then switched to an Evo in 95. Loved the bike but started doing more wrenching than riding. I’ve settled on 2016 switchback with the 103. I hated the idea of fuel injection and the whole ECM thing but now having knowledge and experience with the technology I’m glad I did. My evo’s were great but the 103 with a good tune is bad ass. Unfortunately I’m a Dyna fan and my Harley purchasing will strictly be pre 2017 for the rest of my time.
Happy to see your audience grow, Gixxer. Your enthusiasm is infectious. Keep up the strong work. ✌
They started loosing me when in 06ish when they started putting big rear wheels on everything. They handle like trash.
Big tires ruin a perfectly good handling motorcycle
Like I said, I’m still rocking the 103 twin cam.
I have a 1994 ElectraGlide carbureted. I will keep and ride her until I die. I would have to say the cutoff would be when they quit making carbureted Evos.
I'm still getting over the loss of a Kickstarter. I won't use an electric shaver either.
Me too!
Definitely cool but no way your kicking a 107ci or bigger engine over unless it had extremely low compression
@@Dynachop420he ain’t built like that .
I used to feel that way too. Then I got old. 😅
Kick starts,points, & a carb. That's all you need to go over the speed limit enough to get thrown in jail. And Go back to Real gas.
I pull up to a red light and makes me appreciate my 2004, 100"/ 100hp road king, all I see are road glides!! Road Glides are like opinions and assholes, everyone has one! They everywhere!!!
Thanks
It needs to be said , if customers don’t complain,and they don’t feel it in the pocket .
They will just keep on keeping on .
Much Appreciated
The Dealers must complain and under their masks they have vertical lips that reach from their forehead to their chin.
It's the paint that sucks. Harley's look like curtains in the living room, not works of art. Each model should have its own colors.
You can order a car your way, but you can't order a Harley your way. There should be 50 colors available.
Bring back the Dynas and Road King Classic.
I'll say again Harley died in 07 the EVO is the best engine they ever built . They will last longer & take more abuse then any of the other engines past or present !
Really? How many EVO's are pushing 120-150 hp like the M8's?
@@Mainecat21that's not even close to what I said . But now that you brought it up how long do you think a 120 to 150 HP M8 will last & how much do you have to spend to make it some what dependable ?
@@Mainecat21he was talking about the evolution of reliability. That 120 - 150 hp M8 is not reliable. If you are after big power there are many bikes that do that right off the showroom floor for a lot less money that are dependable as hell
@@Mainecat21 who cares? I take it you own one.
@@leonardstanford1877 I had an '89 Evo Softail. I loved that bike and the sound. Recently bought a '19 Low Rider because it reminded me of the Evo. I really like it, but it doesn't sound as good and the engine gear whine is annoying and disappointing.
It was somewhere around 2014 when Harley lost the “take my money” look. They’ve been fairly repulsive since then.
I'm 70 and have been riding Harleys for well over 50 of those years. I don't have a cutoff year. Quite honestly, I'm waiting on that liquid cooled bagger to show up. I'm tired of cooking my... well you know... every time I get stuck in traffic. I have considered getting a Nightster and dressing it. But until then I'll keep riding my Shovel. Oh, I love Sportsters but you are right that the new ones are very ugly.
Much respect for riding a Shovel. I'm stupid with mechanical things so I traded my 1978 in for a 1986 FXR.😬
I'm 68 and right there with ya. I just bought a Nightster. Talk about performance. I'm decking it out. Love it!
I agree. However, I like the new Sportster S. Radiators and all.
I'm 67 and have owned many motorcycles, Harleys included. I will never buy another Harley for many reasons, price and the dealer experience for outdated technology being first and foremost. As much as I love my Goldwing, my two thirtysomething son's have absolutely no interest in motorcycles, neither do their friends. It's a dying pastime like Golf. Small motorcycles because of their low cost and high efficiency will always be with us. Huge outdated Dinosaurs like Harleys will be the first disappear. The Japanese with their modern small affordable motorcycle will succeed in the world wide market long after Harley is forgotten.
For 40yrs I have owned a 1970 shovel head dresser ..all original paint ..gets all the attention bike night...can't duplicate that sound .Just a pleasure to own. 😊
Panache: a stylish, original, and very confident way of doing things that makes people admire you, I believe Harley Davidson are losing their Panache.
Yep & headed straight to bankruptcy.
I have met so many riders who think they are instant cool with a HD and become their garage queens that just don't get ridden.
