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Harley Davidson

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Lori of Marshalls Creek, PA September 24, 2009

I purchased a 2008 Superglide May 2008. The bike has substanial rust on various components, Harley has agreed to replaced the fenders that the paint has chipperd off & rusted however they refuse to change the shocks,frame, kick stand, etc. I am still under the 2 year warranty, no less I purchased an additional plan that covers all additional componenets. The bike is now currently in the shop with a leak that we originally were lead to believe was just a gasket; however now we have been told the entire motor must be broken down. We own a 2006 Roadster that was stored in a climate control unit as well as this bike and it is in immaculate condition.

Carol of Menifee, CA August 19, 2009

My 2006 xl 1200c Started shifting really hard. I noticed at a stop when I had the clutch lever fully pulled back the bike still wanted to move forward. I had to keep the front brake on to keep the bike from moving.

I took the bike to Redwood harley davidson as I am a long way from home. I thought maybe the oil level was incorrect so I had them check it. Feike the tech, told me I had a broken clutch spring, which is a common problem as this part is defective from the factory. He said I couldn't take the bike until it was fixed as it is a safty issue. He told me Harley makes a clutch kit that fixes this defect for 280.00 + labor and any parts that were destroyed as a result of this clutch spring failure.

I couldn't afford the kit so I had them replace the broken defective part with a new defective part + the other parts that were destroyed as a result of the broken defective part. I asked why Harley didn't have to replace the defective part as it is a safty issue. He (Feike) laughed at my question and told me thats just the way it is.

That clutch spring cost me 250.00 and a warning that since I didn't put the 280.00 kit that replaces the defective part, I will for sure have this safty issue in the future.

ron of dubuque, IA July 4, 2009

the hole in the factory crank pin is 3/8 of an inch off center, so the rod berring was not getting much oil. 1999 heritage softail.

Wade of Santee, CA June 3, 2009

My father purchased a 2005 FLSTN Softail Deluxe from Bala's Harley Davidson in Mauston Wisconsin. The bike was brand new and my father had Screamin Eagle Motor upgrades which were recommended and performed by the dealer before we took delivery of the bike. My Father also at the time of the sale purchased a 5 year extended warranty. At know time during the purchase or installation of the motor upgrades was my father informed that these upgrades would void the Harley Davidson Extended Warranty. He took delivery of the motorcycle and rode off thinking he was covered. He put 5000 miles on the bike and gave me the motorcycle and we transferred the Harley Davidson Extended Warranty to my name. The bike currently has 27,000 miles on it and about a year left of the 5 year extended warranty. I have had two previous claims submitted for minor repairs which were honored.

Recently the motor starting leaking oil from the air filter area in large amounts requiring me to clean the oil off the motor every 5 miles.

I took the bike in for service and when they took the motor apart they noticed many things wrong with it requiring a motor rebuild. They called the Harley Davidson Extended Warranty company which due to the cost of repairs they sent out an inspector. He took photos and made out his report.

A few days later my mechanic called them and they denied my claim and voided my warranty stating the parts in my motor are after market parts and not covered. I have called the Harley Davidson dealer in Mauston Wisconsin since they did the work and they have washed their hands of it and will not claim liability or responsibility. I have all the documentation of the work done and no where does it state the parts purchased or work performed will cause the purchased extended warranty to be voided. The Harley Davidson dealer has stated the employees involved in the sale and transaction of the motor upgrades are no longer working there so they have no way of verifying what was said or done so they cant do anything about it.

My father states he was never told that the work performed would void the warranty and since he is not a mechanic and has no knowledge of engines trusted in their recommendations. It is my belief that both the Bala's Harley Davidson dealership and the Extended Warranty service company are liable and should pay for the cost of repairs. If this claim were to be covered I would be liable to pay the 50 dollar deductible and that would be it. I am now at a loss and am going to try and get a refund for the balance of what is left of the warranty which will only be a few hundred dollars I am sure. I would prefer they honor the warranty and cover the claim.

glenn of sayreville, NJ June 2, 2009

Was charged a insufficient charge and late charge and was persuaded to pay it by being misled and then charged and underpayment on the principle charge and many late charges.

Anthony of Vero Beach, FL December 8, 2008

Where to start!?.. Okay i bought my 2007 Harley-Davidson Dyna Street Bob brand new... I drove the bike home from the dealership, they did not look over the bike before they let me ride off with it and a few miles down the road i noticed the front end was a bit wobbly i got to my house and checked the tire pressure there was barely 15lbs of air in the tires and the spokes where lose, following day i brought it to a bike shop to have the spokes tightened and trued...

