Older bike very low mileage
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,414
Likes: 6,366
From: Honah Lee
Welcome to the HDFORUM. A Community Team imoo6170 will probably move your thread to proper area.
Just a suggestion but come back here to say hello with a new thread.
I would be very cautious with that offer.
Just a suggestion but come back here to say hello with a new thread.
I would be very cautious with that offer.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,732
Likes: 1,415
From: Sydney Australia
@Mercuryman I have moved this thread from the Welcome section to the General Harley Davidson Chat section as you will get better responses to your question in this section.
The Welcome section is more for introducing yourself & letting other forum members know what Harley Davidson you own. Please feel free to post a new thread back in the Welcome area to introduce yourself.
The Welcome section is more for introducing yourself & letting other forum members know what Harley Davidson you own. Please feel free to post a new thread back in the Welcome area to introduce yourself.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22,999
Likes: 11,439
Some dealers will not work on bike that old some will but are not happy about it.
If someone is sell a 2009 with 400 miles on it they would want to post really good pictures.
If someone is sell a 2009 with 400 miles on it they would want to post really good pictures.
Last edited by smitty901; Jan 6, 2025 at 02:00 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 411
Likes: 599
From: Florida
In addition to all the above listed items, keep a few $ set aside for wheel bearings. I know, it sound weird, but when I bought my (new to me) 2015 FatBob it was only 1 year young with 3496 miles. I don't know how long it sat before I rescued it. But with few hundred miles the rear wheel bearings had chewed themselves to bits. When the service tech finally got it apart the bearing(s) fell onto the lift surface in multiply pieces. It ended up being covered under the extended warranty, but the few miles I rode it to the dealership to figure out what was wrong was exciting. 
My thinking on why this happened was that the grease separated while it was sitting and some rust formed on/in the bearings. Fast forward to me rescuing it and riding every chance I got and the rust got ground up & mixed into the remaining grease. This turned it into a rust infused grinding paste and the rest was a Mothership visit away from tragedy. I could be totally wrong.
If it needs new tires, and it will, do the bearings at the same time. The usual rule of thumb is to change the wheel bearings with every second tire change. That is to be moderated by how many miles or years have gone by since the last bearing change.
P. S. - The above could also happen elsewhere on the bike. Getting a professional inspection may be money well spent.
My thinking on why this happened was that the grease separated while it was sitting and some rust formed on/in the bearings. Fast forward to me rescuing it and riding every chance I got and the rust got ground up & mixed into the remaining grease. This turned it into a rust infused grinding paste and the rest was a Mothership visit away from tragedy. I could be totally wrong.
If it needs new tires, and it will, do the bearings at the same time. The usual rule of thumb is to change the wheel bearings with every second tire change. That is to be moderated by how many miles or years have gone by since the last bearing change.
P. S. - The above could also happen elsewhere on the bike. Getting a professional inspection may be money well spent.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 4,333
Likes: 3,755
From: Florida
I disagree with most… 400 original miles? Change fluids inspect the tire, ride it like you stole it. After you know you love it and know it’s a keeper save for tires. I know I know.. everyone gets all upset and starts talking about tire expiration dates… meanwhile men like Wheels through time pump air into 100 year old tires and set out riding. I have seen tires that for whatever reason come apart, but usually there are signs. Just because some salesmen or shop didn’t get $300 out of you in the last year doesn’t mean your tire is no good. Be smart.. are there checks, bulges, does it feel weird.. if it looks and feels like a new tire.. use it.
My front tire on my 98 Road King looks like brand new. When I got a new rear the guy who installed it had a fit that my front was 13 years old. He begged and pleaded even tried scare techniques to admonish me to get a new front tire… told me it was likely going to blow up if I didn’t change this pristine like new tire… you know he was probably right cause 15,000 miles later that front tire needed replacing after all.
The irony is lots of guys who get all upset about tires past their date codes and say how dangerous it is are also the guys who take off for Sturgis with no gloves, no helmet and wear sneakers.
Seals… it’s a 2009 not a 1909. Yes it “might” have a leak and sitting is sort of hard on them. But let’s give some credit to engineering and assume we’ve made some improvements to the combustion engine in the last 50 years… So ride this like new Softail… if it gets a leak, we’ll ok, fix it, but don’t assume because it’s a 2009 you have to do a frame up restoration..
My front tire on my 98 Road King looks like brand new. When I got a new rear the guy who installed it had a fit that my front was 13 years old. He begged and pleaded even tried scare techniques to admonish me to get a new front tire… told me it was likely going to blow up if I didn’t change this pristine like new tire… you know he was probably right cause 15,000 miles later that front tire needed replacing after all.
The irony is lots of guys who get all upset about tires past their date codes and say how dangerous it is are also the guys who take off for Sturgis with no gloves, no helmet and wear sneakers.
Seals… it’s a 2009 not a 1909. Yes it “might” have a leak and sitting is sort of hard on them. But let’s give some credit to engineering and assume we’ve made some improvements to the combustion engine in the last 50 years… So ride this like new Softail… if it gets a leak, we’ll ok, fix it, but don’t assume because it’s a 2009 you have to do a frame up restoration..
Last edited by Rains2much; Jan 6, 2025 at 04:04 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 756
Likes: 344
From: florida
I would ABSOLUTELY have to see it in person. I don't trust anyone else's assessment- unless I know them really well.
I'd plan on a road trip and if it seems OK, rent a trailer and haul it home. Factor in these costs with the price of the bike.
I'd plan on a road trip and if it seems OK, rent a trailer and haul it home. Factor in these costs with the price of the bike.