I'm having trouble with the edit function.

Change the above quote to: In terms of reliability and longevity, are HD bikes the same, worse, or better in recent times compared to around 2010?

 

Yes, in terms of power, comfort, handling, etc., subsequent years are better. Are the latest bikes as reliable as the EVO era? I doubt it.

Not trolling.

 

I owned a 99 Shadow 1100, left me stranded 3 times.
I have owned 3 Harleys, 95 Fatboy, 06 Electraglide, and now 18 M8 Roadglide I bought in Oct and now have 6000 miles on. Zero issues with any of them.

 

I've heard the Tennesee mountain air is comparable to the Chippewa falls air in Wisconsin, but as you move out into the great plains area torque values drop off until you hit the rockies.

 

Quality has gone down a little, but not much and more in terms of paint finish. I have had some good ones, and some bad ones.

09 CVO Road Glide, lifter failure at 46K miles
12 CVO Road glide, regulator failure 8K miles, compensator at 17K miles, clutch at 35K miles
13 CVO King, hard to say, I built the motor at 1K miles with much better parts, still have it, trouble free.
15 CVO Road Glide ultra, lifter failure at 44K miles, on first day of vacation 450 miles from home. Fixed under warranty, bike was 2 days shy of 2 years old.
17 CVO Street Glide, 21550 trouble free miles
18 CVO Road Glide, 24800 trouble feee miles.

 

 

I have been on Harley's since "69. My bikes have never stranded even once. I take excellent care of my bike. It never sits wet after a rain. It gets a careful wipe downs and at least one fan running on it overnite. I do my own work unless it is warranty problem. In the old days we had points, condenser and spark plugs to deal with. Rear chains as well. Master links, extra bulbs ect. Bikes today are the most trouble free (in most cases) HDs ever made.

 

Just stepped in troll poopy

 

08 FLHX Street Glide - 26K Miles - 96 CI - ZERO Mechanical Issues - She would wobble

10 FLHTCU Ultra Classic - 56K Miles - 96 CI - Two Transmission Failures - One Under Warrenaty, One under ESP - Other than that a really sweet bike

10 FXDWX Wide Glide - 60 miles (yes only 60) - 96 CI - ZERO Issues LOL

16 FLHTK Limited - 16K Miles - 103 CI - Clutch Recall, Rear shock failure - Great power out of the 103 and I really enjoyed this bike

17 FLHTKSE CVO - 13K Miles - 114 CI Waiting on Clutch Recall - ZERO issues to date - AWESOME POWER...

I cannot compare to an EVO in reliability, but I know without a doubt I enjoy my current bike a 100 times more than I would a 25 year old EVO. Ride, handling, comfort, electronics and power are sweet!

 

Ever since they made that awful decision to go with 2 cylinders, quality has gone steadily down hill.