User Panel
I just bought an 04 XL 883C with 15k miles from my stepson for $1700. He got it in trade for some mechanic work he did on a friend's truck.
First year for a rubber mount Evo, second to last year for carb. Since it was so cheap it didn't hurt so much to change or all the parts I didn't like. Attached File |
|
Quoted: I've never been a fan of low performance motorcycles. But if you're looking for a parade bike, I guess it would be OK. https://i.imgur.com/wvNIKir.jpg View Quote |
|
|
|
Quoted: No squid here. I have V-Twins. One tosses down 150hp , the other 180hp at the rear wheel. Not low performance Harleys. I routinely smoke the squids at the drag strip. Better try again there, buddy. Harley guys spend crazy amounts of money getting a super doggy, slow ass bike, to accelerate slightly faster. Then they parade around acting like they have a friggin drag bike. It's a joke. I'm sorry, but your slow-ass low performance Harley is still just that, even after you dumped another $10k into it. But at least you have LOUD pipes now. So that's way cool, for everyone. Tony View Quote Holy shit dude, does bashing other people's shit make you feel better about your own miserable life? Some people just want a fun ride around town and don't need to compete with everyone. |
|
Yes, but only if you promise to rev it up at every stop.
People really think its cool. Really. On a related note: Loud pipes save lives. But helmets, apparently, don't. |
|
Quoted: 88" 5 speed. Smooth motors. If you ever ride a six speed you will hate the five. View Quote This. No hate for 2005--I had two of them, and neither one gave me issues. Now on a 2013 FL with a six, and I don't think I could go back to a five. I'd always get up to highway speed on my TC88s and go to shift into top gear...only to realize I was already there. Six speed much better for me. |
|
Quoted: No squid here. I have V-Twins. One tosses down 150hp , the other 180hp at the rear wheel. Not low performance Harleys. I routinely smoke the squids at the drag strip. Better try again there, buddy. Harley guys spend crazy amounts of money getting a super doggy, slow ass bike, to accelerate slightly faster. Then they parade around acting like they have a friggin drag bike. It's a joke. I'm sorry, but your slow-ass low performance Harley is still just that, even after you dumped another $10k into it. But at least you have LOUD pipes now. So that's way cool, for everyone. Tony View Quote You're a morron. Whatever you spent to get "180 hp" from a v twin could also get it from a harley. If your goal is performance then buy something meant for it. Don't go running your mouth like you did something amazing by dropping $15k into your vstar and now it's somehow better than a stock harley. |
|
|
|
While on the subject of speed, my '03 road king with 95" cylinders and aftermarket cams is deceptively fast for such a giant pig. It's by far the quickest I've seen 850lbs get up and move.
|
|
Quoted: You're a morron. Whatever you spent to get "180 hp" from a v twin could also get it from a harley. If your goal is performance then buy something meant for it. Don't go running your mouth like you did something amazing by dropping $15k into your vstar and now it's somehow better than a stock harley. View Quote He is likely referring to KTM or Ducati which produce power in that range stock. Which is not saying it’s usable in the real world but it sounds cool to tell people about it. |
|
Quoted: Non issue. It was only 88" TC. You're good View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: What years were the cam tensioners a problem? I'm thinking of buying '19 FXDR with 114ci powerplant. Non issue. It was only 88" TC. You're good Good deal. It's got 1965 on the odo, tbey're asking 18995 for it. Great condition. Dealer, same place I bought my '19 Roadster. |
|
Quoted: @raygixxer89 you’re safe. The problems were with the mid 2000’s twin cams. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: What years were the cam tensioners a problem? I'm thinking of buying '19 FXDR with 114ci powerplant. @raygixxer89 you’re safe. The problems were with the mid 2000’s twin cams. Thanks. I'm really digging the looks of it. The only thing I don't like is the forward controls. I'm a fan of mids. @pointblanke |
|
I've got a 1999 Softail that I've had for 15 years. 100% reliable, always has been. People poke fun at Harleys, but there is a reason they have Been making motorcycles since 1903.
