Dyna Glide Models Super Glide, Super Glide Sport, Super Glide Custom, Dyna Glide Convertible, Super Glide T-Sport, Dyna Glide Police, Dyna Switchback, Low Rider, Street Bob, Fat Bob and Wide Glide.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

engine life expectancy

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 8, 2012 | 09:14 PM
  #11  
j1mmy's Avatar
j1mmy
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 14
From: navarre ohio
Default

should expect at least 100k before it gets tired and needs a rebuild..lots of people have got a lot more with proper care and maintenance..
 
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2012 | 09:31 PM
  #12  
joe.1955's Avatar
joe.1955
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 109
From: Mesa, Az.
Default

Got 110K out of my '08 Wide Glide before it started burning a little oil.

Compression / leak down just below acceptable limits at 120K, upgraded to 103" jugs and pistons, reconditioned the heads and added cams.

I ride hard in the twisties and never babied the bike.

She's got a lot of miles left in her.
 
Reply
Old Apr 8, 2012 | 10:15 PM
  #13  
SportyPig's Avatar
SportyPig
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,478
Likes: 12
From: Nashville, TN
Default

I think a well maintained engine would easily last for 150,000 miles. I replaced my 883 engine at 65,000 miles with a 1250 engine. The inside of that 883 engine looked like new. It even still had the hatch marks inside the cylinders from manufacture.

You will go through several clutches before getting to 100,000 miles, and other parts. But the engine is good.

[edit] Oh, I thought I was in the Sportster forum. But, I guess the post is still somewhat relevant about the HD engine.
 

Last edited by SportyPig; Apr 8, 2012 at 10:17 PM. Reason: wrong forum
Reply
Old Apr 9, 2012 | 05:27 AM
  #14  
Foxster's Avatar
Foxster
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 10
From: Suffolk, England
Default

Biggest cause of failures on Harleys: The owner. People just love to fiddle with their bikes (me definitely included) and if anything is going to fail later on its what's been messed with.

The bikes you tend to see with the mega-miles on them are the stock ones.
 
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2017 | 01:14 AM
  #15  
Scott Johns's Avatar
Scott Johns
Stage I
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield, Illinois
Default Spellchecker

Originally Posted by Harley Tim
A lot depends on your driving habits. I have an '06 FXD (88) w/ 131 K Mi. on it, and it uses less than 3 oz. of oil between changes.

The only thing I've done to the engine is change the cam chain tentioners @ 90K as a preventive measure, and they didn't really need it.

My belt, primary chain and tentioner, and clutch are all O.E.

I mainly drive freeway speeds, 75-85ish MPH, not much stop-n-go stuff. Normal RPM run range 2500 - 4500, and it's never seen the RPM limiter.

Best wishes....Tim(HT)
it's spelled TENSIONERS lol
 
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2017 | 01:42 AM
  #16  
TinCupChalice's Avatar
TinCupChalice
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,756
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
Default

You resurrected a thread over 5 years old just so you could play grammar ****? That's a bold strategy as your first post...
 
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2017 | 04:17 AM
  #17  
Smogbob's Avatar
Smogbob
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 666
Likes: 95
From: Berlin
Default

Will be interesting to see in the future, with all the new engines running hotter with all the new CATS and emission regulations.
 
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2017 | 05:56 AM
  #18  
Qdog002's Avatar
Qdog002
Grand HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,515
Likes: 886
From: Upstate New York
Default

Originally Posted by TinCupChalice
You resurrected a thread over 5 years old just so you could play grammar ****? That's a bold strategy as your first post...
I notice whenever I open up an necro thread and go to the last page, it`s always a newbie that posted but ............whatever
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 27, 2017 | 06:03 AM
  #19  
TinCupChalice's Avatar
TinCupChalice
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,756
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
Default

Originally Posted by Qdog002
I notice whenever I open up an necro thread and go to the last page, it`s always a newbie that posted but ............whatever
Yea, I've noticed that as well This is the only forum that I frequent that doesn't archive threads. On other forums after a set period of time the thread is archived and can't be posted in any longer; you can still read them and find them with a search, but you can't turn them in to zombie threads...
 
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2017 | 09:23 AM
  #20  
TUCCI's Avatar
TUCCI
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
Default

The 96 I had on the Road King had almost 30k on it and it ran like a scalded dog. My maintenance was impeccable and thorough. Guy that bought it got a great bike.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
TroutBum
Softail Models
7
Apr 26, 2017 04:46 PM
atengnr
Shovelhead
7
Mar 25, 2015 06:52 AM
Imold
General Harley Davidson Chat
12
Nov 25, 2014 03:37 PM
badcooky
EVO
6
May 8, 2012 02:41 AM
Jackal
Sportster Models
7
Nov 15, 2011 07:42 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:24 AM.

story-0
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-2
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-3
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-4
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE