97 vs 03
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,066
Likes: 1,121
From:
[QUOTE=Eh45;6760326]I have gone through alot of threads in the last couple days, but I am still undecided. I am looking to get rid of my 99 Wide Glide and trade it in on a touring bike for the wife and I. It has come down to two bikes at different dealerships.
Bike 1 is a 2003 FLHT pretty basic, no frills, 16000 miles. $12k
Bike 2 is a 1997 FLHTC with quick detach tour pack, am/fm/cd radio, cruise, and 24000 miles $9k
There are obvious differences such as the 03 has efi and the 97 has a carb. I own several bikes all with carbs and I don't mind them, but efi is nice. Having a radio would be nice, but not something I "need"
I am curious what some of the other more subtle differences are. Is the 97 underpowered with the 1350 cc engine compared to to the 03 with the 1450cc, or were there significant changes made between the years that should make me shy away from the 97?
I am open to any and all advice or ideas. Thanks for all of the good info.
Miles and price are only part of the equation:
Either bike might require a few things because of age:
new tires because of age
a few seals etc.
Many older bikes look much newer and are well maintained than 3 year old bikes a have seen.A garaged bike is much different than a bike parked outdoors with a cover.
Parts are plentifull for older bikes...Just look at the J and P cycle catalog.
But it is true the power will be less.
For me I never thought that Harley was about burning up the road. More about the ride.
Kinda nice to have a nice well maintained older bike and be a bit different.
Bike 1 is a 2003 FLHT pretty basic, no frills, 16000 miles. $12k
Bike 2 is a 1997 FLHTC with quick detach tour pack, am/fm/cd radio, cruise, and 24000 miles $9k
There are obvious differences such as the 03 has efi and the 97 has a carb. I own several bikes all with carbs and I don't mind them, but efi is nice. Having a radio would be nice, but not something I "need"
I am curious what some of the other more subtle differences are. Is the 97 underpowered with the 1350 cc engine compared to to the 03 with the 1450cc, or were there significant changes made between the years that should make me shy away from the 97?
I am open to any and all advice or ideas. Thanks for all of the good info.
Miles and price are only part of the equation:
Either bike might require a few things because of age:
new tires because of age
a few seals etc.
Many older bikes look much newer and are well maintained than 3 year old bikes a have seen.A garaged bike is much different than a bike parked outdoors with a cover.
Parts are plentifull for older bikes...Just look at the J and P cycle catalog.
But it is true the power will be less.
For me I never thought that Harley was about burning up the road. More about the ride.
Kinda nice to have a nice well maintained older bike and be a bit different.
Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 931
Likes: 112
From: Oregon
Your wife will probably appreciate the 6th gear on the highway, counter-balanced crank and such. I will always be a carb guy.
95% of my riding is without my wife, I'm not heavy so the 1350 moves me quite nicely. My days of road racing are over anyway...........
95% of my riding is without my wife, I'm not heavy so the 1350 moves me quite nicely. My days of road racing are over anyway...........
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 2
From: Cave Creek, AZ
I've had the same question about an evo or the twinkie, if there stock they both will need motor upgrades. Cruise is nice on any bike that has it and tunes are a sweet thing on long rides.
As far as what answers you'll get if you ask evo riders, then they like evo's and if their twinkie riders they'll tell you the same thing.
They both have there plus and minus, with my evo, I changed the seals, put in a cam and pushrods and lifters, changed the pipes and aircleaner, and with any bike, you'll likely do the same thing.
It comes down to buy what you want, nothing is perfect and it will need tinkering. The search is the best part.
As far as what answers you'll get if you ask evo riders, then they like evo's and if their twinkie riders they'll tell you the same thing.
They both have there plus and minus, with my evo, I changed the seals, put in a cam and pushrods and lifters, changed the pipes and aircleaner, and with any bike, you'll likely do the same thing.
It comes down to buy what you want, nothing is perfect and it will need tinkering. The search is the best part.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 760
Likes: 6
From: Central Wisconsin
Evo v. Twin
Like others have said, it's a personal thing...kinda like the old argument of 'shovels v. evos'!! I have both.
You just can't beat the sound of a dual fire and a good exhast!!
The Evo is down on power (compaired to the new twin cams), but will cruise all day at any legal speed limit with two up.
Evo repair parts and accessories are plentiful at most indys & MoCo shops.
My '05 doesn't have the low end 'grunt' the Evo does. A Stage 1 & fuel management helps.
If available, cruise and a radio are nice options. The 'newer' FI is easier to tune than the earlier setup. Early TC's have cam follower problems that are fixable.
