Dealer Discrepancies
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 768
Likes: 116
From: Texas
Dealer Discrepancies
My local dealer has two other dealerships located relatively close to each other. They are great and I really like going there for parts and advice and service when needed. I love the sales folks and the great people in motor close, but it's funny how much discrepancy there can be between them.
Location 1 where I bought my bike: You can add slip ons of your choice but you should trailer the bike here and let us put on an SE tuner and a heavy breather so it won't void your warranty.
Location 2 which is closer to home: Put whatever slip on mufflers you want and ride it here and we'll put an SE tuner on it and you're good to go. You don't need to upgrade your air cleaner as the 114 is already set up for that.
Location 3 in the snobby section of town: Shhh! If we talk about new exhausts you will void your warranty.
I'm thinking of tossing lawn darts to decide which way to go. LOL
I know I'm in the minority here...maybe alone but I was riding it home yesterday from Location 1 and I was thinking I like how my stock pipes sound. Maybe I should just wait till my warranty is up to make any changes...or at least get past winter.
Location 1 where I bought my bike: You can add slip ons of your choice but you should trailer the bike here and let us put on an SE tuner and a heavy breather so it won't void your warranty.
Location 2 which is closer to home: Put whatever slip on mufflers you want and ride it here and we'll put an SE tuner on it and you're good to go. You don't need to upgrade your air cleaner as the 114 is already set up for that.
Location 3 in the snobby section of town: Shhh! If we talk about new exhausts you will void your warranty.
I'm thinking of tossing lawn darts to decide which way to go. LOL
I know I'm in the minority here...maybe alone but I was riding it home yesterday from Location 1 and I was thinking I like how my stock pipes sound. Maybe I should just wait till my warranty is up to make any changes...or at least get past winter.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 768
Likes: 116
From: Texas
Historically neither have I...except for my previous HD. I'm hoping my experience with my Heritage will replicate that.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 3,134
From: Texas
Dealers can't void warranties. Only Harley can do that.
The first answer to your dilemma is -- don't bother going to the dealer to have them put on the Screamin' Eagle tuner, that's something you can do yourself. If you can remove one screw from the left side, and plug it in, and plug a USB cable into your computer, then you can install and download and program the tune for your bike. Absolutely zero reason to have a dealer do it.
The second answer is: Harley says their Street Cannon pipes require the tuner. If you run the pipes without using the tuner, then -- technically you may have violated the terms of the warranty. So if you're getting Street Cannons, get the dumb tuner anyway. You'll need it if you ever want to go Stage II, and ... you want to go Stage II.
The third answer is: if you defeat the emissions control system on your bike, your Harley powertrain warranty is void. So if your bike has the cat in the mufflers, and you replace the mufflers with catless mufflers, then ... yeah, by the letter of the law and the printed letter of the warranty, it's void.
The fourth answer is: if you use EPA-compliant parts, Harley cannot void your warranty. But they might do it anyway. I have had a dealer tell me that on any powertrain warranty claim, Harley can ask for pictures of the exhaust, and if it's not a Harley exhaust, they deny the claim. Which could be illegal; if it's an EPA-compliant exhaust and they cannot show that the exhaust was responsible for causing the failure, then they legally cannot void the warranty for that. But apparently they're taking the attitude of "too bad, we're doing it anyway" and you may have to fight them in court to get the denial reversed.
So - keep it stock, no hassles. Keep it all Harley, no hassles. Go aftermarket but EPA-compliant, and you may have to fight for your rights. Go aftermarket and non-EPA-compliant, and you've just thrown your warranty in the trash.
The first answer to your dilemma is -- don't bother going to the dealer to have them put on the Screamin' Eagle tuner, that's something you can do yourself. If you can remove one screw from the left side, and plug it in, and plug a USB cable into your computer, then you can install and download and program the tune for your bike. Absolutely zero reason to have a dealer do it.
