Gents,
Been trying to get the wife out with me. She's not crazy about riding on the back of the Heritage. I found this '91 Ultra at a dealer that is pretty clean. She's got 78K on the clock and there is no history on maintenance. It has the stage 1 upgrade with the carb reworked and new pipes. I may be able to get it for about $5500. I need some opinions here. My Heritage is a '98 and I love it and know the workings pretty well. Not sure about this '91 EVO, when did they changed over to the cheap cam bearing? What else should I look for in this old girl. Who else has an Evo with this kind of milage. I don't mind doing routine repairs but I don't want a project. If you were in my shoes and knew nothing about the maintenance what would you do? Can't afford a new Ultra and this could fit in the budjet.

Thanks Guys

 

I have had my 1990 FLHS from new. The bikes from that era had a few issues, but they will have been fixed by now on 'your' bike! They include things like cylinder base gaskets, gearbox oil seal (behind the pulley), gear-lever return spring, ignition system sender (in the cone), alternator stator. Never had any cam bearing bother on mine, although I have recently swapped motors for an S&S.

I love mine, although it has in recent times become a project, so be warned! It will be interesting to see what the other regulars say, but if you are happy with the price (and your wife!) they are great bikes.

When the big day comes, make sure your wife is comfortable and warm and ride real smoooooth. And then come back to let us know how you get on. Best of luck! We look forward to helping you make a few improvements.....

A friend of mine had a lady friend who would not ride, but she eventually gave in. They had a gentle ride out for lunch one warm day, then onto a local beauty spot during the afternoon. Not very far. On the way home she shouted 'does this thing go any faster?' Success!

 

I have a 90 UC that was abused - meaning locked away and not ridden. When I got it last year it only had 28k on it. I've put on 10k in the last year and love the bike. It does have a few quirks though. My turn signals don't work most of the time - just an electrical prob I have to track down. The engine, however, is not an issue. It really runs well. Everything seems really solid and I tend to ride it a little gard.

The probem I see is not knowing anything about the history. I think they can look it up in the Harley system though. When I got mine I needed a key and they could track it through a couple of owners. That might at least tell you if it has bounced around a bunch.

You never know on some things though. When you buy from a person on the street you can take a look at the oil and if they just changed it you generally know something might be up. But that would be standard protocol I would think at a dealer, so it is harder to say.

In the end, ride it, listen close, be sure to take it for a good long spin to let it get fully warm and make sure it was dead cold when YOU started it. That's about all I can offer.

 

Bikes from that era are, in my opinion, the most reliable that Harley made. Forget the case issue that has gotten way out of proportion, of all the people I know who owned these year bikes, most from new, I only heard of one case crack and one crank insert failure. 91 had the good cam bearing, as mentioned above base and rocker gasket issues have probably been fixed by now, just like the trans pulley. If they were done right, they shouldnt be much of a problem. Again, in my opinion, the newer bikes have more "issues". Stators, ignition switches, and also the twin cam engine issues.

 

The $5500 sounds very tempting! Our '90 Ultra needed the top end refreshed at about that time. In my situation it was a wasted effort, as I later replaced the engine with a new Ultima - if I had to do over I would have just replaced the engine rather than have the top end, with performance mods done.

The biggest problems you face with an older Ultra is the obsoleted parts. However, most of them can be replaced with alternatives, but some like the radio volume control switch can only be replaced with discarded ones from other bikes. The stock carburetor has been obsoleted but can be replaced with a newer style CV carb, forget the cruise control module, that is long gone as well. They switched to using a speed sensor in the tranny rather than the front wheel which may make it more difficult installing a new cruise control unit. Likewise, the choice of seats is limited. The exhaust is easily upgraded. The stock radio,intercom and cb can be serviced by Radio Sound but it will be cheaper to switch over to using the Biketronics retro radio kit and an alternative intercom such as those made by J&M is cheaper and more functional. Keep your eyes open for a set of shocks off a 2009, the guys buy the new bikes and sell the new shocks really cheap some times, and the shocks from an '09 are a lot better than stock.

I have read some threads on the lower frame rusting out in the older models, I think it is usually near the rear, sometimes behind the rear of the primary. There are apparently a couple holes in the frame that allow water in but no holes to let it back out so it lays on the bottom.

If you like the bike, buy it, then when you are ready start reading the "Ultima engine" threads. 5 years ago we bought our '90 because we were not sure we would want to ride, now we keep it because we like it better than a new one.


on edit: Our '90 Ultra had 64,000 on it when we purchased it, and I planned on maybe 3000 miles on it, that was 5 years and over 50,000 miles ago, it's now at about 115,000 but only has about 7500 on the Ultima 113. We ride 2 up all the time, no road trips and definitely not a commuter, just nice weekend rides, just my wife and me, alone, mostly on some 2 lane road in the Pa Dutch country where the horse and buggies travel.


joe

 

I think we can all look forward to Tucker showing us pics of his new bike!

 

I don't have time for 2 older bikes, but the one he describes really would be tempting...I am glad it's not close by

 

I agree that does sound tempting, as far as the upgrades alot of things that are listed as newer upgrades will work on these older bikes with very little modifications. I am running a sundowner seat from that was originally purchased for a 2003. The only real draw back with it is that it obstructs my oil fill. I haven't ever bolted it down I just make sure the front tab is hooked near the tank....I can just lift the seat a little to check the oil. I bought my bike with 73000 showing on the clock but the guy that bought it new had written down every dime he had spent on the bike, the guy I got it from hadn't put but about 6000 miles on it in 6 years. I have had a few minor problems that just come with age but I couldnt be happier with it, and would take off cross country tommorrow with no worries. Oh yeah I had a 2003 E-Glide with 13000 on the clock..gave me more trouble than my 88'

 

I did have the cracked issue on my 1991 Ultra Classic at around 60k miles. 1992 they changed the case. I did really love my 91 though.

 

My only two Harley's...Sold the '84 black Electra Glide to a buddy with pushing
a 100k miles (STIHL runs like a top), to buy the '90 Ultra Classic with a new 113 ci S&S engine.

I wish I could of kept them both...