There are several different problems that can occur with a harley davidson 5 speed transmission, including hard or difficulty shifting, slippage, jumping out of gear, strange noise, neutral indicator light is on, etc. These all indicate serious issues and ignoring them will cause more expensive repairs. Here, most users suggest taking your Harley to an…
Ever since their inception, Harley Davidson bikes have been a reliable choice for touring bikes. However, the issue with the ignition coil has been a headache for most Harley Davidson riders, including the loyal lots. Some of the common ignition coil problems include coil failure, internal short circuits, vibrational damage, overheating, and wiring problems. While…
Key Takeaways Every Harley rolls off the factory floor wearing a muzzle. Not literally. But Harley-Davidson builds its bikes to pass strict emissions and noise regulations in dozens of countries. That means the stock air intake is restrictive, the exhaust is quieter than it needs to be, and the fuel mapping is set conservatively to…
TL;DR Where the Engine Number Is Stamped — By Model Family The engine number is stamped directly into the crankcase metal. It is not on a plate and it is not printed. If you’re squinting at something that looks like a label, keep looking. There are three main reasons someone needs this number: they’re buying…
TL;DR What Each Position Actually Does to Your Body Mid controls and forward controls change the geometry of your entire body on the bike – not just where your feet rest. With mid controls, your feet sit roughly below your hips, with a natural knee bend of around 90 to 110 degrees. Your weight centers…
TL;DR Spec Comparison: Road King Special vs Road Glide (2024) Spec Road King Special (2024) Road Glide (2024) Engine Milwaukee-Eight 114 Milwaukee-Eight 117 Displacement 1,868cc (114ci) 1,923cc (117ci) Claimed HP 95 hp @ 5,020 rpm 105 hp @ 4,600 rpm Claimed Torque 122 lb-ft @ 2,750 rpm 130 lb-ft @ 3,250 rpm Cooling Air/oil-cooled Air/oil…
TL;DR What Kind of Bike the Switchback Is (and Why It Matters for Reliability) The Harley-Davidson FLD Switchback was produced from 2012 through 2016, built on the Dyna chassis with a Twin Cam 103 engine displacing 1,690cc. It was designed as a convertible touring/cruiser – you could pull the windscreen and bags off and ride…
TL;DR What the Twin Cam 103 Is and Why Problems Still Matter The Twin Cam 103—1,690cc, 103 cubic inches—powered Harley-Davidson’s Touring, Softail, and Dyna platforms from roughly 2012 through 2017, replacing the TC96 with about 6% more torque. Harley replaced the entire Twin Cam line with the Milwaukee-Eight for model year 2018. That timeline matters…
TL;DR Who Actually Makes Harley-Davidson Oil Harley-Davidson does not manufacture its own motor oil. The company is a motorcycle maker, not a petroleum refiner, so it contracts lubricant production to outside suppliers. The primary manufacturer of Harley-Davidson branded oil is Sunoco LP, an American petroleum company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Sunoco refines and packages the…
TL;DR Who Actually Makes Harley-Davidson Oil Harley-Davidson does not manufacture its own motor oil. The company is a motorcycle maker, not a petroleum refiner, so it contracts lubricant production to outside suppliers. The primary manufacturer of Harley-Davidson branded oil is Sunoco LP, an American petroleum company headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Sunoco refines and packages the…
TL;DR Which Street Glide Years Have the Most Documented Problems The Street Glide is the best-selling Harley-Davidson model in US history, so there are a lot of used examples out in the wild. Most are fine. But four distinct problem windows show up consistently across NHTSA records, owner forums, and dealer service data: 2007-2008, 2014,…
TL;DR What Years Did Harley Make the Shovelhead? Harley-Davidson produced the Shovelhead from 1966 through 1984, when it was replaced by the Evolution (Evo) engine. The name comes from the rocker box covers – flip one upside down and it looks like the back of a coal shovel. The engine displaced 74 cubic inches from…
TL;DR Which Electra Glide Years Have the Worst Track Record? The Harley-Davidson Electra Glide has been in production since 1965, and most years it’s a solid touring platform. But five distinct eras produced bikes with serious, documented problems — not just owner gripes, but NHTSA recalls, engine failures, and repair bills that can exceed the…
TL;DR What the Twin Cam Is and Why Year Matters So Much The Twin Cam replaced Harley’s Evolution engine in 1999 and stayed in production through the 2017 model year, when the Milwaukee-Eight took over. The name comes from the architecture: two camshafts per cylinder head, each driven by its own chain inside the cam…