Ever had any problems?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 8
From: Milwaukee, WI
Ever had any problems?
What problems have you had with your sporty?
The only problem that I had was last summer, I took my bike it for the 5,000 miles check up and got the tail light conversion kit installed. The next day I ride over to the gas station a mile from my house, turn the key and no lights, nothing. Long story short, I made it home about a half hour later after finally getting the bike started multiple times after it died. I checked the battery and of course, ALL of the battery cables were loose. Tightened them up, bike fired right up. Damn HD mechanics.
Lets hear about your issues?
The only problem that I had was last summer, I took my bike it for the 5,000 miles check up and got the tail light conversion kit installed. The next day I ride over to the gas station a mile from my house, turn the key and no lights, nothing. Long story short, I made it home about a half hour later after finally getting the bike started multiple times after it died. I checked the battery and of course, ALL of the battery cables were loose. Tightened them up, bike fired right up. Damn HD mechanics.
Lets hear about your issues?
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 217
Likes: 0
this will not be a popular thread......................
but i'm game..........................
my factory original rockerbox gasket leaked at something like 1,500 miles.
i took the bike in and had them repaired at the dealer under warranty.
fast forward another 1500 miles or ao and they were leaking again.
the blasted dealership closed up and now the next nearest one is 1 hour 20 mins away.....
gotta wait till it warms up some more outside to ride it up there and try the warranty repair again.
i bought new and have owned it for 8 months now with 4000 miles. it has leaked oil for most of that time/mileage.
but i'm game..........................
my factory original rockerbox gasket leaked at something like 1,500 miles.
i took the bike in and had them repaired at the dealer under warranty.
fast forward another 1500 miles or ao and they were leaking again.
the blasted dealership closed up and now the next nearest one is 1 hour 20 mins away.....
gotta wait till it warms up some more outside to ride it up there and try the warranty repair again.
i bought new and have owned it for 8 months now with 4000 miles. it has leaked oil for most of that time/mileage.
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
From: Torrance, So. Cal.
Yep, gasket started leaking at 8,500 miles. That and the dang battery cover that kept coming loose, almost lost that one a couple times. If that is the worst of my issues then I'll take 2 please. Read some real horror stories on here about other members and their woes.
Last edited by harley6six; Mar 4, 2011 at 07:02 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
From: morrisville nc
wow! yea same here at 15k, I talked to my mechanic at HD and he told me that its a command problem with the sportsters.
I asked him if there was a way to prevent it and he said to let the bike warm up before riding it, something about letting the metal heat up and expand before torquing + the gaskets that HD are using sucks.
I asked him if there was a way to prevent it and he said to let the bike warm up before riding it, something about letting the metal heat up and expand before torquing + the gaskets that HD are using sucks.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 886
Likes: 89
battery cover problem for me - other than that, no problems at all.
30k miles and still runs like a champ.
Now that I have said that - I expect it to completely break down this year.
30k miles and still runs like a champ.
Now that I have said that - I expect it to completely break down this year.
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 1
From: manhattan beach
wow! yea same here at 15k, I talked to my mechanic at HD and he told me that its a command problem with the sportsters.
I asked him if there was a way to prevent it and he said to let the bike warm up before riding it, something about letting the metal heat up and expand before torquing + the gaskets that HD are using sucks.
I asked him if there was a way to prevent it and he said to let the bike warm up before riding it, something about letting the metal heat up and expand before torquing + the gaskets that HD are using sucks.
second problem was caused by my mechanic- replaced my horn and didnt do a good wiring job. shorted out when i was on the road - blew the horn fuse (also turn signals, & brake light). easy fix for the dealer that i pulled into.
so for me the only factory issue was the gaskets. not a safety issue and they leak so slowly that its not an issue that really bothers me. easy fix.
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Yes, just last summer, cruzin down the free-way and the bike dies, no fire.
No spark, turned over fine.
Would fire only when the start button was pushed in, and die when I reliced the start button.
Took it to the HD shop, they could not locate the problem, they had the bike for a week.
All of a sudden the gremlin went away and the bike has been starting fine and running great until the rear rocker box developed a leak.
Parked the bike until last month, when I took it in to the dealer for new rockerbox gaskets.
Bike is ready to roll once again, but I will not be its next rider, the next owner will be the next person to ride the bike as I am giving up rideing on a machine I do not have the ability to repair myself.
No spark, turned over fine.
Would fire only when the start button was pushed in, and die when I reliced the start button.
Took it to the HD shop, they could not locate the problem, they had the bike for a week.
All of a sudden the gremlin went away and the bike has been starting fine and running great until the rear rocker box developed a leak.
Parked the bike until last month, when I took it in to the dealer for new rockerbox gaskets.
Bike is ready to roll once again, but I will not be its next rider, the next owner will be the next person to ride the bike as I am giving up rideing on a machine I do not have the ability to repair myself.
