So I've had a PAS since a few weeks and it's great when it works. I was very careful during the beak in period(s). I ordered the tank bag, radiator protector, muffler protector, and chose Hepco & Becker instead of the standard Harley aluminum hard cases because I didn't like the gap on the right side. The accessories are in the package deal, so I have to wait for the first service to have it all installed.
I found the looks kind of grew on me after a while. The power is insane, but I could only ride it 100 miles between the end of the break in period and when my troubles started. I really like the electronics like hill assistance, rider modes, etc. I didn't take a new exhaust as the stock one sounds sounds fine as it is and I found the Harley one overpriced, but aftermarket models either ugly or WAY too expensive. I do have to use only approved exhausts or I'll get a huge ticket and there are places in Italy I can't go if above 95dBa. I suppose I will break down one day and get one, but after buying the bike, I would like my bank account to recover a bit first, LOL. I do plan on riding offroad, so that time will probably be one day after a drop that scratches the muffler. I purchased Gerbing Premium Heated Jacket Liner and LOVE having the heated gear port, especially as I can wear thinner (cooler looking!) jackets and just moderate the temperature with the controll. Even when riding in near freezing temperatures, I never put it above 2 (out of 5). Strangely, I found the heated grips just fine and hot, because I know a lot of other people complained about it. The bike is so stable when driving slow and yet when moving it just gobbles up the switchbacks. I happen to live on the steepest Swiss mountain pass which has sections of 25% (one four feet/meters forwards, one foot/meter up) where you have to make 180 degree turns in less than 15 ft./5m and it handled like a dream. I was worried about my leg length, since I'm only 5'9/175cm but I find the bike so stable at low speed that you really don't have to put your feet down that often. I ride the reach seat in the high position which is about the same height as the standard seat in the low position without the gap and slightly less back to front tilt. That said, I do practice low-speed maneuvers obsessively on all bikes - I rarely ride on the highway, but it's even easier to ride slow than a Sportster for people experienced with those. I use the Calimoto app on my phone mostly to find interesting twisty rides which, by the way, is WAY better than even the Adventure mode of the Zumo XT, but doesn't do dirt.

I had trouble with the battery right off the bat, like, it couldn't start when leaving the dealership, but the initial problems went away after a maybe 20 mile ride - I presume that the battery was low after being demoed in the shop and having all the features explained to me, so I didn't worry about it much. After that it was great, even though I never use a tender on any of my Harleys, but I did ride it every day. My other Harleys get ridden once a week except in snow, then it usually does go on a tender.

Sadly, about a bit more than 100 miles (maybe 200 km of twisty Swiss mountain roads, ridden hard) after the break in period, I started getting codes and almost immediately it went to limp mode. Limp mode comes every time after restarting. I didn't write down the codes, but it was something to do with camshaft (crankshaft?) position sensor. I called my shop, who said to drop by the nearest shop to give it a quick check and clear the codes (they wouldn't clear from the dash). As soon as gave it gas on the mountain pass that happens to lie between work and home, the codes came again and again limp mode. As soon as I could I brought it into my home dealership who kept it overnight and suspected a wiring issue. Sadly, they have to order the wiring harness, so 1/3 of my entire ownership experience, it's sat at the dealer.

General questions:
- Has someone else needed a new wiring harness? How long did it take? Was that the final solution or do you still have issues?
- Is it enough just to spray the chain down every day during long multi-day tours, or do I really have to do the full clean that often? (I didn't find in the user guide - HOW often?)
- How is everyone powering a GPS? I bought a Zumo XT, and Touratech mount but haven't mounted it yet since the bike is in the shop. My first thought was just to splice into the headlight, honestly, which I'm competent to do, but now that I'm having electrical problems, better hold off on so nobody can blame me.
- I didn't buy the auxilliary lighting, and find the headlight very dark. Is that normal, or is there a fix for that? I will certainly adjust them a bit higher. I can't help but wonder if the ARH sets the back down during factory/regulatory adjustment so that when the bike raises again, it's pointing too low.
- How many days have you tested it sitting without needing a tender, and starting just fine?
- Has anyone jumped it off a battery pack yet? I know that some disassembly is required to get at the battery - or is it?

