How good are they?
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Stage II
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
How good are they?
Before I say anything more, let me begin by saying that I'm a 56 year old retired paramedic turned gunsmith. Over the years I've ridden many bikes, but never a Harley. (Well, unless you count the days when I was a tyke and rode on the rear of my dad's Duoglide.) I've had a MotoGuzzi and various Jap bikes. I even had a Royal Enfield. Now I realize that I'm on a Harley forum asking questions about the quality of the Harley and I should probably take cover because therearegoing to be incoming rounds. The point remains that I want a bike that I can ride day-in and day-out without spending more time in the shop than it does on the road.
Specifically, I've found a 1992 FLHTC with a factory rebuilt motor. The new motor has 1,200 miles on it. What is the track record on these bikes? It's exactly what I want in terms of being something my wife and I can ride comfortably on road trips butjust how reliable are they on the average? I know, anything can happen butmy last bike was a Yamaha V-Star 1100 Classic that never had a problemor left me sitting on the side of the road.Can I expect anything like that kind of reliability from the '92 Electraglide? What's the average number of miles between overhauls? Just how good is the quality of these things nowadays?
Thanks,
John
Specifically, I've found a 1992 FLHTC with a factory rebuilt motor. The new motor has 1,200 miles on it. What is the track record on these bikes? It's exactly what I want in terms of being something my wife and I can ride comfortably on road trips butjust how reliable are they on the average? I know, anything can happen butmy last bike was a Yamaha V-Star 1100 Classic that never had a problemor left me sitting on the side of the road.Can I expect anything like that kind of reliability from the '92 Electraglide? What's the average number of miles between overhauls? Just how good is the quality of these things nowadays?
Thanks,
John
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,937
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RE: How good are they?
John, welcome to the Forum. I can only speak to the reliability of the newer touring bikes, but mine has been great. It is my daily transportation. I have had a couple of minor issues that have been fixed under warranty , but nothing that has left me on the side of the road.
I grew up on Harley's, so they are pretty much all I have ever known. My grandpa had a 72 electraglide and my dad had a 78. The only other Harley I have ever owned was a 76 sportster, but it gave me good service. It just required a lot of work to keep it going.
I intend to keep this one till I die, so hopefully it has a lot of good years in it. Some of the guys and gals on here can answer your questions about the 92 better than me, I am sure. Take care
I grew up on Harley's, so they are pretty much all I have ever known. My grandpa had a 72 electraglide and my dad had a 78. The only other Harley I have ever owned was a 76 sportster, but it gave me good service. It just required a lot of work to keep it going.
I intend to keep this one till I die, so hopefully it has a lot of good years in it. Some of the guys and gals on here can answer your questions about the 92 better than me, I am sure. Take care
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 1
From: Grand Island , New York
RE: How good are they?
Great bike I put many miles on the Evos, my last one had over 60,000 miles on original motor and belt.It all depends on how the previous owners maintained the bike.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 10
From: Mass
RE: How good are they?
Later Evos were VERY reliable(a 92 IS a "later" one)...they came out in 84. You could expect about 30-50k miles before rebuilding depending of course on how you treat it...Royal Enfield!...now THAT"S a bike...what,...no Vincent "Black-Shadow"?...
Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 720
Likes: 2
From: Kansas
RE: How good are they?
There's 1200 miles on the motor, how many on the bike?
I have a couple buddies with Evo's, one has 125k with no motor work done at all, and the other has 60k, but he changed cams, heads, etc, etc., so he don't really count...
with proper maintainence I would say 100k + for the engine & trans.
I have a couple buddies with Evo's, one has 125k with no motor work done at all, and the other has 60k, but he changed cams, heads, etc, etc., so he don't really count...
with proper maintainence I would say 100k + for the engine & trans.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 720
Likes: 2
From: Kansas
RE: How good are they?
ORIGINAL: jmacdonald5
Later Evos were VERY reliable(a 92 IS a "later" one)...they came out in 84. You could expect about 30-50k miles before rebuilding depending of course on how you treat it...Royal Enfield!...now THAT"S a bike...what,...no Vincent "Black-Shadow"?...
Later Evos were VERY reliable(a 92 IS a "later" one)...they came out in 84. You could expect about 30-50k miles before rebuilding depending of course on how you treat it...Royal Enfield!...now THAT"S a bike...what,...no Vincent "Black-Shadow"?...
Damn !!! 30-50 k ?? that's all ??
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 26
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From:
RE: How good are they?
Still have my 98 Wide glide 58000 on it.No engine or trans work 1 clutch probably my fault though.........
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Stage II
Joined: Sep 2007
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RE: How good are they?
Thanks, guys. All input is welcome. I'm thinking of coming back to riding after a couple of years of being bikeless. Here's what I found and am considering (if I have adding a photo figured out). I've always wanted a Harley but let the stories of unreliability keep me away. My last bike was the '04 Yamaha V-Star 1100 Classic. The only problem I ever had with it was an intermittent miss that I never did track down. I also had a '75 Moto Guzzi Eldorado that had 136,000 miles on it when I sold it and the only thing I had ever replaced was a clutch cable and the ignition coil. Someone asked about a Vincent. The only reason I never owned one was because I never found one I could afford. :-)
Thanks again,
John
[IMG]local://upfiles/43957/1A81BE1AB9784AC68D79FE07099B8E11.jpg[/IMG]
Thanks again,
John
[IMG]local://upfiles/43957/1A81BE1AB9784AC68D79FE07099B8E11.jpg[/IMG]
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 207
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From: Dallas / Ft. Worth, Texas
RE: How good are they?
ORIGINAL: brewdog
Changed oil.
Changed oil.
My '73 Shovel was a totally different story.
Dennis