Well put.
I have a 2011 SG that I bought new. I’ve added an ultra cool fan assisted oil cooler that really makes a huge difference in on hot days.
I do most of my own work which you won’t be able to do with all that tech stuff in the new bikes. What happens when HD stops updating the software 5 years from now forcing you to buy a new bike or system to install in your bike. Apple does it with their phones. I’ll be happy to keep my old v twin and when the time comes I’ll rebuild the motor vs buy a new bike.
Can we make bikes with a chrome option again? The 107 low rider was beautiful in chrome, I can't say the same about the Low Rider S.
The Sport Glide has plenty of chrome, if that's your interest.
The black finishes are getting played out, time to bring back chrome!
I'm gonna say 2018 and only because of the hard candy paint of the year and the boss paint set I loved. Apart from those examples, I agree with you 2016 was a good cut-off. The cvo paint sets for 2015 and 2016, I thought were amazing. The 2014 road king cvo is hella popular. Just my nickles' worth. Thank you for the videos
Love is in the eyes of the beholder ..
Same comes to bikes
Choose you're weapon
Some go old some go new ..
I'm old school and like carbs and air cooled '.
Great content gixxer
Great subjet to speak about also ...
Remember bigger cubes and more power comes with new tech ...
I bought a brand new 1981 FXB back in 1982, it came with a factory oil cooler on the front. It was not a problem functionally or visually. The Sturgis model was all about style!
I bought a brand new FXSB Low Rider in 1984. I believe it was the last year for a shovel in the Dyna and touring, the Softail's got the Evo. I don't remember if it had an oil cooler or not.
@@jb-bu4vl miss my '81 Sturgis but I don't miss that belt primary debacle 🤗
I bought a brand new 1982 wide glide, that shovelhead was a piece of garbage. Blew the crank out of it twice in 6000miles. POS.
@@harrytaint3089 That sucks, mine ran like a top.
@@kencraig7308 YES , the Sturgis is the only one of my 5 Harleys that left me stranded on the side of the road. The baked primary was one of the contributing factors in its sale.
They want people with green or blue Hair to ride them.
Just keep us gingers out of that equation 👨🦰
They know who has money and trust funds
Don’t forget purple and pink
The "new" Harley Davidson logo without words is appropriate. Just like the logo, Harley Davidson is an empty shell of what it used to be.
To answer your question: The cut off for me was in 1986 when the last 4 speed kicker left the production line. That cut off moved up after I bought my 1999 Night Train 9 years ago. It has turned out to be an outstanding machine
That "new" empty logo is not very new... it appears in several places on my 2012 FLHXSE3 CVO Street Glide - notably on the speaker grills on the lower fairings and on the saddlebag lid speaker grills, and some other places. I don't know when it first appeared, but it is not what I would consider "new" at all.
In 2001 I paid $7,000 for my Sportster and that was the biggest purchase outside of my house. I have had that fight now for 25 years almost. There is nothing on the sales floor brand new that would make me go into debt for. Sensei drop the evolution motor I have had no use for anything that hardly puts out.. what's a have now is too complicated too much electronics to unreliable and way too expensive answer me not desirable at all.
I am not looking forward to big electronics failure coming in the future from the screens on those bikes.
I agree 100%. I have a 2002 Sportster 1200C. I bought it used. I would never own a bike with electronics on it.
@@geraldscott4302 the only electronics on my bike is the ignition and that is still working well after 25 years
Yup, everything Frank said.
Voice recognition?
The oil cooler actually looks professional to me. Harley could take a page out of Triumph’s old book. In 1970 triumph came out with a new frame called the oil in frame (OIF). It was about a 5 to 6 inch tube that ran from the steering head downloads over the engine and then down behind the engine to the bottom of the frame. I had a 79T140 D. I measured the oil several times, and it was only A little over 100°. The frame was made for racing. It cooled the oil too much on the street. Harley could do the same thing but instead of one big tube, they could use several tubes of much smaller diameter than the 70’s triumphs. The frame tubes are hollow anyway. They could even relocate the oil cooler in the rear somewhere, with a fan assist and it would probably work. With or without the oil in frame.
I gave up on Harley Davidson after trying to get a deal at multiple stealerships. In different states. I always seem to get treated like the bastard love child showing up at the family reunion.
There's no way I'm paying full list prices on a 2 year old unsold unit. Nor am i purchasing anything with aftermarket bling. I want a new unit, completely stock, without any markups.
