M8 problems
Opened a case today with the dealer. Service manager filled oil level to the "full hot" using the by the book method. Will now ride it a thousand miles.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 147
Likes: 23
From: Covington, La.
I have been following this thread for about a month now. I had a 1991 EVO FLHTC and now a 2000 FLHTC that I bought with 16,000 miles on the clock. I went looking last month at the new baggers and they do look impressive. The write ups in all the magazines are very positive and so was I until I came across this thread. I figured at my age this would probably be the last new bike I would buy to last me all my driving years, (many I hope).
After reading almost all of the postings on the M8 I'll just stay with my TCM88 and its published problems. With the amount of money Harley wants for the new bikes and the troubles I see people having it is just not worth the risk and heartache. The worse part about what I read is how the Motor Company will not stand behind their product and the hoops owners have to go through to have their problems corrected, if they ever are. So when I want my Harley experience I will just ride my old TCM88 and look to Japan for my final long term life rider. It may not have the vibes of the Harley but at least the new Gold Wing does have reliability and a three year unlimited mileage warranty which I understand rarely has to be used, unlike the new M8's. So sad, and with the financial woes the company has been experiencing I don't see them stepping up to the plate to own the problems that are out there and fix them like they should be fixed.
After reading almost all of the postings on the M8 I'll just stay with my TCM88 and its published problems. With the amount of money Harley wants for the new bikes and the troubles I see people having it is just not worth the risk and heartache. The worse part about what I read is how the Motor Company will not stand behind their product and the hoops owners have to go through to have their problems corrected, if they ever are. So when I want my Harley experience I will just ride my old TCM88 and look to Japan for my final long term life rider. It may not have the vibes of the Harley but at least the new Gold Wing does have reliability and a three year unlimited mileage warranty which I understand rarely has to be used, unlike the new M8's. So sad, and with the financial woes the company has been experiencing I don't see them stepping up to the plate to own the problems that are out there and fix them like they should be fixed.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 283
From: California, Md now Savannah, Ga
I have been following this thread for about a month now. I had a 1991 EVO FLHTC and now a 2000 FLHTC that I bought with 16,000 miles on the clock. I went looking last month at the new baggers and they do look impressive. The write ups in all the magazines are very positive and so was I until I came across this thread. I figured at my age this would probably be the last new bike I would buy to last me all my driving years, (many I hope).
After reading almost all of the postings on the M8 I'll just stay with my TCM88 and its published problems. With the amount of money Harley wants for the new bikes and the troubles I see people having it is just not worth the risk and heartache. The worse part about what I read is how the Motor Company will not stand behind their product and the hoops owners have to go through to have their problems corrected, if they ever are. So when I want my Harley experience I will just ride my old TCM88 and look to Japan for my final long term life rider. It may not have the vibes of the Harley but at least the new Gold Wing does have reliability and a three year unlimited mileage warranty which I understand rarely has to be used, unlike the new M8's. So sad, and with the financial woes the company has been experiencing I don't see them stepping up to the plate to own the problems that are out there and fix them like they should be fixed.
After reading almost all of the postings on the M8 I'll just stay with my TCM88 and its published problems. With the amount of money Harley wants for the new bikes and the troubles I see people having it is just not worth the risk and heartache. The worse part about what I read is how the Motor Company will not stand behind their product and the hoops owners have to go through to have their problems corrected, if they ever are. So when I want my Harley experience I will just ride my old TCM88 and look to Japan for my final long term life rider. It may not have the vibes of the Harley but at least the new Gold Wing does have reliability and a three year unlimited mileage warranty which I understand rarely has to be used, unlike the new M8's. So sad, and with the financial woes the company has been experiencing I don't see them stepping up to the plate to own the problems that are out there and fix them like they should be fixed.
You're right, there certainly are some problems with some of the new bikes and H-D seems to not have a handle on a fix for either the sumping or the fluid transfer issues. However, there do seem to be many owners who are having very enjoyable M8 experiences, including myself. At 70, I decided to give up my trouble free 2014 Rushmore for a new 18 which could very well be my last bike. I figured if it was going to be my last bike that I WAS going to buy what I wanted to buy and deal with whatever may come up.
As far as Harley's financial woes I'm not sure if going from net income of $692 million in 2016 to $522 million in 2017 qualifies as "financial woes" but once again I guess that depends on a doom and gloom outlook.
As far as having a wonderful trouble free Gold Wing experience, according to some (on this forum so info could be biased) there are long term issues that Honda is still working on to solve.
Good luck with your outlook.
Last edited by Xcrossbow; Apr 10, 2018 at 01:34 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 7,707
Likes: 13,985
From: Northern New Jersey
I have been following this thread for about a month now. I had a 1991 EVO FLHTC and now a 2000 FLHTC that I bought with 16,000 miles on the clock. I went looking last month at the new baggers and they do look impressive. The write ups in all the magazines are very positive and so was I until I came across this thread. I figured at my age this would probably be the last new bike I would buy to last me all my driving years, (many I hope).
After reading almost all of the postings on the M8 I'll just stay with my TCM88 and its published problems. With the amount of money Harley wants for the new bikes and the troubles I see people having it is just not worth the risk and heartache. The worse part about what I read is how the Motor Company will not stand behind their product and the hoops owners have to go through to have their problems corrected, if they ever are. So when I want my Harley experience I will just ride my old TCM88 and look to Japan for my final long term life rider. It may not have the vibes of the Harley but at least the new Gold Wing does have reliability and a three year unlimited mileage warranty which I understand rarely has to be used, unlike the new M8's. So sad, and with the financial woes the company has been experiencing I don't see them stepping up to the plate to own the problems that are out there and fix them like they should be fixed.