|
|
I worked on Harleys in that time period. Those are solid bikes and to be honest, the later ones starting getting the planned obsolescence treatment. My range for buying them is 2000-2006.
|
|
Quoted: I've got a 1999 Softail that I've had for 15 years. 100% reliable, always has been. People poke fun at Harleys, but there is a reason they have Been making motorcycles since 1903. View Quote Yes, because people want Harleys. Harleys are not motorcycles, they are Harleys-HD has done a pretty good job sciencing them out to be as good as their customer preferences allow, but let’s not confuse them with other motorcycles in empirical terms. Not a Harley hater, BTW. In fact I was really impressed with my Dad’s recent Street Bob. It’s quite decent for the limited roll it’s intended to fill. It is fine for running around town on a weekend, blowing the stink out of your hair after a long day at work etc. it’s a lot better than it needs to be for that-still not a great place to spend an afternoon on the freeway or corner like you mean to have fun. But I guess it’s all in your expectation. |
|
Quoted: Yes, but only if you promise to rev it up at every stop. People really think its cool. Really. On a related note: Loud pipes save lives. But helmets, apparently, don't. View Quote This is why I love GD...the answers you won't get anywhere else, from obviously knowledgeable subject matter experts. I'm thinking that I'll just loose up the exhaust manifold so I can get some of that open-block rumble...and relieving all that backpresssure should easily boost everything by 50hp. Probably throw an air horn on that bad boy too. |
|
|
|
Quoted: So what does it cost to deal with this? We talking $500? $1000? $2500? View Quote It really depends what all you want to do while in there. High volume oil pump, etc https://www.sscycle.com/products/gear-drive-camshaft-kit-for-1999-06-big-twins-except-06-hd-dyna-complete-kit/ https://www.sscycle.com/products/gear-drive-cam-chest-kit-for-1999-06-hd-big-twins-except-06-dyna/ |
|
Age is not really a factor with Harley Davidsons, or motorcycles in general. Illinois is a rust belt state, but because bikes are seasonal you can find immaculate bikes quite easily.
A 2006 Road King has a Twin Cam series engine in it. The twin cam engines used chain driven cams, with a spring loaded plastic tensioner. The tensioners were made from nylon or some type of plastic, and were known to come apart over time, with the pieces clogging up the engines oil pickup and leading to catastrophic engine failure. Some will argue that issue is over hyped, and that their motor has 100k miles bone stock. In 2007 Harley changed over from a spring loaded tensioner to a hydraulic tensioner which supposedly helped remedy this problem. A gentleman already posted in here about replacing the chain driven cams with gear driven cams. That is possible, though the Twin Cam engines also had runout issues with their cranks, and putting in gear driven cams might require the crank being balanced and welded. I dont know if thats financially worth doing. Me personally, when I get some play money again, I would like to get a older Harley with the Evo engine. That or maybe a street glide thats after 2011. Good luck. |
|
How readily available are the 95" and 103" kits for that series of Twin Cam bikes?
Buddy/coworker bought a Road King in the early 2000s. I think it was an '06. Got the 103" cylinder and stroker crank upgrade, cams to match, S-E mufflers and a tune job. Put a King Tour Pak on the back and proceeded to ride the thing everywhere. I'd get this one. Though I have my eyes out for a '10-13 Road Glide and Road King. Get both. |
|
Quoted: No squid here. I have V-Twins. One tosses down 150hp , the other 180hp at the rear wheel. Not low performance Harleys. I routinely smoke the squids at the drag strip. Better try again there, buddy. Harley guys spend crazy amounts of money getting a super doggy, slow ass bike, to accelerate slightly faster. Then they parade around acting like they have a friggin drag bike. It's a joke. I'm sorry, but your slow-ass low performance Harley is still just that, even after you dumped another $10k into it. But at least you have LOUD pipes now. So that's way cool, for everyone. Tony View Quote Lol! The anti-Harley crowd are massively insecure! I dont see a lot of Harley riders giving a crap what anyone else rides. |
|
When I pulled the cam chain tensioners out of my '04 Road King at 50K miles, they looked like they could go another 20K miles. I upgraded the cams to Andrews N "Conversion" cams, which allowed me to use to use the 96" OEM cam plate and the 96" hydraulic cam chain tensioners. I also installed an OEM high volume oil pump and upgraded the inner cam bearings.
