I've ridden this bike over 14,000 miles through nine states in all sorts of weather in the last year. These are some of my impressions, mods and thoughts.
Just picked up a 2019 yesterday that only had 348 miles..... vivid black, just like yours. The only thing I'm planning is getting rid of those stupid quiet stock mufflers.
That's the best review I've ever seen on a Harley especially the new heritage I own the same Bike you hit the nail right on the head BEST bike I've ever owned I've had 20 Harley over the last 42 .
Good review, I like the way you describe your accessories. I just bought a stock FHLCS and I will be adding some extras, already added crash bars in the front and sissy bar back rest for passenger.
That was a great video. I plan on getting a Heritage classic as well. I have a road glide ultra, which weighs 976 lbs & I weigh 146 lbs @ 6' feet tall. That's a lot of bike to handle. That's why I think it is time for me to get the Heritage. 👍👌
Hey, thank you very much for the report at 14k miles. That's a solid place to take inventory - of mods, performance, practical stuff. I am a long time HD guy and sold my '16 RGS last year, so am now in the market. On the "It's lighter and handles better..." - yep, seems to very much (and I LOVED my RGS). 90% of my missions are sub 100 miles, probably half are sub 60 miles. So a lighter and more nimble bike makes sense, especially if I can load it up for trips. Las thing: your experience of the softail shock? I know with dirt bikes they transformed the sport. The RGS shocks were only so so.
I think you just made my decision on which Harley to pick up. Reason I like it, cause it sits right in between a road king, and low rider. I do more in the city riding, but am planning to do long hauls to. My 2017 Honda rebel 500 kicks my ass, after about an hour on the highway. Great video sir.
Always loved and wanted a heritage. But I had to have the old version for the classic style. So I bought a 2016 with only 9k miles on it for 11,500 rather than 26k for a new 2024. Teal and white…like a 1955 Harley 👍. I’m sure the newer ones with M8 are great but I just don’t care for the modern looks change. But that’s just a matter of personal taste. I think the new ones have better lean angle after the redesign but that didn’t matter much to me either. I’m either slow cruising and sight seeing or going 80mph down interstate to make some time and cover miles quick. And like you said they will cruise at 80mph in 6th gear like it’s nothing 👍. It’s planted and stable even around 18 wheelers. The heavier touring bikes are great im sure but when it comes to slow cruising I just prefer the nimble feeling of the heritage best. Plus on the softail you seem to sit down deep IN the bike and I love that. And ever since I was a little kid it was the heritage softail that defined to me what a Harley Davidson is. To me it was the textbook definition of a HD
I did a group ride yesterday with a bunch of H-D's and think I got the itch...never owned a H-D before as I have always ridden a Yamaha---you, my friend, got a like and a sub from me! 👌
Great review Brother....Love your Bike and your set up....I did a simliar touring set up on my Dyna FatBob...I just got back in March of 2020 from Texas on it....I understand the 2940rpm at 80mph....My stage1 103 does about that also👍
i got 10K miles on mine after one year and agree with all your points, especially regarding touring capabilities. My only issue is finding the right seat, I have the Tallboy, which is not too bad, but I'm still looking for something a little more comfortable.
I have heard the seat issue many times before. There is a Facebook page, "2018-2019 Harley Heritage Classic," that has a number of posts regarding seats (I am no longer on the page). It might be useful to you if you haven't already checked it out. It's a very personal issue. The seat either fits your butt or not. I lucked out and it fits me perfectly. I have done 700+ mile days with it-no problem, but I have had other Harleys where this was not the case and I went aftermarket to Saddlemen, which is the most comfortable seat I've ever sat on. The Harley Sundowner is probably Harley's most comfortable seat (again, it's personal), but it's not necessarily for tall people. Then there's Saddlemen and the other aftermarkets. I wish you luck.
Great review! Really enjoyed it. Well filmed and edited too👊 How do you find it in the wet? I span the back wheel on mine at 40-50mph the other day! Accelerating away from someone.
Thanks for your comments. I'm pleased you enjoyed it. In July, I had to ride in the rain from Rock Springs to Missoula (about 500 miles). I had a total of about 55 pounds in the bags and on the pillion and the preload was set accordingly (for dry). Leaning over the exposed electrics under the saddle to keep them dry, I took off one turn of preload before I left Rock Springs. I have no idea whether that made a difference or not, but the bike handled solidly the entire way (~80 mph). Of course, I was riding more gingerly for the conditions, but I did push it a little at times out of curiosity and I'm sure I could have broken it loose if I'd tried. I do think the extra weight on the ass end made a difference. Cheers!
I noticed that you said at 2:28 in the video that you sometimes lose earplugs. Has that ever happened to you? Did you ever lose one in your ear? How could that ever happen??? Don’t your arms get tired holding them up that high with those ape bars? It's obvious that you enjoy your new ride. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, it has happened to me on the motorcycle, because I'm absent-minded (more so lately). But I did actually lose one in my ear once. When I had previously removed the earplug, a piece broke off in my ear and lodged near my eardrum. I didn't discover this until later when I was on a car trip in California and it started to hurt. I remember stopping at a friend's house in Antioch. When I described the irritation I was feeling in my ear, he thought I was nuts and threw an underdone steak at me that he'd just barbecued, saying, "this will fix you up." I later had the piece of earplug removed at a clinic in Tahoe. They thought I was nuts too. How's that for a story. I love my ape bars. They keep my pits dry. I'm a biker, remember?
Just moved up from a Rebel to a Heritage. I noticed a lot of vibration, more than I would expect from a touring bike, and checked my tire air pressure and it was 36 psi from the dealership after their post-sale check. Once I inflated to 49 psi (as the tire sidewall states) the vibration went away. Is 36 psi supposed to be a better pressure to run for comfort? 14,000 miles on the original tires is impressive and I would like to duplicate your success. My first Harley so don't know what it should feel like regarding vibrations.
Just found this video. A nice review. I have a 2019 Heritage and enjoy it (now that they have finally fixed it) for the same reasons you do. Looking forward to putting some miles on it. Subscribed.
Thanks, Dave, I've been riding Metrics for 22 years now, and I still have 2 of them. I've been wanting to get an HD, and keep looking at Fat Bobs, Low Riders, and Fat Boys (Newer Used), and just started thinking, maybe what I need is a Heritage since I do light touring. This was helpful. Do you ever have a pillion, if so, how do they like the ride? Great video.
I ride two up with my wife frequently (combined weight 300 pounds, so 100 pounds less than GVWR). It's still 110 pounds lighter than the RK would be so lighter and nimbler, but if I were doing long distance touring two up, I believe the RK would be the better pick with bigger saddlebags and the touring frame with quite a bit more load carrying capacity, plus a 6 gallon tank.
I would say weatherproof. I've washed the bike many times and ridden for hours in rain at highway speeds and I've never seen a drop inside the bags, but a well aimed spray from a pressure washer might get in. I really like this bike too.
@@cruiserjohn74 I want to black out a few more things, like the mirrors, etc. Also, I will probably float the front rotors. Thrashin' Supply has some very interesting rear crash guards/pegs that look interesting, but expensive that I might save up for.
Hi Dave How many miles do you have now? I just bought a 107 heritage and I'm up to 450 miles. The odd thing is my transmission fluid is a hair above the the add mark. The first time I checked it , it already had 350 miles...I should have checked it before I left the dealership. The service guy said to keep an eye on it In case my back has a little fluid transfer to primary. I thought that issue was with the bikes with the hydraulic clutch?? Have you had that issue?
Hi Gary. I now have 20,180 miles on it. I just did a 20K review video if you haven't seen it. In my experience with dealerships, they tend to overfill everything. I bought a $10 hand pump from Amazon which I use to suck out the excess engine oil (usually 1/2 quart) so it won't end up in the breathers, and then the air cleaner. I'm not surprised the trans oil is a hair above. If it's only a hair, I would worry. I have not had an issue with transfer to the primary, or any other issue for that matter. Of course, I don't ride at high rev's for long periods at a time or "hot rod" the bike very often either. I really don't think that issue is as common as some would think. But when it does happen, I think it affects hydraulic as well as cable clutch bikes. With 450 miles, you're almost broken in! Have fun! Enjoy that beautiful machine!
Thanks so much for this review ... It was very helpful. I'm really interested about what you said about the rear lighting. I just bought a 2018 Heritage and as with my last three bikes, I always like to make the lights all running and all break. When I asked the dealership about it, they said it wasn't available for this bike. Can you please tell me where you got the conversion? It would sure help. I too, do a lot of touring on my bikes and I bought the bike in another state and rode it home 580 miles. It handled great, but I couldn't really "get on it" because I was breaking it in. Thanks for a great review. And thanks in advance for your response on the back lighting.
Hi Toni. Check this link for the Custom Dynamics kit that will convert your 2018 Heritage to Run/Brake/Turn. They also sell the LED inserts for the turn signals and brake lights. www.customdynamics.com/vehicle/harley-davidson-led-lighting/electrical-accessories/run-brake-turn-modules?p=2 I also think Ciro3D sells the same stuff but this is the one I used. If you don't want to do the installs yourself, I know some HD dealers will do it. Also, there are independents that will do it. If you do it yourself, I can take a picture of the underseat placement of the module as I did it on my bike. The instructions are pretty good. Good luck!
I have an 03 Heritage Classic right now. I've been debating selling it and getting a new one with the 114 or 107....the 88ci isn't too powerful on the freeway. Hard to go past 80mph. And here in SoCal 80-85 is the norm when traffic is lighter lol.
Good idea. I remember my 2000 TC88 Wide Glide only did 70 mph at 3000 rpm. One of the best things about the new Heritage is that at 2900 rpm it's doing 80 mph-just cruising!
How is it you are able to get such good sound quality from your GoPro, Your voice is very easy to hear as are the Rinehart mufflers in the background. I've seen many youtube video's where what I hear most is wind noise but yours are perfect. (no wind noise at all).
Great review - thanks for the info! I am considering trading my '18 Street Glide for a new Heritage. How well does the Heritage perform in strong crosswinds as compared to the touring bikes?
I have never ridden a touring bike in a lot of wind, but I have ridden the Heritage in a lot of crosswind a number of times and it handled very well. I would guess that what the Heritage lacks in weight, it makes up for with a smaller profile.
Thanks JP. It was easy to take the leather piece off. Remove the rear screw holding the leather piece down (bottom of the leather piece, just forward of the seat). lift the leather piece bottom up and replace that screw finger tight. Then remove the console screw just rearward of the speedo and move the console rearward and up just enough to look under it with a flashlight. The console is connected with a wire harness, so you don't want to remove it, just lift it and have a look under it. Doing so, you can see how the leather piece comes out (I can't remember but it may be the console screw that held it so it should come right out). After you've removed the leather piece, you will see that the leather piece acted as a quasi rain/water seal and there will be a gap under the console where it was. I remedied this by getting a piece of latex rubber hose (any flexible hose will do). I think it was about 3/8" O.D.-something like that. I cut a piece long enough to form a semicircle that was two or three times longer than the space left by the leather and, when placed inside the console, would fit in front of the space left by the leather piece. I carefully put it in place, then lowered the console in place such that gravity would hold the rubber hose in place and then I tightened the screws down. The front (console) screw torques to 30-50 inch-pounds. The rear screw (just in front of the seat) torques to 25-30 inch-pounds. The gap is still there where the leather piece was, but I am comforted by the fact the rubber hose is just on the other side of it (It's not so close to the gap that I can see it). That's how I did it. I bet when you're doing it you come up with an even better way. I don't think any water or rain has ever gotten in there, but I never point a pressure washer in that direction.
I very much enjoyed your videos on the Heritage! I looked and priced a '19 114 today and am close to pulling the trigger for one to replace my Ducati I just sold. My local dealers service guy tells me that if I replace the stock pipes with aftermarket pipes and Harley finds out that they will void my warranty?! I understand the stock mufflers have the cat in them. He also said that any time the bike was serviced and hooked to the service departments computer that Harley monitors it and would know that it had a tuner and aftermarket exhaust?! I'm only interested in doing pipes and breather but don't want to worry if I needed warranty work. As info I have a Gold Wing I've put 98,000 miles on and I just sold my '17 Multistrada 1200s Touring with Quat D full exhaust and Rapid Bike EVO tuner to my son because it was to damn tall for me. Ducati has no problem warranting the bike. Your thoughts and thanks again for your excellent vlogs!
It's my understanding that it can be a problem with some dealers, but I have only witnessed it once, personally, and it is not the case with my current dealer (see below). I personally have never required warranty work on any of the five Harleys I've owned and I've easily put over 150K miles total on the five, so I consider it low risk. Of course, there is the odd lemon. I've always waited for at least 5K miles to ensure the engine/trans is sound before replacing mufflers, exhaust systems and other aftermarket work. The Harley Screaming Eagle air cleaners are good products. That only leaves the mufflers to worry about, unless you want an entire aftermarket exhaust system, which is cool. My bottom line is that when I buy a bike, I ride it a while to make sure it's sound, then I do what I want with it-damn the warranty. Sounds cavalier, but I don't ride motorcycles to have to worry about such things. But, I have asked prospective salesmen/sales managers at dealers I've shopped at (not the service departments) if they will void my warranty for engine work if I install aftermarket exhaust, etc. They've always said no, except for the one I mentioned above. When he said it would be a problem, I just went some place else. Fortunately, there are four Harley dealers within 50 miles of me, so it was easy to do. I'm glad you've narrowed your choice down to the Heritage. It's a great motorcycle. Good luck with the purchase.
DaveOMT Thank You for taking the time to reply and giving me your perspective on my question! I pulled the trigger on a '19 114 Twisted Cherry Wicked Red Heritage and pick it up today. After doing a test ride on the bike and doing maneuvers in the parking lot I was sold on the handling of the bike and the way it pulled on the highway was very nice also.
@@jameshogan2619 Hey that's great, James. Twisted Cherry was my favorite but I reneged because I'm cheap. I predict you'll enjoy many rousing miles. Maybe I'll see you on the road somewhere!
Good morning Alan (oops! Afternoon there). It was pretty simple and intuitive. The Service Manual gave me an idea of what was involved and the torques on the fasteners. I can supply those if you don't have a manual. After removing the screws, slide the console rearwards slightly to slip the bracket the console screw attaches to, then you can lift the console free (except for the wire bundle at the front). When you remove the strap, there will be a gap under the console where the strap was. I was concerned that water would easily enter there in rain or when washing the bike, so I cut a piece of rubber tubing split lengthwise and fashioned a semicircular dam under the console near the rear end of it to block water. It is held down by the console when the screw is tightened. It has worked well. Let me know if you need more info. I should have videoed the job, but alas.
Hi Dave, I have the same bike as you and noticed from an earlier video you had a "mustache style engine guard and now it's changed. Is that simply because of a preferred look or another reason. I have ordered the Mustache style (not delivered yet) and wondered if there is a reason I should be aware of. Great videos by the way ...Dan
Hi Dan. You have a good eye! You may not believe this but on my way back from a trip to San Diego to my place in Oregon, a bear ran out in front of me and I clipped him with the right hand side of the engine guard. I was doing about 60 mph in twisties and I was very lucky I did not go down. The impact bent the engine guard back into the rear brake master cylinder causing the banjo bolt to leak. I was able to tighten it back up and stop the leak. If the engine guard had not been there, lots more damage would have happened (to the bike and maybe me!). The guard was badly bent and unrepairable, but I put a standard engine guard back on because my leg position was too high when I used the foot rest on the mustache guard. I like the position with the highway pegs I put on the new guard a lot better. My only regret in all of this is that I didn't have the GoPro running when this happened. Now that would have been some footage!
@@DaveOMT , Wow that must have sped your heartbeat up. Glad you were not hurt, and you're right that would have been amazing to see. If your guard had not been damaged I suppose you could have added some pegs just below the ones on top the guard.
@@danmacdonald5995 I think the deciding factor was the $60 more for a mustache guard and I was feeling guilty about the cost of hitting that bear already. You are right about the options for the peg placement. Good luck with yours.
Not really. I would have it with a tubeless, also. It is nice not having to get the gauge out to check the pressures every morning on a trip, or any other riding day for that matter, especially the rear tire when the stem is under the saddlebag. It's also comforting to be able to glance at the gauge and see what the pressure is while riding. I have the alarm set on the thing to let me know if it gets over 50 psi, which happens on a very hot day sometimes. If I know I am not at the peak air temp for the day, I might choose to let a few squirts out. I have the low side alarm set at 30 psi. It might just give me the warning I need to slow down and pull over before the bike becomes unwieldy.
@@DaveOMT My last bike was a road king, it had spoked rims too - running tubes. Never got a flat but sometimes worried about the tire pressure. Where did you get the blue tooth gauges from? Thanks for sharing.
