i am sorry for all the issues u have been having with the last 2 bikes. i hope it all works out for u.

but i have to agree. RUN THE HELL OUT OF IT. i would make damn sure it broke. or take it to another dealer out of ur area. good luck to u.

 

First of all, my heart goes out to you. Secondly, I agree with your feelings. Also, I don't agree with those who posted they would just drive the crap out of it until it breaks. I had a similar knock in my primary balancer and it was the main nut on the end of the crankshaft coming loose. The Moco had already found the problem and had sent out a bulletinwith a replacement nut. If that nut does start to come loose it would cause the squealing primary belt due to belt tolerence changing. From a safety issue you would not like to be cruising at 70 mph and have the rear wheel lock up. It could cause you injury. I agree with you that having spent a hefty 20,000 plus you should get the best support from the dealer.I would go to another dealer that cares.
Good luck. I'm sure you will keep us posted.

Ron


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Let me first say that I'm sorry to hear that you're unhappy, rmsurveyors. Clearly you're an HD fan or you wouldn't have bought 4 bikes like that. Let me also say that my comments are not trying to tell you that you're not feeling/hearing what you say you are. I just want to throw out a couple ideas to see if they have any bearing.

The new '07 Heritage I picked up about 3 weeks ago is the first HD I've owned in 15 years or so. So far I'm pretty happy with it, though I do admit it is one hot motorscooter. Fortunately, I've had a couple really hot bikes right before it, so it's been easier for me to buy the heat issue.

I had an '06 Gold Wing that baked me on a coast to coast 2 years ago. I know, comparing a metric like the GW to a HD is not apples to apples ... but hear me out.

I had gone from a Honda VTX to the Gold Wing, and the VTX had been taken on 2 cross-country trips. It was a whole lot cooler, though they are similar in size ... just not configuration. It was amazing to me how hot that water-cooled GW engine got. It kind of disappointed meso much that I sold the bike when I got back from the 8000 mile trip. Long and short of it is that the heat issue put me off, but after doing some more research I've found that those bikes are just downright hot.

Then Igot an '06 Roadliner, and as nortonI said, that bike puts out some serious heat. The Roadliner also makes a lot of noises very similar to my '07 Heritage. I'd only put about 4000 miles on the Roadliner before I sold it (got a GREAT price, by the way, so it was easier to sell). But the overall heat was almost as bad as my '07 Heritage, and the noise was like some kind of trubo charged sewing machine.

I add this information about the metrics not because I'm trying to compare them to my new HD ... other than on the heat issue. As I said, I think having the GW and the Roadliner have helped me in my expectations on the HD. I think that had I gone from the '03 VTX to the '07 Heritage I would be complaining as loudly as you. That's kind of got me wondering about how you're making comparisons.

Could it be that you're just expecting too much based on your pre-07 rides? I've got several friends who ride HDs, and only 1 of them has an '07 (his is also only about a month old and runs as hot as mine). The '06 and earlier models (88ci) do seem to run much cooler. I had a good chance to compare after a 100_ mile run on Friday afternoon. There were 6 bikes in line (all HDs) and only 2 of them were '07 models. I did a non-scientific comparison by walking by each of the bikes near the exhaust side and holding my head near the heads. Going from my '07 to any of the pre-07s gave me a very distinct difference in temperature.

Forutnately, you've documented your complaints at the dealer (I hope they made a record of your complaint), and that should be good enough for now. So I'd say do like others suggest and just ride the pi$$ out of it until the 1000 mile checkup. If it gets worse or breaks down then you can say, "I told you so."

 

what is all this stuff about heat. what are u guys doin,??? resting ur legs on the heat shields? i mean if ur riding in 90+ temps its gonna feel hot,but damn u guys act like u are all getting micro-waved or something.

i bet u are all wearing shorts while u ride.aren't u.[sm=WTFsgign.gif]
am i missing something????

 

i'm here on other side of world and I have only had my 07 since May so I have only ridden in cool and cold weather. Its gunna warm up here ina few months time and if I am any judge from the few warm days I have ridden, it will be uncomfortable on hot days in heavy traffic ... I just gotta make sure I avoid those heat zones.
grzly

 

There is a definite heat problem with the 96's. HD knows it and doens't have a solution,onlybandaids. The propaganda pull out in the latest issue of Enthusiast confirms it. Their answer is to buy their cheesy heat deflectors, wear long pants, and get their crappy download that makes the bike run on one jug at hot idle and sound like Briggs and Stratton. I think the days of air cooled HD's are very short.

 

The only time I had a serious heat complaint, was when I hope on it to go buy some cigarettes wearing a pair of shorts.
Never again. [sm=nono.gif]

 

Yes, you are.

 

wow i didn't knowthat there were so many issues with the 96ers. i was goin to buy an 07 f/b until i saw this one. i'm not nocking anyone at all,but i'm kinda glad i didn't get it. do the guys that have gone from 88 to 95",96",97" have this same prob? i hope not b/c i'm planning on the axtell 97 kit.

i really hope that the moco does something permanent for all of u but i think xxxflhrci is right. the air cooled is on its way out if they can't fix it.
but hey look on the bright side if they do go to water cooled they will have alot more h/p and poss torq.

 

i might just add that no matter how hot it gets sitting on the bike, itsure beats being in a cage ... so don't confuse me with someone who is complaining too much . if the bike was "perfect" it wouldn't be a Harley, but a boring jap wannabee.
grzly