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Just purchased my first Harley. 2023 Heritage M8 114. Had 600 miles on it and traded back at the original dealer. Love it. Anything particular I need to be watching out for? No problems yet but want to try and stay ahead of the curve.
Most any issues were worked out with the earlier models. My early 18 model had been flawless. I did install the later version oil pump to get rid of excessive oil carry over into the air cleaner.
Welcome from Hershey, PA. I will mention the negatives mainly, but all that said, you are going LOVE that bike!!
As you begin to read through the MANY forums that are devoted to and mention the 2018+ Heritage, you will see many things. Some riders have issues with wind buffeting. Personally I have never experienced any problems with wind except on my first Honda cruiser that had no windshield. Wind is part of riding. JMHO That said, many experiment with higher or lower or various shaped windshields or fork fangs. Your size, stance, bars all play a factor.
Many Heritage riders have issues with finding neutral. I certainly did with my 19 Heritage. I purchased it with 6k miles and now have about 10k or 11k. The problem has seemed to go away on it's own. Many say it goes away with more miles. That has been the case with me. Some say a properly adjusted heel/toe shifter works well. Some folks suggest using Red Line transmission fluid. Note: I asked about that and my Harley dealer does not carry it.
Many have experienced speedometer fogging. I certainly have. Mine is mainly near the bottom third. It goes away slowly on each ride but takes many many miles. If you stop for a break it seems to come back again. There are tons of suggestions on here but most will suggest a strategically placed very tiny hole underneath the speedo. You have to know EXACTLY where to drill it and you have to be careful. Depending on your situation, you can see your Harley dealer. There are mixed reviews on whether they can actually help you with that or not.
Some say their saddlebags leak. That is one I have not experienced. Mine open and close just fine and I have been in heavy rain with no issues. That said, if you are expecting to see rain, you should obviously pack your important stuff in ziplock bags inside regardless. They do make oversized ziplock bags and sell them at the big home hardware stores if you want to place ALL of your stuff inside just one bag.
This will seem silly but my biggest personal gripe is that Harley does not take their cosmetic parts (grips, footpegs, pedals etc.) seriously. And especially for the Heritage. Except for the Willie G line, there is no one collection that has every part. Same with aftermarket. You will find this but not that. So decide what is important to you, be sure you can locate ALL of your stuff at one time then pull the trigger on all of it at once. eBay has a lot of Harley knock-off parts. You might get lucky there. I cannot speak for the quality of that stuff. Again, never ever purchase anything safety or structure related (engine guards, sissy bars etc.) that is made in China. You do not want to count on any of that to save your life. Note: Many companies are based in the USA and they are very proud of that, but they sell Chinese metal crap. It is usually in the fine print.
Lastly some have issues with the seat comfort. Again, that has mainly to do with your height, weight, inseam etc. Do a few 100-mile trips and you will know. While mine was ok, I did want something more comfortable. But it was very low on the list of mods to have done. That said, a tailbone injury forced that higher on my list. I just had both seats and backrest redone with Mean City Cycles and it is amazing!! I can go 200 miles and not even feel the seat. It's just glorious!! The custom stitching is a nice bonus too!!
But the bike is super comfortable and no one who has ridden this bike will argue with that. It will take you down the road as fast as you need to go. I like something I can easily handle in parking lots, hills and tight spaces. The Heritage is all that. You can add a fairing and hard bags and take it to the next level. Just be careful with the fairing. Some have experienced negative results with handling with some.
Thanks buds65, Nice looking bikes. I've already noticed how difficult it is to find matching "theme" parts for it. Been thinking passenger floorboards and few other items.
I am already looking into seat and handlebar combos as I am only about 5'6 and feel slightly stretched out, especially in tight turning maneuvers. I did aquire an ultimate seat yesterday and installed it. So far I believe I like it well enough to work the handlebars out to it.
New here.
