End of riding season

Go for a new engine. I suspect that you won't get much money from the trans/bars/paint that you spent on. Another thing is that you probably wont't recover any money from the new engine should you want to sell the bike later. But if you are going to ride it for another 100k that's what I'd do. Maybe time to upgrade the shocks and forks also.
lol I wasn't joking when I said everything's been upgraded. I have the Works adjustable dual spring shocks on the back, and Ohlins on the front. When I put the last 10 into it I was debating selling and getting a new bike or keeping this one forever. It was that good. Looks like I will REALLY be keeping it forever.
 
It's too bad most of you guys are idiots. Anyway a broken valve spring and valve stem is not a huge, big, expensive deal, especially on a Harley. Take the heads off, because both cylinders should match and replace the valves and springs etc. It sounds like you didn't lunch the really expensive stuff, like the bottom end, so likely you have a relatively easy to do repair. It will still cost a few bucks, but there really isn't any reason to replace the rest of the motor. I'm assuming that if you put that much money in to the motor you beefed up the lower end to handle the increased hordepower. So in hindsight that is a good thing, likely the damage was contained to only one cylinder and everything else is good. Find a reliable shop and you will probably be back on the road in days, not months. You could not have damaged the camshaft etc., so really because of the old engine design the damage is contained to one cylinder and shouldn't be that expensive to repair. But you really should know this stuff if you are spending big bags of money on a bike.
 
New tranny $5000, Paint $2000, Apes and wires $1500. plus labour and tax. it adds up fast. You cant just pick up these parts at Canadian Tire.

A new transmission (and labour i assume) was $5000?? Seems a little high to me, but I honestly have no idea about HD parts costs.

Where are you getting your bike serviced? Are they the ones that quoted you 6-10 grand for (presumably) an engine replacement?
 
It's too bad most of you guys are idiots. Anyway a broken valve spring and valve stem is not a huge, big, expensive deal, especially on a Harley. Take the heads off, because both cylinders should match and replace the valves and springs etc. It sounds like you didn't lunch the really expensive stuff, like the bottom end, so likely you have a relatively easy to do repair. It will still cost a few bucks, but there really isn't any reason to replace the rest of the motor. I'm assuming that if you put that much money in to the motor you beefed up the lower end to handle the increased hordepower. So in hindsight that is a good thing, likely the damage was contained to only one cylinder and everything else is good. Find a reliable shop and you will probably be back on the road in days, not months. You could not have damaged the camshaft etc., so really because of the old engine design the damage is contained to one cylinder and shouldn't be that expensive to repair. But you really should know this stuff if you are spending big bags of money on a bike.
The spring broke and dropped the valve and stem into the heads and destroyed the entire case after it ripped apart.The Top end on the front cylinder is pooched. 1/4" gouges out of the heads and case. The bottom end has not been opened up yet, but if the damage is like that up top, its not looking good for the old stroker.
 
The spring broke and dropped the valve and stem into the heads and destroyed the entire case after it ripped apart.The Top end on the front cylinder is pooched. 1/4" gouges out of the heads and case. The bottom end has not been opened up yet, but if the damage is like that up top, its not looking good for the old stroker.

Can you buy a used motor and begin swapping the parts you used to beef up the engine that arent damaged? Not sure how this all works when it comes to engines and swapping.
 
A new transmission (and labour i assume) was $5000?? Seems a little high to me, but I honestly have no idea about HD parts costs.

Where are you getting your bike serviced? Are they the ones that quoted you 6-10 grand for (presumably) an engine replacement?
The Baker DD6 was $3,400 plus tax, plus labour, plus us exchange rate. It came awful close to the 5. No quotes have been given yet. I do know it cost me $5400 to have my old, already working engine "boosted" to the power it was putting out. so even if a used stock motor cost me $1000 we are over 6 grand without labour
 
Opportunity cost should be added to that....

