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best / most reliable engine from 2001 to 2017

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  #11  
Old 08-24-2017 | 08:39 AM
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uncle kebo
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Funny thing is, theyve all been pretty darn good.. (Speaking of motors only).. There are idiosyncrasies as in cam shoes etc... The Evos though, I dont know if you can kill em if you treat em right..
 
  #12  
Old 08-24-2017 | 08:56 AM
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My 2013 Dyna 103 has over 1,000 miles on it now and it's still hanging in there!
 
  #13  
Old 08-24-2017 | 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by motogeez
Kicking-around the idea of getting a used Harley for my 'out-to-pasture' days.
The last time I rode a Harley was in 1980.

After reading up on the forum, seems like the consensus is the -Evo- was/is the most reliable engine to date.
thanks!
Consensus? I don't agree. Nor would a lot of riders who have owned multiple ascending year HD's since 1984. The 1994 and newer EVO's are the most reliable of that group. But they are not as reliable as the newer (2007 and up) twin cams engines. You'll find a lot of 100K+ twin cam bikes around that have had only minor engine repairs done and are ready for 50K more. Not so for the EVO's, even the later year versions. A top end is almost mandatory for one over 75K. Plus you have to consider the availability of parts and service locations if you have an EVO equipped bike. That just goes hand n hand with what reliability is all about.
 
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  #14  
Old 08-24-2017 | 09:53 AM
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If I take the title of your post literally then the answer is ...the Twin Cam....

If I take it figuratively then the answer would be ....the 2017's

As the Twin Can matured, each subsequent year got the latest updates, upgrades, improvements.

Oh yeah, welcome to the Forum and congrats on your first post

 
  #15  
Old 08-24-2017 | 10:00 AM
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I've only had one TC which was an 88B engine. I did the cam tensionor upgrade at 40,000 miles even though it showed very little wear just as a precaution.

I sold it in 2013 after putting 88,000 miles on it in 8 years and the only issue it ever had was a weeping shift shaft seal. It was a 2005.
 
  #16  
Old 08-24-2017 | 12:36 PM
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Easy answer is the 07 and later Twin Cams
 
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  #17  
Old 08-24-2017 | 06:34 PM
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cannot go wrong with 103" TC for reliability
 
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  #18  
Old 08-24-2017 | 08:50 PM
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Evo pros:
Great sound
Reliable
Easy to upgrade for power

Evo cons:
Parts hard to find
Not much power
Early 90s sometimes crack cases around lifter blocks
Weeps (not leaks) from almost every place where 2 pieces of metal join

Twin Cam pros:

Better power
Easier to get parts
Looks more "refined" than Evos
Very little weepage anywhere

Twin Cam cons:
Cam tensioners (pre '07)
Certain bearings are sucky
Valve guides ('04 & '05)
 
  #19  
Old 08-24-2017 | 09:09 PM
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Cons of the 07 twin cam 96, the 6 speed transmission, the gears are too tall, I had to put a Sportster rear pulley on my Road King to make the Transmission and the rest of the bike work together. Also I had to have my transmission rebuilt at about 57000 miles, because of the **** poor stock bearings.
 
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  #20  
Old 08-24-2017 | 09:14 PM
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Originally Posted by dickey
Twin Cam cons:
Certain bearings are sucky
Valve guides ('04 & '05)
I haven't have these problems in my '04, nor has my brother or anyone else we know that has owned '04 or '05 TwinCams.
 


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