Fact is, I'm perfectly happy with the bike I have, except I wish it didn't have 215,000 miles on it. Sad fact is, finding parts and expertise to keep the old gal on the road, year after year, is only going to get harder from here on out.

 

I'm not too sure about that. Yes, there are certain years that have some obscure parts, but on the whole, EVOs have a lot of interchangeable parts and the aftermarket has a lot available. There are also more recycling and dismantlers as sources than there used to be. I'd bet that this forum is a great resource too. Patience and diligent searches should get you whatever you need.

 

Don't mean to hijack post. But Uncle G....214K? Could you give history on where odometer was when you took ownership, and what some of the "larger" repairs that were needed....and at what mileage? I bought my 95' "Garage Queen" 4 years go from OO with less than 10k miles. I'll be turning 40k before she goes down for the winter here shortly. Be nice to get an idea what to expect once I get out of the "break-in" period lol.

 

This is a true "one owner" bike. I bought it new in September '93 and put every mile on it myself.

Only "major" failure was the front exhaust lifter failed at 46,000 miles. Consequential damage led to an engine rebuild at 85,000 (Harley remanufactured motor). Motor rebuilt again at 91,000 due to failed rod bearing (H-D picked up the tab under warranty). Base gasket leaked on rear cylinder after two years, but the rebuilt motors have never leaked a drop. Stator plug DOES tend to leak, however. The MoCo has redesigned the plug at least three times. Each one leaked worse than the previous design.


Steering head bearings and swingarm bearings were replaced along with the belt and primary chain and sprockets and pulleys at the 85,000 mile mark as service items. Belt was replaced again at 170,000 miles as preventive maintenance. Primary chain gets replaced if I'm in the primary and it's been over 40,000 miles on it. Starter was replaced at 160,000 miles.


Most everything else is just keeping up with wear items and fixing damage from two accidents. Lots of tires, a few batteries, a couple of ignition switches, three speedometers, footboard mats, some replaced hardware and rear shocks every 50-70,000 miles. I built two new wheels two years ago, as the original rims were deemed too pitted and rusted to be safe. I've gone through a bunch of brake pads and I'm on the third set of brake rotors.


Clutch and transmission are original, and the transmission has never been apart. I service the bike myself by the book. Oil/filter change every 2,500 miles and major service every 5,000 miles.


The bike has always taken me where I'm going and always brought me home.


Areas to watch would be IME, lifters (cost me a motor)and inner cam bearing (don't know what you have, but when you check/replace the lifters make sure the inner cam bearing is the Koyo (formerly Torrington) and not the INA bearing. Also, the VOES switch can fail and leak from age (the rubber diaphragm dry rots after so many years). Worth a check. Otherwise, It's just attention to detail and maintenance.


Oh yes, OEM brake lines are prone to rusting under the plastic shrink tubing where the rigid lines are swaged to the rubber hoses. That's something to keep an eye on. Strangely enough, the replacements are still fine after 18 years.


I'm sure there's many more things I've dealt with over the last 24 years, but this is what I can remember off hand.

 

Thanks UG for the detailed info.What is IME? I have an uprgraded Adrews EV-27 cam that the OO had installed. I was never able to track down and verify whether or not the bearing was swapped out at that time, but I'm assuming it was....hopefully. Sorry, I'm fairly ignorant as far as the mechanical aspect of these machines goes. Except for me doing minor repairs/maintenance, it always goes to my Indy, whom I trust.

 

In My Experience

 

Thanks for Your reply!
Usually I am in the same mood... i don't need a new bike. But well... sometimes... I think I need something new.
But I am glad, I love my Evo. It has got everything I need, and more than newer ones have. You are right!

Oliver

 

I admit, I like the '18 Heritage. Maybe my mistake was taking one for a test ride. It really does ride and handle better than my bike (I would hope so, there ought to be SOME progress in 24 years). To be honest, I never liked the Twin Cam Softail. It was "changed", but I never felt like it was "improved" enough to justify the changes. I can't say that about the '18.


I admit to being cautious about the new technology and the increased complexity, but it's nice to know there's another possibility when my old bike becomes to old to depend on. Oh, so be sure, I'll keep the old bike, but I could see an M8 Softail in the garage next to it. Now if I could just rationalize the $$$$$$$

 

You can buy four Evo powered bikes for the price of one 2018 Heritage.

 

Or I could buy a new S&S motor for mine and have enough left over to build a Panhead chopper.