Less performance, less electronics, more fun.
Is this normal?
So it goes, the Evo Road King for me, the Ultra for us.
Bet they'll both last forever splitting my 12-20K mi/yr across 2 bikes :-)
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Some of us have been digging these things since we bought them new! I 'refresh' mine every now and then. It's become a rolling project - may never finish it. You're in good company here....
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
I feel motorcycles are very much like wine, they simply get more enjoyable as they get older. Anyone with a checkbook can get a new bike, but only age and time can make it a classic. Now, contrary to our forum title, most Evo's aren't classics as of yet, but they still have aged over the years. To me, thats what makes them cool. Not a damn thing wrong with a new bike, and I'll buy another one sooner or latter. But a new bike just lacks that little bit of cool that a well ridden bike has earned. IMHO
Last edited by bikerlaw; Feb 9, 2011 at 08:08 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,243
Likes: 7
From: MN
"If you doubt this then take a look around, how many Shovels are taking those long weekend rides these days, another 10-15 years and the EVOs are going to be where the Shovels are now. Maybe sooner because people don't fix things today like they did 25-30 years ago."
Maybe, but I don't think so. The Evo is alot more reliable than the shovel ever was. It took 12 spark plugs to get me to Sturgis and back to Minnesota on my good running shovel in '78, for example. The two Evos I've had would get new plugs every year or two....with more trouble-free miles per year as well.
Maybe, but I don't think so. The Evo is alot more reliable than the shovel ever was. It took 12 spark plugs to get me to Sturgis and back to Minnesota on my good running shovel in '78, for example. The two Evos I've had would get new plugs every year or two....with more trouble-free miles per year as well.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
We've been to Poland twice in the last couple of years on my Evo, planning on Slovenia in May. The thrill of getting back home after a fortnight and 2,500 miles is immeasurable! Just starting it each day while travelling is something the 'moderns' we travel with have no understanding of.
"Why do you ride that old thing?" Much of it is actually quite new, but I don't let on! Just reply: "Why do you ask?!"
"Why do you ride that old thing?" Much of it is actually quite new, but I don't let on! Just reply: "Why do you ask?!"
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
From: Poland, EU
You are right!
I`ve been to London on my Harley once. And I did London-PL journey once on a Suzuki RF600R. The difference was that anything happened while I was on Harley it was all fun and pleasure (because nothing really bad happened). Rain or shine, got lost on the B-roads, cleaned carb on the side of the road etc. It was a good experience and I recall it very often. But on the Suzuki the journey was tiring and "heavy". The only fun was when doing 140MPH on Autobahn. Other than that it was all boring.
I`ve got friends on TwinCam`s and all those new-era Harleys. They ask me too, why I`m riding an Evo? Why I don`t want a TC? I don`t need TC. Evo is enough for me. It is a sort of compromise between classic motorcycle and modern reliability. I grew up on classic motorcycles so having a classic means a lot for me. But i need some reliability to do long runs. Classic motorcycle + reliability = Evolution. It is last of the "real" Harleys, at least for me. Carburetted Evo, of course. Mine is 1988 year, pretty old but it`s "newest" bike I posess. All others are little 2T from `60s, which are reliable too, but doing 1000 miles trip on 9HP motorcycle is not fun at all.
Performance? If I`d need performance, I would buy Busa or something. I did "my time" on fast bikes, did all those stupid things you can do on sports bikes etc. I`ve been a motorcyle courier for more than 3 years in London, doing really stupid things on the road, been chased by Police, been knocked off couple of times etc. All I want now is chilling out on the bike. Just keep moving forward, watch the landscape, hear the engine rumble and come back home in one piece...
I`ve been to London on my Harley once. And I did London-PL journey once on a Suzuki RF600R. The difference was that anything happened while I was on Harley it was all fun and pleasure (because nothing really bad happened). Rain or shine, got lost on the B-roads, cleaned carb on the side of the road etc. It was a good experience and I recall it very often. But on the Suzuki the journey was tiring and "heavy". The only fun was when doing 140MPH on Autobahn. Other than that it was all boring.
I`ve got friends on TwinCam`s and all those new-era Harleys. They ask me too, why I`m riding an Evo? Why I don`t want a TC? I don`t need TC. Evo is enough for me. It is a sort of compromise between classic motorcycle and modern reliability. I grew up on classic motorcycles so having a classic means a lot for me. But i need some reliability to do long runs. Classic motorcycle + reliability = Evolution. It is last of the "real" Harleys, at least for me. Carburetted Evo, of course. Mine is 1988 year, pretty old but it`s "newest" bike I posess. All others are little 2T from `60s, which are reliable too, but doing 1000 miles trip on 9HP motorcycle is not fun at all.
Performance? If I`d need performance, I would buy Busa or something. I did "my time" on fast bikes, did all those stupid things you can do on sports bikes etc. I`ve been a motorcyle courier for more than 3 years in London, doing really stupid things on the road, been chased by Police, been knocked off couple of times etc. All I want now is chilling out on the bike. Just keep moving forward, watch the landscape, hear the engine rumble and come back home in one piece...
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Pocatello
Usually I'm the oldest bike on a group ride. It just kills the TC riders when I pull away from 'em on the on-ramp and when we really get out and twist it. And my Evo is old and kinda tired. Wait until I freshen 'er up!
I still have a soft spot for Shovelheads....it's a more 'brute-ish' design, but as for reliability, you can't beat an Evo.
I still have a soft spot for Shovelheads....it's a more 'brute-ish' design, but as for reliability, you can't beat an Evo.