Avoid Wildfire Harley in Villa Park Illinois at all cost. I was interested in a bike they had and contacted them on line. I had several discussions with Frankie and ended up putting a deposit down. I tried to get additional photos of the bike, and explained that I was looking for a real clean example of the bike and would not be pleased about traveling several states to see one that did not measure up. Of course I couldn't connect with him at that point. So, I arrived at the dealer after a long ride. I went to see the bike which was stored in a room off their service area as "the bike has not made it to the floor yet". I did notice that oil dripping from the front area by the filter they had not cleaned off since the change. He said that they all go thru a 250 inspection process before being offered for sale. That's good because I was concerned about a ten year old low mileage bike having old tires on it. After looking at the bike we went to negotiate things, and I should have collected my deposit and left, but I figured I was this deep in it maybe it would work out. They tried the every tactic in the book to run down my perfect '13 Heritage. I know what you are thinking, but if you knew me you'd know how picky I am. Anyway many delays as no one seemed to know what they were doing, many hours later I was on my way through three tornadoes on my way home. Imagine when I saw the primary leaking oil on the floor. Turns out one of the bolts right next to the drain plug was quite loose, luckily it didn't fall out. I torqued that to proper spec and it never leaked again. I also saw the dents in the rear fender which were not visible in the dark storage area. Anyway, I called the sales manager with a laundry list of issues I had with a bike that had been through their 250 point inspection. Things like the throttle sticking, and seat improperly installed so that it may easily come off, and the ten year old tires that were still on the bike. He sent a driver for the bike with a truck as I lived 250 miles from the dealer. I thought by his words that I would be taken care of no problem. I even included the laundry list in writing so they could get it right. Two weeks and many phone calls later I finally got my bike back. As you can imagine they did not fix many of the issues, installed whitewall tires which I did not want. The finance area had screwed the paperwork up since they didn't know how to do the tax since I was out of state and overcharged me $400. The filled out the Harley survey for me in the showroom and gave themselves tens for all of this. I then received a survey from Harley which I rated them fairly on their poor performance. I also stated that I wanted no further contact with that dealer. Then the sales manager began his campaign of calling me to harass me after the survey. I then called the General Manager to complain about this as well as the finance office failing to do the correct paperwork for the plate transfer which cost me extra money. He said that he would get to the bottom of it and reimburse me the difference. We did get to the bottom of it and he sent me a T-shirt instead. As if I wanted to advertise for these guys. I felt like I needed a shower after I got out of there. To top it all off, at the end of the season I was unable to remove the oil filter from the engine because one of their "service experts" had put it on with a wrench. Gotta wonder if that was intentional. As you can imagine they were no help when I called. Again, Wildfire HD in Villa Park Illinois. I wouldn't go there for air in my tire.

 

I don’t think I can overstate the horrible experience I had at Powder Keg. After getting a rough deal in place with the Internet sales manager, the finance guy slipped the freight charges back into the deal on the final paperwork. Before I could even call them on that “mistake” he hit me with the 10% finance charge even though I qualified for the Tier 1 rate.

When I asked about the rate, he said that the dealer had to buy the lower rate and because I was getting such a good deal on the bike, I would have to take the higher rate. When I said no, he said he could put me in touch with his credit union and they would give me 4.69%.... I just had to pay the $435 origination fee.

At that, I decided to bail. As I was walking out the door he asked me to wait a minute so he could talk to the GM. He came back and said that she told him to check with HD to see if I could pay the dealer more on the bike to get the 3.99% rate from HD. Well, lo and behold the finance guy came back and said, “I misread the HD promo rate info and you do qualify for the 3.99% rate.”

I still hauled butt out of there and picked up a bike from a different dealer, one that didn’t try to screw me out of thousands of dollars.

If you do have to deal with them, be careful and double check all of your paperwork. Who knows what kind of crap they will try to pull on you.