After reading almost all of the postings on the M8 I'll just stay with my TCM88 and its published problems. With the amount of money Harley wants for the new bikes and the troubles I see people having it is just not worth the risk and heartache. The worse part about what I read is how the Motor Company will not stand behind their product and the hoops owners have to go through to have their problems corrected, if they ever are. So when I want my Harley experience I will just ride my old TCM88 and look to Japan for my final long term life rider. It may not have the vibes of the Harley but at least the new Gold Wing does have reliability and a three year unlimited mileage warranty which I understand rarely has to be used, unlike the new M8's. So sad, and with the financial woes the company has been experiencing I don't see them stepping up to the plate to own the problems that are out there and fix them like they should be fixed.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 5,749
Likes: 1,603
From: High Point, NC.
I have been following this thread for about a month now. I had a 1991 EVO FLHTC and now a 2000 FLHTC that I bought with 16,000 miles on the clock. I went looking last month at the new baggers and they do look impressive. The write ups in all the magazines are very positive and so was I until I came across this thread. I figured at my age this would probably be the last new bike I would buy to last me all my driving years, (many I hope).
After reading almost all of the postings on the M8 I'll just stay with my TCM88 and its published problems. With the amount of money Harley wants for the new bikes and the troubles I see people having it is just not worth the risk and heartache. The worse part about what I read is how the Motor Company will not stand behind their product and the hoops owners have to go through to have their problems corrected, if they ever are. So when I want my Harley experience I will just ride my old TCM88 and look to Japan for my final long term life rider. It may not have the vibes of the Harley but at least the new Gold Wing does have reliability and a three year unlimited mileage warranty which I understand rarely has to be used, unlike the new M8's. So sad, and with the financial woes the company has been experiencing I don't see them stepping up to the plate to own the problems that are out there and fix them like they should be fixed.
After reading almost all of the postings on the M8 I'll just stay with my TCM88 and its published problems. With the amount of money Harley wants for the new bikes and the troubles I see people having it is just not worth the risk and heartache. The worse part about what I read is how the Motor Company will not stand behind their product and the hoops owners have to go through to have their problems corrected, if they ever are. So when I want my Harley experience I will just ride my old TCM88 and look to Japan for my final long term life rider. It may not have the vibes of the Harley but at least the new Gold Wing does have reliability and a three year unlimited mileage warranty which I understand rarely has to be used, unlike the new M8's. So sad, and with the financial woes the company has been experiencing I don't see them stepping up to the plate to own the problems that are out there and fix them like they should be fixed.
Dont let this site scare you. lol Yes there are some issues, but all in all its a great bike.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 55
Likes: 10
From: Colorado
I have been following this thread for about a month now. I had a 1991 EVO FLHTC and now a 2000 FLHTC that I bought with 16,000 miles on the clock. I went looking last month at the new baggers and they do look impressive. The write ups in all the magazines are very positive and so was I until I came across this thread. I figured at my age this would probably be the last new bike I would buy to last me all my driving years, (many I hope).
After reading almost all of the postings on the M8 I'll just stay with my TCM88 and its published problems. With the amount of money Harley wants for the new bikes and the troubles I see people having it is just not worth the risk and heartache. The worse part about what I read is how the Motor Company will not stand behind their product and the hoops owners have to go through to have their problems corrected, if they ever are. So when I want my Harley experience I will just ride my old TCM88 and look to Japan for my final long term life rider. It may not have the vibes of the Harley but at least the new Gold Wing does have reliability and a three year unlimited mileage warranty which I understand rarely has to be used, unlike the new M8's. So sad, and with the financial woes the company has been experiencing I don't see them stepping up to the plate to own the problems that are out there and fix them like they should be fixed.
After reading almost all of the postings on the M8 I'll just stay with my TCM88 and its published problems. With the amount of money Harley wants for the new bikes and the troubles I see people having it is just not worth the risk and heartache. The worse part about what I read is how the Motor Company will not stand behind their product and the hoops owners have to go through to have their problems corrected, if they ever are. So when I want my Harley experience I will just ride my old TCM88 and look to Japan for my final long term life rider. It may not have the vibes of the Harley but at least the new Gold Wing does have reliability and a three year unlimited mileage warranty which I understand rarely has to be used, unlike the new M8's. So sad, and with the financial woes the company has been experiencing I don't see them stepping up to the plate to own the problems that are out there and fix them like they should be fixed.
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 147
Likes: 23
From: Covington, La.
Bpeer1, thanks for the encouragement. That is what some of my riding buddies have told me. Only one has the new engine the rest have TC88's and one who has been a life long Harley rider has finally made the switch and he is 72! He bought one of the new Gold Wing Tour DCT's and loves it. The first month he put 4,000 miles on it with 3 long trip road trips to Texas and Florida Keys. Not one hiccup and made for the long days in the saddle. I am still putting off the demo ride because I don't want to make the plunge....they are expensive, about the same as the Ultras. 
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,674
Likes: 11,462
From: State of Confusion
Bpeer1, thanks for the encouragement. That is what some of my riding buddies have told me. Only one has the new engine the rest have TC88's and one who has been a life long Harley rider has finally made the switch and he is 72! He bought one of the new Gold Wing Tour DCT's and loves it. The first month he put 4,000 miles on it with 3 long trip road trips to Texas and Florida Keys. Not one hiccup and made for the long days in the saddle. I am still putting off the demo ride because I don't want to make the plunge....they are expensive, about the same as the Ultras.