Evo VS. New
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 533
Likes: 2
From: Virginia
They are as reliable as each other, very little difference, most of the EFI TC's I look after just need servicing and they rumble on and on....just like oil or carby threads on these forums 
some of the Evos I look after are buckets of crap that need putting down and there is one TC Road King that will never be any good.
Its the Sportsters that seem to give the least trouble if you want my opinion.
some of the Evos I look after are buckets of crap that need putting down and there is one TC Road King that will never be any good.Its the Sportsters that seem to give the least trouble if you want my opinion.
Too bad some monkey at HD started advertising them as a stepping stone.
Yes - I'm biased, I absolutely love my XLs, even more every time I work on the FXRT.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 856
Likes: 9
From: North Carolina
Well, I love the evo for two reasons. I like the sound better. It does sound different than a TC to my ears. And, if something breaks I can fix it in my garage.
Mine has some performance up-grades so I don't struggle to keep up with the TCs. I don't ride so hard that it matters anyway. If someone is looking for a drag race they can look someplace else. I'm too old and calm to have any interest in that. The only way I will move to a TC is if for some reason I decide I have to have an ultra and I find a good deal. If I were looking now I'd be happy to get an EVO touring bike. There's a guy in our local PGR that has a sweet 1991 Harley electra-glide. For me I just don't see the justification for all the extra cash expenditure.
Mine has some performance up-grades so I don't struggle to keep up with the TCs. I don't ride so hard that it matters anyway. If someone is looking for a drag race they can look someplace else. I'm too old and calm to have any interest in that. The only way I will move to a TC is if for some reason I decide I have to have an ultra and I find a good deal. If I were looking now I'd be happy to get an EVO touring bike. There's a guy in our local PGR that has a sweet 1991 Harley electra-glide. For me I just don't see the justification for all the extra cash expenditure.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 525
Likes: 2
From: San Diego
Here are my thoughts on this volatile subject so take them with a grain of salt and it's ok to disagree..
Relaibility:
EVO hands down 1000 times over (i will explain later)
Stock Performance:
TC hands down..
So, a bone stock TC will beat an EVO in performance out of the box but depending on the year, they are plagued with reliability issues..
TC's are also more costly to get power from, for example, if you have an EVO sitting next to a TC motor and $2000 to spend, the EVO will come out on top within that budget every time..
Reliabiltiy:
Evo crushes the TC engine here, I know you are thinking "my TC has over 100k with only oil changes" but that is a rare exception, EVO's can do that all the time..
My biggest reason for choosing EVO over TC is I like to go on long rides far far away from home.. I am not wealthy and if I have a break down, I may not be able to afford any outside help repairing the bike.
TC's are plagued with Cam chain failures, cam sensors, and electronics that can't be diagnosed of fixed on the side of the road..
Give me a carburated EVO with a simple ignition system, no modules, sensors or black magic, and I will keep on running wherever I need to go..
Also, if you want crazy power, say over 130HP, EVO will win again, TC's can get damn unreliable in this HP range, crank runout, ect....
As a gearhead, mechanic, and machinist, I still can't see any advantage in twin cams without 4 valve heads... Just added rotating mass and more points of failure for a 2 valve head design... It's a dis-advantage IMO..
Bottom line:
EVO motors are capable of more relaible power than TC's as well as easier to repair on the road.. They are also cheaper to maintain....
I have both and my EVO is faster and caused me way less headaches than my TC.
Relaibility:
EVO hands down 1000 times over (i will explain later)
Stock Performance:
TC hands down..
So, a bone stock TC will beat an EVO in performance out of the box but depending on the year, they are plagued with reliability issues..
TC's are also more costly to get power from, for example, if you have an EVO sitting next to a TC motor and $2000 to spend, the EVO will come out on top within that budget every time..
Reliabiltiy:
Evo crushes the TC engine here, I know you are thinking "my TC has over 100k with only oil changes" but that is a rare exception, EVO's can do that all the time..
My biggest reason for choosing EVO over TC is I like to go on long rides far far away from home.. I am not wealthy and if I have a break down, I may not be able to afford any outside help repairing the bike.
TC's are plagued with Cam chain failures, cam sensors, and electronics that can't be diagnosed of fixed on the side of the road..
Give me a carburated EVO with a simple ignition system, no modules, sensors or black magic, and I will keep on running wherever I need to go..
Also, if you want crazy power, say over 130HP, EVO will win again, TC's can get damn unreliable in this HP range, crank runout, ect....
As a gearhead, mechanic, and machinist, I still can't see any advantage in twin cams without 4 valve heads... Just added rotating mass and more points of failure for a 2 valve head design... It's a dis-advantage IMO..
Bottom line:
EVO motors are capable of more relaible power than TC's as well as easier to repair on the road.. They are also cheaper to maintain....
I have both and my EVO is faster and caused me way less headaches than my TC.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 333
Likes: 0
From: southern Alberta Canada
While I am not a machinist or a mechanic...... The gearhead in me for the longest time figured that the twin cam harley engine had OVERHEAD cams... when I actually realized that the 2 cams are both down in the bottom of the engine just like in the Evo's I became totally lost. WTF does this even accomplish and how does it even work, is thier one cam for each cylinder or does 1 cam run both intake valves and the other cam run both exhausts?
I could see an advantage to running overhead cams with 2 valve heads but what Harley has done totally baffles me
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Gotta disagree with the idea that a: TC's are unreliable and b: That the home mechanic can't fix them....thats just nonesense.....the special tools I have for TC's and Evos are identical with the exception that the TC inner cam bearing puller is bigger.
TC's have a simpler rocker box that is easier and quicker to remove and as long as its a carby one they really are kissin' cousins and the EFI on the TC is way more reliable than the Evo one.
I like both bikes/motors and I like Shovels and Pans too but get a grip on reality people.
I have built some very fast TC's including a 130HP one.....all are reliable.
What TC's don't do is crack crankcases or inner primaries, or leak from the base gaskets.
Evo's sound nicer at idle and are cheaper to tune but I would have either in a heartbeat....only reason I have a TC is because I wanted a newer bike, wouldn't rubbish Evos or TCs...I just ride Harleys and who really gives a damn which one ya ride....just as long as you're not a feckwit.
TC's have a simpler rocker box that is easier and quicker to remove and as long as its a carby one they really are kissin' cousins and the EFI on the TC is way more reliable than the Evo one.
I like both bikes/motors and I like Shovels and Pans too but get a grip on reality people.
I have built some very fast TC's including a 130HP one.....all are reliable.
What TC's don't do is crack crankcases or inner primaries, or leak from the base gaskets.
Evo's sound nicer at idle and are cheaper to tune but I would have either in a heartbeat....only reason I have a TC is because I wanted a newer bike, wouldn't rubbish Evos or TCs...I just ride Harleys and who really gives a damn which one ya ride....just as long as you're not a feckwit.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 579
Likes: 26
From: Virginia
I went EVO because it's simpler and cheaper to work on. I'm just starting to realize that Harley has pretty much left them for dead in the parts and accessories though- lots of discontinued or obsolete part numbers. Waaaay more for twin cam 99+ and even 06+ bikes. Oh well, that's half the fun!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 10,238
Likes: 799
From: Indiana
I sir, consider myself to be a "feckwit" 
(what is that anyway?
) and I'm offended by your use of the term (even though I don't know what it means.....)
(what is that anyway?) and I'm offended by your use of the term (even though I don't know what it means.....)
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 181
Likes: 1
From: Minnesnowta
you are a feckwit, and need a good twating