Normal Engine Life
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
Sitting around is one of the worst things for any vehicle. Mine is my primary transportation and gets year around use. I'll probably go 200,000 pretty easy unless is gets wrecked.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: home
I've done a couple of searches on this subject and can find no direct answer. The question is, "with normal maintenance and no abuse, how many miles would you expect an engine/transmission to last before major costly repairs could be expected?" I'm thinking in the '09 thru '12 years for a touring bike.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
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
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
What he says...
I work on heavy industrial equipment which is designed to run indefinitely based on doing certain maintenance work AND inspections at regular intervals. IMO Harley are designed the same way... there is nothing lightweight about them, they are made to last and be rebuildable.
Maintain it well and limit modifications to something resembling stock and they should last indefinitely.
I work on heavy industrial equipment which is designed to run indefinitely based on doing certain maintenance work AND inspections at regular intervals. IMO Harley are designed the same way... there is nothing lightweight about them, they are made to last and be rebuildable.
Maintain it well and limit modifications to something resembling stock and they should last indefinitely.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 413
Likes: 16
From: Killeen, Tx
I have 40k trouble free miles so far. I changed the compensator myself because of the 09 issues.
I also had an oil analysis done:
"You have more than doubled your oil change, and your Harley handled the extra miles really
well. We're impressed. This engine has matured nicely, and if you're still interested in running more miles on
the oil, you could likely do 7,500 next time without a problem. Averages show typical wear after 3,900 miles,
so your Twin Cam 96 wears better than most. The only thing we can possibly complain about is the high
viscosity, though without an effect on wear and no harmful contamination to speak of, even this isn't much to
get excited about. Nice engine!"
With results like this, I expect it to go 100k.
I also had an oil analysis done:
"You have more than doubled your oil change, and your Harley handled the extra miles really
well. We're impressed. This engine has matured nicely, and if you're still interested in running more miles on
the oil, you could likely do 7,500 next time without a problem. Averages show typical wear after 3,900 miles,
so your Twin Cam 96 wears better than most. The only thing we can possibly complain about is the high
viscosity, though without an effect on wear and no harmful contamination to speak of, even this isn't much to
get excited about. Nice engine!"
With results like this, I expect it to go 100k.