Why Evo?
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
LOL! True. That GL1100 was the most like a Harley of any of the other bikes we owned. It didn't have exceptional power - in fact, not as much torque as the '86 FLHT at touring speed. But it was lighter so it still had enough. Got decent gas mileage in the high 40's and could run 200 miles between fillups. It was comfortable. And fairly reliable.
It required new timing belts every 50,000 miles. The alternator stator went in it three times and had to pull the engine from the frame to replace it. The shaft drive was a pain in the *** because had to pull it all apart and repack the splines every rear tire change with Honda Moly60 to prevent them from wearing out - and that included removing the swingarm to get at the front u-joint splines. The carbs were a pain because they had to be re-sync'd every 30,000 miles or it buzzed like a bumble bee. But overall, one of the finer touring machines we owned.
The flat six 'Wings were a huge step backwards in what a touring motorcycle should be, and instead were/are a rolling showcase of "excess". Much like I'm seeing in the new Harley's where you have to press "accept" on a touch screen to start the damn thing.
It required new timing belts every 50,000 miles. The alternator stator went in it three times and had to pull the engine from the frame to replace it. The shaft drive was a pain in the *** because had to pull it all apart and repack the splines every rear tire change with Honda Moly60 to prevent them from wearing out - and that included removing the swingarm to get at the front u-joint splines. The carbs were a pain because they had to be re-sync'd every 30,000 miles or it buzzed like a bumble bee. But overall, one of the finer touring machines we owned.
The flat six 'Wings were a huge step backwards in what a touring motorcycle should be, and instead were/are a rolling showcase of "excess". Much like I'm seeing in the new Harley's where you have to press "accept" on a touch screen to start the damn thing.
Banned
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 760
Likes: 3
From: NYC
Ha. If it's true I'm looking forward to s****ering when some guy's Glide blue screens on him "sorry, man, can't start my bike ... it's frozen on me. I"m going to have to reboot it". Presumably tech support is now in India?
I am thinking now this much be a deliberate policy to coerce us into buying something new.
I abhor all the new electrics. I probably am a caveman luddite but the idea of anything that electrical that sits or runs outside in the rain goes against everything I understand.
I'm waiting for the 2018 models with biometric retina scanners, and GPS scanners that shut your bike down remotely when it goes over 70 mph (for the sake your safety and security).
Presumably these new GPS systems store information about everywhere you've ridden, when and how fast on some central server? Factory installed tracking devices?
Now bleat after me, "... but if you are doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear".
I abhor all the new electrics. I probably am a caveman luddite but the idea of anything that electrical that sits or runs outside in the rain goes against everything I understand.
I'm waiting for the 2018 models with biometric retina scanners, and GPS scanners that shut your bike down remotely when it goes over 70 mph (for the sake your safety and security).
Presumably these new GPS systems store information about everywhere you've ridden, when and how fast on some central server? Factory installed tracking devices?
Now bleat after me, "... but if you are doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear".
Banned
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 760
Likes: 3
From: NYC
Lifter blocks? Would they be the first blocker if they broke or wore? Cranks? Not something every corner shop could do?
But re-manufacturing is not the way society is being engineered. We're suppose to earn to consume, replace complete units and have some little Chinaman in a sweatshop do it all for us.
(Beware, it's not a long term model and which will actually work for the most of us, so start stock piling tools and tooling, e.g. lathes and mills, as shops shut down or upgrade to CNC).
Dirt don't hurt
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 21,065
Likes: 4,561
From: Haslet Texas
Ha. If it's true I'm looking forward to s****ering when some guy's Glide blue screens on him "sorry, man, can't start my bike ... it's frozen on me. I"m going to have to reboot it". Presumably tech support is now in India?
I am thinking now this much be a deliberate policy to coerce us into buying something new.
I abhor all the new electrics. I probably am a caveman luddite but the idea of anything that electrical that sits or runs outside in the rain goes against everything I understand.
I'm waiting for the 2018 models with biometric retina scanners, and GPS scanners that shut your bike down remotely when it goes over 70 mph (for the sake your safety and security).
Presumably these new GPS systems store information about everywhere you've ridden, when and how fast on some central server? Factory installed tracking devices?
Now bleat after me, "... but if you are doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear".
I am thinking now this much be a deliberate policy to coerce us into buying something new.
I abhor all the new electrics. I probably am a caveman luddite but the idea of anything that electrical that sits or runs outside in the rain goes against everything I understand.
I'm waiting for the 2018 models with biometric retina scanners, and GPS scanners that shut your bike down remotely when it goes over 70 mph (for the sake your safety and security).
Presumably these new GPS systems store information about everywhere you've ridden, when and how fast on some central server? Factory installed tracking devices?
Now bleat after me, "... but if you are doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to fear".
Every new electronic gizmo they put on the new bikes makes me love my '95 EVO more and more!!!!!!!!
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 209
Likes: 8
From: Northern Wisconsin
No, it's not. Have you test ridden one of the Ultra Limited's with that system in it? When it boots it flashes the H-D bar and shield on the screen and then displays some warning message of some kind about death (I never read it) and you have to press "ACCEPT" on the touch screen.
And this is no **** - they got this on a motorcycle:
And this is no **** - they got this on a motorcycle:
Supporter
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 32
From: Ft.Worth, Texas
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 209
Likes: 8
From: Northern Wisconsin
When all the Evo's are gone and before I own or ride a motorcycle with a touch screen computer that boots up with some warning message about death and dismemberment is the day I'm gonna find a 1936 Knucklehead EL and restore it. Something where when I kick it over and it don't start on the first try I get a backfire instead of a computer message saying "NO INPUT FROM KICKSTART SENSOR - ACCEPT - RETRY - CANCEL".
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,376
Likes: 36
From: Round Rock, TX
No, it's not. Have you test ridden one of the Ultra Limited's with that system in it? When it boots it flashes the H-D bar and shield on the screen and then displays some warning message of some kind about death (I never read it) and you have to press "ACCEPT" on the touch screen.
And this is no **** - they got this on a motorcycle:
My Fix Boom Box Firmware Fix 2014 Harley Davidson Street Glide Special - YouTube
And this is no **** - they got this on a motorcycle:
My Fix Boom Box Firmware Fix 2014 Harley Davidson Street Glide Special - YouTube