Had many evos, twin cans, and a M8. The Evo is the motor I like the best. Classic lope, easy to own, bulletproof. I've had 9 HDs over 36 years so far... I think when I sold my M8 and went back to an old Evo...it might just be my last HD.

When I see a friend pack up his old Shovel for a long trip, I ask are you taking that? He always said, why not? It was good enough back then to run everywhere ! No matter your choice they all will run and break, give you joy and heartbreak shine and be dirty. At the end, You are riding through life on a Harley-Davidson

The Shovelhead was the "more than a machine" era. They have a heartbeat like sound about them and will always be my favorite as well.

Greetings from Denmark, I drive a 1974 FXE shovelhead that I have driven for 29 years. And I love it and I will never sell it - never. I also have a dl 750cc flathead from 1930

Currently, my main bike is an '81 Shovel that I've owned now for 20 years, and it's my third Shovel. It's the most reliable bike I've ever owned, and that's probably 50-60 bikes including street, dirt and others. NOTHING sounds like a Shovelhead and the bonus, besides being able to work on it myself...is it has SOUL. Long live the Shovel.

Shovelhead for the win !! . I've owned dozens of bikes , Nortons , Triumph's , Ironheads , Shovelheads , Evo's , a V rod and now a Twin Cam . I've worked at a couple of dealerships , 30 + years as a dealership mechanic , many years as a heavy duty mechanic , rebuilt hundreds of engines and have done an extensive amount of machining . I've seen all manner of engine failure's and repaired them. My favourite ........ drum roll ...... Shovelhead , thats not saying that they are the best , it's just my favourite . The best engine ? , most reliable and trouble free is the V rod .... hands down , the problem is ....... a V rod lacks soul , it doesn't have the character that an air cooled pushrod , 45 degree V twin has.

Had a chopped 55 Panhead FL when I was a youngster -- S&S Carb, Hunt Magneto for improved performance. Beautiful bike. Panheads forever.

Debs husband says that's easy. EVOLUTION. This engine developed good power, sounded great, and didn't leak oil all over the place. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. It was also very reliable.

I used to own an M8 and for the life of me I could never get used to the way it sounded, and the way it felt. And I went back to the Twin Cam. For the sound and feel. But with that said, my 90 EVO Fatboy is the bike I love.

This is bye far the best Harley mechanic on the web. Trusted and proven. Love the honesty and knowledge. More people need to share knowledge with fellow biker's. Thank you

I've owned 9 HDs. Evos, twin cams, and M8. EVOs for me. In fact I just sold off a new M8 Limited and bought an older EVO. Bulletproof and sounds so good looking at idle.

The engine in my 1949 EL. Reliable like a tractor, and has been for many many years for me.

Quietly looking around at the other evo 1200 sportster owners wondering what problems are like. Seriously bulletproof motor. Especially after 2004

I love Shovelheads. I had a 77 SuperGlide back in the '90's. Rode it everywhere, including to Sturgis and back in 94 . Damn good .Mine was a 74 inch.

I have had several harley"s over the years , Love the sound of the old shovels but reliable goes to the EVO-80 incher in my opinion !

I've owned my 1993 FLHS since new. Took delivery 31 March 93. Solid engine, good fuel economy, lots of bolt on power upgrades. Upgrade the cam (I'm running an Andrews EV27), add a better exhaust (I've got a Thunderheader) and a free flowing air cleaner, you can see close to or at 80 hp and 80 lb/ft. Put in a better ignition module so you can get the revs up and it's a completely different bike to ride. Is it the fastest Harley? Nope. But you can load it down like a rental truck, ride it all day, and it won't disappoint.

I've had iron head sportys, shovelheads, evos, and a twin cam 88. No M8 yet. For me, I have had the best luck and trouble free miles with the twin cam.

generator shovels look the best to me, but a carb. late evo is tough to beat for reliability.

I have always liked my shovel head engines but the rigid mount Sportster Evo engine is a keeper for me.

Revolution Power Train . Not sure why this isn't talked about more. The motor kicks ass.

My nostalgia comes from my childhood watching some Hell's Angels friends of my dad's come pulling into our driveway on shovelheads regularly. Another is seeing how happy my uncle was after selling his old, oil leaking kickstart shovelhead and getting a used '85 evo Sportster. The same Sportster I learned to ride and pass my DMV test on over 35 years ago. Overall, anything Harley is my warm and fuzzy happy place.

Two shovels, two iron heads and a 96” Twinkie in my herd. The shovels are by far my favorite. And always been.

Twin Cam 103....incredible sound, power, and reliability.

Evolution 883 is the most reliable air cooled engine Harley has made with that iconic sound.