@@bobhartman2571 I got the TPMS from Amazon. There are a bunch of them there now, but this is the one I got: www.amazon.com/INFITARY-Motorcycle-Monitoring-Temperature-Chargeable/dp/B07HCG4XB2/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?ie=UTF8&aaxitk=1sVQC.pqM07DbngFcXo9Ng&hsa_cr_id=5837959670501&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_2&th=1
Hi Jeffrey. The one I bought is here: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076KKYDRQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It's still working great. I went for a ride today in 43º. It sure is nice not having to get down on my knees to check the rear tire pressure (the bags are on) or have to roll the bike forward or backward to get the stem where I can reach it. So, it's not just a safety device, but it's great for lazy people like me, too!
Olá, Pedro. Yes, I did. I used a Vance & Hines FP3 tuner, but the main reason I did it was that I also added a stage I air cleaner. I'm not sure I would have needed to remap with just the mufflers, but I probably would have done it anyway, just for the improved performance and slightly richer mixture than stock.
Sorry I took so long, Tim, but I've been on a long ride: I hate helmets and I only wear a tiny half helmet. The buffeting is not too bad with it, but I'd rather none at all. I just crossed the border at Needles into Arizona a week ago. First thing I did was take that stupid thing off. I'm not saying others shouldn't use them in non-helmet states. They're just not for me.
One question. How tall are you? Also would you think a road king would be a better choice if I am 6'02"? I read that my hight might be too big for the heritage. I would prefer the herritage for the ABS and better head lights standard. Also like the lighter weight. Thanks.
I am 6' 1.5". The bike doesn't feel like it's even close to being too short. There is also the Tallboy saddle for tall guys who find it too short. The Road King is a fine machine. My best riding buddy has one (he's about two inches shorter than me). It actually costs about the same as the Heritage. Like you, the only issues for me are the extra 110 pounds of weight and the other things you mentioned. The extra weight eats into the power-to-weight ratio and the handling. Best bet is probably to test ride them both. Also, check out Matt Laidlaw's actual in depth comparison between the two (he chose the Heritage) here: ua-cam.com/video/iKuods3TgyQ/v-deo.html Good luck with your decision.
Thank you for that quick response. I am not planning on touring much. My interest in a bike is mainly for commuting. There seems to be more value and sportiness with the Herritage. I have seen Laidlaw's videos. His comments are maybe why I asked the question. He steers people to the touring frame if they are on the fence or over 6'00 or 6'1". I am exactly your height. So I am swayed more towards the Herritage. Thanks again!!
@@EM-eg3qc I have the 2019 114, I'm just over 6'2 with a 34"inseam, and long arms, and this bike is very roomy still. Mine is stock, but I pushed the bars so they are directly in line with the forks. I also adjusted the controls and rotated the mirrors outward just a little and I barely, just barely get a glimpse of my shoulders. I also adjusted the brake pedal(foot control) to lower it as much as I could. I find it extremely comfortable. I commute 70 miles, 5 days a week rain or shine. Love it!!!
It's 107 with a stage I. I've always bought and kept my bikes at low tune. The motors seem to last longer and have fewer issues (e.g. broken valve springs). When you're a touring guy, that matters. Thanks for asking, James (cool name BTW).
Liked the video. My wife has a 12 Heritage and I have a 16 Road King. I certainly appreciate the sporty ness of the Heritage and have grown to really enjoy it. I am very happy with the changes on the new Heritage models. Though I can say I do appreciate mine for the long hall and bag space. I think its hard to make a "bad" bike now its all preference. Thanks again and enjoy many more safe miles!
You are absolutely right, Ken! It's all preference. I really liked my last Heritage and I even miss some of its features (bigger bags, tons of chrome, etc.). I just got swayed by the M8, I guess.
Finally, a bike review from a long time rider and multiple Harley-Davidson bike owner! Straight talk and I love it! Great job.
Thanks Steve. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Just picked up a 2019 yesterday that only had 348 miles..... vivid black, just like yours. The only thing I'm planning is getting rid of those stupid quiet stock mufflers.
Love your vids Dave. Short, and to the point. The way it should be.
That's the best review I've ever seen on a Harley especially the new heritage I own the same Bike you hit the nail right on the head BEST bike I've ever owned I've had 20 Harley over the last 42 .
Thanks Jon. Glad you liked it.
Good review, I like the way you describe your accessories. I just bought a stock FHLCS and I will be adding some extras, already added crash bars in the front and sissy bar back rest for passenger.
Exactly the same first accessories that I added, John. Great minds think alike!
That was a great video. I plan on getting a Heritage classic as well. I have a road glide ultra, which weighs 976 lbs & I weigh 146 lbs @ 6' feet tall. That's a lot of bike to handle. That's why I think it is time for me to get the Heritage. 👍👌
Hey, thank you very much for the report at 14k miles. That's a solid place to take inventory - of mods, performance, practical stuff. I am a long time HD guy and sold my '16 RGS last year, so am now in the market. On the "It's lighter and handles better..." - yep, seems to very much (and I LOVED my RGS). 90% of my missions are sub 100 miles, probably half are sub 60 miles. So a lighter and more nimble bike makes sense, especially if I can load it up for trips. Las thing: your experience of the softail shock? I know with dirt bikes they transformed the sport. The RGS shocks were only so so.
I think you just made my decision on which Harley to pick up. Reason I like it, cause it sits right in between a road king, and low rider. I do more in the city riding, but am planning to do long hauls to. My 2017 Honda rebel 500 kicks my ass, after about an hour on the highway. Great video sir.
Great review Dave! Beautiful bike you have there.