A cam upgrade is the best bang-for-the-buck performance upgrade that you can do for a TwinCam 88. I ride with a couple of guys that went with Andrews 21 Gs, and they're happy with them. The crank run-out on the post '02s isn't generally a problem but a run-out check is recommended before installing gear driven cams. If the run-out is above spec, the result is a bit more noise from the cam gears. If you replace the original cam chain tensioner shoes with new ones, the cam chains will have been broken in and polished, and will cause a lot less wear and give longer life on the new shoes. One thing every stock EFI Harley needs is a "tuner" because the TwinCam Harleys of that era were tuned way too lean from the factory. Even if you stick with stock mufflers and air filter, a tuner will make a big difference in how the bike runs. I like the pre '09 Road Kings better than the newer ones because they're a lot lighter and have the narrower five gallon gas tanks. I also like the look of the "old school" 16" front wheel. HD has discontinued the Standard Road King for this year, which I think is a mistake. |
|
|
Quoted: Most worthless tractors ever made. Sound like a Massey Ferguson but no PTO or 3 point hitch... View Quote Attached File |
|
Quoted: How readily available are the 95" and 103" kits for that series of Twin Cam bikes? Buddy/coworker bought a Road King in the early 2000s. I think it was an '06. Got the 103" cylinder and stroker crank upgrade, cams to match, S-E mufflers and a tune job. Put a King Tour Pak on the back and proceeded to ride the thing everywhere. I'd get this one. Though I have my eyes out for a '10-13 Road Glide and Road King. Get both. View Quote All you need to do to bump an 88" TwinCam up to 95" is have the cylinders bored and install HD Screamin' Eagle flat top pistons and rings. |
|
Quoted: I have no desire to race bikes, I enjoy the ride. Keep strutting around telling yourself you're the best. Nobody cares. View Quote It's not just race bikes.... from dirt, to adventure, to touring or just cruising every other manufacturer (except urinals) gives you so much more... quality, dependability, performance, warranty, price, etc etc compared to an obsolete clunker HD. But, if you actually ride and not pose on your antiquated garbage, you would already know that. OP, don't do it! Hardley is on life support, once they go under, the chinese parts they use in a majority of the bike will dry up and you will be fucked. And believe me, you will need a lot of friggin parts!! |
|
Go for it op. Enjoy the ride. (Get the one issue everyone has mentioned adjusted at the same time. While you’re in there. Cam upgrade is easy.
It’s not about being the fastest or the best. It’s about you enjoying it. Cams were an amazing upgrade on my bike. 130hp and still rides easy. |
|
Absolutely. I just bought an 05 softtail last Friday. Already have almost 1k miles on it.
|
|
Quoted: You're a morron. Whatever you spent to get "180 hp" from a v twin could also get it from a harley. If your goal is performance then buy something meant for it. Don't go running your mouth like you did something amazing by dropping $15k into your vstar and now it's somehow better than a stock harley. View Quote Of fuck you almost sold that line of bull shit I am rolling |
|
Quoted: Which is not saying it’s usable in the real world but it sounds cool to tell people about it. View Quote Is that what guys with the little cocks say? Harley going to make it? Heard the new Indian (dot) built curry bikes are their last hope! Good riddance to a shit company selling a shit product! |
|
Quoted: It's not just race bikes.... from dirt, to adventure, to touring or just cruising every other manufacturer (except urinals) gives you so much more... quality, dependability, performance, warranty, price, etc etc compared to an obsolete clunker HD. But, if you actually ride and not pose on your antiquated garbage, you would already know that. OP, don't do it! Hardley is on life support, once they go under, the chinese parts they use in a majority of the bike will dry up and you will be fucked. And believe me, you will need a lot of friggin parts!! View Quote Did the harley dealer salesman not acknowledge you when you walked with your skinny jeans and man purse? Awful butt hurt. |
|
Lots of opinions on this one.