I 100% agree with your evaluation! Shovelhead till I'm dead! The look, the sound, the smell, love it! Thanks for a great video full of information!

First love is the TC 88, my first Harley, but I dream of finding a shovel head or even a knucklehead dust covered in a barn somewhere.

I thought for sure you would say the EVO Sportster. Just kidding, but it really is a fantastic engine capable of incredible miles.

I’ve been on a 2019 Street Bob with an M8 and didn’t like it at all,just the sounds was different and it didn’t handle like my nostalgic 03 Heritage Softail Classic,100 year Edition,TC88B,1449cc,I absolutely love this motor and put all my trust in her .especially when I go out of state for bike rallies.Ride safe my friends 🤘🏻🤘🏻

I'm so glad you didn't say a m8 Kevin... I love all Harleys, I haven't had any experience with older motors but I really dig those flathead bikes that Matt and Dale Walksler from wheels thru time builds.

Kevin, I'm with you with the shovelhead. Back in the mid-70s, I built a pan/shovel 88 incher with S&S flywheels. At first, I pushed the compression up there. But that proved incorrect because i lost what i wanted, reliability and more power. Then, I dropped the compression. That was the ticket. Shovelhead is still my favorite.

Completely agreed on the shovel. It’s the one I grew up with and has a sound all its own. You’d better check the oil if it stops leaking though. 😜

I have a twin cam, shovel, knuck, a 1275 full tilt rubber mount sporty, a magmun 45, and half a dozen ironheads. My twin cam is my go to for a bike I can just jump on and ride, but my heart is with the ironheads. They're fun, sound great, and just have so much soul.

Good video Kevin. My first Harley was a brand new 1971 FX shovelhead. Kick start only. The sound of that bike idling with that lope can’t be beat. It was only a 1200cc 74 inch engine, but it was so many smiles per mile to ride. And if it broke down on the side of the road I could always get it running. Never on a truck or trailer. Now if the cops back then would have just let us alone. LOL

Like my 78 shovel, the other thing that saved Harley was the private engineer that invented the softtail, which Harley was smart enough to buy.

I have been riding the same 1983 shovel head for 27 years it's on its forth rebuilt top end, I love it

The 79' shovel head had something notable done to it by Harley Davidson, the last 24 shovel head motors Harley Davidson built were customized by Harley Davidson that fixed the problems associated with the shovel head motor!

My first Harley was a 1970 FLH. Got it for $1600. It had 32,000 miles on it and I rode for another 3,000 before tearing down the top end for valves and pistons. It ran fine, despite a broken piston ring! Nothing ever came close to that bike...

Evo Sportster IMO was the best sounding harley ever, and the M8 is the best engine overall with an Stage 2 Aftermarket cam. The M8 doesnt sound like previous harley engines but it does sound mean and aggressive without sounding like a terrible annoying sporty car. It reminds me of those angry sounding drag cars with an aftermarket stage 2 cam. Evo Sportster though... That's the "HARLEY SOUND" to me.

Yes and Hell yes Kevin, I loved my Shovel Head, as a Union Crane Operator I had no time to go on long Trips ,join a club I was always working , On the one day off a week I could fire up my old FLH and rumble down the freeway to my spot for a Shot and a Beer and all the Weeks Worries seem to fade away. Now for long Cruising something low vibration Smooth and leak free looking more at the twin Cam. Thanks again , Rumbling, leaking,shovel head out ..

My first bike was a Sears Allstate 175, not street legal, first harley was a 74 sportster. Then I got a shovel, 74 also, a few triumphs, a norton, BSA. I'm getting my shovel ready for the summer and have been riding my 78 Triumph this winter. My shovel will probably carry me across country this summer, and maybe I can get my triumph rebuilt and no longer burning oil this year.

I’m the proud happy owner of an 81 Shovelhead that I bought new and also a 92 Evo I bought new. As far as performance and reliability I’m leaning towards my Evo I suppose ,but as far as a classic old friend that’s never let me down and has a sound that truly talks to me on those long solo hi-way night time road trips that I used to do so many of! If you haven’t experienced it , it’s impossible to describe… Shovelhead therapy …..it’s magic.

I love the Shovel Heads myself!!! Hands Down!!

1950 FL with a 1975 Shovel top end fitted with S&S 4 1/4 flywheels, rods, and pistons. Owned since 1971 and rebuilt in 1980 with S&S parts etc. Built rigid frame Evo in 2002 to duplicate Pan Shovel. At 73, I'm retired from motorcycling now and treasure all the great times these motors have taken me to. Hate to have to sell them, but they need to be ridden...

