It's generally been my approach to have a warranty for at least as long as I have to make payments. With the extended warranty on my M8, I'm going a bit beyond that, but what the heck. My wife and I are past the 'hot rod' stage at this point, so the bike will remain as is until it's sold or traded.

 

It's an effing shame we feel as though we have to do this, it sucks. Guy says to me when I was closing the deal, want to extend the warranty for another 5 years? Five years? Wtf, no! It's brand new..... lol. He said anytime before the 2 year warranty is out, I can come back and extend my warranty. Sweet

 

So... I have been watching this thread from the beginning and have not had any transfer until last weekend. A buddy and I made a quick blast out to Sturgis over the weekend and my trans is now about halfway between ADD and the bottom of the stick. Was just a HAIR over Full mark when I left. 1330 miles with 1/3 60 mph two-lane and 2/3 80 mph Interstate. Bike did not transfer any oil on our trip to the Ozarks in June; that was 2100 miles two-up and loaded heavy with plenty of Interstate. I stopped at Wally World and bought a couple 40 oz. measuring cups tonight. Sigh....

 

Guess I'll be calling the dealership tomorrow to see if my spacer is on backorder also. It's already been in there 2 weeks now. If they have it for 2-1/2 more weeks, I will have made a month's worth of bike payment without being able to even polish the damn chrome, let alone ride the sumbitch!

 

Yeah. I've been savin' for the stage IV also. If this isn't resolved my saved money will go for a new GoldWing with my M8 trade-in.

And yes I am also aware that some Stage III and Stage IV bikes are having other problems (sumping). So I guess that's two issues the factory must fix to keep me loyal.


I've had a hard and fast rule for the last 25 years: no extended warranties. You know how much I've saved in 25 years? Yeah, I don't know either, but it's a bunch of money. Cars, Bikes, TV's, Appliances, etc. So far I've never regretted declining the extended warranty. I'm glad to know I can still buy the extended warranty. This may be the first time I need it!


It seems pretty sure that sooner or later, under the right conditions, you will have "issues" too. Buy the warranty and be vocal about the issue. HD needs to feel your (our) pain.


My bike's paid off. I guess it'll make a great trade in value if this issue isn't corrected. Or possibly if this thread, and other similar threads on the 'net go viral, maybe my M8 will crash in value. I'm somewhat "past the hot rod stage" also, but I'd be happier paying for hot rod parts than paying to fix a factory problem. I can pay for either, but one payment makes me happy, the other payment makes me incredibly angry.

Yeah, I told my "guy" the same thing as I always do, "nope no extended warranty needed. The factory warranty is fine". $hit - in my book a warranty is to fix the small part that may have been over looked or not installed properly at manufacture, not to fix a systemic problem that the factory had better own up to. I never thought I'd be back for an extended warranty, but I will do it this winter if a "cure" isn't found prior.

Geez!

Other than dirt bikes, I've been loyal to HD since about '85. I can remember the 70's when I laughed at the thought of buying HD. Screw that, I want a bike to ride, not to fix. I have my vintage hot rods, and in those days, early British sports cars, for fixing and tinkering.

My M8 is the best, and the worst, bike I've ever owned. I've never owned a bike, car, truck, house, electronics, appliance or even an effing lawn mower, that had such a strange and pervasive problem. I'm not content to "ride it softly" and to "fill the tranny when needed". To a large extend I DO baby this bike. I'm older (55) and don't ride my bikes that hard. But when I want to twist the wick a bit, the damn thing better comply without complaint. I don't think I should have to do a fluid change (transfer) after every spirited ride!!!!!!!!

 

Maybe if the media finds out that Harley-Davidson is having problems with Trannys Transitiong, they'll light a fire under H-D?

 

Sadly, you're not the first guy who has suddenly discovered (and I sincerely hope this is not the case) that they had the problem. One guy found it after 6000 or so miles, as I recall. Makes me wonder how many others that are presently 'problem free' are going to come back with a 'well, whaddya know, I've got it too..'

 

Yeah, normally with my trade I would have been paid off too. Unfortunately (for me) this Trike was significantly more expensive than your run of the mill limited, for example. It has gotten more difficult over the years (I'm 66 now), with my health, for me to safely handle 1200+ pounds when we go riding. So since after talking about it we decided we wanted to keep riding as long as possible, the Trike was the way to go. Had I known about the oil pump / sumping / transfer, etc., like you said, the nameplate on the Trike now in my garage would most likely have been Honda.

 

Guy down the street from me in Michigan is 70. His last bike was a Road King that he traded in with 91000 miles on it. He rode the bike everywhere. What does he own now? Honda goldwing. It looks ok I guess. If my bike gives me any trouble, looking like it is a real possibility, Im not sure what I would buy. I cant ride a honda, great bike, not for me. Yamaha, BMW, or Indian.... pass. I think I might buy a Triumph and ride it as a bar hopper....... Or, I would buy a Used Night Train and bring it right to Fuel Moto and have them tear it down and rebuild everything from the ground up. That would be sweet. Yeah, Night Train.