I must be looking for a unicorn. They say they exist, but some say Harley Davidson has decent dealers too. I've yet to meet either.
Sorry to say I don't have one to refer you to.
I bought 3 trikes over the years I only use Falcons Fury Harley Davidson in Conyers Georgia . I have gotten good deals on all of them. They wanted 47,000 out the door I offered them 41,000 they said no way. 3 weeks later they called and said come get it. The trick is be willing to walk away from the deal.
@@paultancraitor5844 TRUTH! Like the old anti-drug program in the 80s... "Just Say No" and walk away!
The 2009 cvo springer was one of the last great looking bikes
I actually went from a 1340 shovel to a 117 cammed m8 and I miss lots of things from my shovel but the smiles per miles factor when getting on the throttle on my lowrider is very big !, it’s growing on me. Though I think this will be my last .. I’m not going water cooled. Love your videos 👍🏼 regards from Spain
The 2024 is the reason I bought 1) Harley 2) Bagger. That 117ci torque monster needs those heads cooled. It brought me from Japanese liter+ bikes to American thunder. IMO, the Engineers and Designers had a second honeymoon.
I’ve often pondered why I stopped getting excited about the new Harley models back in 2016. The Milwaukee 8 came out and I didn’t even care once I saw it. The new Harleys have everything we always wanted: high power, big stereos, updated electrics, modernization and easy financing. I remember people always complained that Harleys were slow out-dated dinosaurs. Harley addressed that now people complain that the bikes are not like the old ones. I remember when it was difficult to get financing for a Harley. 1998 I had a good job mediocre credit and hell no they wouldn’t do it. Now they’ll finance anybody for a $50k CVO no problem. But then maybe Harleys are like music, you have your genre and time range. For example I like music from 1968 to 1995. After 1995 I stopped paying attention, even to favorites like Metallica, they put out a new album last year and I didn’t even care to hear it, but I love Master of Puppets, Justice, Kill em All. Maybe that’s how it is with Harleys? With Harley I like years 1936 to 2016. Before 1936 they’re too much like bicycles; after 2016 they look and sound too different from what I’ve always loved. But I do want Harley to succeed but it’ll have to be the millennial and Y generation that’s after me (gen X) that does it cuz I’m in love with my twin cams, Evos and Shovels. GOD BLESS HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Quit listening to Metallica... Thanks for popping out, now go back in your cave.
@BachelorHarley-- Nice post. You make a great point...HD addressed the things people said they wanted, and now they're criticized for modernizing. I've had an Evo, a TC88 carb, TC96 fuel injected and now a M8 114. The new engine is powerful, grunty--everything you could want in a Harley engine, but it doesn't shake... and I miss that shake. But I'm loving the new bike! (Hydra Glide Revival FLI)
The Harley revival series are awesome especially the first one. One major problem. They didn’t make enough! They’re too exclusive to those that either got lucky, owned a dealership, knew somebody or was willing to spend a ton to beat out all the other potential buyers. For what the price is I could go get an actual original paint 1965 Electraglide, the bike they’re model after.
Also, I too love the vibration of the old Harleys. The way the front wheel bounces, the slow shake of a lumpy idle from the trademark potatoe-potatoe. But I remember people constantly complained about the vibration. We must support Harley-Davidson but fire the CEO and destructive board members.
Correction; the 2021 Harley revival was modeled after the 1967 generator shovel FLH not the 1965 pan head electraglide
I bought a '19 Ultra for my wife and I. I sold my '11 Road King and my '99 Jeep Wrangler so I could buy it outright. I did it because I want my wife to ride with me and the Road King wasn't comfortable enough for her outside of 20 minutes.
I like the bike, but my wife doesn't want to ride all the time. After this summer, I realised how much I missed the Road King. So I looked around and found a '16 Street Glide Special with 3k miles that had been sitting in an old man's garage for the last 5 years. I brought it home and have been slowly making it mine: Rhinehart Air Breather, Vance and Hines pipes, Tank Lift and Floorboard extenders from DK Customs. Removed the fairing mirrors and put on some nice chrome ones with flames. I pulled the back pegs off and am putting a single seat on it along with a Thundermax tuner and then new handlebars and grips. Hopefully, I'll have an overlay of pearlescent flames on the tank and fenders by springtime.
The '19 Ultra is too pretty to tear apart and redo, but this Street Glide is just mine and will do fine. New bikes, I don't think you can give them the character you can on the older ones.
