I have an 04 1700 I picked up with 12K miles, I now have 30K on it, I ride it almost everyday since I don't have a job. I had to rejet mine when I got it cause it was running so rich it would cut and stumble out when I gave it gas even at 65mph, so I started leaning it until it ran good with no stumbling. I changed the oil first thing when I got it home cause the oil was dirty looking. I use dino oil and change it every 2000 miles cause I live in the desert and it is sandy. I unhooked the clutch cable and soaked it in oil over night, wiped it down and keep the cable ends greased.
I re routed the blow by tube from the air cleaner to the bottom of the frame. I have had to change the tires because I smoke the rear tire every time I left a red light for the first few months I owned the bike, You are going to love the torque, needless to say the belt still works fine and I have learned if the belt is not fraying or showing any cracking it is fine. I think it will outlast a lot of rear tires. When I replaced the tires I had new bearings put in just in case, but it was not needed as the old bearings were fine. I have been running it on the freeways at 70 and 80 mph and all it requires is a weekly tightening of all the bolts, I have not found any loose except the rear fender bolts.
If you take care and maintain this machine I fully expect to see 300K miles before it gets rebuilt. The engine may sound like it is falling apart and take note that it can be real noisy when it is cold and sometimes when it gets real warm out but it is just the nature of the engine and the tolerances required to run a twin this big.
Thank goodness it is reliable because it darn sure is way to heavy to push!
Check out the tech section and especially the oil change procedure, there is also an online manual but I don't remember were it is, I'm sure someone will help out with that.
Get some clean oil in that R* and ride it like you stole it, it's been working for me for a year!
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