New VS Old
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,219
Likes: 7,784
From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
.....But doesn't mean its good. I can restore a 78 mustang King cobra (pinto) to be like a new 78 mustang again but they should've all been greeted by a car crusher at the end of the assembly line back in 1978.
I would buy the newest bike I could afford, lessons learned by mistakes they made.
I would buy the newest bike I could afford, lessons learned by mistakes they made.
In the case of the Harleys...the Evo is far...far from a comparison to a Pinto.
Many of us even prefer a carb'd Evo to an early of mid vintage Twinkie.
OP....get the bike that pulls at your heart....you'll know when you see it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,332
Likes: 3,873
From: Upstate New York
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...leys-leak.html
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 533
Likes: 57
From: Fredericksburg, VA
My Evo never leaked a drop....
My Shovelhed didn't either, she just marked her spots! She actually never leaked, but had a chain oiler, that well, it oiled the chain...
(sorry haven't read the link yet)
My Shovelhed didn't either, she just marked her spots! She actually never leaked, but had a chain oiler, that well, it oiled the chain...
(sorry haven't read the link yet)
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 620
From: Pittsburgh suburb
The last bike I had was an '80 Shovelhead FLT. I had it for 18 years. There were a couple of issues ver that time frame. Until I had some issues with the transmission, it was all stuff I could easily fix. Probably coulda fixed that too, but it was time for a new bike.
I had a '92 Superglide before that that i absolutely loved and truly regretted selling. I love the Evo motors, last year when i was looking, I was seriously, seriously considering an Evo over a current model. Being a guy who has always turned wrenches on his own bikes, it's hard for me to buy something piled high with computers. But, my wife beat me down on buying something newer...
There are a number of horrors stories about the first generation TC motors... But, also thousands and thousands of them still on the road. Whereas the later Evo motors had all the kinks worked out.
It's a tough call.. But, low mileage doesn't always mean lower maintenance either. If it's been sitting unridden for years and years, or even barely ridden... Did they keep up with the maintenance, etc?
I had a '92 Superglide before that that i absolutely loved and truly regretted selling. I love the Evo motors, last year when i was looking, I was seriously, seriously considering an Evo over a current model. Being a guy who has always turned wrenches on his own bikes, it's hard for me to buy something piled high with computers. But, my wife beat me down on buying something newer...
There are a number of horrors stories about the first generation TC motors... But, also thousands and thousands of them still on the road. Whereas the later Evo motors had all the kinks worked out.
It's a tough call.. But, low mileage doesn't always mean lower maintenance either. If it's been sitting unridden for years and years, or even barely ridden... Did they keep up with the maintenance, etc?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,055
Likes: 8,080
From: Canada
You missed my point. The point being a "new" old bike doesn't make it a good bike, it just brings you back to a certain era where none of it compares to a modern version.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 465
Likes: 10
From: Morgan City La.
I have a new m8 , my second one in fact no trouble what so ever out of them but I really miss the sound ride and feel of an old carbureted evo or early twin cam . Been looking to buy one just to have one for around town would like to find either a wideglide or Softail custom but hard to find one that hasn't been abused . Eventually I will find the right deal though
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,219
Likes: 7,784
From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
It's not like Harleys are "high tech". It's still a primitive engine. If you're going to compare an Evo to an older car of the late 70's or 80's-early 90's...pick a fox body Mustang 5.0 at least.
Look at the OP budget, 4-6k. To make it a narrower choice he wants a glide. Sure we can find base model twinkie softails or dynas all day long for under 6k, but finding a twinkie Glide in that price range may well result in a lot of high milers. The early twinkes are not see as an improvement over a second generation Evo. The 2nd gen Evos has the newer style electronics and much the same stuff that carried into the first round Twinkies. you're not talking a big gap in technology here.
The "wearable" parts are what counts. You can replace those parts on old bikes with newer tech stuff...tires, oils, brake pads, gaskets, etc. By now, much of that has already been replaced on the used bike market.
Now if you go back to early 70's "AMF Harley" analogies...sure, you can bring back your "pinto" analogy. But most of the Shovels from that era have already had the kinks ironed out of 'em by now, parts replaced with more current better parts. Heck my Shovel was a daily rider til I sold her 2 years ago as I wanted a Springer Softail.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 619
From: North Dakota & Minnesota
Now you're talking about the difference in a tried and true motor that's been tested for 14 years vs a new engine. Nothing against the 88' twin cam. Good motor. Just doesn't make the Evo a pinto.
Last edited by ieatchickens; Jul 11, 2017 at 07:23 PM.