EDIT to add info:
I currently own a 23 Indian Chief Dark Horse. My closest dealership just closed down. With Indians network smaller to begin with I am now pondering switching back to a Harley. I love both brands and have nothing bad to say about either. Have owned both. So I've begin looking around again. I've pretty much landed on softails. Seems the Heritage Classic has most of what I want, saddlebags, windshield, forward floorboards, etc.. I've come across a 2016 Classic at Rocky Top Harley in Pigeon Forge I like the looks of. Vivid black, 7500 miles, Vance and Hines, etc. My question is ... is the 2016 "classicsoftail" (what it says on the front fender) a platform with a solid reputation for reliability, or does it have "issues" that I would have to watch out for? Thanks in advance. Forums like this are great for getting advice.

Edited: I am also looking at a 2014 with 29000 miles.
Steve

 

my 2013 Heritage Softail Classic has been great so far, picked it up and on he road since last July. It is my daily commuter, and I average about 3000 miles a month just commuting. Keep up with basic maintenance and it should be a reliable ride.

 

It's a solid bike and very versatile. I tour on my 08 Heritage and bop around town. In my opinion you can't go wrong.

 

I think it would be fine. I have an '09 and a '14, and they've both been great. Plus, I think '16 is the last year of they "real" ones.

 

2017 was the last year before the new frame & the M8. Much older, but my 00 Heritage was very solid. My 03 has been very solid as well.

 

I own it's close cousin, '17 Deluxe. I like indian motorcycles an am building a trike on my Vintage platform. But in the softail class, I like HD. The TC is very reliable, especially in the last several years. I think you would be happy.

 

The short and easy answer to that question is that either of those bikes are a very reliable and solid platform, if in in good condition, with a good maintenance history.

2014-2017 was the end of the "True Softail" frame and Twin Cam engine. All the Twin Cam Issues, except for a small few, have been dealt with. They still have the substandard "C" lifters, and INA brand caged inner cam bearings, but so did the first M8 engines. Those two issues are not something that needs immediate attention, but are usually upgraded any time someone goes into a Twin Cam cam chest for any reason.

All the other issues the Twin Cams had; problematic spring cam tensioners ('99-'07), weak compensators ('07-'14), and poor designed auto primary tensioners ('07- '11), to name the big ones, had been addressed by 2014.

There's nothing on that platform that can't be easily fixed. They should give many years & many miles of good service with a proper maintenance schedule.

The only question would be price....

FWIW, my go to value sites, JD Power and Black Book Powersports, say the average retail value for that '16 bike is $9,410 to $10,350. And the average retail value for that '14 is $7,945 to $9,885. If the dealer is asking more, you just have to decide for yourself it is "above average" as much as their price reflects...

Good luck with your decisions, and enjoy whatever new bike you get.....

One caveat... you mentioned the small dealer network for your Indian. If you are relying on a dealer for all your repairs and maintenance, keep in mind that many HD dealers these days will NOT work on a bike over 10 years old... So technically, in another year, a good percentage of dealers, with no rhyme or reason as to which ones, will no longer work on that 2016 bike, and as of now some won't work on the 2014 bike.. Just something to consider.. You may want to buy a newer model if you are dealer dependent.


Good luck with your shopping, your decisions, and enjoy your new bike...

 

The 2014 has 29000. It has vance and hines long shot pipes and they say it was tuned at one time. It's color is called mysterious red. I like the color better than the 2016 but the 2016 has way less miles and cruise control.

 

29,000 miles is nothing for an 11 year old bike.

 

Thanks that's reassuring.