bike purchase opinions
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Thanks for the advise. everyone. I have been looking for awhile. I am definitely not going to rush into anything. I would like to have an evo, my ideal would be a 1998 low mileage ultra or roadking. I have seen a few on craigslist but the ones I have seen are fuel injected, I really would like a carbed bike. Oh, and I am a guitarist , not as advanced as I would like to be. thanks again.
As far as Evo motors go it is wise to avoid any fuel injected Evo and stick with carby bikes. Carby Road Kings of the late 90's are quite rare though but you can convert them back to a carby and there is heaps of advice on these forums about doing that.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 328
Likes: 13
From: Trabuco Canyon, California
Some of the early evos had some engine case problems where the race would separate from the case where it joins to the primary, causing a seep of oil usually from the engine into the primary case but sometimes the opposite, pulling primary fluid into the engine. Harley never had an official recall but did replace some cases under warranty back then. You might want to research it, but I think the years were 86-88.
Also, if both bikes have stock carbs, I think the CV carb came out in 90 and the pre-90 evos had the keihn butterfly carb which is really finicky and inefficient, so you'd want to change out the butterfly carb.
Also, if both bikes have stock carbs, I think the CV carb came out in 90 and the pre-90 evos had the keihn butterfly carb which is really finicky and inefficient, so you'd want to change out the butterfly carb.
Last edited by Mr1986FLST; Oct 6, 2014 at 05:30 PM. Reason: corrected cv carb year from 89 to 90
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
I'm not sure there is much to chose between those years. Worthwhile changes from '90, but any Evo is a good Evo!
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 856
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
I have the 1988 FLHTC and love it. But, my engine was refurbished at the MoCo in the winter of 04/05. If it didn't have the refurb motor I suspect I would have some issues. I was told that there were some cam bearing issues and possibly porous metal issues in that era on some of the engines. I have a buddy that has a 1986 with way over 200,000 miles on it. He has put a handfull of base gaskets on it I know about. Maybe a cam bearing, I don't know. But, he rides it all the time. He told me that he has never had any major engine work and never "re-honed" the cylinders even after a few base gasket changes. I know that the clutch design changed in those years and if memory serves the 1987 was the first year of the newer style trap door, not that it matters that much.
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 52
Likes: 1
From: massachusetts
Thanks, I think Ill try to look for a 94-98 evo either an ultra or roadking with a carb. Although,I have seen some lower mileage fuel injected bikes. I am not going to rush it, especially with winter coming and people wanting to sell bikes for a bit less.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,590
Likes: 444
From: Ohio
If you find a low price on a FI bike, get it and there are more than a few of us here to walk you through the carb switch.
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Last edited by Rhino-1; Oct 14, 2014 at 03:41 PM.