Engine and drivetrain life expectancy
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 442
Likes: 110
From: San Jose, CA
Engine and drivetrain life expectancy
Hi All,
I am doing my research before deciding to buy my first Harley. I am looking to buy used and wanted to get an idea of the sort of mileage one can expect out of the engine and drivetrain? I realize there are many variables that impact that outcome, but let's say a bike that has been regularly maintained and ridden easy mostly highway miles.
I am doing my research before deciding to buy my first Harley. I am looking to buy used and wanted to get an idea of the sort of mileage one can expect out of the engine and drivetrain? I realize there are many variables that impact that outcome, but let's say a bike that has been regularly maintained and ridden easy mostly highway miles.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 852
Likes: 54
From: Dallas tx
Well, they will go a long way if properly maintained. Mainly the fluid changes. I've got almost 70k on mine and have had no issues. Everything is still solid. A guy I ride with has 105k on his and his is doing fine.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,067
Likes: 339
From: Northeastern Indiana
I have a '96 Evo and needed to rebuild the engine at 146000 miles, replaced the clutch at 80000 miles, tranny, primary chain, drive belt and sprockets are still original and pushing 149000 miles
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 253
Likes: 32
From: Cincinnati Ohio
I friend of mine owns a shop in florida and he just had a guy bring him a softail deluxe ( cant remember the year , I know it was a twin cam engine though ) and it has 201,200 original miles on it and its the first time anyones been in the engine . nothing wrong with it , guy just wanted to have it gone through and rebuilt with some cams before he rode from florida to Alaska this summer !!
with anything in life its all about how you take care of it. regular fluid changes and riding style / ability play a role also. if you don't know how to properly use a clutch your going to prematurely wear out your clutch. other than that mechanically theyre pretty much solid!
with anything in life its all about how you take care of it. regular fluid changes and riding style / ability play a role also. if you don't know how to properly use a clutch your going to prematurely wear out your clutch. other than that mechanically theyre pretty much solid!
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 442
Likes: 110
From: San Jose, CA
Thanks for the replies. I am looking to own my first HD by way of a used bike. I looked at several with mileage in excess of 50K. My concern was that maybe that was considered high mileage for an HD. If so, I wanted to factor in the cost of rebuilding engine and tranny along with the purchase of a bike and compare that to the cost of purchasing a bike with substantially lower mileage.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 792
Likes: 258
From: N.E.Ohio
I rode with a guy at a run with a1986 Evo bagger with 184,000 plus and it had never been opened up. Stay above 2008 because of many improvements, as long as it wasn't owned by some idiot who thought it was a race bike. Look for an experienced owner above 50 years of age with full maintainence records.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,400
Likes: 284
From: Fort Worth, TX
Thanks for the replies. I am looking to own my first HD by way of a used bike. I looked at several with mileage in excess of 50K. My concern was that maybe that was considered high mileage for an HD. If so, I wanted to factor in the cost of rebuilding engine and tranny along with the purchase of a bike and compare that to the cost of purchasing a bike with substantially lower mileage.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 253
Likes: 32
From: Cincinnati Ohio
I rode with a guy at a run with a1986 Evo bagger with 184,000 plus and it had never been opened up. Stay above 2008 because of many improvements, as long as it wasn't owned by some idiot who thought it was a race bike. Look for an experienced owner above 50 years of age with full maintainence records.
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