I'd only add that if you are looking for a touring MC (Road King fits that bill), look at a six speed transmission. Several have said that once you ride a six, you'll never look back at a five. I agree. To spend this kind of money on a touring MC, define what you want and look for that. If this one is a smoking deal or not, if it doesn't fit what you want, it's still a waste of money and time. HD sells a lot of Road Kings because people buy them and like them. |
|
I'm just here to see who wins the purse swinging fight.
Carry on. |
|
|
Quoted: No squid here. I have V-Twins. One tosses down 150hp , the other 180hp at the rear wheel. Not low performance Harleys. I routinely smoke the squids at the drag strip. Better try again there, buddy. Harley guys spend crazy amounts of money getting a super doggy, slow ass bike, to accelerate slightly faster. Then they parade around acting like they have a friggin drag bike. It's a joke. I'm sorry, but your slow-ass low performance Harley is still just that, even after you dumped another $10k into it. But at least you have LOUD pipes now. So that's way cool, for everyone. Tony View Quote Bro. You're so cool. Please tell us more. |
|
|
Quoted: Did the harley dealer salesman not acknowledge you when you walked with your skinny jeans and man purse? Awful butt hurt. View Quote Oh no, I stated facts and you refute them perfectly with this brilliant retort! How will I ever go on Those that ride... know. And that is why all Hardley Abelson has left as it smokes into the dumpster is newbies who don't know better, and old posers who are too afraid of anything that challenges their identity, being all wrapped up in that harley lifestyle. Kinda pathetic really. |
|
Quoted: Its just BigPolska. He trolls every Harley thread. View Quote I can't wait to invite you to the official Harley bankruptcy thread. At least the few remaining American Hardley workers that still have jobs after Hardley shipped most of them overseas can get a new job with a reputable American company for a change. |
|
Not from a dealership, pricing will be strong.
In the garage 2010 FXDWG and 2011 FLHTK currently. If you’re handy pick up a Factory Service Manual. Plan to do a 3 hole fluid change and a brake bleed from the start. |
|
Quoted: Oh no, I stated facts and you refute them perfectly with this brilliant retort! How will I ever go on Those that ride... know. And that is why all Hardley Abelson has left as it smokes into the dumpster is newbies who don't know better, and old posers who are too afraid of anything that challenges their identity, being all wrapped up in that harley lifestyle. Kinda pathetic really. View Quote Many "real" riders own Harleys. What do you ride Polska? Different strokes for different folks. If you are concerned with posers, go have a look at the sport bike crowd. |
|
Quoted: Oh no, I stated facts and you refute them perfectly with this brilliant retort! How will I ever go on Those that ride... know. And that is why all Hardley Abelson has left as it smokes into the dumpster is newbies who don't know better, and old posers who are too afraid of anything that challenges their identity, being all wrapped up in that harley lifestyle. Kinda pathetic really. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Did the harley dealer salesman not acknowledge you when you walked with your skinny jeans and man purse? Awful butt hurt. Oh no, I stated facts and you refute them perfectly with this brilliant retort! How will I ever go on Those that ride... know. And that is why all Hardley Abelson has left as it smokes into the dumpster is newbies who don't know better, and old posers who are too afraid of anything that challenges their identity, being all wrapped up in that harley lifestyle. Kinda pathetic really. Nothing worse than a fucking snooty metric rider. Worse than squids. Those that ride...know. |
|
|
I like the look of the BMW K1600. I'd like to ride one someday. I don't want to pay for it though.
I'd have an HD too. I'm not picky. |
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.