Always loved and wanted a heritage. But I had to have the old version for the classic style. So I bought a 2016 with only 9k miles on it for 11,500 rather than 26k for a new 2024. Teal and white…like a 1955 Harley 👍. I’m sure the newer ones with M8 are great but I just don’t care for the modern looks change. But that’s just a matter of personal taste. I think the new ones have better lean angle after the redesign but that didn’t matter much to me either. I’m either slow cruising and sight seeing or going 80mph down interstate to make some time and cover miles quick. And like you said they will cruise at 80mph in 6th gear like it’s nothing 👍. It’s planted and stable even around 18 wheelers. The heavier touring bikes are great im sure but when it comes to slow cruising I just prefer the nimble feeling of the heritage best. Plus on the softail you seem to sit down deep IN the bike and I love that. And ever since I was a little kid it was the heritage softail that defined to me what a Harley Davidson is. To me it was the textbook definition of a HD
Great review! Thank you!
I did a group ride yesterday with a bunch of H-D's and think I got the itch...never owned a H-D before as I have always ridden a Yamaha---you, my friend, got a like and a sub from me! 👌
Hey JP! I've been enjoying your Harley videos lately, so I guess scratching your itch paid off. Ride on, Brother!
@@DaveOMT Heck yes! Very much so....thanks very much!
Great review Brother....Love your Bike and your set up....I did a simliar touring set up on my Dyna FatBob...I just got back in March of 2020 from Texas on it....I understand the 2940rpm at 80mph....My stage1 103 does about that also👍
Nice ride.. can't go wrong with the Heritage !
Wanted the bike louder but you have ear plugs? Just curious to why?
Great review, I’m loving my 2024 Heritage, best bike ever.
i got 10K miles on mine after one year and agree with all your points, especially regarding touring capabilities. My only issue is finding the right seat, I have the Tallboy, which is not too bad, but I'm still looking for something a little more comfortable.
I have heard the seat issue many times before. There is a Facebook page, "2018-2019 Harley Heritage Classic," that has a number of posts regarding seats (I am no longer on the page). It might be useful to you if you haven't already checked it out. It's a very personal issue. The seat either fits your butt or not. I lucked out and it fits me perfectly. I have done 700+ mile days with it-no problem, but I have had other Harleys where this was not the case and I went aftermarket to Saddlemen, which is the most comfortable seat I've ever sat on. The Harley Sundowner is probably Harley's most comfortable seat (again, it's personal), but it's not necessarily for tall people. Then there's Saddlemen and the other aftermarkets. I wish you luck.
Good break down on new parts, but Bro, could you at least be more enthusiastic in your delivery?
Great review! Really enjoyed it. Well filmed and edited too👊 How do you find it in the wet? I span the back wheel on mine at 40-50mph the other day! Accelerating away from someone.
Thanks for your comments. I'm pleased you enjoyed it. In July, I had to ride in the rain from Rock Springs to Missoula (about 500 miles). I had a total of about 55 pounds in the bags and on the pillion and the preload was set accordingly (for dry). Leaning over the exposed electrics under the saddle to keep them dry, I took off one turn of preload before I left Rock Springs. I have no idea whether that made a difference or not, but the bike handled solidly the entire way (~80 mph). Of course, I was riding more gingerly for the conditions, but I did push it a little at times out of curiosity and I'm sure I could have broken it loose if I'd tried. I do think the extra weight on the ass end made a difference. Cheers!
Excellent information and straightforward opinion.
Thanks for your great video, enjoy your bike.
Best bike Harley davidson ever made.
Great video. Thanks !!!
Great Review! Thanks.
I noticed that you said at 2:28 in the video that you sometimes lose earplugs. Has that ever happened to you?
Did you ever lose one in your ear?
How could that ever happen???
Don’t your arms get tired holding them up that high with those ape bars?
It's obvious that you enjoy your new ride. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, it has happened to me on the motorcycle, because I'm absent-minded (more so lately). But I did actually lose one in my ear once. When I had previously removed the earplug, a piece broke off in my ear and lodged near my eardrum. I didn't discover this until later when I was on a car trip in California and it started to hurt. I remember stopping at a friend's house in Antioch. When I described the irritation I was feeling in my ear, he thought I was nuts and threw an underdone steak at me that he'd just barbecued, saying, "this will fix you up." I later had the piece of earplug removed at a clinic in Tahoe. They thought I was nuts too. How's that for a story.
I love my ape bars. They keep my pits dry. I'm a biker, remember?
Just moved up from a Rebel to a Heritage. I noticed a lot of vibration, more than I would expect from a touring bike, and checked my tire air pressure and it was 36 psi from the dealership after their post-sale check. Once I inflated to 49 psi (as the tire sidewall states) the vibration went away. Is 36 psi supposed to be a better pressure to run for comfort? 14,000 miles on the original tires is impressive and I would like to duplicate your success. My first Harley so don't know what it should feel like regarding vibrations.
Bars are redonkulus
Just found this video. A nice review. I have a 2019 Heritage and enjoy it (now that they have finally fixed it) for the same reasons you do. Looking forward to putting some miles on it. Subscribed.
Thanks Tanker Ten. As soon as this weather clears, I hope to do the same thing!
Thanks, Dave, I've been riding Metrics for 22 years now, and I still have 2 of them. I've been wanting to get an HD, and keep looking at Fat Bobs, Low Riders, and Fat Boys (Newer Used), and just started thinking, maybe what I need is a Heritage since I do light touring. This was helpful. Do you ever have a pillion, if so, how do they like the ride? Great video.
It really look a lot better without the leather on the tank, I was thinking of removing mine and now that I saw yours im definitely removing mine :)
Beautiful scoot😎
I am torn between the Haritage 114 & Road King Special. How is the Haritage for 2 up riding?
Great review & explanation of assessories.
I ride two up with my wife frequently (combined weight 300 pounds, so 100 pounds less than GVWR). It's still 110 pounds lighter than the RK would be so lighter and nimbler, but if I were doing long distance touring two up, I believe the RK would be the better pick with bigger saddlebags and the touring frame with quite a bit more load carrying capacity, plus a 6 gallon tank.
did you get at tune
Like the video!
