I know not everyone has any expectations from there motorcycle but after spending time reading the forums for a few years I enjoy the posts about our bikes and what could be better, road trips, Harley in general, dealerships (people always amaze me) and after reading a thread about what changes we would make to Harley bikes, got me to thinking about how in general, sometimes we expect a lot from our bikes and Harley.

Why do we have such a high expectation from HD and our bikes? Seems we want the bike to be all it can be and then some. Its everything from a toy to daily transportation, unnecessary expense, to my only way to get around. We seem to want it to be built ONLY in America with all the best parts of course and no tolerance for any issues, parts problems, fitment, etc. The Dealership better fix every problem even if its not evident and it better not cost me more than a few dollars. I do not believe that we expect this out of our cars, computers, and stuff we buy for the most part.

Is it the cost? sentimental value? historical value?

Is there any thing else, materialistically, that we own that we expect this much out of and why do we expect so much?

So boat owners, exotic car owners, plane owners, gun owners, etc..

Just wondering what other item in your life do you put in such high regard?

 

I expect all my **** to work right and be of good quality. If not, I return it.

 

You think it's bad here? Go to any music gear/guitar forum and check out the daily Gibson bashing threads.

 

What him said.

Plus the more I spend on something the more I expect from it. I'm not unrealistic and expect every machine I buy to work perfectly 100% of the time. I do expect the maker to fix it without any hassles if it breaks down while it's under warranty

 

for $20+ thousand dollars, the thing ought to be dependable...regardless of where the parts come from. it should not leave you stranded on the side of the road because the moco saved a few dollars by changing suppliers(example: voltage regulators). when the moco has a problem they should be quick to acknowledge the problem and take care of it.
a modern vehicle should require routine maintenance( change oil and fluids) and normal replacement of tires, etc.. it should not be some kind of big deal when someone racks up a 100k on their bike--cars and pickups go 200k and more all the time.
at $400+ for a "k" service, we should not require any additional expense other than tires, brakes, etc.. bikes are fun to ride...a hobby for most people. the damn thing should run for a long time. if i were to spend $400 for service every 5k on my pickup and cars--they would last an awfully long time.
motorcycles, snow mobiles, boats, jeeps, and many other motorized things are play things. people are willing to spend the cash to keep them on the road--that is their choice.

 

I expect more because I pay more for a Harley than I do for competing, foreign brands. Same as people who buy luxury cars or anything else that's high end. Anything, I pay for better perform and be durable. If not, it goes back.

To buy my Harley and all the other things I have, I had to trade my time doing something I really ain't all that skippy about; work. I can never get that time back. It ain't the bike, its the time I had to spend getting the money to get the bike.

That said, I know there are certain truths about Harleys that just are. We can all deny it but at some point they:

Sound like they have ball bearings in the crank case or pushrods that are an inch too short

Leak SOMETHING

Wallow in corners because of poor suspension

Weigh damn near a half ton

Have certain inherent flaws that you wind up having to fix with better designed after market parts (See "They all do that")

Have the same thing go wrong with a blue million of them only to hear a dealer say one of two things: "We've never seen that before" or the ever popular "They ALL do that".

It's the price you pay for riding a 100 year old design with only a modicum of updates. As long as mine starts, runs, don't make me walk or wreck, I'm pretty much good with it. I was raised on Japanese bikes; I knew a Harley was a one legged horse when I bought in;-)

 

I think people expect more because of the price tag. It sucks when you have to drop another $500 to $1000 on a brand new bike just to get it to run like it should from the factory.

 

I expect that everything works as advertised for a reasonable amount of usage. I expect more from items that carry a premium price tag. If for any reason an item fails to meet those criteria I expect the manufacturer to make it possible to fix it in a reasonable amount of time, at a reasonable cost and with reasonable effort from me.
This applies to everything, motorcycles, cars, boats, T.V.s, computers, guns, ammo and toilet paper.

 

I went through 4 AMF Harleys before purchasing the 2011 Super Glide Custom, and the 2012 Street Glide. You know where that story is going..... Never saw such **** in my life..... All 4 of those AMF bikes broke down on long road trips out in the middle of nowhere..... I always had them maintained per factory recommendations.....

It got so I didn't expect anything from the MOCO, and I gave up Harleys for a time. Went to BMWs and a Ducati..... NEVER any issues of reliability, broken parts, electronics not working, NOTHING ever went wrong with them..... I did the scheduled maint. as specified in the owner's manuals on those bikes also of course. The Beemers and Ducati were good for 1,000 mile days going directly to Estes Park from Chicago, just stopping to tighten the chain on the Ducati once I got to Estes.

I watched HD sort out their quality problems, update their manufacturing processes, upgrade materials, do the recalls, until I felt that had it all under control.

My Super Glide Custom runs like a top, no issues at all, did a 5,000 mile trip out to the mountains with nary a flicker of trouble, and 50 MPG to boot!

My Street Glide also runs strong, it's suspension lets me take corners at least as fast as I can on the BMW R100RS, and that's saying something.

Although the motor on the Street Glide sounds like there are steel ball bearings bouncing around the top end, all the mechanics at three dealers have told me that's normal. My Super Glide Custom doesn't do that, but it's a 96" motor, not 103", so I don't know if that has anything to do with it..... It IS an air-cooled motor after all, it's gotta' make some noise. The BMW Airhead motors do.

I think perhaps now the MOCO pretty much has most of their **** together, and I'm pretty happy with the way the bikes run. I had an issue with the trans on the Street Glide making some clicking noise with the clutch held in in neutral, they completely disassembled the trans, cleaned all the parts, put it back together to perfect factory specs, and it does not make that noise since...... Service Manager handed me the keys, said "I think we took care of it for you Ray, NO CHARGE"

.....Perhaps my faith in the MOCO is restored. ......Planning on another 5,000 mile this summer on the Street Glide, expecting to enjoy it without problems just as I did on the Super Glide Custom.

Ride Safe, all.....

 

I don't expect all my toys to be perfect, but I would prefer them to be perfect!! That being said, first of all ANY dealership, franchise, and multi-bike shops regardless of brand should put the customer FIRST period! If they want to stay in business, then treat the people that are keeping them in business with the respect they deserve! Not all dealerships are like that, but those like that are few and very far between! Yes I could go by a Honda and I wouldn't have much if any trouble out of it! I know because I had a Honda for 11 years and NEVER had to take it in for repair and the dealer was always aware of my name and possible return business! The Harley dealers for some unknown reason are arrogant and non caring when it comes to putting the customer first! I know, not all are like that, but I have read all the posts that I have cared to read and the majority of posts have a reference to the dealership in their backyards being a real pain in the a$$ to deal with before and after the sale! So why do I expect my bike or other toys to be perfect and problem free? Because I paid the asking price and I have always been told by the salesperson about the quality of that thing it is I am buying and the great service after the sale that they are so proud to point out to you as you are leaving in or on your new toy! Come on dealers, you told us about that great service and quality to get us to pay $20K for that bike and we bought into that crap hook, line and sinker! So if I expect my toys or harley to be perfect is because I bought everything including the BS about the bike from the dealer and I believed it! So when I go in to complain or inquire why my Harley isn't doing this or that, I expect that man I paid my life's savings to for my Harley to give me that quality Service and respect that went along with the sale! If it doesn't run according to my standards, then don't shrug me off and walk off,try to listen, understand, fix it, and ask me to come back when I'm ready for another bike! Isn't that what we all expect? I do and I'm proud to say it! Damn right I want my toys to be perfect ( or near perfect)!