There is over a century of production of these heavyweight bikes. The first bike in 1901 wasn’t really a hot rod. It couldn’t get up the Milwaukee hills without some pedaling power. Hey, let’s give them a break, it was 1900. But in 1915, they went all the way up. And believe me, it’s gotten better. These beasts have become so popular that you can’t miss a Harley-Davidson OEM parts dealer anywhere you are in the world. 

Here are some of my all-time favorite Harley bikes starting from the first time they stood out. 

1915 Harley-Davidson 11F

This big boy is responsible for the shift from making motor-bikes to building motorcycles. It came with an automatic engine oiling system. I know you’re asking, “Why is that a big deal?” I’ll let you know that there were no oil pumps back them and you had to manually lubricate the inside of your engine. We have come a long way in 105 years. 

Anyway, it had 1000cc, making 11 horsepower, and it’s the granddaddy of the 61-cubic inch Harleys. And it boasted an electrical system with a complete magneto ignition system. Oh! It even had a rear taillight. In 1915, it was revolutionary. 

1965 Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide

Modernity in all its glory came with this beast. An electric push-button to start. And it got the name ‘King of the Highway’ thanks to a larger gas tank, 12-volt electric system, saddlebags, removable windshield, and a luggage rack. This is the bike that made Harley-Davidson American’s top cop bike. Remember the 1973 Electra-Glide in Blue movie? It was immortalized to bagging a major film title. 

1970 Harley-Davidson XR-750

It was primarily made dirt track racing but it also does well in road racing. It’s a rare yet desirable beast that is race-ready. We kind of owe its existence to the Brits. American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) prior to 1969 had rules favoring side-valve engines (750cc) and not the overhead-valve engines (above 500 cc) in the AMA National Championship. The British bikes like the Triumph, Norton, and BSA, were at a disadvantage. The Brits put up with the rules for a while but in 1969, they pushed AMA to allow all bikes with 750cc. 

As a result, Harley-Davidson had to level the playing field with an overhead-valve engine bike that could successfully compete with the Brits. And the Evel Knievel was born. The most successful XR-750 thanks to its record-breaking jumps. 

1990 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy

Fat Boy is the model that made the Softail revolution noticed. The original Softail, FXST was introduced in 1984 but it only became popular after the 1990 Fat Boy. 16-inch diameter solid front and rear wheels, shotgun exhaust on a power mated frame, and FL – style front forks. It’s got a 1340cc Evolution V-Twin. However, the current Fat Boy uses the latest Milwaukee-Eight V-twin.

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As your bike gets older and the mileage covered increases, you start experiencing some little problems here and there. Of course, wear and tear are expected but you start questioning if you should start looking for credible and affordable motorcycle imports. 

I have to confess, I don’t have a precise answer as to the lifespan of your bike. So many factors have to be considered for a specific answer including the brand, model, roads, maintenance, etc. However, I’ll narrow it down for you and we can see the average life expectancy of your wheels. 

Generally, if you’ve had zero accidents or major breakdowns, you have a good 12 to 15 years in your hands. And with excellent upkeep and maintenance schedule especially for high-end rides, you get more than 15 years. The opposite is also true. A low-end ride that has been poorly maintained won’t last as long. 

In the many years, I have been a rider, I have learned to look at the mileage chart to gauge the life cycle of my motorcycle engine. When it gets to 100000KM, well, start shopping for a replacement. If you’re always in well-paved or tarmacked roads, you can add a little bit to the 100K. But if you love riding hard on rough roads, you better subtract several thousand from the 100K to start shopping.  

You might ask, “What is considered high mileage on a bike?” In my opinion, 40K – 50K miles is high however, it’s not a guarantee that the bike is of a low quality than a low mileage one. You’ll have to consider the brand, condition, maintenance, and model. 

Adding to the mechanical issues, there are visible elements on the bike that can give you a clue on the condition of your vehicle. For example, rust stains on the bike surface is a clear indication of a properly used bike that needs to be replaced. 

Other bike wear and tear signs include:

• Worn-out clutch
• Rusty brakes and chains
• A dirty exhaust pipe
• Battery with low acid levels
• Worn out tires you can always check the Tear Wear Indicator (TWI)

Also, if your bike has more than one major mechanical failure within a short time frame it’s time you start looking for a replacement. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve had the bike, frequent major break downs end up being more expensive to repair cumulatively than getting another bike. I know it’s hard to replace a bike that’s just a few years old. But, if you consider the time and money spend in a garage, getting a new one might be a better option. 

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The first thing to do when considering auto insurance is to read the finest things in the policy to understand what kinds of damages are covered and which ones are not. Before opting for comprehensive auto insurance, the driver needs to assess hazardous conditions the car may be exposed while in the parking. If a car is to be parked along the streets of a busy city center, chances for damages are high, or even car theft. If it will be parked in a safeguarded lockable garage, it will be exposed to fewer dangers. Chances for cars parked along the streets being damaged are high and calls for comprehensive coverage to protect it.

The value of a car is the most significant factor in determining the amount to pay for comprehensive coverage. In most cases, comprehensive coverage pays out the amount of value the car is worth at the time of damage minus the deductible amount. It is not worth covering a banged-up car with comprehensive coverage because it is not worth it. The payout may just equal to the insurance cost or even less. Take for example a car that is worth $1000 at the time it got mauled, stolen or damaged by a falling tree, and the owner has subscribed a comprehensive cover with a deductible amount of $500, the highest the coverage will pay is $500. The rule of the thumb when it comes to comprehensive coverage is; the cost of coverage should be less than 10% of the current cash value of the vehicle, otherwise, it is not worth it. In essence, the reason we take comprehensive insurance is to protect the value of the vehicle from non-impact damages.

If you are running car rentals or already running one, comprehensive insurance is inevitable. This is because your fleet will be handled by different drivers and damages are most likely to occur at any time.  For an insight into comprehensive insurance, as a car owner, you need to consult an insurance agent so that you are comprehensively informed about the package so that you know what you are entitled to in case of accident or damage to the insured auto vehicle.

One other keynote is over insurance, if you over-insure an auto, it is as good as the uninsured vehicle. There are additional coverages that the law requires to be covered as mandatory before hitting the road, but they may add up to over insurance. An insurance agent will guide you through what is important to cover and with the best value that suits your budget.

If you are behind the wheels of a rented car, it is possible to ride an over-insured car, the best thing to do is to ask for the insurance policy so that you know what you are covered for and what you are not covered for. It is in your best interest to confirm the status of your insurance far ahead of time. Comprehensive coverage is important but on certain occasions, …

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