 

Congratulations on the bike. Once you get your issues sorted, you will love it. It will be perfect for the Swiss passes - I am jealous.

On your questions....

- Has someone else needed a new wiring harness? How long did it take? Was that the final solution or do you still have issues?
A friend of mine had a similar problem - they didn't replace the harness, but they did find a pinning issue on one connector. Sorry, but I don't remember which one. That fixed it.

- Is it enough just to spray the chain down every day during long multi-day tours, or do I really have to do the full clean that often? (I didn't find in the user guide - HOW often?)
Yes. Manual recommends every 500 miles. Personally, before going on a tour I would clean, lube and adjust the chain. Then maybe spray with additional lube every 2nd day. Give it another proper clean when I got back home. After about the first 1-2K miles, my chain has not needed adjusting at all and the bike is now at 7k miles.

- How is everyone powering a GPS? I bought a Zumo XT, and Touratech mount but haven't mounted it yet since the bike is in the shop. My first thought was just to splice into the headlight, honestly, which I'm competent to do, but now that I'm having electrical problems, better hold off on so nobody can blame me.
I have the same Garmin/Touratech setup. I ran the wiring for the XT down from behind the TFT directly to the battery and hid the "black box" and the spare wire in the left hand side lower fairing "pod". It's basically invisible. It is permanently live, and will help drain the battery if left on the bike for many days, but it's a matter of 2 seconds to remove the Garmin, which I what I normally do.

- I didn't buy the auxilliary lighting, and find the headlight very dark. Is that normal, or is there a fix for that? I will certainly adjust them a bit higher. I can't help but wonder if the ARH sets the back down during factory/regulatory adjustment so that when the bike raises again, it's pointing too low.
Many reports of headlights coming set too low from the factory. It's only 5 minutes to aim it up a little.

- How many days have you tested it sitting without needing a tender, and starting just fine?
About ten days. See Garmin remark above.

- Has anyone jumped it off a battery pack yet? I know that some disassembly is required to get at the battery - or is it?
Yes - see Garmin remark above. And you need to take the bash plate off to get to the battery. Easy with the centre stand, but annoying. Add a Noco 007 permanent battery harness to the battery next time you have the bash plate off and if you ever need to jump it again it will be a matter of seconds.

 

Congratulation on your new ride.

 

Long screwdriver to the red terminal, clip black to the bottom engine mount of skid plate and red to your screwdriver and jump. Done it a couple times, once at the dealer when we were updating the software and drained my battery lol

I'm going to do what adm did and buy an adapter cable for my HALO, just makes it easier to jump by yourself.

 

I had the crankshaft position sensor issue but it caused my Sportster S to just die altogether when I was riding it and it wouldn’t restart. My dealer said the position sensor plug just fell out because it wasn’t plugged in properly. They found the plug hanging underneath, plugged it in and I have not had a problem since.

I will forgive Harley for unforeseen issues on a new model but basic build quality and assembling a bike properly should be a given for a company with their length of experience. Every issue I have had was completely avoidable and quickly fixed by my dealer.

 

Wow! Thanks for the answers. You, sir are LEGEND! I couldn’t have hoped for more.

 

We have jumped a Pan America Special with the Harley P&A skid plate with a jump box, red clamp to positive battery terminal, a tight fit and ground to a bolt.

I go a couple weeks not being on a tender.

I wanted my Zumo XT power switched, so mine is wired to the Heated gear plug.

I had to aim my headlight up a little, low from factory.

 

Update! After only four days working in a full month (six weeks now) of ownership, I looked up my rights in Switzerland and wrote a letter to start the proper legal wrangling to get a full refund, then parked the bike at the dealer and handed the service guy the keys. Compromise: Harley is replacing my bike! Same color and options.

It's left a really bad taste in my mouth, but she's being replaced in the next day or two.

RIP, oh how I loved you, but you didn't treat me right.

 

Sounds like your getting the best possible resolution.

As for powering the GPS, I am in the process of building an adapter cable to insert between the headlight connectors. Once it is built and tested I will tap into it for switched power.

 

In the end, I had my dealer install it, although I was looking forward to doing it myself. The justification being that I already had electrical problems and I did t want anyone to blame me and have any wiggle room if it comes down to a warranty/buy back issue.

they did use switched power though I don’t know where they took it from.