Spent over 7k on a Stage IV kit installation in my 2018 RGS, just got around 500 miles since its installation. I have been having hesitation issues off the line and lugging until it gets going. I had my local dealer do the install so my warranty would remain intact since it's a brand new unit. I also put a D&D 2 into 1 exhaust on this unit. Well I took it back to the dealership thinking perhaps it was an minor adjustment that may be needed to get the correct tuning. In a nutshell the service writer told me I would just have to deal with it because the tuner is the issue and if I put the proper tuner in the bike and something happened to the motor Harley Davidson wouldn't warranty the motor. My blood immediately began to boil, but before I went over the edge I was thinking I'd ask if perhaps anyone else has had this issue. Would Harley really sell a kit that wouldnt operate properly and then tell me it will cost more money to put in a new tuner and the new tuner will void your warranty. I am floored that when they were selling me the kit and the higher upgrades, I wasn't informed of this and now that I'm already $7000 deep into this build I'm told I have to accept the fact my bike isn't going to run properly or spend more money in order to avoid my warranty if something does go wrong.

I can tell you I want to go in there full on militant style and raise some hell, but that will surely not end well for anyone or get my problem resolved satisfactorily. Any advice or experiences that I can draw some knowledge from would be greatly appreciated

 

 

 

if the dealer installed the exhaust on an at the time EPA compliant bike, they subject themselves to serious beaucoup $$$$ in fines and other punishments by the factory..blows my mind how many dealerships I read about here that are still living in the past and ignoring the rules, and pleading ignorant/uniformed is not acceptable. But ultimately the onus on understanding and choosing to break the rules about taking OEM out of compliance resides on the Motorcycle owner, most everyone here either already or should know that. It's simple, know the rules, don't rely on dealerships, and choose to play by them or not at your own risk. It's all explained in the Owners manual.

Notice:
D&D Performance Exhaust Systems are designed for closed course racing applications.
Not for use on pollution controlled vehicles.

 

they installed the D&D as part of the build

 

So it sounds like you went to a dealer, that wasn't very experienced with the build in question, and they let you get slightly astray.

The way I see it, you have a couple ways to fix the issue of the bike running poorly. Hopefully they gave you your stock parts back, and you can put the stock head pipe back on, and put the slip on mufflers of your choice on with the factory head pipe. Or you can choose to forfeit your factory warranty and use an aftermarket tuner to resolve the issue and run what you already have.

I know it sucks, that you have what you thought you wanted, and it runs like ****. It sucks that there is a dealership that assembled that setup without knowing it wasn't going to work. So you can fight with them to make it right one way or another, or you can take all your paperwork and the bike somewhere else and have them rectify it, and document the issues, and then take them to small claims court for reparations.

 

Couple of things- You must use HD approved components to maintain warranty, (items registered on the SWR) no matter what the dealer says- HD makes that decision, not the dealer.
SE legal kits have an EPA/CARB approved cal with the SE tuner. Change the recipe, change the cake. SE does not offer a cal for a D&D exhaust.

Side note: You spent $7000?
What else did you get? Most expensive stage kit is $2700, D&D is $1100,tuner is $300, so $4100 in parts @ retail, and labor should have been $1000-$1200 on the install/tune.

 

 

Returning it to stock will not restore the warranty. It is gone forever once you put the non-approved muffler on. Unless the dealer lies about it and deceives HD.

 

It will most likely make it operate in a reasonable manner. That's what the OP is about.