calling all 2007 Fatboy owners..
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,620
Likes: 117
From: ARIZONA
calling all 2007 Fatboy owners..
Hi guys. I was wondering if I could get a roll call of all the 07 Fatboy owners that are here. I am trying to get my front end fixed and corrected like the 09 fatboys are. So far I got one attempt in and its still leaned over to the right.
my bike was among the first produced with a build date of 07/06 and I have the Fatboy version with the front wheel sitting all funny. The issue was corrected with the 09 (possibly 08 or LATE 07) model year and so far after many calls to H-d in Milwaukee, Im getting the feeling they want me to pound salt.... but of course make my monthly payment....
If there is any way the 07 owners could post up a pic of your front wheel and forks and your build date Id really be thankful.
Why am I making this an issue with H-D now? Im paying alot of money for my Fatboy that I ride daily and my front tire scrubs off to one side. I finally get my *** in an HD dealer to peek at the new Harley's and I discover whatever issue/ reason H-d engineered a bandaid into my year model was corrected!
Hope you can help me! Ride safe.
my bike was among the first produced with a build date of 07/06 and I have the Fatboy version with the front wheel sitting all funny. The issue was corrected with the 09 (possibly 08 or LATE 07) model year and so far after many calls to H-d in Milwaukee, Im getting the feeling they want me to pound salt.... but of course make my monthly payment....
If there is any way the 07 owners could post up a pic of your front wheel and forks and your build date Id really be thankful.
Why am I making this an issue with H-D now? Im paying alot of money for my Fatboy that I ride daily and my front tire scrubs off to one side. I finally get my *** in an HD dealer to peek at the new Harley's and I discover whatever issue/ reason H-d engineered a bandaid into my year model was corrected!
Hope you can help me! Ride safe.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 327
Likes: 0
From: Weatherford TX
Not sure I understand your problem.
When I got mine the bars were not aligned properly. I had to loosen the mount bolts on the base of the riser and get them as close as I could.
When I kick back and let go of the bars mine pulls left 90% of the time.
What do ya think is different between our bikes?
When I got mine the bars were not aligned properly. I had to loosen the mount bolts on the base of the riser and get them as close as I could.
When I kick back and let go of the bars mine pulls left 90% of the time.
What do ya think is different between our bikes?
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,620
Likes: 117
From: ARIZONA
I give you much credit there dugan! Yes my bike does track straight but I do notice I find myself and the bike leaning ever so slightly off to the right. Were this a $5K entry level bike Id have no bitch; only an expectation to move to a bigger and better engineered bike.
My personal opinion about this is that someone dropped the ball design the 2nd generation Fatboy and HD made the choice to let the owners who bought the bike take it in the shorts! That doesnt sit well with me at all! Im a tech at a SoCal Lexus dealer and I can tell you that Lexus has bought back cars simply because a customer complained enough times about a noise they didnt agree with!
Lexus and H-D are both premium product brands, and so far H-D hasnt stepped up tto the plate to address this. Doesnt even seem like its an issue to them, but issue enough to fix it in later years of the same bike!
After putting 16,000 miles on this bike and on my 3rd front tire, both tires that were replaced only wore on the right side and this wear was REALLY obvious.
learfxr, your 2009 has the updated chassis. Yes, the entire FRAME and engine design was redone to fix this issue. You have a beautiful bike, and im sure will have many trouble free miles with her!
Unfortunately I am putting miles on this bike and my tire wear experiences are not leaving me with a satisfied feeling. At least not for how much they will make off this bike once Im done paying for it.
My personal opinion about this is that someone dropped the ball design the 2nd generation Fatboy and HD made the choice to let the owners who bought the bike take it in the shorts! That doesnt sit well with me at all! Im a tech at a SoCal Lexus dealer and I can tell you that Lexus has bought back cars simply because a customer complained enough times about a noise they didnt agree with!
