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Harley Davidson

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Joseph of Rock Hill, SC February 6, 2010

I purchased a 2010 Road King from this Dealership the next day after delivery there were huge ripples to the left saddlebag Dealership will not replace it and Harley is stating this is effect of weather. There are no stickers anywhere that states this on the saddlebags and looking at older models in store none of the others show these characteristics. These are fiberglass leather covered saddlebags.

I dont have 60 miles on this bike and it is in the garage. There is nothing in any of my paperwork on warranties that states saddlebags are not covered under warranty again this bike is not 30 days old since my purchase of Jan 9th. I would like the left saddlebag replaced. I would not have purchased this bike if these defects would have been known to me this is not effect of weather but poor manufacturing and workmanship

Charlene of Fulton, TX December 22, 2009

On Sept. 7, 2007, my brother, Charles Franklin McLead was driving home from a football game on his Harley Davidson, year 2000, make, FXSTB Night Train. A 17 year old male failed to stop at a stop sign and proceeded through an intersection and struck my brother. The driver claims he did not see my brother until he hit him. Since my brother's death, I have spoken to a few Harley enthusiasts and have learned that Harley Davidson sells what I call, "bare bones" motorcycles. In other words, when one purchases a motorcycle such as the Night Train model, the Harley Davidson Company provides only one headlight and one tail light. If as a consumer one desires more lights for adequate visibility, one pays extra. Almost all motorcycle deaths are caused by the other driver claiming, "I did not see the motorcycle." If this is accurate why is The Harley Davidson Company able to continue to sell motorcycles without safe and adequate lighting??

My brother was killed. After about a week on life support he was pronounced 100% brain dead and my mother along with his siblings decided to dontate his organs. How can I put a dollar amount on the emotional trauma this has caused our family? I, personally am still haunted by my brother's death and can't help but wonder had his mototcycle been equipped with effective, visible lighting, would he be alive today. My mother and I are co-independant executors of his estate. When my brother, Charles died, he had a home mortgage, credit card bills, hospital bills, (the driver that caused his death had only 25,000.00 liability insurance)and a few in store credit for furniture, washer and dryer, refrigerator, and a riding lawn mower. My mother has paid (using Charles's life insurance) the balance owed at the time of his death. (excluding his home mortgage)

Douglas of Green Bay, WI December 4, 2009

My 2004 Ford F-250 Harley Davidson 6.0 started running rough a month ago at 26,000 miles. I rarely use it and thought it was a dirtly injector so I didn't take it in right away but used some injector cleaner for a few weeks. Ford said the 5 year warranty ran out Nov.1 2009. Less than a month ago. I paid 1,000 to have a new injector put in and now the truck won't run at all. They are saying the cylinders are shot and the engine needs to be replaced for 10,000. This problem most likely stems from the defective injectors that most of their 6.0 liter diesels have. Did I mention that this problem started as the warranty expired at only 26,000 miles. Ford, you need to do something about this!

Harold of oceanside, CA November 26, 2009

http://www.aimag.com/forums/thisMonth.php The above site is were you can get people to help you fix your bikes.

http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/index.htm the above site helps you understand your bike.

there are independant shops authorized to do warrantee repairs. they wont say Harley Davidson on theCompany/Building name. I.E. Toms Choppers.

1st) Go to online national highway saftey adminiatration.
2nd) Dont buy chrome parts, save your money to fix bike.
3rd) save paper work for all service failures.
4th) buy a shop manuel and do your own service. this is most important.
5th) EXtended warrantees asumes good shop services and no aftermarket parts,Hot rod parts void warrantees, you are on the good graces of the shop, if they have any.The harley parts book should tell you if your hot rod parts voids warrantee. More than likely anything that voids harley warantee voids extended warantee.THE ONLY THING VALID IS WHAT IS PUT IN WRITTING.
6th) share your experiencces with friends. victory , triumphs make good bikes. dont let friends be taken.
7TH) VISIT NHSTA WEB SITE ONLINE, fill out the forms and submit. this is more useful than arguing with dealer. follow complaint proceedure in harley owners mauel.
8th) Magnuson act concerns after market parts not voiding warrantee's.check you states laws.
9th) join class action suit's- do web search , dont worry you'll find them.
10) contact your states insurance legislator/ comission. i.e. extended warantee's
11) buy tires online and at mom and pop shop. have kawasaki/honda/suzuki shops mount your tires, much cheaper.
12) make friends with people who love to ride and have harleys. Christians there are many Christian motorcycle clubs- clubs. make these friends to net work with them , they are dealing with the same problems you are!
13) there are many fine aftermarket parts providers- by net working you find out who they are.
14) American Iron Magazine has how to sections and resources to help you fix your bikes.

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?

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