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Harley Davidson

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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.

Peter of Deleon Springs, FL October 19, 2007

My 2006 Dyna has a manufacture flaw. The berring behind the clutch fails @ between 5000 and 10000 miles Then the repair done by New Symerna H.D. going by the harley manual calls for the wrong parts to be used causing an even faster failure. I was told I was basicly driving a handgriade. I asked if there was a recall and was told no. Due to "most people dont put many miles on them and the warrety runs out befor the first failuer. I filed a complaint with H.D. in Milwakie and hurd nothing. I went back to the dealer who wanted to sell me an extended warrety for 1300. for one year or trade me out of the bike up one year for 7000.

I traded to a triuph dealer for a new triumph. Then I here back for harley In Milwakie They tell me my bike was one of the dynas built between nov. of 05 and feb. of 06 and the wrong berring were used on the trans shaft. They just found out in the last few weeks that the repair manuels used at the dealers listed the wrong parts and was causing a faster failuer.They said the only safe way to fix my bike was to remove the trans and inner primary case and replace it with the 07' model which they offerd to do. Id Already traded the bike and lost aprox. 7000.

They said sorry for your luck. The dealers had no knolage of the proper fix and H.D. was not forthcoming with it due to the cost. As they told me most people dont put but 2000 miles a year on there bikes and the warrenty runs out befor theres a problem. I spoke with costomer sevice man at H.D. Rusty doyle 414 343 4121 the infomation cane from their engineering dept.The man who fixed my bike at New Symerna H.D. was contactedby H.D. Milwakie and told not to use that parts list for that repair anymore. This invoves four months or more of production and the 4 dealers I spoke with all were seeing these bikes come in and be repaired then fail again a short time later they sold alot of extended warrenties

Harold of Magnolia, DE September 10, 2007

We dropped Bike off at Mike's Famous on Thur. evening after making an appointment for a Friday morning 10,000mile check-up. We waited most of the day to hear from someone, no one called. At 4:30 I called and would told no one was in service. 3rd day, called service to check on status. We were told nothing had been done. On Mon, I spoke to Mac, he said he to wait for Keith to call the warranty dept to see if our wheel was still covered under warranty. I asked Mac why he didn't just order the wheel it was needed, but he reply, they do not do it way. On Tues no courteous call to let us what was going on. Called Keith and he said the wheel had to order and was approved under warranty; but the service was started. We were told 7-10 days. We did get a call to ask if we wanted sent overnight. I told that to Mac. He just talked me around in circles. At this point our bike has been up on a rack for over ten days. My next call was to Roady, he said he would take care of the matter and see what the problem was. The result of that call was simply that Mac had traced the shipment and it would be a couple of days.

On Sept 10, I received a call telling me that the Bike would be finished Wen., instead of Tuesday as told by Mac on the friday prior. In addition, the bike had not been looked at all. Mac proceeds to tell me that the tire is below Harley's standards. I was quoted an approx. 585 for 10,000 check, and 400 for the tire. (Which was the same price as the new one).

I had to call my husband and give him the news. He informed Mike's Famous to get the Bike safe, we would get on Tues. Never during the 19 days were we offer a user bike, clear explanations etc. I contacted customer service for Harley. I was told they were all independent of each other, but she see what the problem was. Please advise if you will, is this good faith service?

Joseph of Los Angeles, CA July 7, 2007

I purchased a new 2007 harley davidson street glide motorcycle. I financed it for over 25000= which included some chrome upgrades and service, after waiting over a month for the parts to come into the dealer, I was encouraged to bring my bike back in after for my 1,000 mile service which was suppose to be included in the 25,000+ I had finaced. I left my bike and was told it would be ready later that same day. I waited until the day and was then told again that not all of the parts could be put on the model and that the service department wouldn't put a particular part on because they didn't want to be responsible for possible damage to the fender should they make a mistake. I called the next day to see if my bike was ready, and I was told that they had decidedto put some complimentry pieces (hand grips, and foot boards) on my bike for the trouble. I had niether paid for them nor authorized them. But when I went to pick up the bike, I was informed that the parts that I had paid for in the 25,000 would not be put on my bike, but I could pay for the other parts(400)no service charge. I could leave one hundred dollars as a deposit.

Also I was now told by the finance dept.that the service that I had purchased was different from the scheduled maintance so an additional charge 200 plus was for the 1,000 mile service I had been told was free. I spoke with the GM of the dealership, He attempted to correct the problem by taking the 100 dollar deposit, and applying it to another purchase of the service plan, I could come in on another day and he would try to have the Fender chrome put on my Bike, yet the other pieces could not be put on that model, the service exchange for the pieces I didn't authorize would offset the missing pieces. Yet the other pieces were something I would easily be able to put on myself without a 90 dollar per hour service charge. I have another scheduled service with them before I can switch to another dealership.

Gary of Wellington, FL April 23, 2007

On June 21 2007, while on vacation I was involved in a highway accident on a rented motorcycle from Gary Bang Harley Davidson in Atascadero California . I opted for the only supplimental insurance available which I later discovered did not cover vehicle damage. This is after I was required to leave a 2000 damage deposit on my bank card. Since July 2006 I have been receiving collection calls from Allied Interstate, who represents Empire Fire & Marine, apparently GBHDs insurance underwriter. Even though I have the proper license and credentials for motorcycle riding in Florida I no longer own a bike, and no longer carry full time motorcycle insurance. Also, after contacting my State Farm agent, I was informed Gary Bang Harley, at the time, did not carry the proper rental insurance. Upon researching my available options I discovered temporary motorcycle insurance is not available to Florida policy holders.

Robert of Rocklin, CA January 17, 2007

In Dec 2006 I brought my 2005 Harley Davidson Motorcycle to a dealership in Auburn, CA. for a schedual service. The technician informed me that I had a leak in my fuel line inside the gas tank and that it directly affected the gas to the fuel injection and running of the motorcycle. That the motorcycle could just stop running. What he also said was that this was a problem known by the Harley Davidson manufacturing plant and had now been corrected but needed to be repaired. The problem was that as gas is put into the tank after time, in this case 6 months to 2 years a hole wears into the line, it was corrected by installing shortend lines. The complaint is that the cost was some 240.00 for something that the manufacturer knew to be faulty and he showed me that just at his dealership some 7 to 10 bikes had been done that week alone. When you add this up across the country that is some serious money that the consumer is spending. Cars are recalled, why not bikes. I think this stuff has flown under the radar long enough. Thank you for your time

Wayne of Etowah, TN January 15, 2007

I waited a year for a 2006 Dyna-Wide Glide from Harley-Davidson. Since finally getting one in it has had 3 recalls for very different but dangerous defects. First there was a transmission recall. (Showing a faulty neutral light.) Secondly there was a Battery cover recall. (Causing fires.) Last but not least, there is now a handle-bar recall. (New design was very weak and handle bars were breaking and causing accidents!) I would like to know my rights about getting my money back. I have been defrauded time and money...

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