New Harley

[3putter]

I enjoyed reading the thread started by G-MAN re: his purchase of a new Sportster. I can understand his desire to only buy a Harley. I too am going thru the same thing and have decided on a Softail. I can get either an '06 model with the Twin Cam 88 engine, or an '07 with the new 96 CID
power plant. Any early feedback available on the 96? I presume this was just an upgrade on the 88, and not a totally new design like the Twinkie was. Interestingly enough since this is an oil forum, one of the issues Harley has faced over the years has been oil related. The various iterrations of the famous Knucklehead engine, which was in service from 1936 until the Twinkie came out, had constant problems with leakage and oil spray. The Twin Cam 88 had oil overheating problems as a result of too much oil getting to the cylinder heads where the oil temps became super high ...like 350-400 degrees. The only way the engineers could solve it was to RESTRICT the amount of oil getting to the heads, therebye asking the oil only to lubricate, and not cool that part of the engine. Anyway you cut it, the oil in Harley V Twin is under ALOT of stress. In fact, I'm surprised they don't mandate synthetic for warranty maintenance purposes.

 

[pococj]

Never knew the Knuck was in service until the Twinkie motor came out! I've got an old Evo now. 130k miles, only the (in)famous base gasket leak 'til last year, then the engine sprocket seal started leaking. Had a AMF FL Shovel, 200k miles, no, none, nada oil leaks as long as transmission seal was replaced yearly when i replaced sprocket. Had an 100k mile AMF XLCH that only leaked where the original owner semi-stripped a drain plug.

Twinkie oil gets hot because it is sprayed on the undersides of the pistons to cool 'em down.

Feedback on the 96 motors: Really too early for much but speculation. Many improvements over the 88, and many redesigned parts. But they went to 96 inches by stroking rather than boring, so piston speed is higher, and that generally means shorter life, all else equal.

Lots of folks are griping about the transmissions being noisy in certain gears. Not enough miles on any of 'em to see what's gonna happen long term.

 

[G-MAN]

The Big Twins started off with the Knucklehead in 36, which was replaced by the Panhead in 48 (I think), and then the Shovelhead in the 60s. The Evolution was introduced in the mid 80s and represented the first *major* design upgrade of the BT engines. The TC88 was another major design upgrade, and the new TC96 is just a minor upgrade of the TC88.

As for whether to get the TC88 or TC96, I'd opt for the latter. You get more power plus the new 6-speed transmission.

 

[Norm Olt]

The 6-speed, IMHO, is a bigger bennie than a couple of hp...

If you are not yet totally "into" and devoted to a HD you might try a ride on almost any of the metric cruisers. Around here Honda's BIG V-Twins, 1800 & 1300 cc's are sometimes 1/2 the price of a Harley.

Not flaming, I had one long ago.

Cheers!

 

[SKUNKY]

http://www.hdforums.com/m_654370/tm.htm..read this

 

[Propflux01]

Dead link

 

[Quickbeam]

http://www.hdforums.com/m_654370/tm.htm

 

[G-MAN]

Quote:

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http://www.hdforums.com/m_654370/tm.htm

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I think a lot of those guys are just a bunch of whiners who need to get a Goldwing and be done with it. If you want a whisper quiet "Cadillac on two wheels" then you don't want a Harley, I don't care what model or how much it cost.

This same transmission was introduced in the Dyna models for 06 as well as the 06 Sportsters (5-speed version) and there haven't been any problems that I've read about on the various HD forums. If you read the latest edition of HD's Enthusiast magazine, there is an article on the Cruise Drive transmission. The engineer being interviewed talks about the unique sound of this transmission and how some riders have been "concerned" about it. In so many words he just says "get used to it."

 

[SWD6]

Anybody hitting that mid life crisis and trying to stay young should look at a naked sportbike. I got the Yamaha FZ6, it's quiet like a sewing machine,able to ride with my Harley buddy all day and yet still wheelie at 65mph with the throttle for a night out with the sportbike guys. It's 1/3 of the cost and can make your Harley buddys green with envy and give them a sick feeling when you pass cars, then wait for them to catch up

. Please buy a Harley if thats what you realy want but my friends 2003 Dyna wide glide is now worth about $8000 less then what he paid without the pipes,air filter,passenger pegs and many shiny non functional parts he's paid for

.It's a shame I can't go to the local pet store and buy a Yamaha sweater or hat for my dog though

 

[cfromc]

Quote:

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Anybody hitting that mid life crisis and trying to stay young should look at a naked sportbike. I got the Yamaha FZ6, it's quiet like a sewing machine,able to ride with my Harley buddy all day and yet still wheelie at 65mph with the throttle for a night out with the sportbike guys. It's 1/3 of the cost and can make your Harley buddys green with envy and give them a sick feeling when you pass cars, then wait for them to catch up

. Please buy a Harley if thats what you realy want but my friends 2003 Dyna wide glide is now worth about $8000 less then what he paid without the pipes,air filter,passenger pegs and many shiny non functional parts he's paid for

.It's a shame I can't go to the local pet store and buy a Yamaha sweater or hat for my dog though

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The prices did take a big hit this summer, likely caused by the introduction of the '07 models which have a lot of powertrain improvement yet virtually no price increase. My dealer was selling the '06s for $1200-2500 under MSRP, which I've never seen before. This also brought the used prices down drastically starting in early August. Normally, a Harley holds its value very well.

 

[Titan]

If you just "must" have a Harley, nothing else will suffice. Nothing wrong with that at all. As far as holding value, it depends on the miles. Garage queens hold value fairly well, but, if you get a Harley with 50,000+ miles on it, you could easily lose more money at resale than if you had bought many other better performing bikes (even V-twins) and put on that many miles. Still, resale is not THE reason most people buy a motorcycle...if so, those people should always buy a decent used bike. Whatever any of you do, make sure you know your limitations, and take a Motorcycle Safety course.

 

[Gene K]

Yes, dont be like the idiot on the 'glide at the 'dragon who passed a car and then didnt even know how to countersteer to get the bike banked fast and hard to make the curve.

As to Harley's holding value and MSRP+ pricing this started around 1990. I paid $7000 ($1088 below asking price) for a left over 1988 Harley FXRS-SP LowRider Sport in January 1990. Right when the idiocy was starting with Heritage Special and Fatboy. The run has to come to an end eventually. Only so many garages to park 10 year old bikes with 500 mi on them.

If you like H-D buy them because you like them. Dont depend on resale because the public is fickle. What is "in" this week may be "out" tomorrow. Just like custom vans or jet boats.

 

[mettech]

I think the HD 6 speed trans had a recall last year.

I have seen reports that the new 96 is running very lean and some are getting hot.

 

[ddrumman2004]

My oldest son's buddy who bought an 06 Sportster 883 back in June of 06 is regretting it now. He has had numerous problems from cables breaking to just recently, the ignition coil melting and stranding him out on the road both times.

Granted this can happen to any motorcycle but he bought on the Harley name alone and now says he's selling it come spring.

Main thing...is to ride safe.

 

[KBFXDLI]

I have an 06 TC88 and it runs on Mobil1Vtwin 20w50 like a dream. No heat issues at all. But you are correct about the use of synthetics. The TC96 is just a stroked 88 but is even a bigger heat generator. I would never use anything other than Mobil1Vtwin, Amsoil or Redline in a TC Harley engine. If you want a good break in dump the dino factory fill at 100-300 miles and then go synthetic with a change again at 5-600 then again at 1000 and 2500. You will get a nice smooth engine like I did.