Pure speculation on my part but I’ll bet it has more to do with how the bike is ridden than anything else.

 

I've heard that bit about 5K revs and I admit to not being there often, but I rode 3200 miles from NH to Oklahoma the long way and for long periods ran at 90mph and above. 5K revs for any time at all is winding this puppy out. Never see the need. Just me, I guess.

 

I think your speculation is dead on. Per Steve Cole in another thread:


If you want to make your 2017 M8 transfer fluid, its easy to do it. Check and set levels before the test so you know where your at. Run engine in the 4000 - 5500 RPM range while riding for 5 minutes of operation. You can do this in any gear you like but 2nd is just fine and your not pushing way to much vehicle speed in 2nd. You can do it on the dyno too if you have one, just place a small load on the bike < 5% is fine. Recheck fluid after testing and the transmission will be low. If left to itself and you operate at these RPM levels for longer periods of time it will transfer all but about 4 oz out of the transmission. I have done it in 2 - 4th gears and it makes no difference. It is completely RPM driven.

 

So then--what is being said is that every M8 will do this and it is then a design flaw?
If this is the case, I will do the test and get it on record at the dealer just in case the problem gets worse down the road and begins to happen at lesser RPMs.

 

Ha! I just called the dealer and they are now openly admitting the problem and willing to get my bike on record if I can show cause.
A month or so ago, they denied knowing anything about the issue.
That is progress. Basically, he said they are waiting for a recall.

 

I'm not sure that RPM is the only factor.

My bike transfers at the rate of about 2-3 ounces per 1,000 miles and I can't discern any difference in the transfer rate based on how I ride. I spend plenty of time in the 4,000 to rev limiter range when riding through canyons and the transfer appears no worse than when I'm cruising at 2,700 to 3,500 down the highway.

I've only got 4,000+ miles on the bike so I'll be learning more regarding transfer over time, but my observations to this point don't really point to riding conditions.

For those that cruise around at lower RPMs, say less than 2,500 or so, I can't make any comment. I never, or very rarely, run that slow.

I'm not discounting the findings of others, I'm just sharing my experience so far.

 

Just curious, what good is a recall if they don't know what's causing it and therefore how to fix it?

 

Yup...that was the conversation. No fix yet, just attempts.

 

After my bike had the "kit" installed by the HD engineer, my bike continued to have the migration issue. My dealership received an email and forwarded it to me form the engineer, it said that Harley thinks it happens when people operate the bike under 2500 RPM or lug the motor. So who's correct here, or should we just operate the motor between 2500 and 4000 RPM? This theory that the people who ride aggressively are somehow bringing this upon ourselves is purely laughable. If a major motorcycle company can't build a motorcycle that can operate over 4000 RPM or under 2500 RPM, maybe they should include that in their marketing campaigns.

 

I respect Steve Cole’s opinion BUT I disagree on this issue. I almost NEVER ride my bike above 4K for any length of time...maybe the occasional on ramp, but that’s about it.

What I do though, is compete in the cones on this bike. I’m constantly in the friction zone, clutch in and out all the time. Rarely leaves first gear while at an event. In 400 miles I moved 8 ounces over to the primary.

So while it may be rpm driven, I don’t doubt it, I think it’s also “clutch use” driven.