I am starting to miss that old Wrangler, too, but don't tell the wife, or else she'll know what I'll be up to next.
@@jimrushton7940 tank lift 🤔
The tank lift allows for more cooling air over the cylinder head😊
You can pry my Jeep from my cold, dead hands. Selling your old Jeep is blasphemy.
@@TheBandit7613 Yeah, I regret it.
98 is my cutoff year. The blockhead was the best engine they ever made.
1938
1903-1999 RIP HD Inc
I’ve only purchased one Harley in my life. A 1995 FXSTSB Springer softail and I still have it today. It’s been a great bike and it still runs great
There were a few models that I would throw money at if I had had it prior to 2017. After 2017, I have lost interest in new models. Prior to that, I could point out a few models that stuck out to me as unappealing. I was never a fan of how the vrod looked. I was excited about the rocker when it came out until I saw one in person. The rear tire width and passenger seat completely turned me off to it.
I will stick with my2008 FXSTC softail custom. a lot of bikes now are 1200s so I picked up a 2013 XL1200c never buy a new one, never thought I own a sporty but it is a great bike
I enjoy my piglet too, 1994 883 sportster. It is Fun to ride
I don't have a cut off year. I just would never buy a new bike making what I make. Harley is Harley. I am not a fan of the liquid cooled. Nostalgia is a huge influence on me, old-school.
Almost 66 . Change is hard to accept . Myself the twin cam is the most reliable of some I've had .
Still have my iron heads.
But change is inevitable for whatever reason .
No Oil Coolers, I thought they just didn't want added Production costs..?
They lost me around 2006, but, having said that water cooled motors are coming. Water cooled brings more hp, more longevity , and, it’s the only way they will satisfy EPA. If you on a EVO, TWINCAM or earlier hang on to them. They are going to 😅increase in price.
Yeah I was impressed when I saw the first watercooled harley my buddy's trike at first I didn't know either lol.
As for electric only my tools lol
I’ve put an oil cooler on my 2009 FXDB . It sits low, probably would’ve been better in black to hide it but even in chrome it doesn’t look too bad really.
It keeps the oil cooler which is really what mattered most for me on my twin cam.
Big thumbs up for the channel...
😎👍
Thank you! Always appreciate your support over here!
2002 is the last year I'd even consider. Twin cams had Timkin main bearings and the Sportster was solid mounted and relatively light. They went to hell after this
I love my 09 103 Twinkie❤
That's an early production 103! Those were a highly sought after in 2009, 96 was the standard then.
@@GixxerFoo police bike👊🏻
Bought the 2024 heritage classic I absolutely love it for longer rides. I kept my 99 softail for ripping around town. The best of both worlds.
Looks like my 2023 Anniversary Road Glide will probably be my last new Harley. My most favorite is my 2020 Road King only 14,000 on it, now stage 2. More power than I need but alot of fun.
The TwinCam with its Blockhead inherited from the EVO is definitely much better than the Bumphead M8, in fact it may be the best looking engine even more than the Panhead, and than is really saying something…
So Ive got a twin-cooled 2017 CVO Street Glide. Love this bike. It looks so good, especially with those cooling outriggers. Next, I bought a 2023 Anniversary Fat Boy. Man, the bike is so iconic with that nascell headlight and the echoes back to T2 and Arnold. The red and gold plus all the chrome looks so good.. Ive got a 2017 Roadster with mustache guards and an oil cooler. Bike looks awesome even with that oil cooler on the left.
Im looking forward to that 2025 V-Rod.
Those complaining about the EPA don't remember or never lived the 1970's when smog was always an issue on the news in the big cities. There are also a lot more cars on the roads now.
Those smog stories were a product of of the same fake biased agenda driven media we have today
Give me a 2005 Springer and I'm good
2017 is exactly the same year for me that Harley-Davidson killed most of the models I would buy. But at least we still had the Evo Sportster.
Harley-Davidson died the day the last Evo Sportster rolled off the assembly line.
I never had a problem with liquid cooling. I've seen bikes with radiators that look damn good with them. I would not have had a problem with Harley-Davidson adding a radiator to the Sportster as long as it was done tastefully and the engine looks the same.
Just sold my 117 my23 Breakout and gone back to the Twin Cam Breakout. Wanted a Harley that looked like I Harley.. The M8 is good but just doesn’t do it for me.
bring back the chrome and colors that pop. eliminate the ugly side by putting pipes on both sides. include center stands on all bikes
I like the dual pipe look but they generally put that stuff on the right to counter balance the heavy ass primary on the left.
