Do you see a common thread in some of these complaints on the reliability of Harleys? It's modifications and service done improperly! I just purchased a new 2008 FXSTC anniversary model. The last new bike I bought was a FXRS in 1988. I drove the hell out of that machine, had it cammed up, heads modified, and converted to AMSOIL synthetic in engine, trans, and primary at 10,000 miles. I paid 8,000 dollars for that bike new. I just sold it exactly 20 years later for 9,000 dollars and went and bought my new Softail. I changed the engine oil religiously at every 5,000 miles. I NEVER spent dollar one on repairs or had ANY problems whatsoever with that bike! I had 5 new rear tires, 2 new front tires, and one new battery on the machine in 20 YEARS!! So, if anyone can come up with a record like that on a piece of jap crap, I'd like to hear it. I probably never will as I'm 64 years old and have never heard of a rice grinder that could come anywhere close to the reliability of this bike. I know the first thing some dipshit is going to say is that I hardly rode the bike, well, how does 144,648 miles sound for reliability? That bike was all over the country and Mexico. Incidentally, I sold that bike with the ORIGINAL rear drive belt on it, beat that rice-bomb fans!! Also, try getting more than you paid for that jap shit 5 years later, let alone 20!! There, I'm just venting too and I hope I've set the record straight, maintain 'em properly and ride the hell out of 'em and they'll treat you right!!