finally getting on a Harley, need some help.

[CANTDR55]

Hi guys. I’m getting ready to get off Jap crotch rockets and jumping on an HD. Have two questions for you owners. Which model has the most rake to it? The big info I am looking for is over the years I’ve heard all the stories about Harleys breaking down, oil leaks, etc. Now my Jap bike is 10 years old, 19,000 mile and never a problem. I know a few people that have had problems and a few that never had a hitch with their bike. Is there anything I should know before getting into HD’s? Any tips and advice would be great. Thank in advance.

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[Ironhead]

Feel em' all out, and get the 1 that you want.

[Lovetoride]

ORIGINAL: CANTDR55

Hi guys. I’m getting ready to get off Jap crotch rockets and jumping on an HD.
Have two questions for you owners. Which model has the most rake to it?
The big info I am looking for is over the years I’ve heard all the stories about Harleys breaking down, oil leaks, etc. Now my Jap bike is 10 years old, 19,000 mile and never a problem. I know a few people that have had problems and a few that never had a hitch with their bike. Is there anything I should know before getting into HD’s? Any tips and advice would be great.

Thank in advance.

Well, having owned several metric bikes over the years, I understand your concern. My research told me, the quality of the Harley Davidson motorcycle has increased exponentially. They have modernized their production facilities, and improved production capacity as well. I have the new twin cam 88 in my 2005 Heritage. I'm told the expected lifespan is almost a 100,000 miles. All I know is that my bike starts with one touch of the finger and runs flawlessly. I would highly recommend you join the club...

Ryan

[bowsaw]

Try for an EVO, at least, if your not buying new. Shovels had cast iron barrells, and alloy heads, caused some head gasket problems, due to the different expansion/contraction issues. EVO has a better crank pin angle than previous models to. Personally i dont like the look of the twin cam, the raised bit at he bottom of the lifters, and the bulge in the middle of the head put me off, but then again, i didnt like the look of the EVO when it came out, and ended up with one.

[BClem]

The Dyna Wide Glide has the most neck rake for a stock Harley. That is a street 'profiler' bike with many options and as a Dyna Glide, much heritage.

Rarely do Harleys 'break' but things happen as they become more sophistocated. The older engines and transmissions ('shovels' and back) leaked oil like crazy; you needed to park over a cookie sheet in the garage! The evo's and especially the twin cam engines do not leak a drop - unless some dummie forgets to tighten an oil drain plug.

Harleys are a motorcycle that can be a family heirloom - handed down to the next generation. I still have my first Harley - a 1956 kick start Pan engine with shovel heads and barrels and it still runs fine and still leaks oil. I just do not care for the kick starter any more - too much excercise on one leg. My son wants it but I'm too stingey yet to give it away.

We finally saw fit to get a brand new Harley FXDWGI for many reasons, but I cannot believe that we have approximately $26,000 in this machine! The price is high and hard to justify but the bike is all there - not a smidigeon of bullshit anywhere about this bike - it's Harley through and through and makes a man smile! (My wife too! She went to the HD dealership and bought herself an '05 883 (minibike) and rides with me!)

You can easily put 150,000 miles on a stock Harley with steadfast preventive maintenance and care. Keep it all Harley, get the manuals and learn the machine inside and out. You will never regret making the purchase of a new Harley Davidson.

Did I mention that I'm enjoying my Harley(s)?

Thanks, and go for it!
BClem

[BClem]

Bowsaw,

The twin cam look grows on you. Especially when you begin looking at the much improved mechanical advantages of the valve train. The angularity of the pushrods is now very close to the barrels' resulting in much less 'loss' in the cam/lifter/pushrod configuration. The older engines required much attention to valve adjustment due to that deficiency. The idea of the twin cams being run by chains is still a bit of doubt on my mind though, but we'll see - Harley will give you many years of extended warranty on the twin cam engines.

BClem

[bowsaw]

Yeah probably would, i am in a small town, only a few 88s here, mostly EVOs, i spose a custom, or something different would look better, as they come out of the factory, does nothing for me, theyre getting to the mass produced stage these days. Which is good for Harley. I understand they are a loy better mmechanically, but maybe one day, took me from 1984 till 2000 to get an EVO, all the wannabes riding them put me off. Maybe its the area i am in, but heaps of these people are real tossers, harley, socks, jocks, t shirts, tooth brushes etc

[BClem]

Agreed. The USA is full of the wannabes that you mention. It's amazing how full of themselves a fool will be by just riding a Harley. The "live to ride" in gold on their bikes sets them apart! Tossers? Yea, they probably are, I just never took them serious enough to care.

BClem

[Scout]

BClem, I can't agree more. I know a guy that had a perfectly good Yamaha, but he just had to have a Harley. Finally, he got a 89 Sporster, threw on straight pipes, without breather or carb adjustments, and now he's a "biker" In the last year he has put on less than 400 miles on it, all to the bar to look "cool"

I hate this attitude, but there are posers in every walk of life.

[CANTDR55]

Thanks to all for responding. Been haunting the local dealers here in NY and I think it's going to be a Nighttrain. I love the style and look to the bike. Gonna need extended forward controls to get my 6'4" frame on to it. Hopefully going to be on it this spring. Gives me the winter to get up a nice down payment.