I agree, but getting a 900 lb bagger up on a center stand would be well nigh impossible!
@@ThatGuy-nb7zf but my road king has pipes on both sides. i always thought they put both pipes on the right side in an effort to impress girls walking on the sidewalk. but people don't walk outside as much as they did back in the day
@@kencarp57 sorry but not correct. there are aftermarket center stands that are easy to use. i installed an after market center stand on my road king
@@dumbcat RK is probably heavy enough to not matter much. Maybe if you time your revs you can blow their skirts up a bit.
Done with HD. Keeping my 03' Deuce and my 06' King, but never buying another Harley.
I live in south Florida and own a 2001 heritage with 8k miles. I'm seriously considering adding an oil cooler.
I live in Suffolk England, and my 05 FXDWGi with a 97" big bore and performance cams doesn't need one at all 😂
I love my old twin cam Fatboy but can’t argue against having good cooling. I was on my ‘02 Fatboy a couple times the summer on 100 degree days. One of those days I got stuck in traffic. Every alternate route I tried was stopped too. I felt bad for my 88 but didn’t have any options other than pulling over and waiting for hours.
Bring back the FXSTC with a 114 and saddle bags that don't look like you are going to fly.
For me it's the paint. The HD paint booth always had colors and quality that were the best anywhere. Look at the bikes from about 1990 to 2018 or so. You could find bright red, various blues, two tones, gold, metallic paint like a bass boat, purple, teal reminicent of the 1950's, pearl white, copper, green, metallic silver.... the colors were really vibrant and exciting. They tried just about everything except pink. The bikes were visible on the road and because the hues were produced a year or two you'd see a huge variety at motorcycle events. Today's paint is so boring. They've had similar colors for about 5 years now. Also, I miss the chrome. I know black is what they're trying to promote. We're also missing the Dyna. Just a basic no frills bike that's better than the Sportster but not too expensive. I looked at the new bikes and did a ride on a Road Glide. It's really nice. I don't know what I've got in my Street Glide but I think it starts with a 4. I can't imagine taking a beating trading that when I finally got it dialed in and giving them another $20,000 for a motorcycle that's functionally pretty similar. I know why they had to update the appearance on some of their flagship models. Unless you have a trained eye, you can't tell the difference between a 2010 Street Glide and a 2022.
As a daily commuter on my ‘24 fxlrs… lane splitting tight traffic to all out, ballz out stretches… I appreciate whatever cooling is avail/installed. Oil cooled in this case. Not sure how the older models would have handled this type of daily commute or rides since this is my first HD. All I can say is she rides like a dream… with authority!
I think if they're going to put oil-coolers and radiators on them they should make the front fenders longer in the back, to protect the things from rocks & gravel.
I’ve owned and ridden my Panhead, Shovelhead, and Evo many miles over the years. The Panhead was beautiful but the Shovel was a huge improvement in reliability and rideability. The Evo was leaps and bounds better than the Shovel but there is no comparison to my 2017 M8. The M8 is a beautiful motor that has so much more power that it makes the Evo seem anemic. I’m sure that there are guys that say everything after The Silent Gray Fellow suck, but if you are avoiding the M8 you are only hurting yourself, they are a great improvement. I’ve been looking for an FXR and recently found one and now will probably go broke trying to swap an M8 into it.
I run a 2016 twin cam breakout it's heaverly modified, I run 91 octane in summer and 98 in winter, I like the look of bike and it simplicity,the newer models look soleless .
I ride a 2012 FLHXSE3 CVO Street Glide, and I love the classic Harley look of it. I really do NOT like the look of the new RG and SG fairing and saddlebags. They no longer have the beautiful curves of the previous fairings and saddlebags. They look like all other manufacturers' bikes to me.
I would, however, welcome a big liquid-cooled engine on the touring bikes. It's very difficult to keep up with ever-tightening EPA regs using air cooling - even with liquid-cooled heads. I have owned liquid-cooled bikes, and they run way cooler and are more comfortable. Having the classic fins is nice, but it's not a mechanical necessity.
