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Thanks Geezer, Never purchased a used Harley, now I'm looking at a '16 SGS at a local bike shop, (not a dealership) that shows to have 1400 miles on the odometer. the bike is clean, but the mileage seems low for it to be two years old. Would like to somehow verify the actual mileage......... if I understand things correctly you could possibly take a lower mileage ECM and after a few miles it would reflect that on the odometer...
You'd be amazed at how many of those are out there.
The bike in my sig pic was 25 years old when I bought it, and it had just over 10k miles at the time.
New from Texas........... Currently riding on a '17 Slim S, But looking to add a '16 SGS to the family, but have some dumb questions concerning ECM / Odometer.. suggestion's on area of forum to post... Thanks in advance.
The Odometer and ECM both store the mileage on that model. IF the ECM get replaced it will take the mileage reading from the odometer once you start the engine, there is no stopping it. Now if the odometer get replaced it will take the mileage from the ECM at first start. So if you fire the engine and take a test ride it will be showing the correct mileage. Now if both the ECM and the Odometer are replace together then that could be an issue with the stored mileage. Going to a dealer to check is going to get you the same results as just running the engine will, but you may be able to get a service report on the bike if it was service at a HD dealership.
One of the telltails on mileage is the tire condition. With that mileage you should still have at least 80% of the tread life left, and the rear brake pedal should have no wear. Then check the DOT date code on the tires. The date should precede the manufacturing date. on a bike of that age & mileage, the tires should not have been replaced.
My understanding regards changing both a standard ECM and speedometer simultaneously is that it is not possible to do at a dealership as HD's digital technician computer will not permit it.
It will only allow one module to be changed at a time for which one of the main purposes is maintaining the mileage integrity.
So for example you would install the new ECM, validate the VIN and calibrate it which would also transfer the mileage from the original and still installed speedometer and then you would install the new speedometer which then takes the VIN and mileage from the newly fitted ECM.
If you were to try and install another lower mileage standard speedometer prior to intalling the new ECM to try and trick it, this is also not possible as the speedometer will already have been VIN locked to another vehicle and will not work.
So the mileage is in all likelyhood correct.
Maybe for added reassurance as suggested, take the bike's details along to a HD dealership and see if they will run the VIN details to check for possible outstanding recalls and also get the details of the selling dealer and contact them.
Sold my '94 Dyna Wide Glide with a tick under 5000 miles after 10 yrs. Was just an in town scooter, never saw outside of city limits. Not uncommon to see bikes with real low milage as has been stated. For many, bikes are a toy and after the newness wears off, the usage drops off too. I cetainly wouldnt give a 2 yr old bike with those miles any concern. Enjoy
I bought my Street Bob at 2 years old with 1,044 miles on it. Very, very common to find low-mileage bikes like that.
Id be more concerned with whether the 1K service has been done on it. Id be verifying that rather than the mileage. If you cant verify it Id have the seller do it before I considered buying it.
One of the telltails on mileage is the tire condition. With that mileage you should still have at least 80% of the tread life left, and the rear brake pedal should have no wear. Then check the DOT date code on the tires. The date should precede the manufacturing date. on a bike of that age & mileage, the tires should not have been replaced.
This right here. Tires say allot about the age of the bike. Also, look at the air filter. If the bike is stock it will have a date on the filter that matches the age of the bike. I bought an 01 fxsti last year with only 4,000 miles on it. It still had the original tires and air filter on it. The air filter had hardly any dirt in it but was starting to fall apart from age. The tires were starting to show their age by cracks in the rubber. All great signs of actual mileage.
Most of what has been said hear applies only to newer bikes....03 and older, the mileage is in the speedometer only...and a 5th grader with a crescent wrench could change it
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