The Evolution Engine-Why Did they Scrap It?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 6,535
Likes: 11,048
From: ohio
Oh no the Evo is still a very good motor, it had some birthing pains and had several important redesigns in the early years but from about 92 on it was as solid an engine as you could want. Lot of them out there with 200K + on the clock and still rolling. Still a very good powerplant and very open to building more horsepower. The evo were the last of the hands on assembly line engines where things had specs that had to be hand measured and set correctly unlike todays motors. Now you have assemblers and machine operators not skilled technicians building motors.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 6,535
Likes: 11,048
From: ohio
I remember when the Evo came out. Guys were calling it the Blockhead, which Harley didn't like them doing. People were claiming that because it was aluminum it couldn't be bored out like the Shovelheads. It was all a misunderstanding. HD asked what the biggest issue was with their bikes in (1980?) surveys and the biggest complaint was reliability. The Evolution engine was the answer. The new engine had CDI ignition, didn't leak oil and looked squared off like...a blockhead. You could ride it for 50,000 miles only doing oil changes. It just ran. Forever.
Why did they replace it? It was 16 years old and with the freeway speed limits going up to 75-80mph it was time for something with more power. That would be the Twinkie, which for some reason was never as popular, I think because of the chain driven cam. But the Twin cam was stronger and faster. Time doesn't stand still even for Harley Davidson and the Evo, no matter how reliable, just had its day.
Why did they replace it? It was 16 years old and with the freeway speed limits going up to 75-80mph it was time for something with more power. That would be the Twinkie, which for some reason was never as popular, I think because of the chain driven cam. But the Twin cam was stronger and faster. Time doesn't stand still even for Harley Davidson and the Evo, no matter how reliable, just had its day.
50K? My 98 EG had way more than that before a cager took it out and it didn't have any engine work done on it. 75-80mph was just fine, but when I went on a group ride and the group was pushing 95 and trying to pass everything in sight before having to suddenly slow down because of the highway patrol up ahead or a traffic slowdown, that was an issue.
Before the ride, a guy with a newer Harley was wondering if my "old" Harley would be able to keep up, but it wasn't an issue, particularly when I stopped to see why he was broke down on the side of the interstate.
He got some ribbing for that later, not by me but by a few others.
Last edited by Long lonesome highwayman; Aug 3, 2021 at 11:17 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 9,238
Likes: 5,784
From: On the Big Blue marble
You can draw a straight line from the original Knuckleheads through the Panheads, and Shovels, to the Evo.
We talk of them as different generations and different engines, but really, it's one engine design with four major iterations.
For me, that lineage is why I will always consider the Evo the ultimate Harley engine.
Why did the MoCo replace it? Probably a lot of reasons. I expect the biggie was EPA pressure on both sound and emissions. And manufacturers always think coming up with something new will give them a boost in sales. "New and improved!!!"
The great thing about Evos, and why they're different than Shovels/Pans/Knucks, is that toward the end of their run (mid to late 90's), they were selling enormous numbers of them.
So they are out there. Lots of them.
Great motor. Great bikes.
We talk of them as different generations and different engines, but really, it's one engine design with four major iterations.
For me, that lineage is why I will always consider the Evo the ultimate Harley engine.
Why did the MoCo replace it? Probably a lot of reasons. I expect the biggie was EPA pressure on both sound and emissions. And manufacturers always think coming up with something new will give them a boost in sales. "New and improved!!!"
The great thing about Evos, and why they're different than Shovels/Pans/Knucks, is that toward the end of their run (mid to late 90's), they were selling enormous numbers of them.
So they are out there. Lots of them.
Great motor. Great bikes.
Totally agreed with all said... Its kinda like the small block Chevy..
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,372
Likes: 1,362
From: Aurora, CO
You are thinking of lobes, intake and exhaust, the cam is the rotating unit as a whole, the only 4 cam is the Sportster.
It doesnt take to much to wake up the Evo, I love the engine, minimal head work from Hillside and just a better cam, I ran a W6 from Woods and made 90/90
It doesnt take to much to wake up the Evo, I love the engine, minimal head work from Hillside and just a better cam, I ran a W6 from Woods and made 90/90
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 694
Likes: 255
From: Denver CO
Bought an 85' Softail Christmas eve of 84' In 99' I got a Buell X1 and sold the Evo powered bike
for close to 10K after 14+ years. (I built my evo to 90 RWHP and it was quite a fun bike)
Got the Deuce Christmas eve of 99' , 2000 model. Liked everything about it better. Ride, power, just felt like a 'new and
improved Softail?
Still have the Deuce but have listed it for sale.
Got the 2020 FXDR in Jan of 20' Again, just everything better. Ride, HP, BRAKES!
I think each bike was that much better than the one before.
Still get out on the Deuce and think ' this is a fine ride and I could be happy with it.
Could use some better rear shocks and the brakes feel really weak compared to the new dual discs.
Will bomb 75 and 275 at 85 to 95 mph. (just hanging with my riding buddies and FL traffic :-)
70-75 is about fine on the TC.
Natural progression. I also remember them protecting their IP on the TC. EVERY part is patented. Why not?
I make carbon parts and wouldn't dare pull molds off of fenders, seat pans, etc.
Harley could ruin your day quick if they wanted to.
JM
for close to 10K after 14+ years. (I built my evo to 90 RWHP and it was quite a fun bike)
Got the Deuce Christmas eve of 99' , 2000 model. Liked everything about it better. Ride, power, just felt like a 'new and
improved Softail?
Still have the Deuce but have listed it for sale.
Got the 2020 FXDR in Jan of 20' Again, just everything better. Ride, HP, BRAKES!
I think each bike was that much better than the one before.
Still get out on the Deuce and think ' this is a fine ride and I could be happy with it.
Could use some better rear shocks and the brakes feel really weak compared to the new dual discs.
Will bomb 75 and 275 at 85 to 95 mph. (just hanging with my riding buddies and FL traffic :-)
70-75 is about fine on the TC.
Natural progression. I also remember them protecting their IP on the TC. EVERY part is patented. Why not?
I make carbon parts and wouldn't dare pull molds off of fenders, seat pans, etc.
Harley could ruin your day quick if they wanted to.
JM
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 694
Likes: 255
From: Denver CO
Oh yeah, my first big glide Harley in 83' was a Sturgis edition WG.
Nicknamed 'Boneshaker" Stuff would fall off every few rides.
The tool kit included from the "real biker" I bought it from was a roll of bailing wire.
Seriously he said to 'never leave home without it' and it got me home a couple times.
The Evo was also SO much better in every way. The 81(?) had dual front discs and weren't as good as the newer bike.
Last Jap bike as a punk teenager was a (77-78?) KZ 900 Kaw. Lucky to be alive after those years!
JM
Nicknamed 'Boneshaker" Stuff would fall off every few rides.
The tool kit included from the "real biker" I bought it from was a roll of bailing wire.
Seriously he said to 'never leave home without it' and it got me home a couple times.
The Evo was also SO much better in every way. The 81(?) had dual front discs and weren't as good as the newer bike.
Last Jap bike as a punk teenager was a (77-78?) KZ 900 Kaw. Lucky to be alive after those years!
JM
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 989
From:
I tend to agree with him, but I have lucked out. I've also been burned badly. I had an '83 FXR with the very last shovelhead that was amazing. Conversely, I bought an '85 FXRT with the 1st or 2nd yr evo that was superb. I kept it for 15 yrs; regret selling. The worst motorcycle I have ever owned was that '07 EG Classic with the 1st year 6 sp Cruise Drive - "the rattler" . Absolute lemon. And HD abandoned me - I'm still pissed over that.