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[grc]

Find a low mileage '06 and with the money you save, have the motor done the way you want it, tune it with whatever you want, put a 6 speed in it, and avoid all the potential headaches you might encounter with an 07/08.  JMO.

Terry,

Excellent advice, in my semi-humble opinion.  The more I look at the current bikes and the current problems, plus the way our resale values have dropped, the more I think it would be much smarter for those of us with older models to just upgrade what we currently have.  Drive by wire isn't something I really want, I can buy better brakes from the aftermarket, ABS might be nice but I can easily live without it, etc.  And a side benefit could be that the MoCo sees a drop in demand for their new overpriced products which would lead them to improve their design work, engineering, customer service, etc.

Damn, I don't drink so I guess you have to blame that last sentence on dementia.  Must have forgotten my pills this morning.

Jerry

[mr_magoo]

I like my 08,  and have only had the 1 issue.  I think it was worth it to go from the 06 to the 08.

[Midnight Rider]

Exactly, Jerry...I've seen several nice 06's both here and in other for sale publications.  There's an 06 like mine, with new tins, that would be an excellent starting point, and some 05's as well.  I know where a Pumkin is as well, and there have been several nice 05's for sell lately.  I'd love the ABS, but would never trade what I have now just to get that, and there's nothing else on the new bikes I can't live without.  Excellent brakes, rotors, and pads can be had for well under 2K, same for suspension, and a 103 can be made to run great with an investment of 3-4K....well under that if you just put cams in. Hell, they run pretty decent with just pipes, intake, and a decent tune. Before all is said and done, I think the prices on the pre '07 bikes will bounce back after word gets out about all the problems.  Not knockng any of the people here who have the 07/08 models, but I'd be very upset over some of the issues with the cylinders/gaskets, etc.  Particularly with the same problems not being resolved after two and three trips to the dealer, with all the inherent down time involved there, and the MOCO not coming up with any real fixes for the problems after a full year.  I would be extremely frustrated, to say the least.

I sincerely hope that the 08's don't have more of the same, with some new one's thrown in on top.

[Hoist!]

Sounds a little bias Terry! Do not be afraid of the 110's. They can be fixed. And with the right components, they kill 103's numbers wise. This was not the case 6-8 months ago. Some of the secrets to unleashing these motors are starting to emerge now. Personally, go with an '07 and get it setup properly. Anything on this motor can be fixed right, even if you rebuild the entire engine yourself. Save the $$$ Terry's talking about and put it into good engine mods on a 110 instead of a tranny. Any 103's going against 110's at the track in HS?

Hoist!

[tommyo]

I've been trying to tell him this all along. This guy gets bored easy...LOL!

[Midnight Rider]

Sounds a little bias Terry! Do not be afraid of the 110's. They can be fixed. And with the right components, they kill 103's numbers wise. This was not the case 6-8 months ago. Some of the secrets to unleashing these motors are starting to emerge now. Personally, go with an '07 and get it setup properly. Anything on this motor can be fixed right, even if you rebuild the entire engine yourself. Save the $$$ Terry's talking about and put it into good engine mods on a 110 instead of a tranny. Any 103's going against 110's at the track in HS?

Hoist!

Howie...are you confident that your replacement cylinders will not leak again?  And will they now be covered under warranty?  I hope you have thousands of trouble free miles ahead of you now.  I hope that for all the people who have issues with their motors.  A permanent fix.  But NOBODY should have to spend 4-6K just to get a reliable engine when they have just paid 30-35K for a bike, IMO.

I'm not knocking the 110 at all, but there is no denying that they have significant issues with the cylinder and gaskets.  You did what you did because you wanted to, but that should NOT be necessary on a 30K plus motorcycle.

I'm not talking about what motor can outrun another one....I'm talking about reliability issues, and reported problems with the bike running or being in the shop.   And yes, if I put what you have in your engine in mine ($), the differences would be negligible in HP/TQ numbers.  But I'm not really concerned about numbers, as I'm not racing the bike, but traveling on it.

[Hoist!]

Howie...are you confident that your replacement cylinders will not leak again?  And will they now be covered under warranty?  I hope you have thousands of trouble free miles ahead of you now.  I hope that for all the people who have issues with their motors.  A permanent fix.  But NOBODY should have to spend 4-6K just to get a reliable engine when they have just paid 30-35K for a bike, IMO.

I'm not knocking the 110 at all, but there is no denying that they have significant issues with the cylinder and gaskets.  You did what you did because you wanted to, but that should NOT be necessary on a 30K plus motorcycle.

I'm not talking about what motor can outrun another one....I'm talking about reliability issues, and reported problems with the bike running or being in the shop.   And yes, if I put what you have in your engine in mine ($), the differences would be negligible in HP/TQ numbers.  But I'm not really concerned about numbers, as I'm not racing the bike, but traveling on it.

I agree you shouldn't have to spend that on a new bike. But to me it's worth it. The $$ didn't go to just fixing their mess. Unleashing the performance potential from the 110 was my goal too. If it does leak again due to HD's stock barrels, they'll go too! And it will be done under w.....ty! I went above and beyond what's required. Way above! But like I said before, this chit ain't rocket science. These engines can be fixed. And they're turning out to be good performers. This is contrary to everything we were reading 6-8 months ago. Everyone saw the initial dyno runs and they were not impressive. As we learn more and more about these engines, we know what needs to be done to them. Just do it and ride on!

Hoist!