The reason the Revolution engine used in the V-Rod was not acceptable for touring bikes was not that it didn't make enough power, but that it was only 1200 cc and the power band was too too high for a big heavy touring bike. No one wants to tour at highway speeds at 6000 RPM. Harley should focus on engineering a big 1800 to 2000 cc liquid cooled engine specifically for the touring bikes that would make lots of power down low and would run much cooler. They could keep the big fins on it to make it look "proper HD". I would consider buying a Harley touring bike with a liquid-cooled engine like that. But I wouldn't want it to look super sleek and modern like every other bike out there... I would want it to still look like a Harley. Maybe that's too tall of an order though.
The radiator on my M109r is neatly hidden in the bodywork, so Suzuki actually went to the effort of completely stying the bike, and the heyabusa of the same era. It just seems like Harley was so anti-liquid of oil cooled, they just don’t know what to do with those parts. I agree though, when they and Porsche went to effort on the vrod, it was very well done. Form and function together, just like the Indian scout too.
H-D's used to be aesthetically pleasing, works of art, heirloom motorcycles. Proportions/materials on the latest bikes gives them a cookie cutter look. Tank graphics and colors are no longer unique. Nothing currently in showrooms would make me part with my money. I'm a big Evo fan, that's my cut off from now on.
Love my Shovelhead. Purrs right along @80mph all day.
Shovels... Perfect example of an aesthetically pleasing work of art, and an heirloom motorcycle.
Absolutely TRUE! The 2024 SG and RG fairings look like ASS compared to the sexy-looking old ones. I love the look of my 2012 FLHXSE3 CVO Street Glide in "Hot Citrus" and "Antique Gunstock" with ghost flames. I think it has the best factory paint job of any Harley ever produced. The Hot Citrus (metallic orange) paint literally GLOWS in the sun! I wouldn't trade my bike for anything, and I'll rebuild the SE 110 CI engine when it wears out. Harley hasn't made a bike as pretty as mine since, and likely never will.
The old CVOs had very expensive factory custom paint jobs, and the MoCO is all about cutting costs these days. The 2024 CVO Street Glide in Legendary Orange is nice, but there is no way ANY new bike is worth over $50,000 MSRP... the OTD price would be over $55,000, which is simply ABSURD!
I looked up photos of the 2012 you have. Don't ever sell that bike, it's beautiful! I like the tank badging as well. The bike was well thought out. Style is purely subjective to the viewer, but I feel HD needs a modern day Willie G. to revive what's been lost. Prices are getting insane for just about everything, I don't think we'll see things balance out anytime soon. Safe travels to you.
I’m getting rid of my second twin cam. Each to their own but I’ve decided anything beyond an Evo anything is Not anything I want. Maybe I’ve just got old. 🇺🇸✊☝️
I have a 17 Road King . I like it but knowing what I do now I probably would have gone hunting for a 15 - 16 King instead .
Form over function is not an edge. At the rock bottom very least they could have put a fan cooled, high flow oil cooler on there decades ago for bikes across the board. They have them on the new bikes, so what's the problem? You can't do both--You can't stay in the past while having modern performance at the same time. Oh wait. That's what Indian has been doing since 2016. Never mind.
ya but indians look like kawasaki's, they can keep it
As an engineer I like mechanical parts that stand out. If the new bikes put the radiator between the forks in a upside down V it does not bother me. Japanese did it for decades. You want something chopped buy an EVO and build it from the frame up. The new Sportster is a monstrosity.
Oilcooler wise, I like the Oilbud system, it mounts under the engine between the lower frame and not visible looking at the bike. But living in the Netherlands its way to expensive for me to buy.
The sportster is just to hard to look at, the left side anyway.
Hell my '81 Sturgis came with an oil cooler, it even had a little cover for winter time.
I loved my 2007 softail custom, the look and feel of the bike were great. It was a different style than what HD puts out today. I’m not sure if they were adapting to the changing tastes or something else. I loved the look and the dynas that were just like it. Have the tastes truly changed? I don’t know.
The new faring is just weird on the street glide, those new saddle bags are simply ugly but putting a crease in the gas tank is the last straw for me . Glad I’m not in the market for a new one at this time.
I’ll just keep my 2012 Ultra Classic. The new Harley’s with this big screen display turns me off. If that screen goes out you’re screwed if it’s out of warranty. It’s dead in the water and you’re calling a rollback to haul it to the dealer. Who knows what that will cost?
Things changed in styling since Willie G retired.
I don’t have a cutoff year. I’ve owned everything from Panhead on up, the M8 is my favorite. The gen 2 M8 in the current touring bikes is incredible.