evo or another twincam?
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 169
Likes: 1
From: north Idaho
evo or another twincam?
Looking for a little feedback, am gonna buy another bike soon. The last one was a 99 ultra classic (tc) Bought it in Dec. of 06 with 9,000 mi. At the time, I wasn't thrilled about getting a geezer glide. My wife had ridden a lot before we met (on the fender of a 73 shovel) and wanted to be comfortable this time. The bike was stock, so we did the stage 1, than later swapped the cams for s&s 510's, geardrive, cam plate, and a better oil pump. Didn't have any major issues with it really, burned up the stator once, and the crank positioning shaft SENSOR went out on it. When the sensor went out, the bike wouldn't run, so we were dead in the water on a weekend ride, and Harley had to order the part. I'm not good with computers, tuners, and sensors, feeling like an evo bagger would be more simple? I think the last year was 98? And I'm not a mechanic, but try to do what I can with basic maintenance, anything to keep from hauling it to the dealer. Am rusty at carbs, but want to learn. Anyway, not to boar ya but wondering what route you guys would take, thanks for any suggestions.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,590
Likes: 444
From: Ohio
If you want the best of the EVO baggers, look for a '97 or '98. They have the best selection of accessories and the '98 has the same clutch as the Twinkies. A carbed bike will avoid all the computer crap. There are plenty of performance upgrades available also. Let us know when you have bought one and we will help you spend your money.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Don't allow electronics or 'computers' put you off making a choice of bike! Harley was one of the first brands to use electronics, back in the 70s, with their regulators, when most other brands were still using archaic electro-mechanical things - Yuk! All bikes without points have an electronic ignition system, which transformed reliability and performance - I have even converted a few of my bikes in the past to do away with the points. Regardless of the naysayers, electronics have transformed our bikes, very much for the better. Without them they would be a darned sight LESS reliable!
What would I go for if changing bikes? Very difficult! I owned a new TC88 for a few years and it was fine, once I changed the primary gearing by a lot. As an engineer I am more interested in the underpinnings of our bikes and the problem these days, especially with the internet, is that we can be easily tempted by a dazzling variety of good things we can do, for styling, performance, braking, handling, suspension, etc. In some ways the post-Evo bikes are better finished, but not better provided for in other ways, especially ride quality.
Knowing what I do now, I suggest that any bike up to 2013 will require many of the same improvements as an old Evo, to drag it up to scratch! It might look nicer, with its swish wheels and paint, but underneath, in far too many ways, it is not any more modern. Only with the 2014 bikes has Harley made some serious improvements IMHO. To some degree the less you pay for a bike, hence the older it is, the more cash you may have spare for essential improvements!
What are the landmarks? The oilpan under the trans during the mid-90s, 1" twin-row wheel bearings in 2000, Delphi EFI, superior engine/trans interface with TC96, Brembo brakes and that's about it. Everything else is tinkering around the edges.
What would I go for if changing bikes? Very difficult! I owned a new TC88 for a few years and it was fine, once I changed the primary gearing by a lot. As an engineer I am more interested in the underpinnings of our bikes and the problem these days, especially with the internet, is that we can be easily tempted by a dazzling variety of good things we can do, for styling, performance, braking, handling, suspension, etc. In some ways the post-Evo bikes are better finished, but not better provided for in other ways, especially ride quality.
Knowing what I do now, I suggest that any bike up to 2013 will require many of the same improvements as an old Evo, to drag it up to scratch! It might look nicer, with its swish wheels and paint, but underneath, in far too many ways, it is not any more modern. Only with the 2014 bikes has Harley made some serious improvements IMHO. To some degree the less you pay for a bike, hence the older it is, the more cash you may have spare for essential improvements!
What are the landmarks? The oilpan under the trans during the mid-90s, 1" twin-row wheel bearings in 2000, Delphi EFI, superior engine/trans interface with TC96, Brembo brakes and that's about it. Everything else is tinkering around the edges.
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