My new bike buzz killed
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,960
Likes: 26
From: Sonoma County, CA
OP: regardless of the outcome, it sucks to drop your bike (old or new). Sorry about your luck and hopefully it will all get straightened out. Let us know what the dealer says.
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 66
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From: wilsonville, or
It started doing this on the third day . It wouldnt stay in neutral and I couldnt find neutral at all even when I test rode it. HD stated it was because it was so new. When they prepped it they adjusted the clutch because the sales rep couldnt find neutral when he tried to roll it into service.
Last edited by r3c0il; Dec 4, 2013 at 10:43 AM.
Thread Starter
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 66
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From: wilsonville, or
I really wasn't trying to complain, my hope was I would get some good advice on how harley would handle this.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32,851
Likes: 17,888
From: Newcastle, OK
Thanks guys; I just learned something, and I`ve been riding for many years. I will develop the habit of holding the front brake and reaching over with my left hand to press the starter button. I don`t want to learn the hard way.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 32,851
Likes: 17,888
From: Newcastle, OK
It started doing this on the third day . It wouldnt stay in neutral and I couldnt find neutral at all even when I test rode it. HD stated it was because it was so new. When they prepped it they adjusted the clutch because the sales rep couldnt find neutral when he tried to roll it into service.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 398
Likes: 4
From: Lumberton, TX
A car pulled in front of me during the first week of my then brand new Sportster too, also did some damage. $hit happens, it's just you & the bike still getting to know each other. Think of it as a blessing - it's no longer just 'a' new bike, it's 'your' new bike with some scars & a story to tell already.
Neutral is kinda of tricky if it was in gear and has rolled back or forward a little. I move it forward or back again, whichever the case is, then it will slip into neutral fine.
Good luck whatever it is.
Yeah! How dare you open your internet browser, navigate to the most comprehensive Harley user forum, and ask questions about your bike! The nerve!
I hope you get it worked out OP. Let us know what happens. Lessons are sometimes painful, but at least you weren't injured.
I hope you get it worked out OP. Let us know what happens. Lessons are sometimes painful, but at least you weren't injured.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 848
Likes: 8
From:
Finding neutral on a new Harley is always a challenge at first. They all have their own personalities and they need to break in AND.. you need to find the "sweet spot". One way to find it easier is to replace the gear oil in your transmission with Red Line with Shockproof. Also... switching out to a quality primary chain tensioner will also help finding neutral.
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Finding neutral on a new Harley is always a challenge at first. They all have their own personalities and they need to break in AND.. you need to find the "sweet spot". One way to find it easier is to replace the gear oil in your transmission with Red Line with Shockproof. Also... switching out to a quality primary chain tensioner will also help finding neutral.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 152
Likes: 0
From: Chicago, IL
For those just joining the now 5 page thread here is what I have learned, or just reinforced what I already do, with these facts....
-Common sense is not that common anymore. When I bought my new to me used 06' I would be hard pressed to start a bike with a motor that rotates in a back and forth motion in my frame without....
1. My *** in the seat with the bike stable
2. My hand firmly on the clutch
3. Ignition first, check and find neutral, then after all is a go hit starter button and expect the bike to start doing something.
Now I also always leave my bike in gear and push back until I feel it catch regardless if I was on level ground or the side of a pyramid. Why the hell wouldn't you? So you can say that when the bike moves and the stand flips up, regardless of how, it is someone else's fault? So that adds the another step of always finding neutral every time I start the bike...oh well.
Moral of story this OP had a tough start, I feel for him, I also think he has learned a thing or two and will not do the same thing again. However, should the dealer pay for it? If the clutch will not disengage because it was NOT adjusted properly yes, they gave him the bike that way. All I would add is if the bike was not disengaging the clutch because of this it would be unable to be ridden and should have been at the shop after being towed.
JTR
-Common sense is not that common anymore. When I bought my new to me used 06' I would be hard pressed to start a bike with a motor that rotates in a back and forth motion in my frame without....
1. My *** in the seat with the bike stable
2. My hand firmly on the clutch
3. Ignition first, check and find neutral, then after all is a go hit starter button and expect the bike to start doing something.
Now I also always leave my bike in gear and push back until I feel it catch regardless if I was on level ground or the side of a pyramid. Why the hell wouldn't you? So you can say that when the bike moves and the stand flips up, regardless of how, it is someone else's fault? So that adds the another step of always finding neutral every time I start the bike...oh well.
Moral of story this OP had a tough start, I feel for him, I also think he has learned a thing or two and will not do the same thing again. However, should the dealer pay for it? If the clutch will not disengage because it was NOT adjusted properly yes, they gave him the bike that way. All I would add is if the bike was not disengaging the clutch because of this it would be unable to be ridden and should have been at the shop after being towed.
JTR
Last edited by 03geetee; Dec 4, 2013 at 02:10 PM.