Need to know of the highest mileage Valk or Wing.

[BigChris99]

One of our guys at work was looking at an '04 Goldwing with 41,000 miles on it, original owner.  He asked me some questions about Wings since I own a 1500.  I told him that mine has 120,000 trouble free miles, never been touched.  My Valkyrie has 40,000 miles and runs like new. I also told him that the flat six is not even broken in  at 40,000 miles.  That engine is water cooled, low stress and capable of a very long life, including hundreds of thousands of miles.  Well about that time, in walks our know it all Harley owner..... notice I didn't say rider.  He owns a Street Glide or something like that, I think.  He hears that the Wing that was being looked at had over 40 thousand on it and he almost threw a fit.  Seriously.  Told the room that the damn Wing was almost worn out and had waaay too many miles on it to buy.  Someone pointed out that Chris(me) had over 120,000 on his.  I told Harley boy that the  Honda flat six doesn't age in Harley years.  Didn't matter to Harley guy.  He has mainlined the HD kool-aid.   So, tell me, who has the biggest amount of miles on their flat six, Valk or Wing?  I know their are some of you out their that have some impressive mileage on your bikes.  I'd like to pass the mileages on to our expert "rider"

[R J]

DDT down in the SE (Florida or Alabama) has over 500,000 on his, I have 243,000 on mine.

Ask him how many times his engine will have to be gone through in 200,000 miles.

I have a die hard Harley rider in our riding group.

2 years ago, he bought a blacked out Harley, it had like 24,000 on it when he headed out for the Rolling Thunder in Washington D.C.

Coming home he swallowed a valve.   He put in a storage unit and flew home.  He borrowed my trailer and went back after it.     Harley factory did a rebuild and it lasted another 12,000 and swallowed another valve.    He borrowed my trailer again and went to Texas after it.    This time Harley told him the engine was too far gone to rebuild again.    So he shucked out about $5,000+ to get a new motor and labor to put it in.

He won't give that HD up, it is his pride and joy.

He will pour $$$$ into that bottomless pit, that he just loves to death.

[LandElephant]

You know that's like arquing about oil and tires. You're not going to change their mind and should stop wasting the effort doing it. I've run 4 wings and a valk all over 130, 000 with one having 275, 000 on it and never had engine trouble.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[BigChris99]

You know that's like arquing about oil and tires. You're not going to change their mind and should stop wasting the effort doing it. I've run 4 wings and a valk all over 130, 000 with one having 275, 000 on it and never had engine trouble.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

Yeah I know. Maybe I was posting this for myself actually. I guess I wanted to hear from other riders

of   Valks and Wings to confirm what I already know and said to others. Your right, he'll never

change.

[Rams]

The one thing Harley did right was cultivate and build a culture.  I have die hard Harley friends that wouldn't ride anything else, they drank the kool aid and went back for seconds.   

But, I have yet to have one not come up and not comment on how good my Valkyrie looks.   But always question how strong that motor is.  After we go for a short cruise, they quit questioning it.   I'll ride with just about anybody (cept loud and stupid) and I don't make fun of their bikes but I do get tired of the attitude.  I don't argue with them, I let the fat gurl speak for herself.  She does a fine job of that.   

[SANDMAN5]

I stopped telling harley jokes quite awhile back. It's just not
fun any more. However, if (when?) one of the wannabes have
a question about the Valks performance I always oblige them.
Last time was a slightly modified Twin Cam and a Sportster.
They started it!! Twin Cam is kinda pathetic, Sportster did
considerably better but I wasn't even close to red-line when
I passed him and waved. (Roll-on at highway speed. They took
off first and had about 100 yard lead.)
A harley boy looked at the odometer on my first Valk when it
had around 20,000. "Bout time to overhaul it, ain't it?" I laughed.
"Yeah, maybe another quarter million miles or so."

[dreamchaser]

Hm-m-m-m-m... I had an FXRS Low Rider that I put 65,000 on before I sold it.  No engine trouble.  The friend I sold it to put over 75,000 more on it with no problem.  It did fry an ECM on the way back from Sturgis in '90.  After 11 years my friend sold the bike to his nephew.......its still goin'!  Must be some kind of freak(?)

[R J]

Hm-m-m-m-m... I had an FXRS Low Rider that I put 65,000 on before I sold it.  No engine trouble.  The friend I sold it to put over 75,000 more on it with no problem.  It did fry an ECM on the way back from Sturgis in '90.  After 11 years my friend sold the bike to his nephew.......its still goin'!  Must be some kind of freak(?)

He better hang on to that ride.    It has to be an exception, or it came from the factory with an S&S engine.

S&S motors are way superior to a Harley engine, it is very noticeable in performance also.    When we rode Harley's in the CHP, all of them got an S&S motor on the 1st overhaul.    My last Harley had close to 70,000 on it before it was retired for a Kawasaki 1000, with no real engine work, it had a very strict maintenance schedule.

[musclehead]

that wouldn't be mine, my little baby gurl only has 29,000 on the clock!

[BF]

I just tell 'em that it's a car engine and it doesn't need to be rebuilt every 20 to 40 thousand like a Harley does. 

That usually shuts 'em up. 

[dreamchaser]

Sorry RJ, It is just an ordinary Evo.  It was used for a few K before I bought it:  Loaned to the Lake Oswego, Or Police Dept for a parade, and as a dealer demo in Vancouver, Wa.

As much fun as it is to pick on Harleys and Harley riders, cuz some of them are arrogant SOBs, They are easier to ride than a Valk, Get better gas milage than a Valk, and easier to buy presents for than a Valk without looking like "Chrome Charley" from Robinson, Il.

