Not sure if anyone else has had problems with the backlight on their Softail Slim but I'm about to take my Slim back for a 6th time for service for this reoccurring problem.

First off, let me start by saying that I'm a new Harley owner and grew up in the home of Harley Davidson, Milwaukee Wisconsin. I completely believed that Harley Davidson was the best motorcycle company on the planet. Now I'm not so sure. Before you hate me for that statement, listen to my story.

When I bought my brand new bike in late 2012 I finally felt like I had achieved a certain level of accomplishment. This was my first bike ever and it was a Harley, the best bike on the planet. Since then I have experienced numerous problems with the backlight on the speedo, it keeps going out. This has affected my ability to ride safely at night. After the dealership replaced the speedo 4 times and replaced the BCM once, the problem still persists. Now I will be bringing my bike to the dealership for the 6th time for the same problem. I contacted Harley customer care to try to get even a $25 gas card to compensate me for my gas used to go back and forth for a problem that still can't seem to get fixed. I felt that it wasn't an unreasonable request considering that I wasted my time as well but wasn't asking for compensation for that, only the gas lost. Their response was "no", they don't compensate for lost gas or down time even though their failed product was causing me to waste my gas and time to deal with the problem.

Is it unfair of me to request some sort of compensation for my gas at the least? Or is it unfair of me to start to lose faith in the company that I grew up seeing on a regular basis and completely believed in? Or is it unfair of me to pursue legal action when I even stated to the customer care department that all I was asking from Harley Davidson was compensation for my gas to make me a satisfied customer? I sure hope that I'm not being unfair even in the face of a flawed product.

Somebody please reply with some sound advice that will keep my faith in a company that is losing it fast!!

 

It is annoying, but it’s part of the HD experience. I suggest you research and learn how to fix it yourself. Running to a ****ing lawyer is never the answer to anything. If you are expecting a machine that is refined and perfectly perfect all the time, you might want to get into another hobby perhaps..

 

I feel your pain. I thought I had the same problem on my 2014 Slim. Took it to the dealership this morning and had it checked out, only to find out, my speedo has a sensor for the backlight that turns it off in the daytime.

 

Bought my slim September of 2012 and never any problems at all. My Speedo back light comes on when ambient light gets low enough and cuts off when its bright enough. Almost 12,000 miles to date. I would try to figure out and repair it myself. Sounds like you may not have the best dealer support.

 

..regardless, running to an attorney over a speedo sounds like overkill...

geezus, what kinda noise are you going to make if you ever get audited?

 

Has anyone looked into bypassing the sensor and just wire it direct with an off-on switch for the back light ?
After the 3rd visit I would have looked into fixing it myself out of frustration.

 

Absolutely get an attorney. That $5000 retainer could net you that $25 gas card, of which that joker will take $10.

 

What dealer have you been going to? There are plenty of dealers in the area to talk to about the issue you are having.

 

Welcome to the crew. Good folks and info here. If this is all that is wrong with the bike, your all set...LOL. Work with them to get it fixed...as you have been...not really much of a danger to you...I rarely look at mine, just pace myself with traffic and watch ahead...
Ride safe.