[Fired00d]

Howie...are you confident that your replacement cylinders will not leak again?  And will they now be covered under warranty?  I hope you have thousands of trouble free miles ahead of you now.  I hope that for all the people who have issues with their motors.  A permanent fix.  But NOBODY should have to spend 4-6K just to get a reliable engine when they have just paid 30-35K for a bike, IMO.

I'm not knocking the 110 at all, but there is no denying that they have significant issues with the cylinder and gaskets.  You did what you did because you wanted to, but that should NOT be necessary on a 30K plus motorcycle.

I'm not talking about what motor can outrun another one....I'm talking about reliability issues, and reported problems with the bike running or being in the shop.   And yes, if I put what you have in your engine in mine ($), the differences would be negligible in HP/TQ numbers.  But I'm not really concerned about numbers, as I'm not racing the bike, but traveling on it.

Exactly!!! We are speaking of TOURING bikes aren't we? If the concern is all out performance (speed) then you could do it for a lot less then staring w/a 30K+ TOURING bike.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Hoist!]

Exactly!!! We are speaking of TOURING bikes aren't we? If the concern is all out performance (speed) then you could do it for a lot less then staring w/a 30K+ TOURING bike.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Hmmm, sounds like quite the opposite of what I heard here when first I joined. I remember spouting that line when I got here. d00d, you pointed mt to Hubbard and Otis, and told me these were performance and touring bikes! I see a little defensiveness now on your 103's! Lighten up guys. I'm not knocking your 103's. Just speaking well about the 110's, which is difficult for most to do. Nobody wants issues. But life ain't fair. Suck it up and deal with the issues, and you'll have a great running bike. That's all I'm trying to say!

Hoist!

Hoist!

[SirMichael]

Everyone in favor of the 07, raise your hand!!

 As for  Tommyo, he just needs to stop staring at all his $$$$$$ and do something with it!!
 Hes already 42, pretty soon he will be to old for a fast bike!!

                                                      Mike
                                                      (retired welder)
                                                       
                                 

[Hoist!]

Everyone in favor of the 07, raise your hand!!

 As for  Tommyo, he just needs to stop staring at all his $$$$$$ and do something with it!!
 Hes already 42, pretty soon he will be to old for a fast bike!!

                                                      Mike
                                                      (retired welder)
                                                       
                                 

Hey watch it there! You're never too old for that! I could be Tommyo's much older brother!

Hoist!

[Fired00d]

Hmmm, sounds like quite the opposite of what I heard here when first I joined. I remember spouting that line when I got here. d00d, you pointed mt to Hubbard and Otis, and told me these were performance and touring bikes! I see a little defensiveness now on your 103's! Lighten up guys. I'm not knocking your 103's. Just speaking well about the 110's, which is difficult for most to do. Nobody wants issues. But life ain't fair. Suck it up and deal with the issues, and you'll have a great running bike. That's all I'm trying to say!

Hoist!

Hoist!

No defensiveness at all concerning the 103's. I'm happy the way my bike is running and probably did it for a lot less then you. Is it the best out there no, and I'm not trying to make it that. Maybe if you read some of your posts you'd see your approach they way others see it. Have a great day.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Midnight Rider]

I don't take any of this banter as anyone knocking one motor or the other.  The initial question was whether there were problems with the 08 bikes, which includes the 110" motor.  Fact is, we don't really know, other than what's been reported with the 07's all year long, and the same problems continue to be an issue for some after X number of miles on almost every 110 on this site, even after being "fixed".  HD had big problems with the TC when it was first introduced, but eventually got those issues fixed.  They still have the issue of the cam chain tensioner, but that CAN be a relatively cheap fix, or if the bike remains in warranty, just let it eat and make HD fix it on their dime.  Most choose not to go that route, because of the unpredictability of the inevitable failure.  I have little doubt that eventually a permanent fix will be found for for the problems the 110 is experiencing.   I also have total empathy for those experiencing those problems and sincerely hope they are completely resolved.

My point was simply that it would end up being a wash, dollar wise, to buy a nice SE bike with a 103, and make whatever mods one chooses to make to get it "equal" to an 07/08 bike, with regards to certain components.  Or do nothing to it and ride it.  It is a relatively reliable engine, and any issues are known issues at this point in time.

And I'm not at all defensive about whether my bike has a 95, 103, 106, 113, or 124.  It's all about personal choices and where one's priorities lay.  With the money I've spent on my bike in the past year, on my priorities, I could have had an engine that would blow 90% of the bikes on the road away, but I made other choices, based on what I felt needed to be done to make my bike safe, ridable (for me), and reliable.  But I've had no real mechanical issues, and my bike has spent 1 day in the shop with a comp nut coming loose.

So, to get back to the original question...no known issues with the 08's posted on this forum yet, but the engine is the same (as far as we know), so if the 07's are an indicator, you might reasonably expect problems with leaky gaskets which will require the top end of the motor to be torn down and repaired.

I have nothing else to add....

[djkak]

.......HD had big problems with the TC when it was first introduced, but eventually got those issues fixed.  They still have the issue of the cam chain tensioner, but that CAN be a relatively cheap fix.....

Are people having issues with the hydraulic tensioners and roller chains used in the ’06 and later Dyna’s and all Big Twins from ’07 up?

djkak

[Midnight Rider]

Are people having issues with the hydraulic tensioners and roller chains used in the ’06 and later Dyna’s and all Big Twins from ’07 up?

djkak

No, djkak...not that I've heard of.  I was refering to the pre 07 model design (with the exception of the Dyna, of course).