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I am a long time Shovelhead owner and did have a 2006 Softail Standard (Twin Cam). I never owned an EVO and they were not all that prevalent around here. I was at the local Harley Dealer Friday and Saturday for the Veteran's luncheon both days and saw they had a decent looking, reasonably priced 1998 EVO Wide Glide. I know EVO's were darn good motors, but had evolved through the years with improvements, enhancements, and short cuts. Where does a 1998 EVO stand as far as cases, bearings, sprocket shafts, etc. Those are the areas I heard of changes. This was a pretty stock bike to include carburetor. I could not test ride as I am recovering from surgery and am up from a ten pound lift limit (for a month) to taking it easy for at least another month. This is I believe my first trip into the EVO forum.
98 is pretty much pick of the bunch. The last year of the Evo in most models so the ultimate development. That said, nothing particularly wrong with the earlier models either. Left stock or close to stock they all run forever and a day. They are nice bikes. A mild cam to get rid of the lame factory cam that seemed to be designed to get past EPA really wakes them up and turns them into the bike they should have been. EG Andrews EV27 cam.
I am a long time Shovelhead owner and did have a 2006 Softail Standard (Twin Cam). I never owned an EVO and they were not all that prevalent around here. I was at the local Harley Dealer Friday and Saturday for the Veteran's luncheon both days and saw they had a decent looking, reasonably priced 1998 EVO Wide Glide. I know EVO's were darn good motors, but had evolved through the years with improvements, enhancements, and short cuts. Where does a 1998 EVO stand as far as cases, bearings, sprocket shafts, etc. Those are the areas I heard of changes. This was a pretty stock bike to include carburetor. I could not test ride as I am recovering from surgery and am up from a ten pound lift limit (for a month) to taking it easy for at least another month. This is I believe my first trip into the EVO forum.
If it has a carburetor then its good. The early fuel injection systems can be a challenge, especially when you start changing the cam etc plus the age of the electronics.
Its really hard to go wrong with a carbureted Evo of any year. There are some differences of course and sometimes there was a change to a different type of electrical connectors and crap like that. Some say that the mid 90s were particularly good but that is not to say the 80s were bad.
I hear you on health. My bike has been parked for quite some time as I have had a hard time of things and recognized that is was time to stop riding until I can get back to 100%. My new doctor is helping me get there and I am seeing better progress now.
From a Pan to Shovels and then a few Twinkies. I've settled with a carbureted Big Twin EVO. There will be no further leap forward for me. I hated the Twinkies back to the dealer bull ****. I installed S&S Cams and Timing Gears and the dealer bitched at me when I had to have it tuned. Why did you put gears in it? It's going to make noise. I told them I don't care if it sounds like parts are falling off. *** the the timing chains. I had to take the bike back to be re-tuned because it was running lean. The dealer charged me again but still had to bitch at me because I wanted the fuel mixture fattened up.
Sticking with EVO's. They are simply complicated enough.
I still have my 1997 that i bought new, great f-in bike. Andrews cam and Mikuni carb, she will run with all the new bikes all day long. Starts right up every time, one of my favorites for sure.
Should be a solid machine if it hasnt been beat its entire life.
I bought mine two days before going in for shoulder surgery.
I was unable to do a test ride so I asked a guy I know to do it for me.
Based on his input, I bought it.
The dealership said they would deliver it considering my circumstances and about two weeks later it was in my garage.
That gave me plenty of time to go over it as my recovery progressed, dealing with any little issues like loose fasteners and wiring.
Ive put about about 4,000 miles on it and with the exception of an ignition pickup replacement, Im happier than a pig **** with it.
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1998 Wide Glide
