HD reliability from one riders viewpoint
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
Thanks! What a refreshing post. The forum has a very vocal group of members that like to complain about real or imagined "defects" with these bikes. Some of them are outright trolls and are making it up. Others "think" there is a problem because someone told them there was. I think most, if not all, of the complaints about instability are the result of a lack of riding skills or folklore, rather than a design or manufacturing defect.
One other theory that I have is that the bikes that really have the troubles and failures are the ones that have had significant engine modifications done. Just curious--did you do major mods to your bikes or have you left them largely stock?
One other theory that I have is that the bikes that really have the troubles and failures are the ones that have had significant engine modifications done. Just curious--did you do major mods to your bikes or have you left them largely stock?
Last edited by TKDKurt; Jun 20, 2012 at 06:32 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 1,165
From: No where near you, OH
This has been an interesting post to read. Quite refreshing as a matter of fact. I've been doing a ton of reading here since I joined up on mods and such. I came to the conclusion that I will keep mine as close to stock as I can get it. I'm not sure ig IH's Ultra is stock or not but by the sounds of the reliability he's getting it's probably pretty close. I can only read about hard starting hot cammed out bikes and fuel managers crapping out for so long until I decide to just leave mine the ***** alone. I've had zero problems with mine since I got it. Nothing at all to complain about. I'm kinda jealous of IH though! Just by the looking at his "been to" map! Lol!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 7,855
Likes: 11
From: Oroville,Washington.
Imagine some dude starting a thread about Harley "reliablility"! Preposterous. Hell,I only got 100,000 miles out of those piece of crap AMF's (2 of them) back in the day.I've been riding Harleys since '64,never had a breakdown that left me stranded,and logged over a half million miles on them.Never had the interest to own anything else.In the last year,I put 20,000 on my RK,and 10,000 on a softail Deluxe.Now the OP's 40,000 miles doesn't constitute enough riding to make a blanket statement about long term reliablility,but I bet plenty of others can back the claim up.I disagree about the performance mods,every bike I've owned has been at least a stage ll,and other than running like a striped-*** ape,no sacrifice in reliability or longevity.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 11
From: Kentucky
I've had 2 Harleys and my wife has had 1, all bought used. The only problems I ever had was a couple of after-market bolts broke or came loose on things the previous owner had modified an on 11 year-old Sportster. Can't complain about that. My Nissan pickup has had a lot more issues and I consider it extremely reliable.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 7
From: SE Illinois
It's good to read positive comments rather than about some issue someone is having.
Congrats to the OP for achieving your goal of riding 49 states...amazing.
Congrats to the OP for achieving your goal of riding 49 states...amazing.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 10,366
Likes: 406
From: Connecticut
I beat the **** out my bikes... I ride 'em HARD. Tires at 4 - 5k. Never had an issue.
Just picked up a 2012 courtesy of a texter... I may ease up on her. Who knows? It'll be here Friday of Saturday.
AMF days haunt HD. Us younger Dudes still hear crap, and many of us weren't even born. It's hard to shake a stigma.
I can't write that I wouldn't mind an Indian in my garage one day...
Just picked up a 2012 courtesy of a texter... I may ease up on her. Who knows? It'll be here Friday of Saturday.
AMF days haunt HD. Us younger Dudes still hear crap, and many of us weren't even born. It's hard to shake a stigma.
I can't write that I wouldn't mind an Indian in my garage one day...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,053
Likes: 12,327
From: Arkansas
I'm on my 3rd Harley. Bought the 1st in 1969 and kept it 15 years. It was a 64 Duo-Glide and was always having some kind of problem for the entire time I owned it. I did more top ends than I can remember but that was just the nature of the beast and we all accepted and understood that.
Sold the Glide in 1984 and bought a new to the market 84 FXST EVO. The EVO was a great bike and only had a few problems with it but nothing compared to the Panhead. Did one rebuild on the entire engine and sold it with 210,000 miles on it in 2005
Currently have an 05 FLSTSC and that freaking thing is bullet proof! I have put 67,000 miles on it so far and other than one thing that I modified, the only issue it has had was a seal for the shift shaft started to weep a little.
The new TC is as solid of a machine as a man could ask for in my opinion.
EDIT...Neglected to mention the Cam Chain issue. Did have to change that before they went. Changed mine at 45,000 miles and hopefully won't have to worry about it anymore. Of course that is not an issue with the newer than mine bikes any more.
Sold the Glide in 1984 and bought a new to the market 84 FXST EVO. The EVO was a great bike and only had a few problems with it but nothing compared to the Panhead. Did one rebuild on the entire engine and sold it with 210,000 miles on it in 2005
Currently have an 05 FLSTSC and that freaking thing is bullet proof! I have put 67,000 miles on it so far and other than one thing that I modified, the only issue it has had was a seal for the shift shaft started to weep a little.
The new TC is as solid of a machine as a man could ask for in my opinion.
EDIT...Neglected to mention the Cam Chain issue. Did have to change that before they went. Changed mine at 45,000 miles and hopefully won't have to worry about it anymore. Of course that is not an issue with the newer than mine bikes any more.
Last edited by IronAss; Jun 20, 2012 at 11:54 AM.