Hoping to pick up a Road King soon to compliment my 01 Night Train. Certainly not opposed to an Evo! Been seeing some really good buys out there. Case in point....recently looked at a 97 RK w/38k miles on it in the $7500 range. Bike was spotless. I'm very tempted as owner was a straight shooter and bike ran very well (carbed model).

Question is, what is the average life of the top end on these motors? Was at my dealer today visiting and was told one can expect to do some top end work around 50k miles or so. Maybe longer if owner was diligent with maintenance and didn't wring it's neck when cold, etc. Also that the base gaskets are usually the first thing to need attention when the miles pile up.

I'm thinking that if I had to go to that expense in about 12k miles I may pass. I have read on the list here guys going much longer than that. So what is the consensus here on this? In looking for something to go with my NT, a price point around 8k is tempting. What would I be looking at cost wise in top end work and what would that recommended work be most likely?

Thanks!

 

It really depends on if you like to wrench on your own.. I cant help with most of your questions. But, I recently did mine at 50k, because I was already there by having the heads worked.. I personally, have always worked on cars for a living and now HATE it.. So, working on the bike is new and refreshing to me. I've been picking a new project from time to time fixing or making things better as an excuse to teach myself something new.. My jugs still had a good crosshatch in them and didnt burn ant oil or have any related symptoms at 50k. Although, the dealer installed higher comp pistons and rings under warranty at about 5k or so.. If it runs good, I wouldnt give it a thought.. These are great reliable engines that are easy to work on.. Myself, and many others here, would much rather an EVO than a Twin Cam for this reason. No offence at all intended to your Train.. Just preference..

 

I'd "guess" a reasonable average would be in the 75,000 mile bracket, some more some less. A carbed Road King is a good find, actually.

Rings and gaskets are $100 and a valve job around 50 -$60 at an automotive machine shop. If the bike is bone stock, most would recommend a Torrington cam bearing to replace the barely adequate factory bearing, another 15.00 for a bearing and gasket. So, if you do the work yourself except for the valve grind but including that into the total, you can freshen it up for the price of a tire at a dealership...

 

I have read of some on here of going 150,000 without touching the motor. I think EVO's are pretty tough. Many are torn down at lower mileage because they are doing something else to the motor. I have 23,000 on my 99, and it is just getting broke in.

 

I'm close to 80.000 miles on my96 fxdl, and I don't see any problems .No oil leaks ,lost
compression etc. With your mileage don't worry.

 

My 1998 FLHTC has just a little over 180,000 original miles. The cam bearing was replaced with the Torrington just a couple years ago thanks to this website. The lifters seem to make it 80,000. I originally tore down the engine because I was still riding the bike cross country and I was beginning to get paranoid about something so bad in the middle of nowhere.

The bike still runs pretty good.....but it is pretty tired though. It just doesn't have much power like it use to. It probably only needs rings.....

My idea for this bike.....after I get done upgrading the swingarm and front forks on the other one.....I am going to do the same on this one as well. But, I am going to make this one into a Street Glide though.

In my opion, you can ride an EVO hard all day because they can take the abuse. However, you cannot ever skip on pre-maintenance and regular maintenance. Keep the fluids changed on a regular basis and when something is wrong.....don't make excuses, just fix it. Super reliable.....

 

My '92 FXRS has over 150K. Did the base gaskets at 65K and did head gaskets and rings only because it was apart anyway. Didn't burn oil then, doesn't burn oil now, still gets near 50mpg average (with EV13 cam).