Lexus and H-D are both premium product brands, and so far H-D hasnt stepped up tto the plate to address this. Doesnt even seem like its an issue to them, but issue enough to fix it in later years of the same bike!
After putting 16,000 miles on this bike and on my 3rd front tire, both tires that were replaced only wore on the right side and this wear was REALLY obvious.
learfxr, your 2009 has the updated chassis. Yes, the entire FRAME and engine design was redone to fix this issue. You have a beautiful bike, and im sure will have many trouble free miles with her!
Unfortunately I am putting miles on this bike and my tire wear experiences are not leaving me with a satisfied feeling. At least not for how much they will make off this bike once Im done paying for it.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
my 07 tracks straight after the front bearing was replaced. The offset is a feature and a collectors item. The 08 forks will resolve the offset. or the 06 screaming eagle front. I only notice when I lean into a turn it tracks different.
Last edited by tk353; Mar 2, 2010 at 11:13 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 13
From: Maryland
ebeattie, yes HD definitely screwed up on the design of the early model 07's. Then they had a recall that took us back to the dealer only to have the cowbells replaced. That IMO is HD's way of fixing the problem and keeping us off their backs. Would I like to see HD correct the situation to my satisfaction....of course.....will they....of course not!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
I filed complaint with the nhtsa and asked they make a recall. if enough people write it may happen as the head of DOT is a bike rider.
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints/
also search the complaints
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/complaints/
also search the complaints
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 812
Likes: 0
From: Alta Loma, CA
I have not had any problems with my 07 Fat Boy. It rides perfectly straight and has no abnormal tire wear to either side. I would for sure be willing to sign a complaint form about it to get this strange issue fixed. The 07 Fatboy is the only model that has the wierd wheel offset.
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Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,620
Likes: 117
From: ARIZONA
tk353, I did file a complaint with the nhtsa. No response just yet, but I have been in contact with a law firm regarding any rights I may have regarding the issue. I hope it doesnt come to it but like I said, no one form H-D has called me back.
So another trip to the dealer, making a point about my offset fender, leaned over tire.....
I get to call H-D to bitch about it. AGAIN.
For the record, in my opinion, this is NOT a collectors piece. Collector bikes would be like a bike getting shipped with a Screamin Eagle motor, or a bike that only had the color made for that year then discontinued. A scrubbed front tire and messed up looking front fender IMO hardly qualifies as collectible.
So another trip to the dealer, making a point about my offset fender, leaned over tire.....
I get to call H-D to bitch about it. AGAIN.
For the record, in my opinion, this is NOT a collectors piece. Collector bikes would be like a bike getting shipped with a Screamin Eagle motor, or a bike that only had the color made for that year then discontinued. A scrubbed front tire and messed up looking front fender IMO hardly qualifies as collectible.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
tk353, I did file a complaint with the nhtsa. No response just yet, but I have been in contact with a law firm regarding any rights I may have regarding the issue. I hope it doesnt come to it but like I said, no one form H-D has called me back.
So another trip to the dealer, making a point about my offset fender, leaned over tire.....
I get to call H-D to bitch about it. AGAIN.
For the record, in my opinion, this is NOT a collectors piece. Collector bikes would be like a bike getting shipped with a Screamin Eagle motor, or a bike that only had the color made for that year then discontinued. A scrubbed front tire and messed up looking front fender IMO hardly qualifies as collectible.
So another trip to the dealer, making a point about my offset fender, leaned over tire.....
I get to call H-D to bitch about it. AGAIN.
For the record, in my opinion, this is NOT a collectors piece. Collector bikes would be like a bike getting shipped with a Screamin Eagle motor, or a bike that only had the color made for that year then discontinued. A scrubbed front tire and messed up looking front fender IMO hardly qualifies as collectible.
if i ever change the front forks to black or chrome i will get a 08 set and fix the issue. I saw only 8 complaints about this with the feds. i think it will take much more and be listed as a safety hazard.