Any softail evo riders?
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 356
Likes: 3
From: VB, Virginia
Any softail evo riders?
I'm thinking about picking up a bar hopper and occasional cruiser and the older evo's fit my budget. I'm under the impresion that bikes are solid mount like the pre rubber mount sportsters. Having had an 86 sportster I will never go that route again as higher cruising rpm's was not enjoyable to me.
Do the eve softies feel like non rubber sportsters?
Not talking about ride quality, but the vibration especially in the handgrips.
Tks
Do the eve softies feel like non rubber sportsters?
Not talking about ride quality, but the vibration especially in the handgrips.
Tks
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,570
Likes: 45
IVE got one! i rode my 1990 softtail on a 700 mile round trip down to the appalachian mtns in pretty good comfort. yes the bikes do vibrate but mine seems to smooth out at 65-75 mph, after that the vibes are more pronounced. on my trip that never botherd me, it was just baking hot out!! i love my bike, and my old bike was a rubber mount 06 super glide that had rubber mount failures! at least with the solid mount i dont need to worry about that!!
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 8
From: Powder Springs, GA
All softails are solid mount. EVO and Twin Cam. But the Twin Cam B is a balanced motor. I have had both and currently have an EVO. Honestly there is not much difference in the vibes. I will say that an EVO big twin has more vibes than a sporty but not by much. I guess I just never let it bother me.
If the vibes bother you that bad look at an older EVO FXR. Bad **** bikes and they ride excelent.
Oh and I just read your concern about the hand grips. My old EVO chop used to kill my hands but I had solid mount riser bushings. Now that I have the rubber mount bushings I don't notice much at all.
If the vibes bother you that bad look at an older EVO FXR. Bad **** bikes and they ride excelent.
Oh and I just read your concern about the hand grips. My old EVO chop used to kill my hands but I had solid mount riser bushings. Now that I have the rubber mount bushings I don't notice much at all.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Riverside,CA
I have a 1992 Softail Heritage. Just like the above post state, around 65 mph the bike seems to more pronounced and less noticable. I also have set of Wild 1 Chubby beach bars and they also have the rubber mounts so i have little to no viabration on my hands. All in all the EVO is a nice Harley and one of the best motors HD has done.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 365
Likes: 9
From: KENTUCKY
I have a 1991 FLSTC that I bought new. It's has been a great bike that I have ridden all over the country 2 up. Mild cam, big air filter, and Rhinehart pipes...it cruises at 75 with NO issues. Good luck and show pix if you get it.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 33
From: Illinois
I had several Evo Softails.
They were certainly better than the Shovels I had had before (in terms of reliability, power and being more oil-tight), but I thought the Twin Cam was way smoother when I got my first one.
I certainly don't miss the leaky rear cylinder base gasket that seemed to show up on all my Evos. I also don't miss having to send my cases out whenever I wanted more than 80 inches, either.
Again, great for their time, but if you can swing a used TC financially, go for it.
They were certainly better than the Shovels I had had before (in terms of reliability, power and being more oil-tight), but I thought the Twin Cam was way smoother when I got my first one.
I certainly don't miss the leaky rear cylinder base gasket that seemed to show up on all my Evos. I also don't miss having to send my cases out whenever I wanted more than 80 inches, either.
Again, great for their time, but if you can swing a used TC financially, go for it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
No...the Softails are geared so high that you are not turning that many RPMs in 5th. I get no vibration in the grips at 70-80 and I am running solid metal grips with no rubber...go for it.
Trending Topics
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 432
Likes: 2
From: la porte, texas
I ride one. a 91 Evo in a '05 frame. solid mounted. no problems on long trips or in town. I notice most the vibes inthe grips at anythng over 85mph, then it clears back out around a buck or so.
good solid engine, reliable, cheap.
good solid engine, reliable, cheap.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 601
Likes: 6
From: Aruba
There's a lot of Evo Softail riders in the Evo forum. I've had two different ones and am now riding a '93 after getting rid of my '01 Twinkie. I like the Evo a lot better. The TC has only two real advantages over an Evo in my book. You don't have to bore the cases to go over 89" and better valve train geometry. One big drawback of the TC is that it runs a lot hotter than an Evo. I have a hard time getting my oil over 150 degrees and the hottest I've seen it is 175.
Don't let that one bother you. Leaky cylinder base gaskets on an Evo are the classic "I don't warm it up before I ride it" syndrome. Too much oil pressure on the cold motor getting thrown at that part of the motor.
Don't let that one bother you. Leaky cylinder base gaskets on an Evo are the classic "I don't warm it up before I ride it" syndrome. Too much oil pressure on the cold motor getting thrown at that part of the motor.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 127
From: Middle of Kansas
I rode an 84 Iron Head Sporty for 23 years, and compared to that my 99 FXSTC is like riding on a cushion. Like others, mine does not shake much up to 80 or so, and I have 31,000 on it with no leaks. Mine is stock except for the drag pipes and K&N air cleaner, and I just plain love this bike. Really, the vibes are just right for me as I like to feel the motor a little, and it does run much lower rpm than the Sporty. Oh, and my mirrors never shake like the old Sporty did. Evo Softails are the best. My 2 cents.