A few weeks have passed and now on a 150mile round trip the front brake master cylinder develops a leak and sprayed brake fluid in my face and all down the right side of me ruining my shirt(thank goodness for safety glasses)! i went to a near by dealer and they replaced the cap and seal but was unsuccessful in stopping the leak i road home with no front brake and a rag rapped around it to stop it from spraying any more fluid on me, i called a dealer and complained about it they made an appointment and had a new master cylinder put on... a few weeks later the same problem and still leaks to this day...

i took my bike to the dealer i bought it from to complain about the leak, a loud clanking noise i was hearing from the transmission and the constant wobble i was getting at highway speeds, one of the techs took it for a ride and then did an inspection, 4 hours later he tells me There is definitely something wrong with the bike but they cant do anything about it until it breaks. at this point i have spent countless hours and gas at dealerships trying to get something done about my bike, so i finally called Harley corporate customer service they where a bit rude after i spent almost 2hrs trying to speak with some one that could help me on the phone,

finally they gave me a reference number and told me to call and make another appointment to the dealership so i did and still they did not want to do anything until my bike broke... on top of all of this every peace of metal on my bike is either rusted or corroded, keep in mind i have taken care of this bike like the manual says to, all maintenance was by the book!!... only 6,000 miles on the bike and now has been sitting for almost a year still nothing has been done and no word from Harley about any of it...

I refuse to ride it in fear of my life, i am paying 22,000 for a peace of rusted metal i cant ride, countless hours and money for gas wasted with no results on fixing my bike, depression from knowing they know the bike is messed up but wont do anything about it... What now?

Tim of Cary, IL October 6, 2008

Our 1997 Harely FLHTC has been stalling out and not starting up again. Then when it finally does start it back fires. We've been having the problem for years. It had a recall for the ignition switch which was done at Surbaburn Harley in Palatin. Still did not run right but would start up again. Now we can go down the road at 60 or 70 mph and it will start coughing and die. We pull off the side of the road and sometime it will start then sometimes not.

We also took it to Kagels HD in Rockford and they changed the Cam Positioning Sencor. Seemed to be ok but 500 miles later it would die. Well on our way back Kutters was open so we went in and the guy there on sunday (8-24-08) said it was a common problem from 96 to 2000 that the wiring harness goes bad. So we took the bike back up there for them to work on it and a week later went back to pick it up James said that nobody would have told us that because there was never a problem like that and the only thing they did was adjust the carburtor. Well the bike still dies.

My husband has changed the ignition mogual, cirtuit breaker, and fuel filter. Getting back to James he also told my husband that he's been the business for 17 years and knows all about the bikes and that my husband knows nothing. ( My husband is a mechanic himself) Hope you can help us get the bike up and running so we can start going places and trusting the bike will make it. Thanks for listening.

Douglas of Polson, MT September 4, 2008

Having problem getting dealership to fix my bike. Called dealership 4 times they tell me they don't have the parts for the recall fix. Called harley-davidson info line twice they say dealership has been sent the parts needed to fix problem. Been unable to ride 2008 FLHTC for over 31days and counting H-D info said they will get to bottom of problem and call me back.that was two days ago. thank you 9/4/08 Harley Davidson Kalispel, Montana

Terry of Rosharon, TX April 4, 2008

I have a 2003 Road King Classic and am going on my 3rd Y Pipe (Y pipe connected to rear cylinder). After a very short period of time small cracks develop in the area of the Y, and get larger in time until the pipe needs to be replaced. I have talked with many other owners who have experienced that same failure, multiple times. I have discussed this with many Technicians and the Owner of Goe Harley Davidson in Angleton Texas. All admit this is a design defect. I asked them why Harley has not stepped up and offered a solution, like a two into two exhaust system, which eliminates the Y pipe. The only answer I received was that yes, Harley is aware of the problem but that there was so many bikes out in the market place that they were not going to step up and openly admit the problem and offer a solution. This is not the right way for Harley to handle their business and consumer loyalty.

Glen of Wayne, NJ November 1, 2007

I purchased a new motorcycle from Atlantic City Harley in 2007. I had installed front tire on new installed wheel and had to replace front tire with new one. Front wheel still has same issues, (shakes and shimmies at 20-45 miles per hour which is most city driving or 90% of riding)

Scratched rear wheel while installing new brake rotors and replaced rear wheel with a different tire off of another bike from the showroom floor keeping my original tire without consent. Installed incorrect tire, not the same as original. Replaced an original Harley Davidson tire with an after market Dunlop S D205 Radial Sportmax Touring model 200/55R17 M/G 78V.

Dealer had to send a trailer to pick up the bike the 1st time as it was not drivable from the incorrect installation of the front wheel and not having the correct spacers along with installing the front backwards and contrary to the correct rotation specified by the manufacturer which is clearly visible on both sides of the tire with rotation arrows which are supposed to be pointing forward or in the direction of the tire and the way it spins while driving.

Front rotor which was purchased and installed by the dealer makes a very loud clinking sound every time the front brakes are applied. Dealer claims this is normal.

I would like the front wheel replaced with my original wheel, and now a new tire to match as this one has already been seated to the front wheel. The rear tire replaced with the original tire and both front and rear brake rotors replaced with original rotors. I do not believe the rotors are supposed to be clanking this loud every time you brake.

I believe this dealer just tells the customer whatever they need to for them to go away, only after they have damaged the bike and need to repair it.

All in all I would rather the dealer take the parts back, and the bike back and give me a full refund of all the money I spent there to date including new exhaust pipes, air cleaner, race tuner, mirrors, foot pegs, LED brake light, chrome hardware, front head light, etc.

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