Ride as many different models and years as you can before making a decission.
You just can't beat the sound of a dual fire and a good exhast!!
The Evo is down on power (compaired to the new twin cams), but will cruise all day at any legal speed limit with two up.
Evo repair parts and accessories are plentiful at most indys & MoCo shops.
My '05 doesn't have the low end 'grunt' the Evo does. A Stage 1 & fuel management helps.
If available, cruise and a radio are nice options. The 'newer' FI is easier to tune than the earlier setup. Early TC's have cam follower problems that are fixable.
Ride as many different models and years as you can before making a decission.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,916
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, Texas
My .02!
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,622
Likes: 1
From: Topeka, KS
I probably wouldn't go back that far for a bike I was going to travel on. I'd want to make sure it was as new as possible for parts availability while on the road. For around town only, I wouldn't have any problems with a 13 year-old bike. JMO
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
A 97 bagger is a solid bike (biased) and with bolt on improvements will have as much power as most people need. With wife on board I'm at 80 mph at about 3500 RPMs. I don't need to go any faster and usually stay about 3000+- RPMs and 65-70 Mph.
97 through 08 the frames are the same so miscl. parts are plentiful and probably more readily available compared to newer bikes as there has been 10 years of similar (frame wise) bikes on the road. So for the availability of parts go with 97 and newer versus 96 and older.
EVO engine parts are also easy to find. EVO motors span more than 10 years so there's a large enough customer base to keep parts for sale. A cam, 2 into 1 T pipe, air cleaner, jetted carb, maybe ignition are basics that will improve performance without a lot of committment.
The pre 2000 bikes have the single pot brakes which can be upgraded to 4 pot with a bracket each and can get 4 pots pretty reasonable on ebay.
Pre 2002 EFI is considered inferior and tough to tune.
The rear end (swing arm) can be upgraded with a Sta Bo (or similar) kit and a 2002-2007 swing arm. The swing arms are available for about $50 on ebay. They are usually throw away parts for trike builders.
I also upgraded to 2000+ front and 2002+ back wheels with sealed bearings.
So the 97 can be ridden as is or is a nice platform for mods.
I paid $5K for mine but it needed some work.
The EVO board will be able to also give input and help.
One last item, along with the shop and parts manual, the book .. 101 HD Evolution Performance Projects 2nd Edition is a nice resource.
97 through 08 the frames are the same so miscl. parts are plentiful and probably more readily available compared to newer bikes as there has been 10 years of similar (frame wise) bikes on the road. So for the availability of parts go with 97 and newer versus 96 and older.
EVO engine parts are also easy to find. EVO motors span more than 10 years so there's a large enough customer base to keep parts for sale. A cam, 2 into 1 T pipe, air cleaner, jetted carb, maybe ignition are basics that will improve performance without a lot of committment.
The pre 2000 bikes have the single pot brakes which can be upgraded to 4 pot with a bracket each and can get 4 pots pretty reasonable on ebay.
Pre 2002 EFI is considered inferior and tough to tune.
The rear end (swing arm) can be upgraded with a Sta Bo (or similar) kit and a 2002-2007 swing arm. The swing arms are available for about $50 on ebay. They are usually throw away parts for trike builders.
I also upgraded to 2000+ front and 2002+ back wheels with sealed bearings.
So the 97 can be ridden as is or is a nice platform for mods.
I paid $5K for mine but it needed some work.
The EVO board will be able to also give input and help.
One last item, along with the shop and parts manual, the book .. 101 HD Evolution Performance Projects 2nd Edition is a nice resource.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
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
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,687
Likes: 9
From: SoCal & West TN
I always prefer the sound of my exhaust over the radio. I know I am probably the exception, but I think a radio on a bike is somehow wrong, like a football bat. I know, I have an Ultra and it came with a radio, but it's only been on when I am with the wife who likes it.
My .02!
My .02!
Just because a person has a radio, does not mean that the don't like to hear the Harley rumble.
I didn't mean that the EVO was obsolete. Just that there are more new accessories made for the newer models than the EVO models. Dealers and Aftermarket are not making new accessories and the ones around now are going obsolete faster than the newer models. It is harder to find parts that are not over used.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,403
Likes: 20
From: Indy
I did cams this winter, and put the SE hydraulic plate in it, dam near as good as gear drive, I have seen the hydo tensioners at 45,000 miles (Dalton's) 120" bagger, and they just had 2 lines on them from the outside of the chain, I wouldn't even bother checking them until 60,000 miles.