Just wondering, I'm not seeing a lot of bitching about the Softail line sumping. All the posts I've taken the time to read into it's a touring bike of some fashion, most being CVO's.

I ask because i'm really leaning towards a Low Rider or Street Bob.

 

if you really want one just go buy one, ride it, enjoy it, have fun and don't let the relative few that may, cause you to miss out

 

Man, thanks but I just can't roll them dice.

It's either a discounted 2018 or a newer Twinkie that's nicely discounted due to the M8 rollout.

 

AFAIK there has been only one report here of an M8 Softail sumping, and it was stock.

I agree with mjwebb, if you buy it do so with the idea of riding it, and just enjoy it. The odds are very definitely in your favor and you're unlikely to experience problems. Then again if you plan to build it into a stage III or IV, you ride hard for long periods, and do so in extreme temperatures then you start tipping the balance the other way, according to what has been reported. But remember, some of the twins cams sumped too.

 

Your rolling the dice no matter what bike you buy. An i like both the twin cam and the m8. If i spend 20k+ on a new harley i want a warrenty.

with that said go buy a 2018 street glide special in you color choice and ride that bad buy if money allows.

 

In all the time I've been on this forum, and lurking before I was a member, I have only heard one user claim that a Softail sumped. Odd thing is, what he described doesn't sound like sumping at all, he says d there was no loss of power, no burnt oil smell, nothing like that, just some leaking from some lower gaskets, but the dealer told him it was sumping. I wonder if he didn't just encounter an idiot service writer who told him the wrong thing?

In any case, it sounds to me that the Softails are relatively immune from sumping. It COULD happen, according to the Harley tech bulletin, but I don't think we have ever heard of a case of it happening here, with the typical symptoms. I think if you go Stage IV you can ncreincr the odds, maybe. But I am quite confident the lighter weight, more frequent gas stops, different crankcase, etc., all combine to make it rare to non-existent on the Softail M8's.

 

I have a 2018 heritage 107 with a stage 1 and a dyno tune.

Mine has 4900 miles, and has not sumped. I ride very fast and tend to take off from stops quickly...i'm having fun.

I see one of the techs fairly often at church and recently asked if he'd seen any softails sump. He said no, only touring models.

I personally won't buy another Harley, it will be back to the trouble free Japanese bikes for me.

 

What he said.

 

I would say you have a greater risk of dying on the bike, than the bike dying on you.

 

From everything I have heard, read, or rumors, the answer is no sumping. My Heritage Softail 114 with the HD Torque Cam and tuner at 8,000 miles, no issues at all.