Electra Glide Years To Avoid: Best And Worst Years

The Harley Davidson Electra Glide or EG has the best and most problematic model years. Those problematic model years have reduced performance and may cause severe accidents. Hence, while buying, you should always avoid those problematic model years. 

So what are the Electra Glide years to avoid? First, 1994 and 2003-04 were the worst versions of EG. After the arrival of the 2014 model, people started to criticize and recognize it as the worst EG ever made.

Here in this article, we will show every EG year that you should avoid while buying. Also, provide the reasons and our best recommendation for Electra glide. Hence, keep reading.

Table: Several Electra Glide Model Years And Their Problems

We have listed some model years with problems you can’t neglect. Though the 2014 EG year has the most severe issues, other years also came with several problems. Here are those:

Model Years	Problems
1994	Backfiring
	Electrical issues
	It doesn’t crank on warm condition
2003	Issues with cam tension
	The vehicle sputters and backfires when hot
	Engine running roughly
2004
2007	Lean running
	Engine running roughly
2009	Bad wheel bearing
	Clutch problems
2014	Electrical issues
	Damaged master cylinder
2017	Coming off of oil lines

Electra Glide Years To Avoid: Reasons To Avoid Them

In early 1994, Harley decided to bring change to their EG model. They replaced the FLHR Road king with the FLHS Electra Glide that year.  Being the first change of the vehicle, it came up with issues like backfiring. 

However, this issue has remained constant for several years. It was rare until 2004. Backfires came again with serious problems. Still, you can buy it with some little modifications. 

Accordingly, the year 2007 was the worst for Harley having the engine running roughly and lean running. This model is included in Electra Glide and Road King years to avoid lists.

On the other hand, you can consider the 2014 EG the worst model ever made.  Because this model year has too many problems. So if you ever think of buying this model, you may better forget about the idea.

Now, we will provide the reasons for avoiding those worse EG years in detail:

1. The 1994 Electra Glide

Though the 1994 EG  is a revolution of this model, you should avoid it due to several issues.  However, it has no more significant issues except the backfiring of the engine.

The 1994 EG model may suddenly start to backfire while riding. And the noise is very loud. For this reason, the engine begins to lose its power consecutively.

So, the main reasons behind the backfire are the excess fuel burning, defective distributor caps and ignition systems. This issue typically makes the rider think twice before riding the bike again.

2. The 2003 Electra Glide

Cam tensioners are a common issue in Harley Davidson Motorcycles. In the 2003 model, this problem is severe. Besides, the bike had serious issues like crank and electrical problems. Let’s discuss these in detail.

Cam Chain Tensioner

Many people complain about the 2003 EG cam tensioner issue. The cam chain contains plastic shoes that cause the problem in the beginning. Because of heavy friction, plastic shoes wear out too fast.

Also, loose cam tensioners will be responsible for unusual noises while driving the bike. Besides, if the tensioner jumps, it will also cause valve failure.  And you may need to spend a lot of money fixing or replacing the valve.

Electrical issue

Several models of EG have Electrical problems. But this was serious in 2003 and 2014 Electra Glides. 

The most common reasons are faulty charging systems, loosening of wires, and corrosion in the battery and wires. Also, the rise in extra voltage causes electrical issues. In this condition, Harley voltage regulator symptoms will show up.  However, the diagnosis of this problem may be easier than others.

Crank Issue In Warm Conditions

The most fatal problem of the 2003 model is the crank issue. This issue arises due to several reasons, like problems in the charging system, the poor connection of the starter, or if there is battery damage.

3. The 2004 Electra Glide

The 2004 model doesn’t have many problems except sputters. However, rough running of the engine may show in some cases. But it is so rare, and you can neglect it.

When the motorcycle becomes slightly hot, it starts to sputter. Additionally, the engine backfires also. Carburetor issues are the main reason behind the Sputtering of motorcycles. Check on any vacuum or fuel leak after you experience the issue.

Due to a fuel leak, the bike will run leanly. This may cause uneven or rough running of your bike.

4. The 2009 Electra Glide

Generally, the bearing will go bad within 25000 miles in the 2009 EG year. This issue might not seem critical initially, but with time it will cause vehicle vibration.

The worn-out bearing will put excessive stress on the CV joints, the hub, and the transmission. Thus, you will have difficulty shifting in the model year. Also, the wheel might stop suddenly.

Additionally, bad wheel bearings also cause unusual knocking, growling, or grinding noises. Overall, this bad bearing will make the driving experience worse over time. So, before buying this year’s model, you need to check and replace the bearing before road trips.

5. The 2014 Electra Glide

In hundreds of EG models, most people criticize this one for its design and performance. Some people recognize it as the most problematic among all the Electra Glide years to avoid.

Clutch Problems

Here, in the 2014 EG year, the clutch issue is very common due to gas bubbles. The clutch cylinder loses the ability to disengage due to the accumulation of gas bubbles.

On the other hand, parking the motorcycle for a long time will result in clutch problems. This problem can lead to a severe accident by losing vehicle control. That’s why Harley recalled certain 2014 EG models like Ultra Classic for the severity of this issue.

Therefore, you should avoid the 2014 Electra Glide model.

Faulty Cylinder Head

Alongside clutch problems, a bad cylinder head also draws everyone’s attention in the 2014 year model. You may resolve the issue in a short time, but you can’t deny the danger of this issue.

Overheating, head gasket failure and loss of coolant may cause the failure of the cylinder head. The issue gets more prominent when it starts to damage the entire engine. 

6. The 2017 Electra Glide

In this EG year, there was a fault while installing a clamp on the engine cooler line. As a result, the oil line may come off, which will cause oil spilling on the way to the rear wheel.

As a result, the rear tire may slip and cause a bike crash. Considering the severity of this problem, there was a Harley recall for the 2017 EG year .

Best Electra Glide Model Years

The 2002 EG year was the best until the 2013 EG entered the market. Here are some advantages of these two model years:

1. EG 2002 Model Year

Here are some pros of the 2002 EG years:

• You can handle the bike easily at higher speeds
• Feels like a lighter weight while riding on the road
• The body has good fitness that you can rely on very confidently

2. EG 2013 Model Year

In the 2013 model, all of the benefits of the EG 2002 model year are available. Moreover, this EG year also contains additional features that make it unique and reliable. Those are

• If we talk about the 2013 model, first, we must mention the bike’s beauty
• A powerful engine that can perform in any situation

Here is a YouTube video about the 2013 model that may help you to become familiar with the bike:

FAQs

In this FAQs section, we will answer the most common questions related to Electra Glide Model Years

Conclusion

All the Electra glides have particular issues. But there are some models in which the problems are fatal, and you can’t avoid them. So, before buying a new motorcycle, you must know the best and worst in the market.

Throughout the article, we discussed Electra Glide years to avoid: best and worst years. Also, we gave our best recommendation. If you read the article clearly, you may find the best motorcycle in the market.