Hello. Let me start with I'm new to Harleys. Just got an 03 Electra Glide Police last week. Just hit 20,000 miles yesterday.
My issue; Yesterday I got on her pretty hard. Took her almost to redline in 1st, 2nd slipped about 1/2 a second and then grabbed, 3rd gear slipped for a good 2 seconds before it grabbed. I backed off after that and shifted normal through 4th and 5th.
What gives?

 

sounds like your clutch is going out or its in a major need of adjustment. When I felt it slipping the first time I would have backed off

 

Stop holding on to it while it is slipping! That is doing no good at all. Back off on the throttle briefly and it should stop slipping. Adjust your clutch as a starting point, when cold and by the book, to establish if all is OK or you have a deeper problem.

There are two stickys in the DIY section on adjusting your clutch.

 

Thanks for the replies. When it slipped into second it was so brief I barely had time to even process that it was slipping, and to let off the throttle before it caught. 2nd to 3rd I was now more aware and I did let off the throttle completely. It was in slippage limbo long enough for me to look down to check if for some crazy reason I was in neutral, then it caught while I was still off the throttle. Gave me a nice *** puckering jolt.
I'll check out the DIY on adjusting. I hope that's all she will need.
I guess my other question would be; Is this common/normal that the factory clutch just can't handle high rpm shifts? Its hard to imagine that that is the case.
Thanks again.

 

No its not normal, which is why we suggest adjusting your clutch!

 

Okay! Ha. Adjustment it is.

 

Hopefully that will cure it, but let us know how you get on. If it is a Police model and has had a hard rider during its first life it is just possible the clutch is worn.