Not at ease when on long trips. Please help
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
My maintenance is always done roughly on schedule (give or take a thousand miles) and I ride the hell out of it. About 36,000 trouble free miles. I don't worry at all about jumping on it and heading out for a couple thousand mile trip (which I do a couple times a year). Mine is relatively stock mechanically, just a stage 1. I think that the more mechanical changes one makes, the more likely the bike is to have problems.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,151
Likes: 14
From: Seattle
I'll throw one more thing out there. You may want to consider getting an ESP to give you some piece of mind while out on the road especially if you're doing 15K+ per year. You can buy it as long as you have less than 75K on the bike. That and doing the regular maintenance/inspections and you should be good-to-go. They all break from time to time so it's not an HD thing.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,011
Likes: 143
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
[E=Florida Swamp Yankee;13198634]Journeyman hit the nail on the head. Do your own PM and you will always know where your weakness' are. You will become one with the machine and will know what the other wants. If the bike only had T&A...[/QUOTE]
same here 90,000 miles on 09 Ultra, dozens of 3k-5k trips two up fully loaded. Never a problem. Rode through 117 degree Temps in Death Valley first week of July and Pikes Peak at 14110 elevation last weekend. We've done lots of large group rides 15 bikes 3500 miles to Sturgis and another trip to Milwaukee for HD's 110th, so you figure 90 thousand miles combined among the bikes. one guy had a flat tire that was it. I don't give it a second thought.
same here 90,000 miles on 09 Ultra, dozens of 3k-5k trips two up fully loaded. Never a problem. Rode through 117 degree Temps in Death Valley first week of July and Pikes Peak at 14110 elevation last weekend. We've done lots of large group rides 15 bikes 3500 miles to Sturgis and another trip to Milwaukee for HD's 110th, so you figure 90 thousand miles combined among the bikes. one guy had a flat tire that was it. I don't give it a second thought.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 493
Likes: 17
From: Ft LAuderdale
Wow, once again, I really appreciate all the great responses specially from guys that do a lot of miles. I never put down weekend worriers or bar hoppers ( I say to each his own) but some times they like to give oppinions about experiences that they trully do not have.
Thanks so much for all teh very excellent responses. I am staying HD all the way. I have to confess I looked at a GW for about 45 minutes at a dealer and it did not work on my brain no matter how hard I tried.
Thanks so much for all teh very excellent responses. I am staying HD all the way. I have to confess I looked at a GW for about 45 minutes at a dealer and it did not work on my brain no matter how hard I tried.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Northern California
97K overall and 30K on engine rebuild/upgrade to the SE 103 Stage II, covered under transferred extended warranty until 9/2015 (done by previous owner), purchased from dealer with 92K on it. Had one issue crop up, but it was a common issue, and all needed to fix was to clean the plug behind the air cleaner, goes into the throttle body. Cleaned the pins up and applied dielectric compound. All is well.
I commute daily on my bike (65 miles round trip) and go for long rides whenever time allows.
As has been said, everything mechanical has the potential to break down at one point or another. All manufacturers are prone to this. I say don't worry so much, get a H.O.G. membership with roadside assistance and just enjoy your riding.
I commute daily on my bike (65 miles round trip) and go for long rides whenever time allows.
As has been said, everything mechanical has the potential to break down at one point or another. All manufacturers are prone to this. I say don't worry so much, get a H.O.G. membership with roadside assistance and just enjoy your riding.
Last edited by LenapeRider; Sep 9, 2014 at 03:31 PM.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 7,498
Likes: 19
From: East Alton, IL
I had my first failure in Colorado, 1,000 miles from home and 120 mile from the nearest dealer. Either a lifter or a cam lobe failed. The roller on the lifter was all chewed up and had a flat spot. Cost lifters, pushrods, cams, cam support plate and oil pump. All scheduled maintenance done on time or early (by me). It was just one of those freak failures that can happen to any machine.
I brought it home in a U-Haul and had my local dealer fix it. $2500 cheaper than the indy in CO wanted.
The two guys I was riding with refused to leave me stranded and insisted on splitting the cost of the truck. We hauled all three bikes home (I think they just didn't want to ride across Kansas again.)
BTW, it is an '08 FLHTC with a 103"/SE255 with 60,000 miles on it.
I brought it home in a U-Haul and had my local dealer fix it. $2500 cheaper than the indy in CO wanted.
The two guys I was riding with refused to leave me stranded and insisted on splitting the cost of the truck. We hauled all three bikes home (I think they just didn't want to ride across Kansas again.)
BTW, it is an '08 FLHTC with a 103"/SE255 with 60,000 miles on it.
Last edited by Jim Dawson; Sep 9, 2014 at 04:04 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,323
Likes: 37
From: NJ
Just turned 40k miles on my 2011 Street Glide.
No mechanical issues at all.
I was left stranded on the side of the road one time by a flat rear tire.
That could have happened to any bike.
I have since added a tire repair kit with 12v air pump, to hopefully keep that from happening again.
I would not be afraid to get on this bike and ride "coast to coast".
Little over 2,500 miles first week of August to Sturgis and back without any issues.
No mechanical issues at all.
I was left stranded on the side of the road one time by a flat rear tire.
That could have happened to any bike.
I have since added a tire repair kit with 12v air pump, to hopefully keep that from happening again.
I would not be afraid to get on this bike and ride "coast to coast".
Little over 2,500 miles first week of August to Sturgis and back without any issues.
I'll add that I "had" tube tires and switched to tubeless after a rear flat cost me 5 hrs and a tow. Other than that I love this bike. Just came back from week long trip. No issues at all.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,403
Likes: 20
From: Indy
I have a friend that owns a dealer in Northern Indiana, he rides an 03 Road Glide, it has been to sturgis every year since new , and the only thing he has ever had go wrong with it on a trip is a stator, the bike has about 90k miles on it now, and he is thinking about doing a top end, but it has been so good , he don't want to mess up a good thing.
I told him to buy a new one, he said they don't hold up as well as the older ones.
I told him to buy a new one, he said they don't hold up as well as the older ones.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
Motorcycles are not as reliable as cars, and yet cars also break down all the time, so we all understand your concern.
Harley road bikes are pretty reliable, but if something happens to you out on the road, it takes some doing to get things repaired. That is, however, all part of the motorcycle touring experience. Same with bicycles, even those are seen on the side of the road all the time fixing a tire or chain, or something.
Seems just the nature to things that while most Harleys are very dependable, some have more than their share of problems.
Harley road bikes are pretty reliable, but if something happens to you out on the road, it takes some doing to get things repaired. That is, however, all part of the motorcycle touring experience. Same with bicycles, even those are seen on the side of the road all the time fixing a tire or chain, or something.
Seems just the nature to things that while most Harleys are very dependable, some have more than their share of problems.