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.
Stupid sh`t. Burnouts, wheelies, revving the **** out of it (especially when cold), maintaining speeds above 90mph for hours on end, hitting red line every single time you change gears, lugging the engine. Stuff like that.
FWIW, I ran an Evo Heritage Softail for 223,000 miles and would be riding it still if a 94 year old woman in a Chrysler hadn't pulled out of a driveway in front of me. Yes, the engine was rebuilt once at 90,000 miles due to consequential damage from a lifter failure at 46,000 miles (it was still running fine and I wouldn't have known there was a problem if I hadn't been inside for routine servicing). The rebuilt motor had 132,000 miles on it and the heads had never been off. It was running perfectly the day it was wrecked. I sold the remains to the sales manager of the local Harley dealer and he's rebuilding it now.
I own a 2019 Softail and was surprised by how hot the engine runs. Living in Las Vegas area doesn't help the heat problem in the summer. So, I did a lot of research and determined what I needed to do to maximize the life of the bike. 1> Do the Stage 1 Upgrade, including a Dyno-Tune, to increase increase air flow through the engine and make sure bike isn't running too lean. 2> Change all fluids (including the front fork oil and brake fluid) and spark plugs, using synthetic products according to the recommended maintenance schedule. Time will tell, but I expect to want a new bike before this one wears out.
I own a 2019 Softail and was surprised by how hot the engine runs. Living in Las Vegas area doesn't help the heat problem in the summer. So, I did a lot of research and determined what I needed to do to maximize the life of the bike. 1> Do the Stage 1 Upgrade, including a Dyno-Tune, to increase increase air flow through the engine and make sure bike isn't running too lean. 2> Change all fluids (including the front fork oil and brake fluid) and spark plugs, using synthetic products according to the recommended maintenance schedule. Time will tell, but I expect to want a new bike before this one wears out.
I have a friend who never takes care of his bike an FLHTK maybe oil changes around 20000 to 25000 between oil changes and maybe one Prymary and trans change and so on. He has as of yesterday 112400 on the clock. If I tried that my bike would be in the garage fall apart.
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.