 

Powder Key is close to the most annoying dealership I've been to. I bought a bike from them once, it was my first Harley and I paid big time. I have since bought 3 other bikes from other dealers in the area. It's a shame. It's a nice store and its located between my work and where I live but the constant pushy sales is totally beyond worth going in. I almost always buy something at an H-D dealer from bikes to parts to t-shirts so jeesh just back off and let a guy browse at his own pace. I have to blame the management 100% on this. Whether I am looking at the bikes, looking through parts, or browsing apparel, it doesn't matter, someone is in my ear about what I'm riding now, what's on sale, reminders that their service department can install that for you, yada, yada, yada. For Christ sakes enough already!

 

Coronado Beach H-D in San Diego/National City. It recently changed hands and used to be Sweetwater H-D.

The reason I liked going there was because it used to be a relatively chill place. It wasn't perfect. I had some annoying experiences with service before but shrugged it off and have chalked it up to just one of those things you learn to deal with sometimes.

The annoying part about the service department was they would not keep their word and follow-up on things. For example, my bike had an ignition recall and they needed to order a part and said it would be in in a couple of days. I gave them a week then called...only to find out that they forgot to order the part. Technically it was a lie but whatever... This happened a few different times and I have always had to make a point to call and manage them. They're nice people but not too organized. At the end of the day there are bigger issues in life than this but it is annoying to have to manage grown men.

The thing that has broken the horses back and made me decide to stop doing business with them has to do with not being able to get pricing information so that I could buy a bike from them. I got preapproved for a loan through hdf AND my credit union. I made the mistake of taking a used fxdls (3500 miles) and a new rgs for a test ride without getting pricing first. I was gobsmacked when I got back and wanted to talk price on the fxdls. They wanted 20K pre-OTD for the thing and 11% apr. Needless to say I told them I wouldn't pay that for a used dyna that, when new was 17.5K, and left them with a number per month that I would be willing to accept. We shook hands and we called it a day with no hard feelings. I actually like the sales manager and have known him for going on 4 years. He's a good dude and has never pressured me into buying.

The next day I asked for a quote from his sales guy on a 18 street bob with a stage 4. At first he ssid he would get me a quote and then about an hour later insisted that I come into the dealership and they woukd take good care of me. Then he priceeded to send me text messages with pictures of bikes that I literally said I hate along with monthly payment estimates that are way outside the budget that I shared. I have already run the numbers on a msrp for a street bob and it's well within my budget.

Lastly, a coworker of mine that I steered towards Sweetwater HD recently dropped his bike and had to have some parts replaced. First they had to replace his gas tank. When he finally got it back the paint was mismatched. They said they had sent it to harley for a respray and he said that that it looked like it had come off a used bike. He didn't accept it and so they had his bike for another month. When he got it back the chrome cover that protects the swing arm bolt was gone. I actually pointed that out to him at work. He inspected the bike closer at home and noticed that 2 bolts were missing from the cam chest and then found a few of the other ones weren't torqued to spec.

Between the lack of attention to detail and the shitty customer service (i.e. unwillingness to provide quotes) I won't buy from these folks again. As a matter of fact, I probably won't buy another Harley again. The closing of the KC plant, the opening of one in Thailand, the give away of 2018 bikes to rich ******** during the unveiling, and the CEO who gets paid almost 12M a year, while profit is at 8.5M, tells me that something has rotted at H-D. Oh, and AMF paint is stupid ugly....lol

R.I.P. H-D

 

Wildcat Harley Davidson
London, Kentucky


Traded in a 2012 Sportster on a 2016 Road King. The Sportster had a $1000 stereo system on it that I told salesman ahead of time that I wanted it back. It took me 1 month to get the stereo back, come to find out one of the mechanics had cut the connectors off the wires and had it wired to a battery by his toolbox listening to it.


