Cam Install
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 655
Likes: 370
From: Gilbert, AZ
Huh?!? This can't be a serious statement.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,212
From: San Diego, CA
I’m serious. I like Harley but don’t trust it as much as my Japanese bikes.
May be it’s in my mind. But nothing is going to convince me that Harley is as much reliable as Honda. It’s fun but not trustworthy.
Thats why my bike is still stock, I’m afraid to even do stage II.
like I said maybe it’s just my perception.
All I know is if you don’t abuse your Harley and take it easy these Rushmore bikes will get you past 100k miles without issues. But sooner or later you’ll have to upgrade the parts. Build top or bottom end and many other things. Won’t be like a goldwing that it last more than 500k miles with just maintenance.
May be it’s in my mind. But nothing is going to convince me that Harley is as much reliable as Honda. It’s fun but not trustworthy.
Thats why my bike is still stock, I’m afraid to even do stage II.
like I said maybe it’s just my perception.
All I know is if you don’t abuse your Harley and take it easy these Rushmore bikes will get you past 100k miles without issues. But sooner or later you’ll have to upgrade the parts. Build top or bottom end and many other things. Won’t be like a goldwing that it last more than 500k miles with just maintenance.
WOW... can't say I agree with your assessment.... and my anecdotal experience would suggest you are mistaken..
I took a '78 FXS Shovel Head, with cam & carb upgrades across country. It got stolen at 43K miles two years after I bought it new in May 1978.
I replaced it with an '80 80" FXS Shovel Head. Again, shortly after delivery that one too had cam & carb updates. I rode that all over the southwest, to include 8 annual, 5-day trips to Yosemite from SoCal via Tioga pass (10K feet). Only stranded me once... dead battery... When I traded it in on an '89 Heritage it had 75K miles
I had an '89 Heritage EVO engine that was only Stage I... Only had 2 Yosemite trips, but put 38K miles in 4 years.. no issues...
I took delivery of a new '12 Limited, with Stage II from the selling Dealer.... 4 weeks later took that across country... no issues...
I currently have an '01 Springer Stage I. An '03 Heritage, Stage IV. And a '16 Ultra Classic w/124" crate engine @ 135HP/151TQ.
I just got back two weeks ago from a 6 day 1500 mile round trip on the bagger... Never got less than 42 MPG on the trip.. no issues
None of these bikes have ever left me stranded... other than the one bad battery incident.... and that includes 113K miles on two AMF Shovel Heads...
My point is....
Anything can happen to any bike (BMW, Honda, etc) that could leave you stranded, but I believe the secret is a well maintained, properly modded, and well tuned bike...
IMHO, that is more important than the make, model, or type of mods.....
Of course, pushing any bike to it's limit regularly (OEM or modded), will lead to extra maintenance, repairs, and possible break downs... just ask anyone who races any motor vehicle...
But in the end, we all must do what we are most comfortable with....
Last edited by hattitude; Oct 20, 2022 at 06:54 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,539
Likes: 8,375
From: Inland NW
Im serious. I like Harley but dont trust it as much as my Japanese bikes.
May be its in my mind. But nothing is going to convince me that Harley is as much reliable as Honda. Its fun but not trustworthy.
Thats why my bike is still stock, Im afraid to even do stage II.
like I said maybe its just my perception.
All I know is if you dont abuse your Harley and take it easy these Rushmore bikes will get you past 100k miles without issues. But sooner or later youll have to upgrade the parts. Build top or bottom end and many other things. Wont be like a goldwing that it last more than 500k miles with just maintenance.
May be its in my mind. But nothing is going to convince me that Harley is as much reliable as Honda. Its fun but not trustworthy.
Thats why my bike is still stock, Im afraid to even do stage II.
like I said maybe its just my perception.
All I know is if you dont abuse your Harley and take it easy these Rushmore bikes will get you past 100k miles without issues. But sooner or later youll have to upgrade the parts. Build top or bottom end and many other things. Wont be like a goldwing that it last more than 500k miles with just maintenance.
I try to ONLY ride mine if I am leaving overnight, and most trips are much longer than that. I trust it 2500 miles from home, and 3000 RPM limit? I could not enjoy anything if I worried like that.
I am not attacking you, I truly want you to enjoy your machine, and wring that thing out!
