Heritage difference year by year

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Mar 8, 2021 | 02:23 PM

Warhawk

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From: Hot Springs, Arkansas

Heritage difference year by year

I made a deal over the weekend for a 2009 Heritage. I used to know all the year by year changes, but since owning a new 2007 FLHTC that I didn't like, I kinda gave up on the new ones. Can anyone point me to a year by year breakdown of the changes in the Heritage/Softail bikes? I seem to remember that at some point the softails went to a serial data bus and had cruise control standard. Stuff like that.

Thanks

Mar 8, 2021 | 04:35 PM

byersmtrco

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From: San Ramon, Ca

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warhawk

What was wrong with the 07 ?

I'm curious, why you'd get the same thing ?

Not trying to be a Smaaaah't Alec.

Mar 8, 2021 | 05:15 PM

Warhawk

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From: Hot Springs, Arkansas

Quote:

Originally Posted by byersmtrco

What was wrong with the 07 ?

I'm curious, why you'd get the same thing ?

Not trying to be a Smaaaah't Alec.

My first Harley was a 2005 Ultra that I bought new. I was doing a lot of long distance riding and had almost 40K on her in two years. When the 2007 models came out I got the bug for the bigger motor and the six speed, and bought an Electra GLide Classic (big mistake). Never really liked that bike. It always felt like it was in the wrong gear, it ran hot, pinged, all that. Harley had some details to get sorted out like the cush drive hub. After a couple of years with that one I decided to go back to a five speed bike and found my dream bike, a 2004 Scremin Eagle Electra Glide. That bike was great, loads of power, looked great, and I loved it. Then in 2013 I had to give up riding due to back pain and surgeries.

I had focused on fishing and kind of given up on riding until recently when my BIL passed away. I bought his Electra Glide from my sister, but it's just too heavy and hard to manage. I'd always wanted a heritage and found out a guy right down the road had a 2009 heritage for sale, 17K miles and looks like a new one. And these days I can financially swing having a toy that I don't use all the time.

The red/black bike is the 2005, the black on is the 2007, and the orange one is the 2004 Screamin Eagle

Last edited by Warhawk; Mar 8, 2021 at 05:20 PM.

Mar 8, 2021 | 05:40 PM

byersmtrco

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From: San Ramon, Ca

OH !! My mistake. FLHTC.
I have to brush up on my Harley Alphabet Soup.

I always call em by model name, not the letter designation.
You've had a nice run on E/Glides.

A buddy of mine had that same color 05. I rode it a few times
It was bone stock, right down to the pipes.

On the 09 Heritage, I really don't think you can go wrong.

200 lbs less than an Ultra.
The 96" with the upgraded cam tens,6 sp should scoot along
just fine.

Mar 9, 2021 | 12:07 AM

Warhawk

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From: Hot Springs, Arkansas

My first Harley was an Electra Glide because my dad had a ‘65 Electra Glide when I was a kid. Dads been gone for 17 years now, and I don’t think he’d mind if I switch it up a bit.

Mar 9, 2021 | 09:57 AM

hattitude

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From: San Diego, CA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warhawk

I made a deal over the weekend for a 2009 Heritage. I used to know all the year by year changes, but since owning a new 2007 FLHTC that I didn't like, I kinda gave up on the new ones. Can anyone point me to a year by year breakdown of the changes in the Heritage/Softail bikes? I seem to remember that at some point the softails went to a serial data bus and had cruise control standard. Stuff like that.

Thanks

The short answer to your question is the Softail line got the CanBus system in 2011 and to the best of my old recollection, I believe the throttle by wire the same year. The electronic cruise control didn't trickle down to the softails until later, around 2016 IIRC..

I don't know where to find a year by year break down in a list format, however, for several years Harley produced a document named a "Technical Forum".

The technical forum document, for each given year, spells out all the changes for each model line for that year. I happen to have saved several over the years, but certainly don't have a full library of them. I have seen them for 2006 through 2016... however the 2015 and 2016 were movie format, not a .pdf document.

I just looked over the 2008 Technical forum and there were many changes for the 2008 softails... mostly little stuff, but I just read about some stuff I was unaware of. If you could find a copy of the technical forum for the year bike you are considering, it would tell you all the changes for that model year...

Here's a pic of the cover for the 2008 Technical Forum document..

Mar 9, 2021 | 10:42 AM

NoRegerts

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From: Texas Hill Country

CANBUS system in 2011, 6spd and 96TC balanced was the norm. The throttle and clutch were cable, and the throttle used the cables to control the TPS (Throttle Position Sensor) to talk to the ECM. Only the CVO got the TBW in the Softail line in 2011. So, the 2009 is still cable with TPS. It would have the newer frame that had the bolt on frame horns, only a benefit if you were changing out the rear fender. ABS was an option in 2011 with the introduction of the CANBUS system, but not in 2009.