The EVO, without a doubt. Nothing else even comes close. I have an EVO FXRS and 2 EVO Sportsters. Wonderful engines, trouble free, last a long time, and can be rebuilt inexpensively several times. The sound and feel the same as a Shovelhead, but are much more reliable and don't leak oil. Twin Cam with their cheap pressed together cranks that won't stay in alignment and cam chain tensioners that constantly fail are junk, and the M8 is not even a real Harley engine. More like a Goldwing engine that resembles a Harley engine in appearance.

Owned many over the year's and each had their quirks...the shovel is on the top of my list. Evo is right there with it. Difficult to answer this for sure. The M8 is also a great engine. The heat of my old shovel in the winter was welcomed....that old shovel was a tank that ran when it probably shouldnt have

Well said! I grew up as a young boy around shovel heads and i love the way they sound and smell when they burn fuel! That being said, i started riding twin cam 88, which i absolutely love, but now having an m8 im finding a new love! Really we can love them all and yes they have their place so there again, well said! Keep up the great content, I've learned so much. Piece from Sturgis SD!

Rode an EVO a few times, owned a 96B, two 103A's multiple Sportster EVOs, and currently a 107 M8 in a Road King. Hands-down, the M8 is the best engine I've ridden yet. Sounds great through Rinehart Duals. Tone is a little different sure, but still noticeably Harley-Davidson.

I have them both! Love them Both! And in all my years with Harleys they both make me Smile! 75 years young and still ride them both, don't see me going to change at this stage of Life! To each His own. Have fun riding what you enjoy!

My favorite would be the panhead. I love the exhaust cadence and the gear whine from the bottom end..love it!

I have to go with my carbureted 88 twincam. I got the cam issue sorted out. And it runs like a bear. Even if its 20 degrees out, full choke and two throttle whacks and she fires up every time. So I have no complaints. Now I would love a 80in flathead though.

I loved my 1981 Shovelhead FXE, Red. Bought it brand new. Road a 1972 Sportster in high school. I think the best engines from H/D are the ones they're selling right now! That way, the company stays in business... I'm 60yrs and I don't want to see Harley-Davidson go away. Where will I get parts for my EVO Sporty? J. from Michigan.

I owned 2 shoveheads, one Evo and currently own a 06 Twin cam. I wish I still had them all. I miss the shoveheads a bunch, just because they were as old as me. The evo really no complaints, But in enjoy my twin cam more in my older " I don't always want to tinker" age. And I expect it will be my final bike ( Road King) as it's just that much fun and it's growing old with more grace then it's owner. So that's reason enough to keep her around, along with my Bride.

Great rundown on the motors through the years. I know a lot of Shovel owners. I was not one of them. But I always felt the love from those Road them. I’ve owned Ironhead, Evos, Twinkies and now M8 and I’ve gotta say, the M8 tops them all. I have a modest build with S&S .475 cam complete with quickie pushrods, oil pump and cam plate. I was a bit disappointed by the plastic intake, had to get the aluminum alloy intake. It was a whole new bike, awake, alive and very responsive! Had Dyno Steve of Olympia tune it up really nice and netted me 107 HP and 104 ft/lbs of torque. I couldn’t be happier! CHEERS! I love your content and how you break everything down and it all making sense!

For sheer beauty, the Panhead, the hot 86 cube Shovel I had in a rigid had a ton of grunt, example power monos in 3rd gear, but the engine I enjoyed the most was the Evo with an "E" series shorty carb in a '97 Lowrider. I now have a TC88 Road King which is somewhat unspectacular, but it does everything I need as an old guy, and it's real pretty in black and chrome.

Sometimes you just blow me away! The way you connect with people is amazing!! You play at such an amazing level , but can reach back and relate and remember what it’s like to try and excell how to play and the way to get thru all the bullshit !!!! Thanks Steve!,

Had a twin cam that never gave me any issues...but it's gone and my '79 shovel that hates to sit is still here. I have a 48 pan in pieces. people have asked me why not sell the Shovel and finish the Panhead. I don't know why...I just love that Shovel.

i have always said the EVO has every up grade from a knuckel head im still a flat head guy 50 yrs and counting my HD has aways got me home HAPPY TRAILS

I love that snappy sound of the twin cam, the look of the evo and shovel. M8s are really fun because they don’t have any dead spots, just power for days. So if I’m going on a cross country trip I’d probably like to have an M8 because you can have them worked on everywhere you go and they are just so comfortable to me, after riding those new bikes all day after the demo truck came to town and hoping back on my 97 softail with an EV27 cam in it I realized that even though this bike’s power band is much smaller and lacking power compared to those new shinty bikes I still love riding my evo. It felt so small compared to the new bikes also, but it felt kind of like home to me in a sense, not to mention that instant throttle response from the carb and not getting the input lag of EFI. All the different bikes have their places but at the end of the day a Harley is a Harley wether it be a sportster or a ultra limited. I don’t think I could not ride one as my main bike, even though I love my 1975 cb550 it’s just not the same as a Harley

Kevin is a great guy. Extremely knowledgeable and honest as the day is long... I'm blessed in that I live just down the road from the shop.

