I'm looking around for my first motorcycle and found a '79 shovelhead that looked right up my alley. I talked with a friend who owns a harley and he said the shovelheads will require a lot more work to keep running and suggested I go for an early model evo. However, I had read elsewhere on this forum that the evos are harder to work on. I am somewhat mechanically inclined (have restored a couple cars), but am no mechanic so don't want to get in over my head.

How does the shovelhead compare to the evo in both reliability and ease of maintenance? What would do you guys think would be the best option for me?

Thanks in advance

 

First scooter? ... You'd be better off with and EVO ... not as cool though :>)

 

Which one speaks to your soul ? the rest is just details.......

 

I remember when Shovelheads were almost all you saw on the road. The guys who knew how to work on them never had any complaints. I think you have to know the bike. What are you after? Kick start? I think the early Evos had a kick start option too. I don't have any trouble working on my EVO, but then again nothing ever goes wrong with it.

 

but then again nothing ever goes wrong with it ... Pretty much what I was getting at. Being mechanical is a great advantage when having a Shovel. He did state it would be his first scooter

 

The shovel I owned, which I loved, needed the top end rebuilt 3 times in about 75k miles and was in need of another rebuild when i sold it. Been a long time since I worked on either a shovel or EVO, but didnt think one was any more difficult than the other. The reliabilitiy of EVOs is uquestionably better. Many will last for well 100k miles before any major work is needed. Shovels are cool and I would love to have another, but I'd recommend an EVO over a shovel everyday.

 

Go with the EVO. Not nearly as finicky as a Shovel.

 

Thanks for the input guys, ill start focusing on looking for an evo

 

From a mechanical point of view they are pretty much the same, a single-cam two valve per head with hydraulic followers. Construction is slightly different, but not by enough to matter. Having owned a shovel and Evo, both from new, I can confirm that in my experience the Evo is more reliable and better made. After all these years that is pretty well irrelevant however, as either could be fit for the knacker's yard by now! The shovel has ignition points and a mediocre carb whereas the Evo has a much more reliable electronic ignition system and later Evos have the c/v carb, which is better and less fussy.

 

Having owned two shovelheads, (79 electra glide/ 84 wide glide), I never had any complaints. That being said, it's understood that the shovelhead usually requires a top end rebuild around every 25,000 miles.
The evolution engine was developed on AMF's dime; it's really an extremely reliable design, especially the later motors, (90's evos). This motor came out about the time the HD execs purchased the motor company from AMF and helped get the company from the brink of bankruptcy to the successful giant it is today. They were designed to run reliably up to 100K before needing major rebuilds.
Personally, I'd find a nice 90's evo, they're out there and reasonably priced too.
Good luck to you! YMMV.