The second answer is: Harley says their Street Cannon pipes require the tuner. If you run the pipes without using the tuner, then -- technically you may have violated the terms of the warranty. So if you're getting Street Cannons, get the dumb tuner anyway. You'll need it if you ever want to go Stage II, and ... you want to go Stage II.
The third answer is: if you defeat the emissions control system on your bike, your Harley powertrain warranty is void. So if your bike has the cat in the mufflers, and you replace the mufflers with catless mufflers, then ... yeah, by the letter of the law and the printed letter of the warranty, it's void.
The fourth answer is: if you use EPA-compliant parts, Harley cannot void your warranty. But they might do it anyway. I have had a dealer tell me that on any powertrain warranty claim, Harley can ask for pictures of the exhaust, and if it's not a Harley exhaust, they deny the claim. Which could be illegal; if it's an EPA-compliant exhaust and they cannot show that the exhaust was responsible for causing the failure, then they legally cannot void the warranty for that. But apparently they're taking the attitude of "too bad, we're doing it anyway" and you may have to fight them in court to get the denial reversed.
So - keep it stock, no hassles. Keep it all Harley, no hassles. Go aftermarket but EPA-compliant, and you may have to fight for your rights. Go aftermarket and non-EPA-compliant, and you've just thrown your warranty in the trash.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 157
Likes: 57
From: MD. USA
First thing to understand is that dealers are independent businesses with a license agreement with the manufacturer. They are not franchises like McDonald's and Burger King. The MoCo may put requirements on them, but they do not have an active role in (dealership) business management. In your scenario, where you're dealing with several satellite dealerships, go to the home dealership for your answer! That's where your answer is ultimately going to come from if there's ever an issue anyway. I have the same thing here. Bought a bike from the local shop, they flubbed up the deal and the home dealership made it right, or as near to right as they could be then.
I know I'm in the minority around here but, you did mention YOU were not particularly displeased with the OEM mufflers right? So, uh, why change? "Loud pipes saves lives" is after all, just a slogan on a tee shirt. IF there is some performance reason you wish to attain, sure go for it. If YOU are not happy with YOUR mufflers, sure go for it. Doing it because that's what everyone else does has never been a very good reason for anything in my own experience.
I know I'm in the minority around here but, you did mention YOU were not particularly displeased with the OEM mufflers right? So, uh, why change? "Loud pipes saves lives" is after all, just a slogan on a tee shirt. IF there is some performance reason you wish to attain, sure go for it. If YOU are not happy with YOUR mufflers, sure go for it. Doing it because that's what everyone else does has never been a very good reason for anything in my own experience.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 809
From: Ormond Beach, Florida
From what I undersatand:
If my motor needed significant warrentee work, I plan to just put the stock pipes back on before taking it in.
FWIW
- A stage I upgrade of the air ventilator is not required because the 114 comes stock that way. Therefore you don't need to buy the SE tuner unless you go to some other H-D heavy breathers or Stage II.
- For most aftermarket Slipons (like my Rineharts) the bike does not require or benefit from a tune after they are installed.
- If you do buy the SE Tuner, as mentioned in a previous post, this is a DYI no brainer. No need to pay $90/hour tech time. My 107 benefited from a tune after a Stage I Air Ventilator upgrade, but most 114 owners don't bother unless they upgrade To Stage II or higher..
If my motor needed significant warrentee work, I plan to just put the stock pipes back on before taking it in.
FWIW
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 667
Likes: 189
From: U.K.
This is really simple, read the handbook. It makes it very clear what will void your warranty.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 176
Likes: 33
From: Texas Hill Country
First thing to understand is that dealers are independent businesses with a license agreement with the manufacturer. They are not franchises like McDonald's and Burger King. The MoCo may put requirements on them, but they do not have an active role in (dealership) business management. In your scenario, where you're dealing with several satellite dealerships, go to the home dealership for your answer! That's where your answer is ultimately going to come from if there's ever an issue anyway. I have the same thing here. Bought a bike from the local shop, they flubbed up the deal and the home dealership made it right, or as near to right as they could be then.
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