Possible lemon...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,172
Likes: 377
From: Georgia
It's not a lemon, it's a 15 year old bike with an unknown maintaince history both before and after you bought it. We don't know how, or even if, you throughly checked it out before you bought it.
You've had it for 6 months. Unless you have an extended service plan of some sort the dealer is just going to laugh at you if you try complaining now.
Since we don't know your comfort level, experience or ability to make repairs it seems you have two choices. First, learn to maintain and repair it yourself. An FSM will be essential along with YouTube and a decent set of tools. This will be, by far, the most economical way to go and will give you the knowledge, experience and confidence if something fails on the road.
Your second option would be to find a reliable, compitent dealer or a good indy for the repairs and a good towing service to get it there.
I suspose there is a third option of selling that bike and getting a much newer one that has a service plan. While that will probably get you a relitively more reliable bike it will likely be much more expensive.
You've had it for 6 months. Unless you have an extended service plan of some sort the dealer is just going to laugh at you if you try complaining now.
Since we don't know your comfort level, experience or ability to make repairs it seems you have two choices. First, learn to maintain and repair it yourself. An FSM will be essential along with YouTube and a decent set of tools. This will be, by far, the most economical way to go and will give you the knowledge, experience and confidence if something fails on the road.
Your second option would be to find a reliable, compitent dealer or a good indy for the repairs and a good towing service to get it there.
I suspose there is a third option of selling that bike and getting a much newer one that has a service plan. While that will probably get you a relitively more reliable bike it will likely be much more expensive.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 82
From: Columbus, GA
Hey everyone,
first time posting on here, so if this has come up, please let me know!
Let's get to it, I need advice. I'm a pretty non confrontational person so it's difficult to do what I think is done.
I bought a used 2001 FLHP back in May of this year. The bike came with 40k miles on it. It has had the following issues since I bought it:
1) My exhaust literally blew apart on the freeway at the Y joint on the header.
2) Bike neck locked up (easily fixed)
3) Experienced the Harley death wobble (attributed to rear tire)
4) Rear tire blew on the freeway less than 1,200 miles riding it.
5) Leaking oil from primary case, I tightened bolts, but it's still leaking.
6) Throttle is sticking (just lubed the wires throttle and idle)
7) Had to jump start it two days ago (lights on, clicks at ignition)
8) Now it won't start....
I know this bike it 15 years old, I know it has 40,000 miles... but is this normal for a Harley. I took it to get the tire changed and asked the dude to check a few things out and he scoffed and said well it is a Harley...
Do I go back to the dealer and raise hell, and have them run a whole gamut of tests on it and take some precautions? Or should I quit my bitching because it's just part of owning a harley? I would also like to mention this is my main mode of transportation with my daily commute being 120 miles a day. Hence the reason I bought a Tourer. Have at it! Any input will be appreciated.
first time posting on here, so if this has come up, please let me know!
Let's get to it, I need advice. I'm a pretty non confrontational person so it's difficult to do what I think is done.
I bought a used 2001 FLHP back in May of this year. The bike came with 40k miles on it. It has had the following issues since I bought it:
1) My exhaust literally blew apart on the freeway at the Y joint on the header.
2) Bike neck locked up (easily fixed)
3) Experienced the Harley death wobble (attributed to rear tire)
4) Rear tire blew on the freeway less than 1,200 miles riding it.
5) Leaking oil from primary case, I tightened bolts, but it's still leaking.
6) Throttle is sticking (just lubed the wires throttle and idle)
7) Had to jump start it two days ago (lights on, clicks at ignition)
8) Now it won't start....
I know this bike it 15 years old, I know it has 40,000 miles... but is this normal for a Harley. I took it to get the tire changed and asked the dude to check a few things out and he scoffed and said well it is a Harley...
Do I go back to the dealer and raise hell, and have them run a whole gamut of tests on it and take some precautions? Or should I quit my bitching because it's just part of owning a harley? I would also like to mention this is my main mode of transportation with my daily commute being 120 miles a day. Hence the reason I bought a Tourer. Have at it! Any input will be appreciated.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 33
Likes: 1
From: Lutz Florida
I have to give you a lot of credit for what you're doing! Commuting 2400 miles a month with any fifteen year old vehicle can be a challenge! Bikes vibrate , are exposed to the elements continually and just need to be taken care of, tightened ,lubed, checked over and cleaned so you can see what might be going on, nothing that's happened seems too unusual for time and miles, just don't give up, you're hopefully the face of future motorcyclists, best of luck!
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 75
From: CA
That was a while ago, I don't think you have much recourse with the dealer unless they had some 6 month guarantee in the contract.
That's really good mileage for a 15 year tourer.
3) Experienced the Harley death wobble (attributed to rear tire)
--Pretty easily resolved with checking tire pressures, tire condition, steering head bearings, fork oil, spoke tension, wheel bearings, brake drag
4) Rear tire blew on the freeway less than 1,200 miles riding it.
--Was it a new tire? Did you purchase coverage? Might have been a puncture.
5) Leaking oil from primary case, I tightened bolts, but it's still leaking.
--Probably plug, primary gasket, or a shifter gasket/ring
6) Throttle is sticking (just lubed the wires throttle and idle)
--service manual and proper adjustment order will help here
7) Had to jump start it two days ago (lights on, clicks at ignition)
--probably time for a new battery. Could also be a charging issue. Time to bust out volt meter
8) Now it won't start....
--Probably from #7
Not gonna lie, that's been a long time excuse. That kinda thing might be correlated to HDs declining sales, time will tell.
You can try since you tried asking them before the sale and they blew you off but I doubt it will get anywhere. Since the contract was likely "as-is" maybe attempt being nice and sell them on the idea that you're trying to be a long term customer.
The bike came with 40k miles on it. It has had the following issues since I bought it:
3) Experienced the Harley death wobble (attributed to rear tire)
--Pretty easily resolved with checking tire pressures, tire condition, steering head bearings, fork oil, spoke tension, wheel bearings, brake drag
4) Rear tire blew on the freeway less than 1,200 miles riding it.
--Was it a new tire? Did you purchase coverage? Might have been a puncture.
5) Leaking oil from primary case, I tightened bolts, but it's still leaking.
--Probably plug, primary gasket, or a shifter gasket/ring
6) Throttle is sticking (just lubed the wires throttle and idle)
--service manual and proper adjustment order will help here
7) Had to jump start it two days ago (lights on, clicks at ignition)
--probably time for a new battery. Could also be a charging issue. Time to bust out volt meter
8) Now it won't start....
--Probably from #7
scoffed and said well it is a Harley...
Do I go back to the dealer and raise hell,
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