Skratch,

I bought the 2003 Sportster after a 27 year hiatus from riding --- rode Hondas back in the 1970's, but my dream bike at that time was the Sportster, but could not afford it back then.

I added oil cooler, Screamin Eagle exhausts, bags, a little more chrome, low-rise detachable windshield, and low-rise sissy bar right off the bat. Unfortunately, the bike continued to have a few nagging problems: blowing oil out the air cleaner (dealer claimed they could fix this, but they failed after several trips to the shop), warped front brake rotor after only a few thousand miles. I did not ride this bike hard, for I intended this thing to last me a long time after waiting 27 years. The final straw came a couple of years ago when I took it in for routine service and several exhaust components around the engine literally fell apart. At that time, I had owned the bike for three years and had put about 25k miles on it. I decided at that point that I had to cut my losses on that bike and wound up trading it in for a 2007 Dyna Low Rider.

I probably made a few "rookie" mistakes after not riding for nearly three decades. However, I suspect there may have been a few design flaws in that vintage Sportster, and I also suspect that the dealership from which I bought it may have contributed to the problems during dealer prep --- I think they may have overfilled with oil on one occasion, and I cannot help but wonder if they did something with the installation of the exhausts to contribute to the final failure.

Anyway --- I really hated to part with that Sportster. It was a sharp-looking centennial edition, and, like I said, it was my dream bike as a teenager.

Before I traded in the Sportster, I purchased a Road King from a different HD dealership, and that bike has given me trouble free service for the most part. After the Sportster experience, the only upgrade that I had added to this point was oil cooling. I plan to do the Stage I in a few months when things slow down at work and I review a few more details about air cleaners and exhaust. My expections on the Stage I are modest --- I just want a little more power at the mid to high rpm's for passing on interstates, and I just like the idea of my bike breathing easier.

Frankly, if my Road King had ended up giving me as much trouble as the Sportster, I would not be riding Harleys today.

 

wire ties in the saddlebags just for that

 

Same thing happened to me on the way to work with about 35K on my road king. took some wire out of the tool kit and rode it like that for the next few days before I could geta replacement. ball joints wear out....I am telling all my friends to replace theirs before 30K to be safe.

 

Here's an article I had posted on this.
https://www.hdforums.com/m_3187808/tm.htm
Good luck
Mick

 

Same with others above I changed mine out soon after getting the bike. Stock ones are cheap $hit.

[IMG]local://upfiles/38405/DF2D499629FC42EA833B63485BBE3004.jpg[/IMG]

 

I was washing the bike in my driveway when mine fell apart. I ended up buying one of those expensive custom linkages, but yes, I have never heard of one lasting as long as yours. I don't think my bike had much more than 15-20,000 miles on it when it gave way.

 

I replace the linkage on all my bikes as I do front and heel shifter, brake pedal etc with the billet ones love the look and performance of these.....