damn your lucky.

I know a guy who rides a '96 ultra classic with a broken swingarm...completely cracked off...and the edges were rusty so you know he'd been riding like that for a while. I'm not sure how he didnt realize what happend but it was being held together by the other side.

 

/\/\ damn.

 

good new the dealer replace both swing arm bolts and the pivot joint and the belt and the back tire all under warranty. im a happy camped and didnt have to get loud with anyone

 

that's good to know. glad it all worked out.

 

The same thing just happened to me while driving down the interstate on my 07 Sportster. Scary ride to say the least. Every dealership I've talked to said they've never seen it happen before, and I should contact the Motor Company directly to see about getting it covered even tho it is no longer under warranty. It's going to cost over $400 to get it fixed otherwise. Ugh!

 

Without looking this up, and I just did this 5000 service, for my 07 1200N.....

Critical Fasteners..... are on the service list.

I found my upper left motor mount bolt (linakge bracket to cyl head) loose. Steering head (upper triple clamp in the center) bolt, rear axle nut, one bolt under the engine for the rear brake bracket not to spec. Previously (1000 miles), I found the swing arm nuts not to spec. All the other critical fasteners were OK.

 

+1 - When your life is dependent on only 2 wheels, critical fastener checks are essential at every service interval and are listed as such in the Service Manual.

Unfortunately, I'll wager that the majority of the dealers don't bother to do a full critical fastener check when they do a scheduled service, and those that rely on the dealer for service, can only pray that the dealer they use gives a chit.

The only way to know if it's been done right, is to do it yourself.

 

+1 on the only way to know if it's been done right, is to do it yourself.

Nobody will care more than you and besides you get to know your bike better. That'll help you or your buddy when one of you are on the side of the road w a breakdown.

 

thank god i was driving under 5 mph when the right side swing arm bolt came out of my 08 nightster. suddenly the back end got loose almost like i had a flat tire. i stopped, looked down and saw the bolt laying on the exhaust.

i had been driving 70 mph not 10 minutes earlier on a busy highway.

5k inspection done 8 months ago. just spoke to service manager who is going to look at the bike for me to see if anything is damaged. also said he's never heard of that happening.

lucky to be alive, or at least uninjured.

ps the top end engine bolts also came loose awhile back. I didn't lose them, but heard a distinct "tic tic" noise almost like what it sounds like when a head is loose on a car engine, or a gasket is blown. stopped as soon as i heard it and sure enough the bolts on both sides were loose. tightened them back down to spec but they came loose again later on. you have to constantly check this bike, it vibrates so much.

 

Damn! I'm going to check all these bolts right now!

BTW, we don't have a sticky for all these interval inspections (1k, 5k,...) and the list of things to check?