All that being said---I like my Valk better for a long trip.  I have never heard of a Harley getting the kind of milage a Valk, or Wing is capable of before major work.  I do feel the need to stand up for my old FXRS.   She was good to me.  Will I ever buy another HD?  Nope.

[John Schmidt]

I have to add my personal experience with an old '75 Wing. I bought it as a low mileage used bike in the late 70's and kept it for a quite a few years. The speedo cable broke at 125k and I never bothered to replace it. That happened shortly after my divorce and I was squeezing nickels so tight the buffalo was crapping in my hand. I continued to ride it all through the 7 1/2 yrs. years of my single life and into the first couple years of remarriage, at which time we traded it for a nice used '83 Wing. About five years later as I was headed home from work, I see this familiar old black '75 Wing cruising along and caught him at a light. I asked about it, sure enough....my old faithful. Same guy that bought it from the dealer I traded with for the '83, now with a repaired speedo and showing 77k on the odometer. Same engine, same owner(said he never touched the engine), same speedo which was repaired by the dealer before selling it(just the cable replaced). At that chance meeting on Corrine Drive in Orlando, Florida, that engine had well over 200k on it, probably closer to 300k. And the new owner???  With the light change, he just merrily buzzed on down the street. No smoke, no rattles, no knocks. And people wonder why I like my Valkyrie?

[tank_post142]

449,000 did the clutch around 410,000.  replaced frame at 430,000 due to rust

[DIGGER]

Harley guy at work and I were sparring over our bikes in front of other workers and the Harley guy said "Well if your Valk is so great why did they quit making it?"

my respnse

"Cause the darned things refuse to break down and they weren't making any money on repairs.    Ever wonder why the service dept at all harley shops is bigger than the showroom floor?"

[SANDMAN5]

Hm-m-m-m-m... I had an FXRS Low Rider that I put 65,000 on before I sold it.  No engine trouble.  The friend I sold it to put over 75,000 more on it with no problem.  It did fry an ECM on the way back from Sturgis in '90.  After 11 years my friend sold the bike to his nephew.......its still goin'!  Must be some kind of freak(?)

Not really. I've said dozens of times that SOME harley motors last for quite a while
without anything other than regular maintenance. My point was always 'at the prices
they charge ALL harleys should last 2-300,000 miles'.
In 03 when I THOUGHT I wanted a harley, I asked the sales manager (now owner) at
the local harley shop how many miles I could get with a new Twin Cam. He said "There's
no reason you shouldn't get 70-80,000 miles without major engine work". I remember that
quote well!!!

[LandElephant]

So 608 kilometers on my 1925 BMW boxer engine that installed in my Ural Yamal doesn't count does it.  How about 125, 198 miles on my 2006 Goldwing. Oh, I'm going out and doing 700 miles tomorrow on the wing.  When I get back I'll still feel my nuts.

Would rather ride than fix I guess.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[musclehead]

Hm-m-m-m-m... I had an FXRS Low Rider that I put 65,000 on before I sold it.  No engine trouble.  The friend I sold it to put over 75,000 more on it with no problem.  It did fry an ECM on the way back from Sturgis in '90.  After 11 years my friend sold the bike to his nephew.......its still goin'!  Must be some kind of freak(?)

Not really. I've said dozens of times that SOME harley motors last for quite a while
without anything other than regular maintenance. My point was always 'at the prices
they charge ALL harleys should last 2-300,000 miles'.
In 03 when I THOUGHT I wanted a harley, I asked the sales manager (now owner) at
the local harley shop how many miles I could get with a new Twin Cam. He said "There's
no reason you shouldn't get 70-80,000 miles without major engine work". I remember that
quote well!!!

from what I've gleaned off this board and listening to "harley" guys it seems to shorten the life of a harley motor the more you tinker/add horse power.

I remember years ago someone on here posted about a harley that was all original with about 100,000+  miles and the rider 'rode it like he stole it'.

[cookiedough]

Hm-m-m-m-m... I had an FXRS Low Rider that I put 65,000 on before I sold it.  No engine trouble.  The friend I sold it to put over 75,000 more on it with no problem.  It did fry an ECM on the way back from Sturgis in '90.  After 11 years my friend sold the bike to his nephew.......its still goin'!  Must be some kind of freak(?)

Not really. I've said dozens of times that SOME harley motors last for quite a while
without anything other than regular maintenance. My point was always 'at the prices
they charge ALL harleys should last 2-300,000 miles'.
In 03 when I THOUGHT I wanted a harley, I asked the sales manager (now owner) at
the local harley shop how many miles I could get with a new Twin Cam. He said "There's
no reason you shouldn't get 70-80,000 miles without major engine work". I remember that
quote well!!!

from what I've gleaned off this board and listening to "harley" guys it seems to shorten the life of a harley motor the more you tinker/add horse power.

I remember years ago someone on here posted about a harley that was all original with about 100,000+  miles and the rider 'rode it like he stole it'.

Tend to agree with that statement about not tinkering with HD motors, but most do to increase from pathetic OEM power.  My HD nut neighbor said he had to tinker with his ultra classic 88 twin cam to bump it up to a 96 motor with stage 3 this and that and I bet spent 7K on upgrades to ONLY have it blow a rod and belt a few years later in again spending another 2 grand or more to fix it so it runs again.  Will he admit it is an expensive hobby, yes, but he won't admit HD has a weak motor and don't dare tell him HD's are not top of the line cycles.  He for sure drank the kool-aid dozens of times.    Then again, he calls me a tightwad but at least I don't have to spend 20K on an cycle to keep it running.