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What's high mileage for a Harley?

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Old 11-06-2007, 01:05 PM
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Default What's high mileage for a Harley?

What mileage can I expect before a major rebuild? 100k? All my cars and trucks have gone high on miles. The van I drive when it is too cold or it raining hard is at 307,000 miles. That's high. I guess for a car I would say over 200k is getting high.I got a 99 FXD last year (my first Harley) and I'm just wondering, what is considered high mileage for a bike?
 
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Old 11-06-2007, 01:18 PM
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Default RE: What's high mileage for a Harley?

I'd say it all depends on the bike, my 88 sportster has 130k on it.... with 2 rebuilds, 12k on the last one. My 98 magna has 85k and has had nothing but oil changes. I once had a C50 that something broke on it every 1000 miles or so, it may have been a lemon but I wont go that route again.
 
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Old 11-06-2007, 06:24 PM
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Default RE: What's high mileage for a Harley?

Hopefully I can answer this questions for you, in a few yrs....hopefully with a very high number! I have wondered this myself and always ask around when I'm with a group of Bikers. I don't wanna Rebuild/upgrade mine till it got at least 50-75K on it. This seems like a very reasonable expectation from what I have heard. Mine is an 03 (carb) Heritage. I wanted a carb but I have heard that when you rapid-decel a carb'ed motor it runs rich for a second and wipes much of the oil off the cylinders, hence less miles than with a fuel injected motor? Fact vs Myth...damn if I know. I run Amsoil in all 3 holes and don't really driver hard, but I don't baby it either!
Harley should give out Medalions whenever you reach milestones 50,75,100K miles with a stock motor. My 1988 Benzo Diesel has nearly 300k, I have a Medalion on my grill with 250,000 miles engraved on it from Mercedes.
 
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Old 11-06-2007, 06:57 PM
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Default RE: What's high mileage for a Harley?

100,000 should be expected at least .........With todays synthetics. I have that on mine and it still runs strong
 
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Old 11-06-2007, 07:00 PM
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Default RE: What's high mileage for a Harley?

ORIGINAL: HD7585

100,000 should be expected at least .........With todays synthetics. I have that on mine and it still runs strong
100,000 miles, without a rebuild? If so that is great!
 
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Old 11-06-2007, 07:02 PM
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Default RE: What's high mileage for a Harley?

No rebuild so far...............Knock on wood [&:]
 
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Old 11-06-2007, 07:23 PM
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Default RE: What's high mileage for a Harley?

From what Ive seen depending on how you treat it 140,00-150,00 should be no problem.
 
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Old 11-06-2007, 11:57 PM
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Default RE: What's high mileage for a Harley?

59000 on my last Ultra, Syn 3 since 5000 miles. Ran as good as the day I bought it. Never used any oil either.
 
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Old 11-07-2007, 01:12 AM
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Default RE: What's high mileage for a Harley?

ORIGINAL: goodbirds

59000 on my last Ultra, Syn 3 since 5000 miles. Ran as good as the day I bought it. Never used any oil either.
How did your bike run without any oil?

I think it really depends on what modifications you do to your bike. If you leave it mostly stock (Stage 1 more or less), you should see 100k+ fairly easily. Once you start bumping the motor up though that will most likely affect longevity.
 
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Old 11-07-2007, 07:32 AM
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Default RE: What's high mileage for a Harley?

I'm approaching 66,000 on my '05 E-Glide and she's running smooth as silk. I've had absolutely no probs at all and it's been a pleasure since Day One. I log alot of miles so we'll see soon enough what kinda miles we can get out of one of these bikes, but 100k looks like it will come and go no prob at this rate.

It's a 95" motor and high compression, but i dont ride it hard at all and use Amsoil in all 3 holes and do my own maintenance.

My commute is 135 miles a day round trip and it's all a nice smooth freeway cruise, sort of like a mini-roadtrip twice a day. So high mileage is easy to do under such conditions. Not alot of city mileage.

My last Toyota truck had 356,000 miles on it when I sold it and was still completely original bumper to bumper - no rebuilds at all, just a clutch change at about 300,000 miles.

I'll keep you all posted as the miles pile up, we'll see how she does!
 
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