I have an 07, and it's been really a great bike, no problems what so ever. I just read an article on a bagger that went 13,000. miles in like 2 weeks, the article said it had zero problems, was the best bike he ever rode, and was going to replace his current bike with the new 07 Harley.

I honestly think that the so called problems with the trans are more of a case of people not being use to the sixth speed, as for the first year troubles, if I'm not mistaken on the 06 models which was the last year of production for the 88, there is a problem with the main bearing wearing out by the 15,000 mile mark, and 05's had an oil burning issue, needed different valve seals, and that was second to last year of production, so it goes to show you that any year whether it's first or last can have issues.

As for my own opinion, Harley did a great job with the 07's, and I think the 96 is a great motor and much better than the 88, so does the experts who write the reviews ,and, for what it's worth, my dealer highly praises the new motor, said it's a giant step up from the 88.Just my 2 cents worth

 

The reason I started this post was to get some new action on the softail boards. I knew this would be a very active subject and so it has proven. Its also good to hear so many responses and get a better picture of the 07 this will help other buyers. The post was not posted to bash any one just get things jumping on the board

 

I would have to agree with that. For example no one would think that a small block Chevy would have a major problem by 1968, 13 years after the first ones were brought out. But they did, they screwed up the heat treating of the cam shaft lobes and thousands of small block 307's died an early death from lobes that prematurely wore out. Or a year later when the Feds forced GM to put steel cables into thousands of car and truck engine compartments because the motor mounts were failing without warning and if you hit the gas too hard the engine would torque over jamming the throttle linkage in the wide open position.
Bad things creep into good designs, its inevitable that anything that's mass produced is going to have unforeseen problems. Even perfect designs can suffer problems from unrelated causes.
Overall its almost a miracle that so many of the super complex machines we make today actually work. Can you imagine anyone even 50 years ago thinking you could get any motorcycle much less a Harley Davidson that was even half as good as what we think of as common today?
So we have a few problems, big deal, they will get fixed and next year they will have different ones.

 

Most of these same things were said in 1999 when the 88 came out. Could you imagine how bad it would have been if the internet were as popular as it is now.

 

You sure got the buzz goin', beautiful bike by the way.

 

Nikonf8,
Don't pay any attention to fasthd06. If you read his posts he slams everything. I doubt he even rides a MC, most likey a tricycle. Frickinpessimistic wannabe.No decent rider ever disrespects another, so enough said about that jerk. My guess is he is around he is in bed my 9 pm. Your bike is one of the nicest FLSTNIhave seen. You have done well with it.

 

my bike had some noise in the primary or some where in that area but noise quieted down after service went with all synthetic oils.

 

Because 6th gear is more of a highway gear, '07 users are using 5th gear more often than not. Now 6th gear has helical-cut gears and is quiet, but 5th gear, where we're spending most of our time cruising, has straight-cut gears. The advantage of straight-cut gears is that they're stronger, but they are inherently noiser.

This is the basic "problem" with the 6th speed transmission in a nutshell. It isn't a real problem at all.

 

Come back when you can say, i beat a built up 96 ci , not one that is stock.
My 96 ci. beats out any TC88 w / pipes / AC / stage one and that was
before i did anything to my bike. And i know few other riders that can
say the samething .[sm=biker.gif]

 

4500 miles, been back 3 times. twice for cosmetic problems, once for the new download. THis is one sweet machine.