So I sold my King a few weeks back and I walk into my local shop to kick tires. A used 17 Limited and a used 17 RGU both catch my eye as the price is reasonable on both. I’ve heard a bit about oil migration and the sumping issue but I sort of wrote it off as “the unhappy are the most vocal” and it’s got to just be a 1 in 100 thing.

The salesman and I both got on a bike each to head out. The plan was head down the road 5-6 miles, stop and turn around and swap bikes. I started on the RGU and overall was extremely impressed with the bike. We swapped over and started to head back to the shop.

About 1 mile from the shop the limited starts idling really rough at a stop light. I mention it to my sales guy and he can see the engine jumping around erratically in the frame. I take off from the light and catch 2nd gear. Trying to accelerate through 2nd the bike starts to feel as if it’s choking out. I pull into the turn lane at the shop and smoke is POURING from the pipes. My wife was watching from the front porch and came over thinking it was on fire. Needless to say, I didn’t buy the limited.

I ended up making a deal on the RGU, and am going to get financing worked out this week but the sumping has me wondering. Should I pull out of the deal and go to a 2016 103, which is proven and I have experience with?

 

Buy the M8 and get an extended warranty for peace of mind. They are awesome machines.

 

what was the odometer on each? tell them the deal is contingent on seeing the service and repair history documentation..I'd be naturally apprehensive if I didn't know its history but that's not always available I supposed on trade ins..if it checks out it's a better bike than the Rushmore

 

Your concern is spot on after experiencing what you did. Specifically, I’d want to know if there had been any service done inside the cam chest and what was done.

If the service history shows any information relating to an oil pump swap, I’d be very leery and curious as to why; especially if it’s being sold as a bike with no stage kits or a stage 1 only. More understandable if it’s a stage 3 or 4 due to the known sumping tendency of M8 tourers with those kits.

 

These problems are very real, I have the migration issue on a new 2019 SGS. I'm not unhappy, in fact I love the bike and am working through this issue.

 

You road tested a bike and it sumped by the sound of it. What more evidence do you need?

Get the103 twin cam and have real peace of mind, something extended warranty doesn't really do. It just means harley MIGHT agree theres a problem and maybe fix it if they don't wiggle there way out of responsibility. A problem and down time sucks the big one even if its covered under warranty and all you can think of is how much that turd just cost you. After the warranty is up I would be really concerned.

 

5k on the RGU and 16k on the Limited. It would be a good idea to request the service history, unfortunately the bike was wholesale purchased from a dealer 300 miles away so it could be a crapshoot.

 

The limited that sumped was stock and the Road Glide had RCX slip on pipes which worried me that the warranty was voided long ago. The original warranty is already out on both so I’d have to purchase an extended plan.

 

from what I understand the migration issue is easily fixed through the aftermarket. Some have even had luck with Harley’s fix. But Harley has yet to figure the sumping out.

 

You dont want to ask me this question.

This is a good summary of my experience.