Very cool
She's a beauty
Is it possible to convert to tubeless wheels?
am waiting for my used 2019 to be delivered even more now;;
Those saddlebags. Are they weather/waterproof?
Thanks for sharing..I really like this bike.
I would say weatherproof. I've washed the bike many times and ridden for hours in rain at highway speeds and I've never seen a drop inside the bags, but a well aimed spray from a pressure washer might get in. I really like this bike too.
@@DaveOMT Good hear. Yeah I think it will go straight in with a pressure washer. Any more plans for upgrading / Mods on this bike?
@@cruiserjohn74 I want to black out a few more things, like the mirrors, etc. Also, I will probably float the front rotors. Thrashin' Supply has some very interesting rear crash guards/pegs that look interesting, but expensive that I might save up for.
I love mine sporty and a tourer just a great mix.
Hi Dave How many miles do you have now? I just bought a 107 heritage and I'm up to 450 miles. The odd thing is my transmission fluid is a hair above the the add mark. The first time I checked it , it already had 350 miles...I should have checked it before I left the dealership. The service guy said to keep an eye on it In case my back has a little fluid transfer to primary. I thought that issue was with the bikes with the hydraulic clutch?? Have you had that issue?
Hi Gary. I now have 20,180 miles on it. I just did a 20K review video if you haven't seen it. In my experience with dealerships, they tend to overfill everything. I bought a $10 hand pump from Amazon which I use to suck out the excess engine oil (usually 1/2 quart) so it won't end up in the breathers, and then the air cleaner. I'm not surprised the trans oil is a hair above. If it's only a hair, I would worry.
I have not had an issue with transfer to the primary, or any other issue for that matter. Of course, I don't ride at high rev's for long periods at a time or "hot rod" the bike very often either. I really don't think that issue is as common as some would think. But when it does happen, I think it affects hydraulic as well as cable clutch bikes.
With 450 miles, you're almost broken in! Have fun! Enjoy that beautiful machine!
Beautiful bike. Drive safe!
Great Video
And this Harley became my favorite 😍🤗
मेरा पसंदीदा भी
great ride Love it Maybe I missed it in the comments but did you do something for your fuel tuning once you put on the air cleaner in the pipes.
Hi Joe. Yes, we both tuned the bikes with a Vance and Hines FP3 tuner. Worked great!
Thanks so much for this review ... It was very helpful. I'm really interested about what you said about the rear lighting. I just bought a 2018 Heritage and as with my last three bikes, I always like to make the lights all running and all break. When I asked the dealership about it, they said it wasn't available for this bike. Can you please tell me where you got the conversion? It would sure help. I too, do a lot of touring on my bikes and I bought the bike in another state and rode it home 580 miles. It handled great, but I couldn't really "get on it" because I was breaking it in. Thanks for a great review. And thanks in advance for your response on the back lighting.
Hi Toni. Check this link for the Custom Dynamics kit that will convert your 2018 Heritage to Run/Brake/Turn. They also sell the LED inserts for the turn signals and brake lights. www.customdynamics.com/vehicle/harley-davidson-led-lighting/electrical-accessories/run-brake-turn-modules?p=2
I also think Ciro3D sells the same stuff but this is the one I used. If you don't want to do the installs yourself, I know some HD dealers will do it. Also, there are independents that will do it. If you do it yourself, I can take a picture of the underseat placement of the module as I did it on my bike. The instructions are pretty good. Good luck!
@@DaveOMT Thanks Dave !!
@DaveOMT Yes, I would like to see a pic of the placement .... Thank you again.
@@tonib3596 What's the best way to get you the picture? UA-cam won't allow pictures in the comments.
@@DaveOMT hmmm, that's kinda tricky. I'd hate to put my personal info out here in public. I'm on FB, are you?
I have an 03 Heritage Classic right now. I've been debating selling it and getting a new one with the 114 or 107....the 88ci isn't too powerful on the freeway. Hard to go past 80mph. And here in SoCal 80-85 is the norm when traffic is lighter lol.
Good idea. I remember my 2000 TC88 Wide Glide only did 70 mph at 3000 rpm. One of the best things about the new Heritage is that at 2900 rpm it's doing 80 mph-just cruising!
Very nice review for those wanting to buy a Heritage.
Good report. Post more as the miles add up!
Thanks! I will.
Love your review - right to the point!! Your voice/speech sounds so much like "Chief - Dan Goerge".
Thank you Bob. I have never had anyone say that about my voice. He is one of my favorite characters. You made my day.
How is it you are able to get such good sound quality from your GoPro, Your voice is very easy to hear as are the Rinehart mufflers in the background. I've seen many youtube video's where what I hear most is wind noise but yours are perfect. (no wind noise at all).
The mic is positioned low and right behind me, out of the wind.
Also, check out this video for great sound tips: ua-cam.com/video/3MnKgfhNjl0/v-deo.html
Great review - thanks for the info! I am considering trading my '18 Street Glide for a new Heritage. How well does the Heritage perform in strong crosswinds as compared to the touring bikes?
I have never ridden a touring bike in a lot of wind, but I have ridden the Heritage in a lot of crosswind a number of times and it handled very well. I would guess that what the Heritage lacks in weight, it makes up for with a smaller profile.
Wonderful video, Dave...I have 500 miles on my new 2019 Heritage....how difficult was it to remove that leather piece on the tank? Thanks.