I would dump the bike as is, these kind of deal is for HD junkie who like rebuilding bikes.

Get a Jap crusier for 10k and enjoy the rest of riding season.
 
Looks like the end of my riding season. Last Friday coming back from wasaga beach my bike started sputtering like it was out of gas. No power. I gear down pull in the clutch and get it off the road just as it died. It sounded rear bad as I tried to restart. I get it to the shop and they take it apart to look. Seems to be a little metal in the engine. A broken valve stem. And valve.
Before the flames start yes it's a 2005 Harley Davidson RoadKing custom Yea it has 160,000km plus. I love all makes of bikes, I don't dress as a pirate and I never hold anyone up. It doesn't have straight pipes.

It looks like the valve spring broke and dropped the valve down and self destructed the engine.
I had just put about 10 grand into it with baker 6 speed new apes and wires new paint new light etc. Now it looks like it's going to cost anther 6-10 grand to get it back on the road. Everything else on the bike has been replaced and upgraded except for the frame.
If it was your bike what would you do? Fix and keep. Fix and sell it or sell as is. Either way it's going to be a loss to me.

If you truly love all makes of bikes, you should have no problem finishing the season on a good used Japanese bike which you could sell later without too much loss. I would consider the HD a keeper, the only problem I'm seeing is that you hire out all your work. That's never going to be cheap.
 
Valve springs don't just break and drop valves into Harley engines at 160k. I'm guessing you had a bigger cam and a few other power mods. There is a long list of guys who have modded their Harleys with catastrophic consequences so you're not alone. When you drop a valve it's a good indicator that the valve train wasn't spec'd right for the cam.

It's bitter, but you just have to pick yourself up out of the dirt and get back on your horse. I don't know what the complete damage is, but I think I would tear it down and rebuild myself in the garage over the winter, or get a STOCK engine from a wrecked bike. Paying a shop to do it will double the cost. If you have to ride though, there are lots of cheap metrics and Sportsters around. Best of luck.

Just went all the way to California down Rt66, up the Coast highway and back on the Pony Express Trail with my Blockhead. Thing ran flawlessly the whole way. 102 degrees in the Mojave desert, zero problems. STOCK is a beautiful thing.
 
How come Harley engine work is so expensive? Wouldn't lawn mower repair men be able to fix them?

Sent from my Z826 using Tapatalk
 
Major motor mods are not a recipe for durability. And I find hopping up a v twin harley to be like a fish riding a bicycle. If one wants power, buy a bike that comes with power. Lots of power cruisers out there for example, including harley. Then muscle bikes, etc.

There are lots of harley parts out there. Tons. And tons of people who sell them because they get into a bind. I wouldn't find it too hard to find a reasonable motor at a great price off of an owners group or forum.

I'd say the OP's brain and heart are wanting two different things. That's a personal decision.
 
For me it would come down to how much it would cost to make a new bike the way I want. Might be cheaper to drop in a new motor rather then buy a new bike and have to go through all that again. 160,000 km is a good run for that motor!
 
I'm very sorry to hear about your bike. They are like our babies and it hurts us when they are hurt. I remember my Dad and his '97 Electraglide. He had about $10,000 in accessories but not much into the motor. Hey had about 50,000km on it in just 2 years when the motor blew the first time. Fixed under warranty. Blew again shortly after the rebuild and then blew again on the test ride due to mechanic's error. After that he just didn't trust the bike anymore and made the dealer buy it back and got himself a Kawi Vulcan 1500 nomad. Rode that bike 60,000km with nothing but oil changes. He always said he didn't like the Kawi as much as his Harley but he liked the piece of mind enough to make the switch.

I sense you have put a lot more than money into the bike. Having it built just the way you dreamed it, you probably don't want to let it go. I have a buddy with a show truck like that. Blew a motor pushing 700+hp! Cost him a fortune to build that motor and it cost him a fortune to replace it, but if you ask him, it was worth every penny. Do whatever soothes your soul the best. Good luck.
 
