General Harley Davidson Chat Forum to discuss general Harley Davidson issues, topics, and experiences.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Whats wrong with a 103

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 13, 2014 | 01:04 PM
  #21  
SoCalSoftailSlim's Avatar
SoCalSoftailSlim
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,719
Likes: 60
From: Los Angeles
Default

No problems at all. Does your mate even own a bike with a 103?

Sometimes people just like to gab outta there ****.
 
Old Jan 13, 2014 | 02:00 PM
  #22  
Uncle Paul's Avatar
Uncle Paul
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
Default

Believe the 103 is essentially a 96 with bigger pistons. They freshened up a bunch of the internals and added an oil cooler and automatic compression releases.

Typically for Harley, some of their production goes back into the shop for warranty work, but I believe no more than for any other air cooled big twin.

My 103 feels much better than my 96 Street Glide. It pulls stronger, especially up hills and when riding two up. You need to shift less, and cruises easier at much higher speeds.

Believe the 103 is a great upgrade from the 96, while not puting out as much heat as the 110. (Goldilocks motor)
 
Old Jan 13, 2014 | 03:38 PM
  #23  
snookie66's Avatar
snookie66
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 355
Likes: 5
From: Pa.
Default

Love my SG 103, stage 1. Nice cruiser with enough power to get you out of trouble, if need be.
 
Old Jan 13, 2014 | 04:32 PM
  #24  
hollowpoint's Avatar
hollowpoint
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,605
Likes: 3
From: Adirondack Mountains
Default

Originally Posted by Rebyl
I was speaking to a mate in the States and he says that the 103 is rubbish and gives nothing but trouble?
Your mate in the States is rubbish and gives nothing but trouble.
 
Old Jan 13, 2014 | 04:46 PM
  #25  
skratch's Avatar
skratch
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
Default

Originally Posted by Rebyl
Only time it has ever embarrassed me is the alarm going off at a service station due to all the interference from their tech stuff, had to push it 50 metres then all OK.
Originally Posted by HDSAE60
I have a 103 and it's great, I did have to disarm it once manually at a gas station. It's easy if you have the owners manual.
its a whole lot easier to push a couple of buttons than it is to push a 850lb bike around trying to find a rfi free spot. plus, there would have been zero embarassment on your part that way

if you don't know your pin code, or if you haven't changed it from when you bought it, i strongly suggest that you do, and then familiarize yourself with the procedure. there are a whole bunch of threads on here from people who call the hd security 'crap' simply because they didn't know how to use it and got themselves stranded.
 
Old Jan 13, 2014 | 04:56 PM
  #26  
Dynamohm's Avatar
Dynamohm
Road Warrior
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 775
From: Ponte Vedra Beach FL
Default

Originally Posted by ChickinOnaChain
My 103 must be the lemon here.
14,500 miles...the compensator has to be replaced.
16,000 miles...the counterbalance has to be replaced.
I had 2 compensators replaced other than that all good. They seem to be a bit on the noisy side but have plenty of power.
 
Old Jan 13, 2014 | 05:28 PM
  #27  
Gruamach's Avatar
Gruamach
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1,804
Likes: 4
From: St. Louis, MO
Default

Loved my 96-to-103 Stage I kitted motor.
Love the wife's stock 103.
 
Old Jan 13, 2014 | 05:30 PM
  #28  
oct1949's Avatar
oct1949
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Default

Just plain BS to me,, same was said about the 88's and 96''ers when they came out..

The TC has improved and has proven itself to be a really good motor.
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 13, 2014 | 06:23 PM
  #29  
TKDKurt's Avatar
TKDKurt
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
Default

Originally Posted by gtodalep
What they said. I love my 103 powered '11 RK Classic!
Me too! About 28000 miles on my '11 RKC with a stage 1 103" Not a single complaint.
 
Old Jan 13, 2014 | 10:02 PM
  #30  
AllenW's Avatar
AllenW
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,571
Likes: 121
From: Mpls, MN
Default

Shifter shaft leaked on mine at 1000 miles.
I can live with that, **** happens.

Motor ran hot (epa crap I assume) and for a 103 ci motor, power was embarrassing.

I spent about 4k to get it at least to the point it was fun to ride.

I knew this going in, HD has never been leading edge when it comes to motors over at least the last 40 years that I can remember.

To bad, I'd bet they could do better, but that would probably cut into the greed factor.

What's wrong with it?
Nothing if you spend a small fortune redoing it.

But it's a Harley, ya take the good with the bad and enjoy riding it.

And I'm enjoying the **** out of it.

Al
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:04 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE