When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I've been riding a mixed bag of motorcycles over the past 5+ years and I'm
now looking to purchase an HD touring model. Is there anything I should be aware of or need to really inspect on a 2017 RoadKing or anything related to the Mil-8 engine.
There's a local bike I plan on going to look at, it has 15k miles on it.
Thanks for any input you may have to share.
KG
2017, 2018, and most of 2019 could have sumping issues. Oil pumps were fixed late 2019 so I would start with 2020. My buddy bought a brand new 2017 for his wife and it was rebuilt twice under warranty. Some early 107M8s had big issues and some early 107M8s had no issues. It's a mixed bag at best when talk to other 107M8 riders.
Not a dramatic difference between 2014-2016 103HO and 107M8 so don't count those out.
Last edited by VortecCPI; Apr 23, 2025 at 02:36 PM.
Depends on your luck. I have a 2019 early model… zero issues and 28K miles later.
”could” sump.
Aftermarket oil pumps are in the $800 range… some cheaper.. you could get OEM oil pumps for less than half that.
Pay a shop/indy, a few hours labor or attempt it yourself. Cheap insurance…
You could go miles and miles without any issues. The down side… should it go…it’s usually bad…
There is zero guarantee anyone could give you either way… so it’s a matter of your luck.
2017, 2018, and most of 2019 could have sumping issues. Oil pumps were fixed late 2019 so I would start with 2020. My buddy bought a brand new 2017 for his wife and it was rebuilt twice under warranty. Some early 107M8s had big issues and some early 107M8s had no issues. It's a mixed bag at best when talk to other 107M8 riders.
Not a dramatic difference between 2014-2016 103HO and 107M8 so don't count those out.
It was May 22nd in 2019, not late 2019.
If your build date is after that, it has the new pump and the vent.
The sumping issues were so few back then, and we hear nearly nothing about it now. This is where they come to scream it from the rooftops
I've been riding a mixed bag of motorcycles over the past 5+ years and I'm
now looking to purchase an HD touring model. Is there anything I should be aware of or need to really inspect on a 2017 RoadKing or anything related to the Mil-8 engine.
There's a local bike I plan on going to look at, it has 15k miles on it.
Thanks for any input you may have to share.
KG
My
You could ask your local Mothership about the cost of a new FLHP. There is a HUGE threat about ordering a new FLHP and all the benefits that gets you. The pricing could be sub-20K out the door, as the local Mothership is primary in determining the unit pricing. Check out the thread The 2023 Road King FLHR Lives On As The FLHP, but be prepared for a lot of reading. Tons & tons of great info in that thread. I'm loving my 2023 FLHRXS (39,380 miles & counting) but still think I may have been better off on a two-toned FLHP.
I know a bunch of folks with 17's and 18's. Zero issues from anyone. One 17 rider I know rode a 10k mile Hoka Hey on his 70th birthday and had well over 100k miles on that bike. The paint on his fairing was getting a bit ugly and he just wanted a new one so he got one last year maybe.
Any bile by any mfg any year can have issues. One thing to member, most owners will never participate on a forum like this and the few that have issues are the ones that make the most noise. A good portion of those, if you look back on their history, give there bikes absolute he LL and aren't the best ant maintenance. (not all but a good portion) On another forum I was on, one guy posted how xx built the worst transmissions, and the dealer was the worst because they refused to warranty his issue, but if you go back to some of his post, he shared pictures of him hauling huge monster loads of hay way beyond what a normal truck like he had should ever do. When that was pointed out to him , boy he sure didn't like it.
Solid choice with the 2017 Road King. Those milwaukee eight engines are strong. Just keep an eye out for early oil sumping issues which aren’t super common but worth asking about. At 15000 miles it should have had its key services done so ask for maintenance records. If it has aftermarket pipes make sure it was properly tuned. Listen for any odd noises from the primary or transmission on the test ride. Check the suspension and make sure all the lights and controls are working. If everything checks out you’ve got a great touring bike.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
Getting back on a Harley
