M8 problems
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Guess we will see how this thread goes. Hopefully we get some real info if there is a problem from someone with no bias. I can say my dealer has wanted my bike in trade for the last year. Its a Breakout with lots of upgrades. I love my Breakout and told him he would get it out of my cold dead hands. But after test riding a Bagger (Milwaukee eight) I am considering it. I am 100% sure there will be problems, but if there are Harley will stand behind their bikes. And I have a really good dealer to work with.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,649
Likes: 430
From: MASS_hole
If I buy a new bike with the M8 motor, it will be the RK.
And I will be buying it used.
Must have a complete in house service record and a warranty.
But I won’t be trading my bullet proof 14 slim
And I will be buying it used.
Must have a complete in house service record and a warranty.
But I won’t be trading my bullet proof 14 slim
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 107
Likes: 13
From: New England
Personally, I would not own a M8 unless it was under warranty, and I'd dump it as soon as the warranty was done.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 631
Likes: 279
From: Arkansas
I think you will find most M8's are trouble free. While I am not denying there are some issues, forums tend to blow them out of proportion in comparison to the number of bikes sold. Constantly worrying about what might happen will take the joy out of your ride, just ride and enjoy. I was in the "worry" camp but decided to bail out. I traded my '17 for a '18. I have had no issues with either one. This '18 is so quiet and smooth, I don't anticipate any issues, but if I do, that is what the warranty is for. Ride safe
Last edited by Timberwolf2017; Feb 4, 2018 at 08:04 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 29
Likes: 5
From: Corbin, Kentucky
Oil pressure sensor went out on mine. I kept smelling oil on group rides and people behind me said my bike was smelling but couldn't find an oil leak, I guess it was seeping at the time. It finally blew out and left a trail of oil for a couple miles before I noticed it. When I stopped it was just dumping oil under the bike.
I had the bike in my dealer for a week before this complaining of check oil pressure showing and they had it a week and couldn't figure anything out. I stopped by after a few days of dropping it off to check on it and the service rep said that is something I would have to drop the bike off for. Yeah my bike had been there four days and they didn't even know it. So on the following Saturday, 8 days later, I stopped by and picked the bike up and nothing had been done nor fixed. I'm not a highly trained Harley tech but first thing I would have done is put an oil pressure gauge on the bike and checked the oil pressure, if that checks out, then we know we got a bad sensor or a glitch somewhere. It's not rocket science people.
They sent a trailer to pick me up though when it did finally break and a week later I stopped by and it was setting outside, finished, no call, no wash.
Some of these dealers need a fire lit under their ***, they are too complacent and lazy.
I had the bike in my dealer for a week before this complaining of check oil pressure showing and they had it a week and couldn't figure anything out. I stopped by after a few days of dropping it off to check on it and the service rep said that is something I would have to drop the bike off for. Yeah my bike had been there four days and they didn't even know it. So on the following Saturday, 8 days later, I stopped by and picked the bike up and nothing had been done nor fixed. I'm not a highly trained Harley tech but first thing I would have done is put an oil pressure gauge on the bike and checked the oil pressure, if that checks out, then we know we got a bad sensor or a glitch somewhere. It's not rocket science people.
They sent a trailer to pick me up though when it did finally break and a week later I stopped by and it was setting outside, finished, no call, no wash.
Some of these dealers need a fire lit under their ***, they are too complacent and lazy.
Last edited by MadManMitch; Feb 4, 2018 at 03:40 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,791
Likes: 690
From: Smalltown,USA
Oil pressure sensor went out on mine. I kept smelling oil on group rides and people behind me said my bike was smelling but couldn't find an oil leak, I guess it was seeping at the time. It finally blew out and left a trail of oil for a couple miles before I noticed it. When I stopped it was just dumping oil under the bike.
I had the bike in my dealer for a week before this complaining of check oil pressure showing and they had it a week and couldn't figure anything out. I stopped by after a few days of dropping it off to check on it and the service rep said that is something I would have to drop the bike off for. Yeah my bike had been there four days and they didn't even know it. So on the following Saturday, 8 days later, I stopped by and picked the bike up and nothing had been done nor fixed. I'm not a highly trained Harley tech but first thing I would have done is put an oil pressure gauge on the bike and checked the oil pressure, if that checks out, then we know we got a bad sensor or a glitch somewhere. It's not rocket science people.
They sent a trailer to pick me up though when it did finally break and a week later I stopped by and it was setting outside, finished, no call, no wash.
Some of these dealers need a fire lit under their ***, they are too complacent and lazy.
I had the bike in my dealer for a week before this complaining of check oil pressure showing and they had it a week and couldn't figure anything out. I stopped by after a few days of dropping it off to check on it and the service rep said that is something I would have to drop the bike off for. Yeah my bike had been there four days and they didn't even know it. So on the following Saturday, 8 days later, I stopped by and picked the bike up and nothing had been done nor fixed. I'm not a highly trained Harley tech but first thing I would have done is put an oil pressure gauge on the bike and checked the oil pressure, if that checks out, then we know we got a bad sensor or a glitch somewhere. It's not rocket science people.
They sent a trailer to pick me up though when it did finally break and a week later I stopped by and it was setting outside, finished, no call, no wash.
Some of these dealers need a fire lit under their ***, they are too complacent and lazy.
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Road Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 783
Likes: 66
From: Sacramento
Limp home mode, won't take throttle when tripped
After taking delivery of my 18 Softail Heritage Anniversary 114, I had 25 trouble free miles. Then, all of a sudden while accelerating, it was like I released the throttle to idle (I didn't), the check engine light was on and it was running at a high idle (1500 rpm). Fasted speed I could get to was 25 mph. The bike's been at the dealer a couple of days and the factory tech will be at the dealer tomorrow. Hopefully they find the problem. They've already replaced the throttle body, changed out pin connectors and repaired one broken wire.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 2,285
Likes: 965
From: Eastern NC
Exact thing happened to me on my 17 SGS. Grabbed some throttle after dropping a gear and nothing. I had 150 miles on it at the time,Coasted off to the side of the road as I thought the bike just quit. It was still running but in limp mode. Same as you, my fix was to reseat the plug down by the air filter. It's a feed back loop to the throttle position so the bike just "got lost" until the plug was pushed in all the way.