Well I brought my 2017 RGS to the dealership in Ocala, Fl. and as I eluded to in my newbie post I had some parts replaced...or so I thought.

When the bike was delivered to me, I didn't get a good look at it because I had to leave town that day. When I got back I noticed that the bike was not detailed as promised and that there was a blemish on the rear heat shield. It turns out it wasn't a blemish but a ding that someone tried to polish out. So, I looked over the bike and found that the brake rotors were rusted, the wheels had corrosion, the acorn nuts holding the mirrors on were rusted, the brake line elbows under the fairing had surface corrosion, the brake and clutch levers had light corrosion on them, the center bars on the tank were corroded and the engine guard had rust at the weld point where it attached to the lower frame. Other than that the bike is beautiful...

I brought this to the attention of the dealership and brought the bike to them. The service guy said he did see the issues and would take care of them when I brought the bike in for its first service, which brings me to present day.

The service was done and only the front rotors and acorn nuts were replaced. They attempted to replace the heat shield with another one that had some melted black substance on it that could not be removed. I told them it was unacceptable so I pointed at a new RG and told them I wanted the heat shield from that one, so they replaced it. The service guy actually said that he has rarely dealt with people as "picky" as me! So, I told him I wanted to see the manager. The sales manager was the only "manager" there so he came to talk to me. After I told him the story his response was "Harley Davidson has a quality control issue". I must have had a stupid look on my face because he went on to explain that after HD assembles their bikes they sit out in the weather in Pennsylvania until they are shipped and that is how the dealership receives them! He said if the engine guard rusts through he'll replace it then. Since it is a very small amount of rust I decided I would try to take care of it myself. I told him about the wheels and he said the spots were water spots and that the wheels were clear coated therefore they couldn't corrode! I showed him where I used aluminum polish on part of the wheel and how bright and shiny it was, he said "oh". Finally I brought it to his attention that my bike was quite a bit dirtier than when I brought it to them. His response was to give me a card for a free wash but the detail shop was backed up so I would have to come back at another time. I live 45 miles away and probably won't be bringing my business to them in the future.

The manager called me the following Monday to tell me that I would be receiving a survey in my email and I should voice my concerns about HD's quality control in the comments section. He said that is the only thing they read. Anything below a 10 score might as well be a zero.

Done with rant...for now.

 

You must have really wanted the bike. Had it been me, I would have wanted all of this done before delivery (and final payment)

 

And I thought the metric dealers were bad.

 

Have you done a factory tour of the York, PA Assembly Plant? The bikes do not sit out doors in the Pennsylvania weather, they are palletized and loaded directly into semi-trailers or shipping containers.

 

That place is run like it was owned by a car dealership. Oh, come to think of it, it is owned by a car dealership! And one from out of town to boot. I'm guessing those "semi-showrooms" they have there in Ocala don't help with the rust issue. I used to shop them when looking for a bike, but they were never competitive price wise, so I took them off my shopping list a few years ago. Btw, rwven is right about the H-D shipping process.

 

I'm thinking they are uncrated at the dealership and assembled, then left out in the rain there if there's no storage for them inside

 

Yep. They own Crystal River, too. O.P. you list your location as Gainesville, Gainesville HD is still family owned. They were my go to dealer when I lived in N. Florida, I'd check them out if I lived close.

 

So a guy told you that you are picky?

 

**because he went on to explain that after HD assembles their bikes they sit out in the weather in Pennsylvania until they are shipped and that is how the dealership receives them! **

Here' I fixed it for you!

***because he went on to explain that after HD assembles their bikes they deliver it to our dealership, & they sit out in the weather in our parking lot until they are Sold, and that is how the Rust forms on them!


I would take close up photos of the areas, & send it to HD customer service!

 

Why would you accept that