Best of luck, seriously
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
Thread is declared officially hijacked. If you're so afraid of it breaking down why do you still have it? Better yet why did you buy a harley in the first place? I suggest that you keep the bike stock to. No sense in spending good money on performance upgrades if youre not going to be using them. Nothing to be embarrassed about...some people aren't meant to be harley owners. I'm going to guess it's only soap opera sex in your house...don't want to risk breaking it lol.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 1,420
From: Lost
Thread is declared officially hijacked. If you're so afraid of it breaking down why do you still have it? Better yet why did you buy a harley in the first place? I suggest that you keep the bike stock to. No sense in spending good money on performance upgrades if youre not going to be using them. Nothing to be embarrassed about...some people aren't meant to be harley owners. I'm going to guess it's only soap opera sex in your house...don't want to risk breaking it lol.
ok ok lets get back to OPs question. I have my reasons and Im comfortable with riding
my bike the way I want.
Ive 60,000 miles in 6 years, I know thats not much compared to other Harley owners but Im pretty sure I ride more than 50% harley owners out there.
And like I said its just what I believe, most likely Im wrong.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,119
Likes: 859
From: B.C.
ok
ok
lets get back to OPs question. I have my reasons and Im comfortable with riding
my bike the way I want.
Ive 60,000 miles in 6 years, I know thats not much compared to other Harley owners but Im pretty sure I ride more than 50% harley owners out there.
And like I said its just what I believe, most likely Im wrong.
my bike the way I want.
Ive 60,000 miles in 6 years, I know thats not much compared to other Harley owners but Im pretty sure I ride more than 50% harley owners out there.
And like I said its just what I believe, most likely Im wrong.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 1,420
From: Lost
Hey guys. I have a 2010 Ultra with the 96" and 35K miles. It is basically stock with the exception of de-catted head pipe, V&H twin slash, CVO high flow AC w/K&N filter. It also has FP3 but I know it has limited capabilities as far as tuning. I am just looking to go to a stage 2 type cam for more power riding 2-up in the mountains of WV. My thing is lack of indy's or dealers. I have reached out to several dealers around me both by calling and using their respective 'Contact Us' links with no return call or email. I can do the work myself if push comes to shove but still leaves me without a capable tune/tuner. What would you all recommend?
OP good luck and looking forward to your mod. I lived in Beckley, WV and I bought this bike from Cole HD in Bluefield, WV. As soon as I got this bike I put close to 10,000 miles in 4 months. So Im familiar with those mountains.
If and when I cross 100,000 miles, I plan to ride back to Cole HD for picture.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,145
Likes: 6,168
From: SE Michigan
I’m serious. I like Harley but don’t trust it as much as my Japanese bikes.
May be it’s in my mind. But nothing is going to convince me that Harley is as much reliable as Honda. It’s fun but not trustworthy.
Thats why my bike is still stock, I’m afraid to even do stage II.
like I said maybe it’s just my perception.
All I know is if you don’t abuse your Harley and take it easy these Rushmore bikes will get you past 100k miles without issues. But sooner or later you’ll have to upgrade the parts. Build top or bottom end and many other things. Won’t be like a goldwing that it last more than 500k miles with just maintenance.
May be it’s in my mind. But nothing is going to convince me that Harley is as much reliable as Honda. It’s fun but not trustworthy.
Thats why my bike is still stock, I’m afraid to even do stage II.
like I said maybe it’s just my perception.
All I know is if you don’t abuse your Harley and take it easy these Rushmore bikes will get you past 100k miles without issues. But sooner or later you’ll have to upgrade the parts. Build top or bottom end and many other things. Won’t be like a goldwing that it last more than 500k miles with just maintenance.
It's a free country and all, but that is quite bizarre. I'd say keeping it below 3K IS abuse. I would also say "just maintenance" on a Gold Wing can get expensive. You practically have to disassemble it to do an oil change.
Last edited by Keithhu; Oct 21, 2022 at 04:35 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,709
Likes: 9,212
From: Snow Hill, NC
At around 50000 miles on my 07 flhtc I swapped my own cams to Andrews 26H , I wish I would’ve done 48’s but the 26ks were a very good improvement. I bought a power commander from Fuelmoto and the gasket kit. I bought the Screaming Eagle adjustable pushrods and went at it. It was a pleasure to ride in the mountains and had good gas mileage. I gotta deal at about 95000 miles on a 103HO from a 14 Street glide and I can honestly say it is almost the same. I know I could do stuff to the 103HO but it’s fine.
Doing it myself was extremely satisfying, it went pretty smoothly. I so.d the motor to a chopper builder in the Chicago area and he emailed me after he installed it to know exactly what I had done to it.. I told him and he was impressed at the compression and overall quality of the performance. He asked what shop did it and I told him it was Me.
Doing it myself was extremely satisfying, it went pretty smoothly. I so.d the motor to a chopper builder in the Chicago area and he emailed me after he installed it to know exactly what I had done to it.. I told him and he was impressed at the compression and overall quality of the performance. He asked what shop did it and I told him it was Me.