Just had the voltage regulator replaced on GF's 2009 Deluxe at 40k miles. I had to replace the one on my 2010 StreetGlide at 36k miles. Coincidence? Are voltage regulators a high failure component? Or, this is normal/typical life expectancy for an electrical part.

 

IMHO it's a poor design. Harley uses "shunt" regulators. They literally load the alternator to maintain regulation. This means that the alternator is producing 100% power all of the time and what is not needed is simply passed to ground via loading resistors. They get hot and are inefficient. If you want an upgrade, Cycle Electric makes regulators that control the alternator's output instead of wasting it.

 

Good lord I went through hell with my last VR on my 06 Street Bob. I got stranded twice after having the bike at the dealer 2 separate times for the same issue, once they FINALLY replaced it the bike worked perfect and I have yet to get stranded since......

 

My first VR was replaced on the recall of 2012 Heritage models. Electrical problems from the first day I owned the bike, the bike had hours and hours of warranty work to 'fix' the issues, lots of replaced parts, until in July I said let's try a new voltage reg. The service manager agreed and hey presto, the electrics have been perfect since then.

 

My 2012 RKC started having low voltage codes just a month before my warranty expired. The dealer changed out my ignition and the problem came back. Since my bike's VIN wasn't included in the 2012 VR recall they didn't originally change my VR. After the codes came back they swapped out my VR and it's been good ever since. I'm hearing lots of problems about VR's so I hope this one is a good one. If this one fails I might go after market and find a good one.

 

I have had to replace three in the past 10 years ( on 2 different bikes ).
No surprise when a vr goes crappy.

 

My 02 softaila nd 02 Dyna never had issues in 80K and 50K miles but my 05 Road Glide had one stator and VR replacement and my 13 Road Glide had VR and regulator replaced at 19K miles under warranty.