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General Topics/Tech TipsDiscussion on break in periods, rider comfort, seats and pad suggestions. Tech tips as they become available will be posted here.
This should be free since Harley is only protecting their own butts from their assembly line. That one is negotiable on a new sale? Least should be? Since it's an inspection I would bite the bullet and pay if necessary to have them do it since you are asking. My opinion is if the critical fasteners are not looking lose they are fine and if they are loctite on them you need to be careful when checking not to turn them. Just my two cents. Then I would have a Harley OEM service manual for all the other services. Other then fluid receipts to support the warranty most all the other stuff is silly. Cables move easy? they are fine. Depends on your mechanical experience since just having common sense does not apply. If I were to let my wife carry my Harley in there I bet they would get a $1000 out of her. I do it and it cost me $70 for a major 4 year maintenance. My yearly is $40. I do only drive my less then 10K a year now however.
If you know the difference between a wrench and a hammer, you should be able to do all "maintanence" on your bike. The $60 you spend on the factory manual is the best money you'll spend on your bike...
If you know the difference between a wrench and a hammer, you should be able to do all "maintanence" on your bike. The $60 you spend on the factory manual is the best money you'll spend on your bike...
You can use synthetic on all 3 holes don't go to the dealer when I took mine they filled all the fluids to the max and when I took it to get it fixed they didn't do anything
They will change the oil and filter. Much beyond that they will pencil wip the rest on the check list and say it was done.
It took mine back about two times to adjust the clutch and could never get it right.
Found a Indy and they did it right the first time after I got tired of HD techs saying they did it.
I just got my factory service manual, 6 qts. of Syn3, and the oil filter. Going to take the rocker box covers, primary cover, and cam cover off for powder coat. Figured I would do it all at once.
I had my dealer do the first service and I know they don't do everything they are suppose to do. I asked them to tighten the spokes to specs and they told me they don't do that in the 1K service. I told them that I think they are on my bike...I then showed them my owners manual and showed them it was required. They agreed.
I had to have fork seals replaced under warranty. I got the bike home and noticed they didn't put the fork tubes in to specs. One was like 3/4 of a inch higher then the other.
They don't touch my bike anymore...and they are one of the highest rated dealers around...too many shortcuts for me to place my life in their hands.
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Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.