Just Thinking Out Loud
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,776
From: Central Texas
Just Thinking Out Loud
It seams that every year when the new Harleys come out,
my bike gets closer, and closer to being a museum display,
some where. This year it got me to thinking about things,
like at what age do the dealerships stop working on bikes,
and how long do the Mo. Co. make parts for our older bikes?
Should I start buying parts to fix my throttle cable cruse
control now or have I waited too late? I think about parts
that wear out, because it seams that all the bikes have
changed, some for the betterment of the Co., and the
betterment of the products. These are just of the thoughts
that I ponder on, when I lay down at night to sleep.
my bike gets closer, and closer to being a museum display,
some where. This year it got me to thinking about things,
like at what age do the dealerships stop working on bikes,
and how long do the Mo. Co. make parts for our older bikes?
Should I start buying parts to fix my throttle cable cruse
control now or have I waited too late? I think about parts
that wear out, because it seams that all the bikes have
changed, some for the betterment of the Co., and the
betterment of the products. These are just of the thoughts
that I ponder on, when I lay down at night to sleep.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,815
Likes: 17
From: Pennsylvania
Car manufacturers make replacement parts for 15 years after the car is out of production. I vaguely remember being told this is actually a rule they have to follow but I don't know if that's true. I also don't know even if true that it applies to motorcycles.
That being said, you bought a Harley. In 20 years finding the right parts for a 2013 Honda Shadow to make repairs might be a pain in the behind. Don't get me wrong it's a nice bike but there aren't anywhere near as hardcore of a crowd of riders who stockpile parts and mod them and all the crazy crap people do with Harleys. Let's put it this way, I've found 75 year old Harley parts faster than restoration parts for older Japanese bikes. That includes my contacts in Japan, the parts just aren't there and the Harley parts are. So I doubt you have anything to worry about. Even if we run out of original parts there will always be companies making aftermarket parts for Harleys. Hell go look at the insane amount of reproduction stuff you can get for classic cars anymore. You could build yourself a complete 69 Camaro from catalogs without having a single original part. So in my mind, it's not worth worrying about.
However if you want a new bike, buy a new bike.
That being said, you bought a Harley. In 20 years finding the right parts for a 2013 Honda Shadow to make repairs might be a pain in the behind. Don't get me wrong it's a nice bike but there aren't anywhere near as hardcore of a crowd of riders who stockpile parts and mod them and all the crazy crap people do with Harleys. Let's put it this way, I've found 75 year old Harley parts faster than restoration parts for older Japanese bikes. That includes my contacts in Japan, the parts just aren't there and the Harley parts are. So I doubt you have anything to worry about. Even if we run out of original parts there will always be companies making aftermarket parts for Harleys. Hell go look at the insane amount of reproduction stuff you can get for classic cars anymore. You could build yourself a complete 69 Camaro from catalogs without having a single original part. So in my mind, it's not worth worrying about.
However if you want a new bike, buy a new bike.
Thread Starter
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
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From: Central Texas
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 831
Likes: 10
From: Kentucky
Don't mod the engine all to hell and leave it alone and it prob will be here in 20 years. I've learned from these forums most harley riders aren't in one bike for the long haul so u don't see many stories about the bike they rode 20 years. I'm going to run my 2002 until it flies apart
Last edited by JohnnyRebKY; Sep 1, 2014 at 03:09 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 831
Likes: 10
From: Kentucky
Lol yep.
Modding engines are like hand jobs.....you can have a high rpm fast one that's a lot of fun but doesn't last long. Or a slow and reliable one that lasts along time and you reflect on the time spent with it when it's finally over
Modding engines are like hand jobs.....you can have a high rpm fast one that's a lot of fun but doesn't last long. Or a slow and reliable one that lasts along time and you reflect on the time spent with it when it's finally over
Last edited by JohnnyRebKY; Sep 1, 2014 at 03:20 PM.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: Highlands, Texas
Hubby has a 2003 Softail Standard. We've finally gotten it back together after his wreck in January and we're already running into problems with some parts. Nothing major, thank goodness, but speedos, some lights, etc. are only available for 2004/5 and up. So about 10 years seems to be the cutoff.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,204
From: Oxford, Nc
That's why there's the aftermarket. Barnett will sell cables for decades, Tedd's Cycle buys up obsolete Harley parts so that they're there when you need them. A zillion places make engine components. (Dakota Digital is the next speedo on my wrecked Road Glide.) If it's gonna' be an older bike, please make mine a Harley.