I currently own a 2006 superglide with 500 miles. I am considering a 2007. I have heard a couple of opinions regarding the durability of the 07 engine. someone suggested that because the 07 has a longer stroke, that engine life might be shorter than an 06. especially with a built engine(103). Do any of you engineheads have an opinon on this? This will influence my decision on whether to go for a 2007. I don't want to move from an 06 if there is any question about the engineering of the new engine. of course I hear that the service intervals are much greater for the new engine. THAT would suggest a high degree of durability for the 07 engine. Please educate me!

 

With the lighter parts of the '7, it may be more durable than the 06 no matter the increase in stroke. Now, you'll never turn the 96 into a high-revver, but you don't want to anyway.

 

I would say the 07 would have a longer engine life because it will not have to work as hard

Actually I cannot see where it would make a bit of difference because the change is so slight.
Also I think the transmissions will last longer in the 07 and that would be more cost to repair than
replacing the top end of a motor.

WilllieC

 

Willie, what's different about the 07 transmission? different gearing? explain pls.

 

Transmissions are the same on '06 and '07 Dynas. We are talking about 8 cu in here, so I don't see any real difference in durability, engine-wise.

 

I thought the gearing was different?

 

2006 Gear Ratio (overall)
1st 9.876
2nd 6.810
3rd 5.064
4th 4.164
5th 3.477
6th 2.960

2007 Gear Ratio (overall)
1st 9.312
2nd 6.421
3rd 4.774
4th 3.926
5th 3.279
6th 2.790

 

Oh, I only know this stuff is different. I don't know if it is better or worse.. or just different.

 

I'd like to mix and match 1st from 07, 2nd-5th from 06, and 6th from 07.

 

This is just a gut feeling I have and only my opinion or quess.
HD had the bulletin out on the early 06 Dyna trans. Then later they said to disregard it.
I still think there may have been an issue with early models that was corrected later.
Some QA test or cycling test failed in their labs would be my best guess.
Maybe a bad lot of bearings or a different qualiuty of bearing in the early models not sure.
But I spent over 20 years as a Quality Control engineer and mgr in manufacturing and it
justs makes me wonder why they would take the chance of putting out an alert that we
had to sign when we bought our bikes. This is a cover your butt measure and is not done
lightly. There had to be some issue or risk involved. We do not know what the real story
was and probably never will but for some reason HD felt the need to have the bearing
changed every 15k or so.
Time will really tell on this one when some of the 06's hit the 15k to 20k mark. Probably
all will be fine or HD would not have rescinded the bearing change notice.
But somewhere along the production line that bearing was replaced with a better one or
something like that if HD thought there was a chance of a problem.
I have faith in HD that they have done the right thing and it will be OK. I just feel better
getting an 07 because my 06 was one of the 1st ones produced and it had to have
the recall work done on the shifter deal too.

And of course the gearing ratio is somewhat changed in the 07 but that should not effect
the longevity of the transmission. Other subtile changes? possibly but I do not know for certain.
If there were I would guess it was in the quality of the components