Question . . .
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5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2018
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From: Bethany Ok
Question . . .
Hello all, I am looking at buying my first ever HD after years (30plus) riding various other bikes. I ride mostly touring bikes and have averaged about 35-40k a year for better than the last 30 years. Any way. . . .
the bike I am looking at is a 1995 Electraglide Ultra with 24000 miles on it. It has been crammed, not sure what ones, has Screaming Eagle pipes and a S&S Super E carb. I, like most, have heard the stories of rebuilds every 50,000 to 100,000 miles and I want to learn the truth, do these bikes really require that kind of maintenance IF they are taken care of day to day ?
i am not fanatical about maintenance, but I do change my oil every 5000 miles using what ever bike brand I am ridings oil and filter, brakes done as soon as they hit the squeal bars, tires the same, as soon as needed, and any repairs as soon as they are needed. I do not allow my bike to develope a back fire or what ever problem and say I will get to it when I can. . . . It gets fixed asap, and parked until it is fixed. With that in mind, how often should I have to rebuild the top end, and how often on the whole motor ?
Oh, Incase you are wondering, I do manage a few what would be Iron Butt rides a year, if I was to do the stupid paperwork for it. Usually from Oklahoma City where I live to see family in Las Vegas, or Denver or just to go for a ride to ___________ for the pure joy of riding.
the bike I am looking at is a 1995 Electraglide Ultra with 24000 miles on it. It has been crammed, not sure what ones, has Screaming Eagle pipes and a S&S Super E carb. I, like most, have heard the stories of rebuilds every 50,000 to 100,000 miles and I want to learn the truth, do these bikes really require that kind of maintenance IF they are taken care of day to day ?
i am not fanatical about maintenance, but I do change my oil every 5000 miles using what ever bike brand I am ridings oil and filter, brakes done as soon as they hit the squeal bars, tires the same, as soon as needed, and any repairs as soon as they are needed. I do not allow my bike to develope a back fire or what ever problem and say I will get to it when I can. . . . It gets fixed asap, and parked until it is fixed. With that in mind, how often should I have to rebuild the top end, and how often on the whole motor ?
Oh, Incase you are wondering, I do manage a few what would be Iron Butt rides a year, if I was to do the stupid paperwork for it. Usually from Oklahoma City where I live to see family in Las Vegas, or Denver or just to go for a ride to ___________ for the pure joy of riding.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 12,878
Likes: 5,448
From: la la land jerzey
stick with your BMW or what ever gives you that type of commute in 25 35 thousand miles a year after 30 years 900,000 miles and no engine work on what ever your riding
you should stick with that
you should stick with that
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 942
Likes: 323
From: Grew up in Texas, moved to AZ
It's never too late to buy a Harley. 
If you are deliberate about maintenance, a Harley, especially an Evolution motor will last more than 50K or 100K, before a top end rebuilt or whatever. Long distance riding isn't an issue for these baggers, because that's what they are built for. I'm an Iron Butt myself....did the paperwork, and got the plate.
Anyway, take the leap and see if you will like it. You can do many miles in style. LOL... Good luck.
If you are deliberate about maintenance, a Harley, especially an Evolution motor will last more than 50K or 100K, before a top end rebuilt or whatever. Long distance riding isn't an issue for these baggers, because that's what they are built for. I'm an Iron Butt myself....did the paperwork, and got the plate.
Anyway, take the leap and see if you will like it. You can do many miles in style. LOL... Good luck.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 819
From: Moneta, Virginia
I bought a new Road King in ‘97: Andrews EV13 cam, SE airbox, rejetted cv carb, Kerker slip on mufflers, SE ignition module and Excell coil. Closing in on 100k mountain/backroad miles (not more than 25k interstate or 4 lane highway miles, I’d guess) She shows no signs of top end issues... still pulls like a mule, no smoking, seeping or leaking!
That said I bought a two year old ‘92 Heritahe Softail in ‘94 that had 2” straight drag pipes, a Kuryakin high flow air cleaner, a SE ignition and stock everything else. It had 20k on the clock. I put another 18k on it in the two years I had it.
The guy I sold it to had to do the top end @ 50,000 +/- miles.
I’m guessing that bike was running super lean (I didn’t know enough to change things at the time)
So how they’re setup and how hard they’re run has a lot to do with their longevity.
