I started with a pan many decades ago, then got a shovel ,and now ride a bike with an EVO. How do the newer engines compare with the last 40 years of Harleys engines ?
What's the best Harley big twin engine ?
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nealw
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Carbureted Twin cam for the win imo. I have a 04 Deuce w/a 95 cui Jugs, cams/cam plate, and Mikuni HSR-42 carb all done at 14k miles, and its literally the best running most reliable vehicle in my driveway ( own a 2020 Explorer, 2011 Escape, 2011 Camry, and 2006 Titan).. currently have 54k on it with no issues at all.
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Don't they all have cams and a cam plate?
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203,000 miles on my 2020 117" M8. It will be 5 years old the 28th of this month. New pistons and cylinders by choice at 196,000 miles back in December. I found a smokin' deal on the parts and had them swapped when the roads were crumby just to freshen it up a bit. Consistently late oil changes, and it's never had any kind of issue that made it unrideable. This motor has been a tank.
I concur.
#1 on the Evo, I had a 92 FLHS and a 97 FLHT both engines ran flawlessly
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Shovels are ok, but harder to get power out of their head configuration.
Evos much more EZ . That's why they get my vote.
Anything B4 the shovel is just so archaic!
Twinks and Forward are not fixable, or reliable enough for me .
I am anti computer and the cam chest problems are just way too many.
Plus out of phase cranks!
After that as mentioned the M8 has or had sump problems and HD denied to for so long (afaik)
The Evo, I do cross country on even all hopped up. ( over 100 HP)
These have one HUGE weak point that needs addressing, the tiny key on the pinion gear, with better springs it will slip!!!!!! .
I learned that at the University of Hard Knocks, thankfully I was 50 miles from home.
Evos much more EZ . That's why they get my vote.
Anything B4 the shovel is just so archaic!
Twinks and Forward are not fixable, or reliable enough for me .
I am anti computer and the cam chest problems are just way too many.
Plus out of phase cranks!
After that as mentioned the M8 has or had sump problems and HD denied to for so long (afaik)
The Evo, I do cross country on even all hopped up. ( over 100 HP)
These have one HUGE weak point that needs addressing, the tiny key on the pinion gear, with better springs it will slip!!!!!! .
I learned that at the University of Hard Knocks, thankfully I was 50 miles from home.
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The pinion key problem was only on a straight shaft . Affected years I think were 90 to 92 .
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You better watch his video again as he says he likes the Shovel the best.
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Hoges
AT 8:04 on this vid he says he loves both the EVO and the shovel.
Not that he is the all-time critic, nor do I regard him as the best in the Harley-Davidson world, it is just his opinion .
But then again he goes on to say he loves the twink.......and the M8
However, he says he LOVES the shovelhead.
SO you are correct.
AT 8:04 on this vid he says he loves both the EVO and the shovel.
Not that he is the all-time critic, nor do I regard him as the best in the Harley-Davidson world, it is just his opinion .
But then again he goes on to say he loves the twink.......and the M8
However, he says he LOVES the shovelhead.
SO you are correct.
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The best big twin as far as reliabilty was probably the flat head. 29-73 is a long production run. Not powerful, but dead on reliable and up to taking all kinds of abuse.
As far as the other end of the spectrum, the XR750 is the performance king. Hands down.
And for the general consumer, the 103 twin cam was probably the high point. The twin cam issues were mostly worked out by 11 or 12, and the can bus nonsense had not entered the equation yet.
As far as the other end of the spectrum, the XR750 is the performance king. Hands down.
And for the general consumer, the 103 twin cam was probably the high point. The twin cam issues were mostly worked out by 11 or 12, and the can bus nonsense had not entered the equation yet.
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I guess the other way to observe this is in the hands of consumable parts , and abilities.
Abilities are the big one!
Shovels and Evos are EZ , even on the road- at home it does not matter what one too much.
I can wait for parts.
I would HATE to have to repair a twink forward on the road .
Part of that is - I just dislike the layout of the cam chest to start with,
And the electronics?
No thank you!
I have tried to help people with fuel infection, codes, and I will just label it Stuffff on the side of the road!
As far as I know, they are either still sitting there or got a tow. LOL
IDK
No one could help them.
I Can imagine my bike not starting in Cow Town Egypt, but for sure I can fix it.
But this new stuff needs scanners?
Electric throttles?
Pumps?
ECU and all?
No thanks!
I will admit I use aftermarket after market ignition instead of running points. (it is more tunable for my situation)
BUT
I carry a spare too!
Carbs on the side of the road? TOOoooo EZ.
crank sensors, cam sensors, reluctors, capacitors, and rocket science for plain old two-cylinder tractor engines is just not needed.
IMO
Abilities are the big one!
Shovels and Evos are EZ , even on the road- at home it does not matter what one too much.
I can wait for parts.
I would HATE to have to repair a twink forward on the road .
Part of that is - I just dislike the layout of the cam chest to start with,
And the electronics?
No thank you!
I have tried to help people with fuel infection, codes, and I will just label it Stuffff on the side of the road!
As far as I know, they are either still sitting there or got a tow. LOL
IDK
No one could help them.
I Can imagine my bike not starting in Cow Town Egypt, but for sure I can fix it.
But this new stuff needs scanners?
Electric throttles?
Pumps?
ECU and all?
No thanks!
I will admit I use aftermarket after market ignition instead of running points. (it is more tunable for my situation)
BUT
I carry a spare too!
Carbs on the side of the road? TOOoooo EZ.
crank sensors, cam sensors, reluctors, capacitors, and rocket science for plain old two-cylinder tractor engines is just not needed.
IMO
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All of the crap added is to meet strict EPA standards. Only getting worse.
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The thing is, it's rare to need to repair a TC on the road. In the days of the Shovels and Pans we included a pickup in any group ride plans to haul the one we couldn't fix on the road. There were always flats and breakdowns that we fixed, but there were also issues that you weren't going to fix beside the road. Welded wheel bearings comes to mind.
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Lack of maintenance there Therm . Rode a 71 Shovel for 16 years Going through 2 rear tires a year. Are to be young again 😂
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Anyone is allowed to say what the best is, or what their best is-
Most of it is of the opinion.
For me the definition of best is - it is what is moist fixable most anywhere.
In my background there is / was a term called "soft parts" .
That means anything made to wear out as part of it doing the job.
Soft parts include tires, brakes, hoses etc etc . Not model specific.
They all wear out on everything.
So, flat tires in my book don't even count as breakdowns and rate as a minor problem.
If one has no clue how to fix that, sorry.
But all things get flats (almost all things)
WHeeel bearings?
Never burned one up in anything.
That comes under negligence? (I would guess)
They certainly just don't seize up with no cause.
Most of it is of the opinion.
For me the definition of best is - it is what is moist fixable most anywhere.
In my background there is / was a term called "soft parts" .
That means anything made to wear out as part of it doing the job.
Soft parts include tires, brakes, hoses etc etc . Not model specific.
They all wear out on everything.
So, flat tires in my book don't even count as breakdowns and rate as a minor problem.
If one has no clue how to fix that, sorry.
But all things get flats (almost all things)
WHeeel bearings?
Never burned one up in anything.
That comes under negligence? (I would guess)
They certainly just don't seize up with no cause.
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A lot of times it was. But most people serviced them when they changed the tires, and that was often back then. 8-10K miles. Biggest issue was getting caught in the rain, early in a long trip. The water would get into the bearings and kill the grease.
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My TC has never needed a repair on the side of the road, but the one time my EVO did, it was not something that was going to get fixed on the side of the road.
YMMV, but that doesn't make it gospel.
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