Thanks JP. It was easy to take the leather piece off. Remove the rear screw holding the leather piece down (bottom of the leather piece, just forward of the seat). lift the leather piece bottom up and replace that screw finger tight. Then remove the console screw just rearward of the speedo and move the console rearward and up just enough to look under it with a flashlight. The console is connected with a wire harness, so you don't want to remove it, just lift it and have a look under it. Doing so, you can see how the leather piece comes out (I can't remember but it may be the console screw that held it so it should come right out). After you've removed the leather piece, you will see that the leather piece acted as a quasi rain/water seal and there will be a gap under the console where it was. I remedied this by getting a piece of latex rubber hose (any flexible hose will do). I think it was about 3/8" O.D.-something like that. I cut a piece long enough to form a semicircle that was two or three times longer than the space left by the leather and, when placed inside the console, would fit in front of the space left by the leather piece. I carefully put it in place, then lowered the console in place such that gravity would hold the rubber hose in place and then I tightened the screws down. The front (console) screw torques to 30-50 inch-pounds. The rear screw (just in front of the seat) torques to 25-30 inch-pounds. The gap is still there where the leather piece was, but I am comforted by the fact the rubber hose is just on the other side of it (It's not so close to the gap that I can see it). That's how I did it. I bet when you're doing it you come up with an even better way. I don't think any water or rain has ever gotten in there, but I never point a pressure washer in that direction.
@@DaveOMT Wonderful explanation....definitely looks cleaner without it. Thank you again!
@@JP1970 Thanks, JP, and it's my pleasure!
I very much enjoyed your videos on the Heritage! I looked and priced a '19 114 today and am close to pulling the trigger for one to replace my Ducati I just sold.
My local dealers service guy tells me that if I replace the stock pipes with aftermarket pipes and Harley finds out that they will void my warranty?! I understand the stock mufflers have the cat in them. He also said that any time the bike was serviced and hooked to the service departments computer that Harley monitors it and would know that it had a tuner and aftermarket exhaust?! I'm only interested in doing pipes and breather but don't want to worry if I needed warranty work.
As info I have a Gold Wing I've put 98,000 miles on and I just sold my '17 Multistrada 1200s Touring with Quat D full exhaust and Rapid Bike EVO tuner to my son because it was to damn tall for me. Ducati has no problem warranting the bike.
Your thoughts and thanks again for your excellent vlogs!
It's my understanding that it can be a problem with some dealers, but I have only witnessed it once, personally, and it is not the case with my current dealer (see below). I personally have never required warranty work on any of the five Harleys I've owned and I've easily put over 150K miles total on the five, so I consider it low risk. Of course, there is the odd lemon. I've always waited for at least 5K miles to ensure the engine/trans is sound before replacing mufflers, exhaust systems and other aftermarket work. The Harley Screaming Eagle air cleaners are good products. That only leaves the mufflers to worry about, unless you want an entire aftermarket exhaust system, which is cool.
My bottom line is that when I buy a bike, I ride it a while to make sure it's sound, then I do what I want with it-damn the warranty. Sounds cavalier, but I don't ride motorcycles to have to worry about such things. But, I have asked prospective salesmen/sales managers at dealers I've shopped at (not the service departments) if they will void my warranty for engine work if I install aftermarket exhaust, etc. They've always said no, except for the one I mentioned above. When he said it would be a problem, I just went some place else. Fortunately, there are four Harley dealers within 50 miles of me, so it was easy to do.
I'm glad you've narrowed your choice down to the Heritage. It's a great motorcycle. Good luck with the purchase.
DaveOMT Thank You for taking the time to reply and giving me your perspective on my question! I pulled the trigger on a '19 114 Twisted Cherry Wicked Red Heritage and pick it up today. After doing a test ride on the bike and doing maneuvers in the parking lot I was sold on the handling of the bike and the way it pulled on the highway was very nice also.
@@jameshogan2619 Hey that's great, James. Twisted Cherry was my favorite but I reneged because I'm cheap. I predict you'll enjoy many rousing miles. Maybe I'll see you on the road somewhere!
Enjoyable review. I am planning to remove that strap from the center of the tank; any tips on that before I go ahead?
Cheers from England 🍻
Good morning Alan (oops! Afternoon there). It was pretty simple and intuitive. The Service Manual gave me an idea of what was involved and the torques on the fasteners. I can supply those if you don't have a manual. After removing the screws, slide the console rearwards slightly to slip the bracket the console screw attaches to, then you can lift the console free (except for the wire bundle at the front).
When you remove the strap, there will be a gap under the console where the strap was. I was concerned that water would easily enter there in rain or when washing the bike, so I cut a piece of rubber tubing split lengthwise and fashioned a semicircular dam under the console near the rear end of it to block water. It is held down by the console when the screw is tightened. It has worked well.
Let me know if you need more info. I should have videoed the job, but alas.
Bought the same slip-on mufflers! Thank you for great information! : ) from japan
You are welcome! Good to hear from you Tan!
Hi Dave, I have the same bike as you and noticed from an earlier video you had a "mustache style engine guard and now it's changed. Is that simply because of a preferred look or another reason. I have ordered the Mustache style (not delivered yet) and wondered if there is a reason I should be aware of. Great videos by the way ...Dan
Hi Dan. You have a good eye! You may not believe this but on my way back from a trip to San Diego to my place in Oregon, a bear ran out in front of me and I clipped him with the right hand side of the engine guard. I was doing about 60 mph in twisties and I was very lucky I did not go down. The impact bent the engine guard back into the rear brake master cylinder causing the banjo bolt to leak. I was able to tighten it back up and stop the leak. If the engine guard had not been there, lots more damage would have happened (to the bike and maybe me!).
The guard was badly bent and unrepairable, but I put a standard engine guard back on because my leg position was too high when I used the foot rest on the mustache guard. I like the position with the highway pegs I put on the new guard a lot better.
My only regret in all of this is that I didn't have the GoPro running when this happened. Now that would have been some footage!
