cheap junk from Harley
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
From: Near Tacoma
cheap junk from Harley
About 2k miles ago I bought some HD leather saddlebags and the turn signal relocation kit, all went well till yesterday I was looking at my bike at work and the left rear turn signal was dangling by the wire. I wound up wrapping electrical tape around it to keep it in place till I got home. What happened was the threaded end of the cross piece that goes behind the license plate snapped off, this piece is about a 1/4 in tube, then turned down and threaded for the turn signal wire to go through. looking at the piece it was super thin pot metal that was supposed to carry the weight of the turn signal, subject to vibration and road shocks. I remember thinking it looked pretty cheesey when I got it. I took the bags off and put the stock turn signals back on because I like them in traffic. I guess if I take a trip I'll put the bags back on and not have turn signals in back. I'm not paying $75. for another kit.
This stuff pisses me off
[:@]
This stuff pisses me off
[:@]
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,334
Likes: 2
RE: cheap junk from Harley
I have noticed the quality of Harley parts going downhill and it pisses me off also. So much that I don't buy any harley accessories anymore. I go with the aftermarket that not only has higher quality parts, but much better prices.
Banned
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 14,496
Likes: 156
From:
RE: cheap junk from Harley
It will eventually turn around and bite them in the ars too just like the over MSRP prices did. You can't charge gold prices for silver
Did you take it back to the dealer? They may have had a bad run of them and are aware of it? Just a thought.
Did you take it back to the dealer? They may have had a bad run of them and are aware of it? Just a thought.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Dullsville, USA
RE: cheap junk from Harley
I've found the quality of the parts to be pretty good. Some of the chrome on the engine components seem to be better quality than many of the foreign aftermarket parts. I guess it's luck of the draw on some items.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
RE: cheap junk from Harley
I had a similar problem with the turn signal relocation kit on my 05 Fatboy last year. I over tightened the lock nut for the turn signal & crushed the same tube the wire goes through. I brought the dam thing back to the dealer and told him the crap quality it was, and he replaced it for me. This is the kind of garbage you get. What can you expect, it is all made in Taiwan with 50cent/hr labour.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,981
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA (live in Manteca, CA)
RE: cheap junk from Harley
Take it back to them.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,513
Likes: 4
From: Midland, TX
RE: cheap junk from Harley
The only problem I've had with Harley accessories is with their grips. I had the end pop out of one set and the chrome wear off pretty quickly. On the replacement set the chrome wore off again so I threw them away and bought Kuraykyn Iso's.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,529
Likes: 8
From:
RE: cheap junk from Harley
Sounds like user error to me? If you over tighten and they still replace it, that sounds like a stand up company to me. When I bought my bags and the signal relocation kit within the 1st 60 days of buying the bike, Harley gave me a 2 year warranty.
ORIGINAL: tracymason
I had a similar problem with the turn signal relocation kit on my 05 Fatboy last year. I over tightened the lock nut for the turn signal & crushed the same tube the wire goes through. I brought the dam thing back to the dealer and told him the crap quality it was, and he replaced it for me. This is the kind of garbage you get. What can you expect, it is all made in Taiwan with 50cent/hr labour.
I had a similar problem with the turn signal relocation kit on my 05 Fatboy last year. I over tightened the lock nut for the turn signal & crushed the same tube the wire goes through. I brought the dam thing back to the dealer and told him the crap quality it was, and he replaced it for me. This is the kind of garbage you get. What can you expect, it is all made in Taiwan with 50cent/hr labour.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,783
Likes: 0
From: Tasmania, Australia
RE: cheap junk from Harley
Haven't had a problem with the parts themselves but I have noticed the chrome quality is slipping. They look ok new but don't last as long as they used to without rust starting to come through. Same goes for some of the standard HD parts. I heard this has something to do with EPA as well, they cannot use the chemicals they used in the past for chroming as it is polluting the environment. Has anyone heard if this is true or just another rumour?