Had backrest installed on my 2016 Road King. After riding to a friends house I seen a blob of grease on the part of the seat my daughter was sitting on and it was about the size of a quarter. No idea how grease got on my seat just installing a backrest.


Purchased 2016 Road King got a $50 gift card, purchased 2017 Ultra Limited and got nothing.


Dropped bike off because of oil pressure light coming on, dropped bike off on a Saturday. I stop by on Wednesday to check on it. I walk up to the service rep and ask what they figured out on my bike. He said that is something I will have to drop my bike off for. My bike has been there five days and this bozo didn't even know it. I stop back by on Friday and see the mechanic that is working on my bike. I ask him what was wrong with it. He says he needs to spend more time with the bike to get it to duplicate the problem. I said well did you check my oil pressure. He said no. I said I'm no highly trained Harley Mechanic but if I had a bike that has the oil pressure light coming on I would check the pressure and if it's good then we know we have a glitch or a bad sensor. I told the service manager I wanted to just take my bike since it was good riding weather for the weekend and would bring it back. I ride to Lexington following my wife and daughter and the oil pressure sensor blows out and all my oil drained out of the bike while I was riding it. I didn't notice until I stopped and pulled in a parking garage. I had a trail of oil all the way from the road to where I parked. I check the oil and it wasn't even on the dipstick. It could have caused me to wreck on the interstate.


Last and most recent experience.....I installed new tires on my 2017 Ultra Limited along with new rear brake pads. ABS light comes on, I take it to the dealer for service and they tell me I screwed up the lines and the ABS sensor. I didn't mess with any lines on the caliper, two bolts to remove it, set it aside on a rag so it didn't scuff my bike, reinstalled wheel and set caliper back on the rotor and put the two bolts back in. Now two weeks prior they wanted to sell me two tires for $760 so I guess they got mad because they thought I took it somewhere else.


I get a call from the dealer telling me that whoever installed my tires ruined my rotor, caliper and brake line and speed sensor line. I told the guy that called there was no way I installed them myself. When I dropped my bike off at the dealer it wasn't like that. I removed my bags myself before delivering it for service, I would have noticed that besides it just wasn't true. So I said I will be by in a few minutes to pick it up and take it somewhere else to have it fixed.


The Service manager Richard was waiting outside on me. He took me to my bike and was being very rude and aggressive towards me. When I told him that I didn't want to fight him because he was jerking his shoulders acting like he was wanting to get physical with me he said when you say my guy doesn't know what he's talking about I got a problem with that.


I will never step foot back in this dealership and I suggest anyone wanting a good experience to go somewhere else. The manager is very arrogant ***** that has no people skills whatsoever and the Service Manager is a wannabe thug that obviously cares more about his unprofessional mechanics than a customer that spent 60k in five months on two new bikes. One of their sales managers came from Big Lots and the Service Manager came from Wal Mart if that tells you anything about the skill of these "Harley" professionals. The riders know more about these bikes than the people selling and servicing them.


This whole experience has ruined Harley for me. I will sell my bike and never own another one if this is how these people treat their customers.

 

Orlando, FL HD off I-4...will tell you whatever they have to to get you in there.

It was March, 2017

I called about trading my 15 FLHTP police unit with 2K miles in on a new 16 Base Ultra in vivid black they had left over then and hadn't sold. I sent Vin #, pictures, etc...it's basically a still new 2K mile one owner (me) police unit...I offered him 19,995 on that year and a half old new ultra and he says he can get there, he offers me $13000 on my used police because of the low miles and condition which is about all I could expect for a used police unit even a nice one (which they retailed used in there for $16995 at the time) so we're about 7000 difference. Not a steal but I want a new ultra. He says come on in we'll make it work I wont lose a deal over price (yada yada all the same **** you always hear)

I ride over 100 miles in there (the last 40 on bumper to bumper I-4) get in there (with my clear title and $7000 cash) and NOW he's saying my bike and $12000...$5500-$6000 MORE than what he quoted me! Not only did he raise the price on HIS to $22500 he LOWERED the trade in price on mine to $10500! Says he "made a mistake" on his 2016 he can't sell that cheap, and mine goes thru the manheim auction for $10500 all day long.

