Is an Evo capable for us?
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 856
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
My wife and I have ridden my 1988 FLHTC two up many times. It's no dragster but, it does everything (it's never a dragster). If there is an upgrade to be made it would be in the suspension. The feel of the power is about the same one up or two up.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: south river nj
I have a bone stock 90 fltcu and never had a problem. My wife and I are not light weights and would not hesitate to go anywere . The best piece of advice is to take a test ride and see if it meets your needs . Leave your car and a credit card with the seller, throw the wife on the back and give it a try.
Thank you I'm gonn buy it because we like it so m, h! Here in the UK, people don't do the kind of mileage you guys do. The mileage is verified by all the MOTs - no way the they can be wrong.
The origional owner was a multi millionaire who used a specialist dealer to import this bike as he wanted fuel injection, which wasn't an option here back then. He then rode it a bit, then stored it in a heated garage for years. When he died, his widow sold it to the current owner who again collects vehicles but doesn't ride them much. Because we have so much bad weather here & salty roads in the winter, it's easy to tell the mileage is genuine.
Thanks again, I'll post some pics when I pick it up
The origional owner was a multi millionaire who used a specialist dealer to import this bike as he wanted fuel injection, which wasn't an option here back then. He then rode it a bit, then stored it in a heated garage for years. When he died, his widow sold it to the current owner who again collects vehicles but doesn't ride them much. Because we have so much bad weather here & salty roads in the winter, it's easy to tell the mileage is genuine.
Thanks again, I'll post some pics when I pick it up
It cheers me to know there are still thousands of Evo's out there with similar histories.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 211
Likes: 1
From: Brooklyn, NY
I know you already chose to buy it, and good on you! My 86 FLH 1340 is a monster on the highway, I ride two up no problem. You don't even notice it. Idiots who know nothing should say nothing.
Evo all the way.
Evo all the way.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 636
Likes: 35
From: NorCal
I have a 96 fatboy and we ride mostly in the mountains about 5000' all the way up to 9500' and have zero problems, and thats with a carbed bike. My wife and I combined weight is around 350, what can I say shes a big girl!! 
She pretty much goes every were with me so we do alot of 2 up riding, kinda wish she didnt like to ride so much!! If you buy the bike be sure to try and post some pics for us and good luck!
She pretty much goes every were with me so we do alot of 2 up riding, kinda wish she didnt like to ride so much!! If you buy the bike be sure to try and post some pics for us and good luck!
Banned
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 760
Likes: 3
From: NYC
OK, I'll be the salt in the equation.
The highest roads in Europe seem to come in at 6,500 feet but the highest in the UK around 2100 so he's not going to run out of breath.
I think that's closer to the real answer. Sadly, I'd guess those kinds of collector's bikes - while great foundations to build on - have not had all the "required" work done on them that a rider's bike would have had.
The cam, perhaps the gearing (count the teeth in the rear pulley), is all set up for emissions laws not best riding.
If I am going to be brutal, it sounds like the original owner didn't real know what he was doing going for an early fuel injection model (it's not as good as current systems and many folks swop them out for carbs), so I would not expect all the good stuff to be done.
Personally, I find a stock 1340 tourer pretty uninspiring and flat performance wise, and I would be more concerned about the brakes etc. You can fix them up to be more than adequate but it all adds up on your price which I mention as it might be good negotiation.
I think really old low mileage bikes are a misleadingly attractive because likely you'll discover all the same decay is present, e.g. crumbling rubbers, hard tyres and seals etc. I don't think they are worth what people ask for them as they are also not "collector's" bikes yet and I don't think ever really will be for a long time.
Don't get me wrong, I like Evos but they are just old bikes now, fairly crude, and at the level of a "good deal" now. They are still good foundations but you've then got to equate that into the fix.
I've deal with such a case (widow/estate of stupid rich harley fetishist keeping bike in carpeted, heated room as a decoration) and walked away from it as I found them to be unrealistic about what they had, and what it would cost to put back on the road.
You might be able to buy a much easier upgrade Twin Cam and a paint job for what it might cost to 'really' fix it up.
What's the price?
I would not pay over the odds for a pretty paint job - which is probably all the wife can see.
The highest roads in Europe seem to come in at 6,500 feet but the highest in the UK around 2100 so he's not going to run out of breath.
The cam, perhaps the gearing (count the teeth in the rear pulley), is all set up for emissions laws not best riding.
If I am going to be brutal, it sounds like the original owner didn't real know what he was doing going for an early fuel injection model (it's not as good as current systems and many folks swop them out for carbs), so I would not expect all the good stuff to be done.
Personally, I find a stock 1340 tourer pretty uninspiring and flat performance wise, and I would be more concerned about the brakes etc. You can fix them up to be more than adequate but it all adds up on your price which I mention as it might be good negotiation.
I think really old low mileage bikes are a misleadingly attractive because likely you'll discover all the same decay is present, e.g. crumbling rubbers, hard tyres and seals etc. I don't think they are worth what people ask for them as they are also not "collector's" bikes yet and I don't think ever really will be for a long time.