Lots of new and interesting developments in the industry have come out in the last 11 years (assuming you've owned it from new). Consider this an opportunity to do a little on-line research & test ride some bikes that interest you. If you find something you like, great, buy it. It sounds like you've got some quality components on your bike that can probably be parted out on Harley sites for maybe 50-60% of cost (assuming still in good shape). If you still prefer your baby, sounds like its time for a new engine
 
Valve springs don't just break and drop valves into Harley engines at 160k. I'm guessing you had a bigger cam and a few other power mods. There is a long list of guys who have modded their Harleys with catastrophic consequences so you're not alone. When you drop a valve it's a good indicator that the valve train wasn't spec'd right for the cam


It's bitter, but you just have to pick yourself up out of the dirt and get back on your horse. I don't know what the complete damage is, but I think I would tear it down and rebuild myself in the garage over the winter, or get a STOCK engine from a wrecked bike. Paying a shop to do it will double the cost. If you have to ride though, there are lots of cheap metrics and Sportsters around. Best of luck.


Just went all the way to California down Rt66, up the Coast highway and back on the Pony Express Trail with my Blockhead. Thing ran flawlessly the whole way. 102 degrees in the Mojave desert, zero problems. STOCK is a beautiful thing.

~Yes, Its been bored and had all engine work done at 12,00km Its passed 160,000km now with S&S 585 Gear Cams, Pistons, etc

~I am thinking that route as well, and if I start now I can leave the garage door open

~Yes Never ever a problem with my engine until the loss of power and I rode it like it should be. I am going to miss out on a couple trips which is heartbreaking. That trip of yours seems awesome. How long were you on the road for?
 
Major motor mods are not a recipe for durability. And I find hopping up a v twin harley to be like a fish riding a bicycle. If one wants power, buy a bike that comes with power. Lots of power cruisers out there for example, including harley. Then muscle bikes, etc.

There are lots of harley parts out there. Tons. And tons of people who sell them because they get into a bind. I wouldn't find it too hard to find a reasonable motor at a great price off of an owners group or forum.

I'd say the OP's brain and heart are wanting two different things. That's a personal decision.

Yes Heart votes keep, brain votes keep, but the wallet cant take another big hit this summer.
 
I'm very sorry to hear about your bike. They are like our babies and it hurts us when they are hurt. I remember my Dad and his '97 Electraglide. He had about $10,000 in accessories but not much into the motor. Hey had about 50,000km on it in just 2 years when the motor blew the first time. Fixed under warranty. Blew again shortly after the rebuild and then blew again on the test ride due to mechanic's error. After that he just didn't trust the bike anymore and made the dealer buy it back and got himself a Kawi Vulcan 1500 nomad. Rode that bike 60,000km with nothing but oil changes. He always said he didn't like the Kawi as much as his Harley but he liked the piece of mind enough to make the switch.

I sense you have put a lot more than money into the bike. Having it built just the way you dreamed it, you probably don't want to let it go. I have a buddy with a show truck like that. Blew a motor pushing 700+hp! Cost him a fortune to build that motor and it cost him a fortune to replace it, but if you ask him, it was worth every penny. Do whatever soothes your soul the best. Good luck.

I am rather embarrassed to say but I have receipts (hidden from my wife) that total over $35,000 on top of the $32,000 bike when It was bought new.

Every single time it puts a smile on my face as soon as I throw my leg over it. No amount of money can buy that feeling.
 
If it were my bike id get a used engine, drop it in myself (motorcycles are pretty basic machines) and worry about salvaging/rebuying the kickass motor as I rebuild my wallet.
 
If it were my bike id get a used engine, drop it in myself (motorcycles are pretty basic machines) and worry about salvaging/rebuying the kickass motor as I rebuild my wallet.

He probably hasn't even thought of that. That's why public forums are so handy.
 
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