The good news is EVO’s are easy to work on and if you’re doing the work yourself, mostly stock bikes are relatively inexpensive to do a top end/valve train job on. You can get a lot of knowledge, advice and guidance from this forum to help you out.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
That said I bought a two year old ‘92 Heritahe Softail in ‘94 that had 2” straight drag pipes, a Kuryakin high flow air cleaner, a SE ignition and stock everything else. It had 20k on the clock. I put another 18k on it in the two years I had it.
The guy I sold it to had to do the top end @ 50,000 +/- miles.
I’m guessing that bike was running super lean (I didn’t know enough to change things at the time)
So how they’re setup and how hard they’re run has a lot to do with their longevity.
The good news is EVO’s are easy to work on and if you’re doing the work yourself, mostly stock bikes are relatively inexpensive to do a top end/valve train job on. You can get a lot of knowledge, advice and guidance from this forum to help you out.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
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5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2018
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From: Bethany Ok
Thanks for that info guys, and just for the record, I have had Yamaha Ventures, Honda Goldwing, as my two main mounts over the years. With out sitting down to really give a count, I guess I have had about 8-10 bikes over the years. . . . Loved them all, but I have always wanted a HD, and I now have the opportunity to get one.
Banned
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 4,576
Likes: 978
From: Viet Vet, crossroads
Truth?! _-
Truth is hard to come by as it is a presentation of the experience or the inexperienced of the one attempting to convey it.
If you are the guy that has to go to the shop for repairs, buy NEW.
No exception.
If you are the guy that can learn, listen, understand -
You may be a candidate for a used HD.
Most ANY HD you buy will have to be made yours by understanding the inherent weaknesses.
They all come with congenital DNA problems and have to be corrected.
The Twinkies have more problems then the EVO.
The Shovel is novel now as it is just too rare to consider as a serious touring machine for 99% of riders.
Back to the EVO.
You will have to overhaul it at some point depending on what the prior owner(s) having bastardized it in the name improvements.
The most concerning here is just this ?- If- I / or we have to explain the nuances, I am not sure at all you should do this adventure
The Evo will run a long time between TBO IF set up correctly.
In my opinion, Cast iron jugs are the mandatory equipment as they are not a rubber platform.
I have 25 K on mine with 10.5 CR big cam valves and still hone marks and, ,measures purrfect.
The cranks will not distort like a TC can.
If you already have 25K on said used bike, the Leak dwn is near purrfect,
I would suspect you get another 25K without too much trouble if you change the HD ignition to Daytona
Change the plastic brether to real.
Change the motor mounts and swing arm bushings as they will be shot from just sitting.
Truth is hard to come by as it is a presentation of the experience or the inexperienced of the one attempting to convey it.
If you are the guy that has to go to the shop for repairs, buy NEW.
No exception.
If you are the guy that can learn, listen, understand -
You may be a candidate for a used HD.
Most ANY HD you buy will have to be made yours by understanding the inherent weaknesses.
They all come with congenital DNA problems and have to be corrected.
The Twinkies have more problems then the EVO.
The Shovel is novel now as it is just too rare to consider as a serious touring machine for 99% of riders.
Back to the EVO.
You will have to overhaul it at some point depending on what the prior owner(s) having bastardized it in the name improvements.
The most concerning here is just this ?- If- I / or we have to explain the nuances, I am not sure at all you should do this adventure
The Evo will run a long time between TBO IF set up correctly.
In my opinion, Cast iron jugs are the mandatory equipment as they are not a rubber platform.
I have 25 K on mine with 10.5 CR big cam valves and still hone marks and, ,measures purrfect.
The cranks will not distort like a TC can.
If you already have 25K on said used bike, the Leak dwn is near purrfect,
I would suspect you get another 25K without too much trouble if you change the HD ignition to Daytona
Change the plastic brether to real.
Change the motor mounts and swing arm bushings as they will be shot from just sitting.
Last edited by Kingglide549; Jul 14, 2018 at 02:42 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,493
From: Decatur, Alabama
My EVO gave me 90k trouble free miles then blew up. I did all maintenance right on the clock.
I don't think there is an air cooled engine out there that will get much more than that without needing an overhaul. They are just too big and run a little too hot.
carl
I don't think there is an air cooled engine out there that will get much more than that without needing an overhaul. They are just too big and run a little too hot.
carl
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5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2018
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From: Bethany Ok
Thanks for the info everyone, after so more research here and on the Victory forum, I am going with the HD. i am looking forward to getting the bike ASAP, but if I can not get a loan for it, the owner has said he will hold it until tax time with a small deposit, so I sent off a check today !