In 1922, Harley Davidson’s “Further, Faster” presentation revealed their Low Riders now come with the Milwaukee-Eight 117 engines (that’s eight valves, not cylinders), previously reserved for their exclusive CVO models.
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I find HD difficult to sit comfortably in my biker brain… they occupy one of the woolier borders (if it was a Venn diagram, it would occupy the overlap of bikes; weird cool; collective sentimentalism) but the only one I ever rode was a 2018 heritage classic 107 (Milwaukee 8???) It was everything I thought it might be, plenty of torque, comfortable, good two up… but I can’t imagine particularly what difference going from 107 to 117 (and any little giblet- fnarkling) might make/add??? Don’t get me wrong… I was and still would be, more than happy riding/owning a Harley, but It’s a bit like when race reps added a bit here, lost a bit there and were suddenly the new wonder bike… kinda gets lost on my simple mind.
Can I have this custom though… shovel head from the year of me birth, lightly tweaked.
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A Shovel over an M8? In my book - of course.
I hear the 107 M8 is dead this year so harley want all of your wallet to get near a new v twin.
M8s and Shovels both had the same issue. What we in Triumph world call wet sumping. The cause nearly always the oil pump.
Shovels just required a bit of crankcase venting. Which is why all Shovels spunk oil out of the breather when they’ve been standing for longer than a week or so. They ‘mark’ their territory by a pool of about 6 inches across (keep that catch tray there in the garage).
Triumph’s wet sumping is nearly always a spec of a gnat’s wing caught under the ball bearing in the pump. (If you have an old Triumph don’t remove the sump bolt when changing oil - it dislodges all the gnat wings).
Early Milwaukee Eight’s oil pumps are rubbish. They leave too much oil in both the timingcase and crankcase. Newer ones are ok but if you are thinking of buying one (especially 2017 to 2020) then cost in fitting a performance oil pump. I’d suggest fitting one to a newer one as well.
Venting can be increased by venting the oil cap (bad boy venting to amosphere - imagine how much Amazon rainforest they’ll have to leave alone now).
I agreee wholeheartedly - go for the Shovel.
That rather nice Shovel above would cost less than a new M8 - however, note the front brake on the left side due to having to hold the bike on a hill with a suicide clutch.
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The only Harley I ever rode was a Sportster - and I liked it. I was staying in Arisaig at the time and 3 friends had come over from the Netherlands. The lady riding the Sportster had had enough for a bit, so lent me her bike to take the two guys she came with for a tour of the area. We did a great loop going South past Glenuig, Acharacle, Strontian and then into Morvern towards Lochaline. From there along the coast to Drimnin, where we took the ferry to Kilchoan, and via Castle Tioram back to Arisaig. A great day out, and the Sportster was a pleasure to ride on those roads.
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