@@DaveOMT , Wow that must have sped your heartbeat up. Glad you were not hurt, and you're right that would have been amazing to see. If your guard had not been damaged I suppose you could have added some pegs just below the ones on top the guard.
@@danmacdonald5995 I think the deciding factor was the $60 more for a mustache guard and I was feeling guilty about the cost of hitting that bear already. You are right about the options for the peg placement. Good luck with yours.
Other than the obvious, why did you add the blue tooth tire pressure monitor stuff? Was it because of the tube-type tire?
Not really. I would have it with a tubeless, also. It is nice not having to get the gauge out to check the pressures every morning on a trip, or any other riding day for that matter, especially the rear tire when the stem is under the saddlebag. It's also comforting to be able to glance at the gauge and see what the pressure is while riding. I have the alarm set on the thing to let me know if it gets over 50 psi, which happens on a very hot day sometimes. If I know I am not at the peak air temp for the day, I might choose to let a few squirts out. I have the low side alarm set at 30 psi. It might just give me the warning I need to slow down and pull over before the bike becomes unwieldy.
@@DaveOMT My last bike was a road king, it had spoked rims too - running tubes. Never got a flat but sometimes worried about the tire pressure. Where did you get the blue tooth gauges from? Thanks for sharing.
@@bobhartman2571 I got the TPMS from Amazon. There are a bunch of them there now, but this is the one I got: www.amazon.com/INFITARY-Motorcycle-Monitoring-Temperature-Chargeable/dp/B07HCG4XB2/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?ie=UTF8&aaxitk=1sVQC.pqM07DbngFcXo9Ng&hsa_cr_id=5837959670501&ref_=sbx_be_s_sparkle_mcd_asin_2&th=1
Nice bike very nicely modded up not too overboard 👍👍
Thanks Mike!
I would very much like to know which Bluetooth tire pressure monitor you are using I would like to buy one for my own machine
Hi Jeffrey. The one I bought is here: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076KKYDRQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It's still working great. I went for a ride today in 43º. It sure is nice not having to get down on my knees to check the rear tire pressure (the bags are on) or have to roll the bike forward or backward to get the stem where I can reach it. So, it's not just a safety device, but it's great for lazy people like me, too!
Thanks for a logical breakdown of what an HD can be and should be !!!
You're welcome. Glad you liked it !
I love this bike, it is so beautiful
Hey sir, Did you remap the engine after changing the slip-on mufflers?
Olá, Pedro. Yes, I did. I used a Vance & Hines FP3 tuner, but the main reason I did it was that I also added a stage I air cleaner. I'm not sure I would have needed to remap with just the mufflers, but I probably would have done it anyway, just for the improved performance and slightly richer mixture than stock.
Thumbs up
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How is the helmet buffeting?
Sorry I took so long, Tim, but I've been on a long ride: I hate helmets and I only wear a tiny half helmet. The buffeting is not too bad with it, but I'd rather none at all. I just crossed the border at Needles into Arizona a week ago. First thing I did was take that stupid thing off. I'm not saying others shouldn't use them in non-helmet states. They're just not for me.
One question. How tall are you? Also would you think a road king would be a better choice if I am 6'02"? I read that my hight might be too big for the heritage. I would prefer the herritage for the ABS and better head lights standard. Also like the lighter weight. Thanks.
I am 6' 1.5". The bike doesn't feel like it's even close to being too short. There is also the Tallboy saddle for tall guys who find it too short. The Road King is a fine machine. My best riding buddy has one (he's about two inches shorter than me). It actually costs about the same as the Heritage. Like you, the only issues for me are the extra 110 pounds of weight and the other things you mentioned. The extra weight eats into the power-to-weight ratio and the handling. Best bet is probably to test ride them both. Also, check out Matt Laidlaw's actual in depth comparison between the two (he chose the Heritage) here: ua-cam.com/video/iKuods3TgyQ/v-deo.html
Good luck with your decision.
Thank you for that quick response. I am not planning on touring much. My interest in a bike is mainly for commuting. There seems to be more value and sportiness with the Herritage. I have seen Laidlaw's videos. His comments are maybe why I asked the question. He steers people to the touring frame if they are on the fence or over 6'00 or 6'1". I am exactly your height. So I am swayed more towards the Herritage. Thanks again!!
@@EM-eg3qc I have the 2019 114, I'm just over 6'2 with a 34"inseam, and long arms, and this bike is very roomy still. Mine is stock, but I pushed the bars so they are directly in line with the forks. I also adjusted the controls and rotated the mirrors outward just a little and I barely, just barely get a glimpse of my shoulders.
I also adjusted the brake pedal(foot control) to lower it as much as I could. I find it extremely comfortable.
I commute 70 miles, 5 days a week rain or shine.
Love it!!!
@@pmdinaz Thanks so much for providing your feedback. That helps me a lot!
Is that a 107 or the 114 ? Thanks
It's 107 with a stage I. I've always bought and kept my bikes at low tune. The motors seem to last longer and have fewer issues (e.g. broken valve springs). When you're a touring guy, that matters. Thanks for asking, James (cool name BTW).
Hey, Dave. Where ya been?
Hey Duke! I been ridin'! Facebook group just got too busy. Hope you are well and prosperous.
Great video
Thanks Adam.
Liked the video. My wife has a 12 Heritage and I have a 16 Road King. I certainly appreciate the sporty ness of the Heritage and have grown to really enjoy it. I am very happy with the changes on the new Heritage models. Though I can say I do appreciate mine for the long hall and bag space. I think its hard to make a "bad" bike now its all preference. Thanks again and enjoy many more safe miles!
You are absolutely right, Ken! It's all preference. I really liked my last Heritage and I even miss some of its features (bigger bags, tons of chrome, etc.). I just got swayed by the M8, I guess.