I've had my 2006 88ci carburator. 17 years still running strong

For the sound and feel, I do love a carbureted twin cam.

Consider that since thier introduction the Ironhead Sportster engines made in the neighborhood of 1 HP/CI, and that is no big deal for modern motorcycles. AMF was the company that had engineers who figured out the economics of torque regarding H-D heavyweight motorcyces, and based the EVO engine on that. My Kawi C14 engine makes 159 HP for 82 CI with 100% proven reliability. That's 1.94 HP/CI.

Subscribed because of this video. Great breakdowns which obviously come from a lot of experience!

I’ll never forget my good mate brought a shovel, he fired this thing up in the shed…. Oh my god! Thanks for your time Kev

Thank you Kevin..must agree I love my old 74 shovel

I've had my M&M FI 1998 Road King for 19 years. When I upgraded the stator and rectifier, with 9000 miles on the bike, it solved all kinds of issues, mainly the cam sensor always melting. I now have 79,000 miles on that bike. Just completely stock besides true duals and the charging system. That EVO Just always runs. I still get 47 mpg. I am getting older and thinking of a new RG for the fairing.

My 86 FXR 80 inch Evo can and will keep right up with my 17 Dyna with the 103 TC. Never had a motor related major issue with the Evo yet, solid as day one. TC has been solid as well.

I had a '74 ( Shovelhead) AMF H.D. Superglide with sportster pipes. Like you, I liked the way sounded ( cast iron cylinders).Very reliable and ran smooth !

Up until my current bike, a 103 inch 06 Heritage, all my bikes were Pans and Shovels. I really miss my 49 Pan. It is my favorite bike ever. 74 inches, slow by today's standard but started and ran every time I went out to go for a ride. Simple and dependable. Plus the jockey shift took the cool factor way up. Now I have fuel injection and really wish it was a carb bike. I don't need or want mind melting power, just a good running bike. And yes it sumps too. Even with the S&S cam chest upgrade. I made a mistake on the cam choice so next weekend I am pulling the S & S 551 cam out (can't get rid of detonation) and a Red Shift 576 is going in. And I get to tune it all over again. Oh joy. In the end, after almost 50 years of riding I agree. A P!n or Shovel are my favorites. With them you really can go for a put with your friends. I am seriously considering selling the Heritage and building another Pan. Thank you and be safe.

I love and respect all manner of Harley's, I do think its interesting that the reliability equation is per cubic inch for Harley and per CC for Japanese bikes with decades between them. Honda putting 75hp in a 750cc engine back in 1970 that could outlive its owner before a rebuild, while I've lost count of how many mild top end rebuilds I've done on 90's Evo sportster engines (great motor btw) for customers that I've done. Not shaming Harley, they are my all time favorite cruisers. Great video, thank you, and may the road wind for miles.

Rode my 77fxe for23 years!!! Still to this day, best Harley I’ve ever had!!!

Your videos are some of the best. Thank you for all your shared knowledge and exsperance.

Kevin well said. I had one bike that started life as an 82 fxrs of course with the shovel and after owning it for about 10 years it dropped a rod out of the bottom end so we put an S&S 96 inch evo in the frame. Unfortunately after having to have some shoulder surgery i sold it and regretted it ever since and until i bought my 2020 ultra limited i had both the 88 and 103 version of the twin cam. But its really hard to beat the combination of the ride and sound from the shovel fxrs. Keep up the great content

I like the 98/99 eco solidly mounted in the softail frame. Nice and cool running, reliable, enough power and great feedback.

I once asked @shovelheadffej “Why the shovel?” He told me because of all the reasons you mentioned AND the look. When I found out about split rockers, I then, finally agreed. Now, I cannot wait to build one. I’ve spent my whole, half a century on this planet, admiring 1972’s like me. Now, I’m on the hunt for a 1972.

Great video, fun to listen to! I’ve only had twin cam 103s. Two twin cooled H.O. and a non balanced Dyna and balanced Ultra. Twin Cams have been my favorites so far. A stage two M8 may be next in several years.

The four cam blockhead sportster motor. Cubic inch and horsepower and torque were pretty matched.