Don't get me wrong, I like Evos but they are just old bikes now, fairly crude, and at the level of a "good deal" now. They are still good foundations but you've then got to equate that into the fix.
I've deal with such a case (widow/estate of stupid rich harley fetishist keeping bike in carpeted, heated room as a decoration) and walked away from it as I found them to be unrealistic about what they had, and what it would cost to put back on the road.
You might be able to buy a much easier upgrade Twin Cam and a paint job for what it might cost to 'really' fix it up.
What's the price?
I would not pay over the odds for a pretty paint job - which is probably all the wife can see.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
From:
This +++++++1. !!
I've always wondered why everyone wants to have big inch motors.
More vibration more wear and tear..
When all they have to do is downshift.
Just like you do in a semi.
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 655
Likes: 0
From:
OK, I'll be the salt in the equation.
The highest roads in Europe seem to come in at 6,500 feet but the highest in the UK around 2100 so he's not going to run out of breath.
I think that's closer to the real answer. Sadly, I'd guess those kinds of collector's bikes - while great foundations to build on - have not had all the "required" work done on them that a rider's bike would have had.
The cam, perhaps the gearing (count the teeth in the rear pulley), is all set up for emissions laws not best riding.
If I am going to be brutal, it sounds like the original owner didn't real know what he was doing going for an early fuel injection model (it's not as good as current systems and many folks swop them out for carbs), so I would not expect all the good stuff to be done.
Personally, I find a stock 1340 tourer pretty uninspiring and flat performance wise, and I would be more concerned about the brakes etc. You can fix them up to be more than adequate but it all adds up on your price which I mention as it might be good negotiation.
I think really old low mileage bikes are a misleadingly attractive because likely you'll discover all the same decay is present, e.g. crumbling rubbers, hard tyres and seals etc. I don't think they are worth what people ask for them as they are also not "collector's" bikes yet and I don't think ever really will be for a long time.
Don't get me wrong, I like Evos but they are just old bikes now, fairly crude, and at the level of a "good deal" now. They are still good foundations but you've then got to equate that into the fix.
I've deal with such a case (widow/estate of stupid rich harley fetishist keeping bike in carpeted, heated room as a decoration) and walked away from it as I found them to be unrealistic about what they had, and what it would cost to put back on the road.
You might be able to buy a much easier upgrade Twin Cam and a paint job for what it might cost to 'really' fix it up.
What's the price?
I would not pay over the odds for a pretty paint job - which is probably all the wife can see.
The highest roads in Europe seem to come in at 6,500 feet but the highest in the UK around 2100 so he's not going to run out of breath.
I think that's closer to the real answer. Sadly, I'd guess those kinds of collector's bikes - while great foundations to build on - have not had all the "required" work done on them that a rider's bike would have had.
The cam, perhaps the gearing (count the teeth in the rear pulley), is all set up for emissions laws not best riding.
If I am going to be brutal, it sounds like the original owner didn't real know what he was doing going for an early fuel injection model (it's not as good as current systems and many folks swop them out for carbs), so I would not expect all the good stuff to be done.
Personally, I find a stock 1340 tourer pretty uninspiring and flat performance wise, and I would be more concerned about the brakes etc. You can fix them up to be more than adequate but it all adds up on your price which I mention as it might be good negotiation.
I think really old low mileage bikes are a misleadingly attractive because likely you'll discover all the same decay is present, e.g. crumbling rubbers, hard tyres and seals etc. I don't think they are worth what people ask for them as they are also not "collector's" bikes yet and I don't think ever really will be for a long time.
Don't get me wrong, I like Evos but they are just old bikes now, fairly crude, and at the level of a "good deal" now. They are still good foundations but you've then got to equate that into the fix.
I've deal with such a case (widow/estate of stupid rich harley fetishist keeping bike in carpeted, heated room as a decoration) and walked away from it as I found them to be unrealistic about what they had, and what it would cost to put back on the road.
You might be able to buy a much easier upgrade Twin Cam and a paint job for what it might cost to 'really' fix it up.
What's the price?
I would not pay over the odds for a pretty paint job - which is probably all the wife can see.
Myself. . I'm not interested in speed anymore.
I don't even get on the interstates. I just cruise the backroads of Missouri and arkansaw.
If i need more power for a long steep hill.......i simply downshift.
I'll never buy another bike newer than 1998.
Prefer the pan/shovel /evo by far. Wayyyy better motorbikes.
Last edited by buckweet; Jul 20, 2015 at 03:55 PM.
Banned
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 760
Likes: 3
From: NYC
I guess it's a reflection on today's speeds on the interstates where it would be useful to have a little more responsiveness (and a little more brakes). But ride it as it was intended, at 65mph, and it's fine.
I wonder how the original poster got on?
The one think Harley does really well is paint jobs, but that does not go as far as frames and swing arms. They could do with cleaning up the welds more, and perhaps using a couple of coats or treating the metal first, because they rust badly from all the splatter.