What is the BEST HARLEY ENGINE EVER?! - Kevin Baxter - Baxter's Garage - Pro Twin Performance 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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 !

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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!

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 ..

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 😜

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

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.

i own a 1971 FLH, a 2000 FLHTC and a 2018 FLHR. there is NOTHING that sounds like a shovel. it's the only bike i own with a soul.

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.

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

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 🤘🏻🤘🏻

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.

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

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.

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!

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!

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

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.

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 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.

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

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!,

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.

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.

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.

Evo for reliability, but on sound alone...Definitely the panhead. Love the panhead sound

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

To me 66-69 FLH engine is the best as far as classical look and reliability

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.

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...

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

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

Thank you I agree with The Best motor Built Being a Shovel . I am an owner of an 82 Shovel and an 02 Twin Cam FXST carbeurated and Love Them Both

Out of the engines you mentioned..Shovelhead, no doubt about it. I have one of my Shovel for 42 years and it still is my favorite bike. Not on your list and mainly for appearance reasons -Panhead, the best looking engine ever!

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!!

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.

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

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...

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.

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.

Thanks for a very interesting listening. I've never owned a Shovel, but I too like the sound a well mainted Harley Shovel. My first EVO was a '91 Heritage, and I loved it event hough it was quite standard. After that I had a '99 Softail Springer and that was an amazing ride. Fired up to 92hp on the the rear wheel it was 'hot'. Nowadays I have a '10 Fatboy - smooth as silk, fits like a glove and never fails. Pure love. However, I once loaned a bike that I never will forget - a guy had just finished his Chopper with a '55 Panhead, and he kept naggin' me to try the damn thing. Which I did... and now I can't get rid of the memories of that ride. Anyway, thanks for the great listening...

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 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.

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

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 !

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

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.

My personal favorite is the early carbed Twin Cams...to my ears, they sound the best...I've had a shovelhead/troublehead, NEVER again...& I had a 2008 110 Screaming Eagle CVO Electra Glide, but the one I kept is my 1999 Road King...while it hasn't been completely trouble free, it's had way fewer problems than the other two, & sounds better too...

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.

Kevin, you hit all the great talking points in this op-ed. The best motor is the one your riding. Your favorite, is the one your building. As for my opinion, my favorite motor ? The 2 valve Ducati desmo in my 2011 Monster 1100EVO. My favorite from H-D Mo-Co. the EVO. The EVO for simplicity and reliability. I've owned 2) EVO's. Still have a "Twinkie" 88/95. Currently own a 107 M-8 Road King. Thanks once again for the knowledge you share with us.

Kevin is the man every Harley rider should be watching and listening to, so much knowledge and a straight shooter, just tells it like it is and shares all his knowledge with all of us. Just AWESOME! Thanks Kevin!

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

I've been riding my 1970 FLH Shovelhead for 30 years now. I added electronic ignition, dual plugged the heads and a S&S carb. Very reliable and a joy to ride on rural roads

My beloved Ironhead was left out in the cold again. I take full responsibility. I'm a sucker for an underdog. Another great video Kevin, as always and thank you for your time, your knowledge and your clear information.

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 ❤

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.

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

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 😁

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

Grateful for you making this video ‼️🙏🏻🇺🇸

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?).

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

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

I bought a new shovelhead Superglide in December 1972 when the 73s were out. At that time, the 72s were 2100.00. When they pulled Their last beautiful black Superglide out to the shop and started it oil went all over the floor from wet sump from sitting, and never had that problem again. I wanted fatbob tanks and the 73s had the new style trach and rear brakes didn’t look like a good setup to me. The 72 good bike for me always ran well and sounded really good. One issue with the 72s that I know of besides engine problems. In the machining process the transmission shifting dogs They missed One swipe of the machining, which left one dog larger than all others. my bike was four years old I remove the trans and took the parts to Harley And of course they said they only had a 90 day warranty but when I showed him it was a factory defect they paid for all the parts thrust washers that were worn, because riding on one side of the Shift dog. At that time it was only $90 of parts. I sold it for twice As much money when it was 14 years old with a wide glide front end and framed print shop. Kevin, I would like to know what year shovelhead you would buy in stock form.

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

As Steven Stills once said - love the one your with. 😊 I love a Harley. I love your stuff uncle Kevin - respect 👍🤜

I have a 1977 shovel head chopper with a 42 inch front end and I love riding it it is a great bike

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