I’ve had 5 TC, been pretty Happy w em all.. also had a VRod, great engine, un Harley like but the suspension (or lack thereof) on that bike was killer!

1973 while in the Navy, I bought a used ‘69 Police Special FLH shovel head from San Diego Harley Davidson on India Street . The dealership gave me $500 in trade for ‘71 Kawasaki H1 500. After Jim the salesperson showed me how to operate the bike, I was ready to go, but a funny thing happened - I couldn’t make the right turn onto the one way street. The bike steering was completely different than my Honda 90 and H1. It took me about thirty minutes to drive around downtown San Diego to figure out the bikes handling characteristics. Anyway, when I got out of the Navy in ‘74, guys in a pick up truck threatened to blow my head off if I didn’t give them the bike. I sped away from them and soon as I got home I put the bike up for sale.

Shovelhead is my favorite also, love the idle.

I have owned a lot of them, shovel heads, evos, twin cams and now M8. I have to say the M8 is my favorite followed closely by my 2008 96” twin cam.

Thanks Kevin. I remember 80 Cu. inch shovel owners mostly complaining about poor quality control, overheating, oil consumption, and detonation. It would be nice to know your thoughts on the weak points of each big twin 74 inch and up OHV engine designs and which years had serious issues and if the issues are a relatively easy fix with today's aftermarket parts. I'm looking to build a bike around a H-D engine and transmission clone like rev-tech, Jims, etc, (or buy a mostly original 84 to 86 FXRS if I can). I like the look of the Pan (and most of my friends who have been H-D owners since the 70's seem to revere the old Pan), but I also rode a few early Evos (84-86 FX twin shock and soft tails) and liked those performance wise (at that time every 80 cu. inch shovelhead owner I new wished they had waited for the Evo - and better quality control - before buying their new 80-83 H-D - I wonder why the Shovel is so popular now - are the problems all fixable now?).

Excellent video Kevin. Thanks for taking the time to share. Cheers

I really enjoyed your video. I have owned, panhead, evo, and twin cams! And like you, it would be hard to pick a best. For torque and power, the fuel injected twin cam is awesome. Thanks for sharing!

I love ‘Em all! Great video Kevin!

I agree 💯, I ride a evo fxr but the shovel will always be #1 for me actually looking at a '82 fxr now same age as me 😁

I still have my 73 FX Shovelhead Superglide I bought in '90 and mildly customized.. the engine was upgraded to 91ci it's hand shifted..it will definitely peg the fun meter...I also have a 99 Evo Heritage Classic it's upgraded to 96ci...it too is capable of pegging the ol' fun meter...

Thank You Kevin from Myrtle Beach! Always interesting and a learning expierence.

I have a 22 fxlrs, 117 love the M8, with that said I would love to have a late 50’s early 60’s panhead ❤

I like my EVO. It's not gonna win a race anytime soon, but it will run highway speed all day long and has a reputation for being reliable. In these times the economy being what it is, I'll take reliable and easy to maintain over speed and constant maintenance. To each their own, let's ride.

My very first time seeing your channel, and you gave me a very happy look back. I purchased a candy apple '81 FXEF (used with 156 miles), it had been modified purely for Daytona Bike Week and trailered both ways. I loved that bike and kept it until 1992, when I sold it with 84K on the clock. Aside from the very occasional maintenance issue, there was never a problem. So, yes, I agree with you on the shovel.

I have a 2002 T.C and a 1980 FXWG, the T.C gets me where I need to go, but there’s nothing like the feeling of that shovel shaking between your legs, not to mention the sound. It’s like the engine is alive. Great video👍

Hey Kev I'll go one step further, my old panhead it's still my favorite sled even though my two twin cam motorsicles make almost twice the power, there is something to be said about classic iron

Thanks for your honest opinion!! I am an old guy but your no BS approach is refreshing!! Got a m8 thing flys.. just cam and intake.. all I need.. if I was going to do anything else would be wings!! Live well!!

Still loving my old TC-88 from 2002. Took care of the tensioner issue and upgraded the cam chest. Now I cant kill it.

Thank you for actually, and definitively, answering the question!

The best Harley Davidson motor is the one that most Harley Davidson riders hate that is the 1130 cc vrod engine I put 50,000 miles on one and it never leaked. One bit of oil never overheated never left me stranded.

Maybe a video just on that Magneti Marelli fuel injection system. And if replacement parts that obsolete.

👏👏👏. Agreed ! Shovel Head my favorite too ! Nothing like the Shovel Head Boogie thumping away at idol !!

The best Harley engine is the one propelling you down a curvy scenic road. My current one is a bone stock M8 107 with 24,000 miles on it.