Originally Posted by RinTin

Ok that is what I expected, no response to your accusations. If you'd like to see the 24 oz of oil that came out of my primary when it sumped, I can share that too. Like most that have an issue, I document everything. Both transfer and sumping(twice) in my case. It's why I traded the bike for my 2018 CVO. I only wish all the issues had been fixed. My bad of course for not riding it out longer to see the reports.

Originally Posted by mjwebb

so you got a clunker lemon, it happens..exception not the rule...doesn't mean yzernie needs to be overly concerned at this point..seriously, what advice are you to give him here on a brand new bike that hasn't yet had an opportunity to prove itself? that's what he's asking..what should he be concerned about or do about for this riding season.. answer, nothing at this time other than ride it

Originally Posted by KrustyKush

Well, you bought the best bike, for sure. I got my 18 RGU on St Patrick's Day of 2018 in Santa Fe. I put 500 break-in miles on it, then rode it normal-like to LA and stayed there, bought a house and moved all my other stuff in. Since April of 2018, I've put another 15k miles on the bike, most of it two-up with my lovely wife on back, and some of it loaded to the gills with travel stuff. I ride in all weather conditions, hot cold wet and dry. Last summer me and the wife plowed all over SoCal on the bike in temps as high as 107f. Lots of freeway stop and go, high speed cruising at 85 mph.

I didn't know about the transmission/primary transfer or sumping when I bought the bike. I found out about this a few days later. I do my own maintenance, and so when I get a new bike I go over it with a comb to see what the factory and dealer shop missed. At 50 miles, on Day Two, I found my transmission fluid level AT the bottom line on the dipstick. I always expect to find oil levels at the top mark on a new bike, so this concerned me. I did some Forum reading and learned of the transfer issue. I topped off my trans oil, adding about 4 oz to bring it up to the top line. After I rode the bike to LA I checked the trans oil again, and found it exactly where it was a thousand miles before, right smack at the top line. I kept a close eye on the trans oil level, checking it every couple hundred miles. Around 6k or 7k miles I started to notice some oil loss. A very small amount, and this rate of loss has remained constant until today, with the bike at 16k miles.

My bike's rate of transfer has stayed constant at about an oz of oil every couple thousand miles. To me, this is insignificant. Back in the days of chain drive long-haul bikes, I would spend way more time attending to my chain than I do keeping an eye on my trans oil level and keeping it topped off. I'd rather not have to do even this much work, but it is what it is. If mine was transferring five oz every 500 miles, then I'd be major po'd, and so I understand those whose bikes transfer so much so quick. Based on what we read in this forum, most bikes transferring do so the way mine does. Only a very few transfer huge amounts in short time, and those are truly defective, needing immediate repair. Probably, all of them transfer the way mine does, but most riders don't maintain their own bikes, and are unaware of it happening.

Long and short, my advice to yzernie is to ride the bike the way you like to ride. Check your trans oil every thousand miles just to be careful, chart your rate of transfer (if any) and continue to monitor until HD comes up with a fix.

As for sumping, this is extremely unlikely to happen. My 18 RGU was built in September of 2017, and so it doesn't even have any of the redesigned oil pumps in it. My stock RGU runs great. I pull it to redline pretty much every time I ride it, and am not afraid to do anything with it that I would do with any other bike I've ever owned. I wouldn't dream of riding any of my bikes pegged at redline for any length of time, pretty sure this would destroy most engines or at least greatly shorten life.

Enjoy your RGU. This is the best configuration HD produces.

Originally Posted by yzernie

Thanks for the info. I live at the top of the Cajon Pass, perhaps one of these days when it finally stops raining we'll have to meet!!

Originally Posted by $tonecold

Well to make your life easier, get the Speed-Check Transmission Dipstick (chrome 37103-08 or black 62700192). It makes it so you don't need an Allen wrench to remove the dipstick. Your dealer might tell you it won't work on the M8, but it does. Then if you detect that you have a transfer problem there are remedies. The fat pushrod is probably the easiest to install and it seems to have a good track record. It's just been redesigned to work with the 2019 models. Less than $100. Not much for peace of mind.

Originally Posted by hattitude

I read all these threads, because I want to stay informed of possible fixes to the sumping and oil transfer... But it's harder & harder to do as people take sides and want to argue their perspective, filling these threads with arguing and often name calling....

Here's the part I don't get... why is everyone so polarized about this....????

FACT: The M8 can sump / the majority don't / if it does, there is no proper fix (HD's multiple attempts and band-aides not withstanding) although the last band-aid (oil pump plate with seal) is HD's best band-aide to date.

FACT: The M8 w/hydraulic clutch can transfer oil from trans to primary / HD changing their spec to allow for transfer doesn't change the fact that it IS NOT OK to have oil migrating from the trans to the primary / most will not transfer / if your bike does transfer, there is not a proper fix (from HD anyways). Good to see there is at least one aftermarket fix with good promise.

I don't understand why these two topics can't be discussed, without people getting all PO'd when someone doesn't agree with their perspective on these issues. There are certainly different schools of thought on the percentage of documented cases compared to bikes sold, potential risk of being affected by either, or both, of the issues, and how much you stand to lose (time, effort, money) to get the bike fixed/running to your satisfaction. The MoCo will make damn sure that no one can accurately know these answers. But think about this.... if you buy an HD and have one of, or both of these issues, you're chances of being affected just jumped to 100%.... if you buy one and never develop either issue, your chances dropped to 0%.... You either will or you will not.

Knowledge is power. It allows you to make a decision on how to spend your money. Everybody gets to choose the amount of risk they feel comfortable with.

For my part, I want to add an M8 to my HD collection. I will NOT buy one until I am satisfied that the MoCo has fixed the sumping and trans oil transfer once and for all.

That may never happen to my satisfaction. If not, I'll stick with my twin cam bikes and still enjoy the hell out of riding them. But I won't be angry or condescending towards those who choose to buy an M8. I will also feel compassion for their issues if they become one of those who have one/both of the issues.

The information about these issues, the possible fixes, the MoCo's response to these issues, and how they manifest themselves... should be known to anyone contemplating the purchase (new or used) of an M8 bike. Then they can make an intelligent decision on the risks they are willing to take and money they are willing to spend....

I like to read of people's experiences & people's opinions concerning these issues, but in the end... I will form my own opinion and I won't be upset if someone disagrees with me.....

I just wish we could all discuss the issues and then agree to disagree if need be......

FWIW....