Yes, maybe a beat up rode hard put away wet scratched up patrol bike with 20000 hard cop miles on it does, but mine was a 2K mi bike that had never been within 100 yards of a cop, and had never seen police service and without even a scratch, which was why (I reminded him) he offered me $13000 on it

When I told him this he said "sorry we have to use manheim auction price for trade on police units"...why didnt he tell me this before I rode 100 miles to get there?

Then he tries to put me on a new 2017 Road Glide, I said "I dont WANT a Road Glide I came for that leftover 2016 Ultra you told me you'd do 20K on". So I'm out a days time, **** traffic, and get a bait and switch deal.

These clowns are bait and switch artists all the way and are NOT bikers. Don't waste your time. STAY AWAY

PS NEVER allow any HD dealer to service your bike (aka change oil tighten a few bolts)
Do it yourself if at all possible or sooner or later you'll end up like the poster above. Some of those so called mechanics cant handle even doing THAT...I just dont trust em...any of em

 

...another reason to not call or email a dealer, looks like. I wonder how many folks in yer position woulda just gone ahead after getting buck fever for that new bike.

 

I think that's what those clowns were counting on, and you're right I think some people actually DO go ahead and trade...but not this old boy.

Yeah at the time I was hot and heavy for the ultra because my ridin buddy had just gotten one and I was in the "keep up with the jones'" mood

I've since gotten a nice trunk for the police unit and installed new Rush slip ons, and am over my "gotta have an ultra" phase.

The Ultra's not worth the extra $10,000.00 for a trunk, a few led lights, and a radio....not to me anyway...mine is below (day of delivery and what it looks like now)





But in my mind any dealer is only as good as his word. Yeah we may have been a LITTLE apart and I would've lived with it, but not THIS much.

So I guess don't count on anything said over the phone. Go in there and see for yourself. If you ride one out of there after all the games and fees they're gonna tack on you must have wanted it a hell of a lot worse than me.

Or, save yourself some trouble and go to Lakeland HD (where I bought my FLHTP) and get a FAIR deal from THEM

 

Horny Toad Harley Davidson Temple Texas

Had items on counter waiting for anybody to cash me out. Stood there about 10 minutes and nobody said a word. I started to walk out and someone said "I can help you". I said no thanks and kept walking.
Had about $275 dollars worth of stuff on the counter and just left it there. Never again.

 

For lack of something better to do, I just read for about an hour the comments on these sad excuses for "dealers". It is really pitiful when we pay the kind of prices for these bikes, parts and accessories after the sales and we are treated like excrement. I was just talking with the parts guy at my local dealer and he shows me a list of independents that his manager said he is not supposed to sell to! I guess they don't want the competition, but competition is good when it puts these kinds of dealers out of business. It is a shame. I remember the days when you could go into any town from small to megatropolis and find a mom and pop dealer that was about bikes and not what HD has now become. The guy who sold you the bikes, parts and wrenched on them was usually the same guy and he was the owner. By the early 90's the MOCO sold their soul to the devil and now you might as well be going to an automobile dealership because the customer service and familiarity with the product is about as lacking as what you find at your local auto dealer.
For example, I was getting the fever a few months back, went to the dealer to look around and asked about the demo rides, since they had been sending emails advertising them. I ask one of the salesmen which ones can I demo. He replied, "the one you are going to buy". I told him I wasn't sure and that was the purpose of a demo ride, to get a feel for different bikes. He then said go to Eagle Motorcycle Rentals and rent one and see how they ride. This was a guy who couldn't even answer basic questions about the bikes. I think Harley will be seeing a precipitous drop in sales in the next few years, for a number of reasons and how the dealerships treat people is definitely one.