My new Street Glide went into limp mode while at the rally on Wednesday. HOG roadside assistance was useless due to the demand during Sturgis. ($840 charge to me to tow 37 miles, $940 total). Plus the local dealers couldn't provide any idea about when they might be able to look at it. We just got a Uhaul truck and had to haul it home cutting my trip off a bit early and costing me about $700. All in all, a pretty miserable end, but it also could have been worse in a lot of ways. Here's the most aggravating part, and the reason for the post. The dealer cleared the codes and has it running in 5 minutes before I even left the parking lot to return the u haul. They report today that they really have no idea what's wrong, sounds like they probably greased the connection behind the air cleaner. the code was a "failure to learn" or something to that effect. If, (like on the older throttle by wire bikes) there was a way to reset the ECM, I would have been on my way and found a dealer to check it out. Is there any kind of aftermarket programmer or tuner that can clear the "limp mode"? I talked to two different service departments, and both said only a tech 2 can do it. If so, that's ridiculous. I have no confidence this won't happen again, and Harley offers nothing in the way of roadside assistance or help with the exorbitant expenses I had to incur to get the POS home. I should have ridden my 16 year old Fat Boy, I'm sure it would have made it the 1500 miles.

 

Sounds like it's time for you to get rid of it and move on then.

What kind of "service" did you expect with 10,000 other bikes in the area?
**** happens, and no matter what brand or how new/old it is, you always have the possibility of these things happening.

We were in the Black Hills the entire week before the rally started.
Even then the line going into Devils Tower stretched from the trading post back almost to the highway.
There were several thousand bikes in the area that week, and I never once saw one broke down.

 

hmm, you can clear the codes yourself:

ODOMETER SELF-DIAGNOSTICS
Diagnostic Mode
1. To enter diagnostic mode, press and hold the trip odometer
reset switch located on the left handlebar controls, while
turning the IGN ON.
NOTE
The trip odometer reset switch is located in the left hand control
module. The switch signal is sent to the speedometer over the
CAN bus. Therefore, if there is a problem with the CAN bus,
the odometer self-diagnostic mode may not function.
2. Release the trip odometer reset switch. "diag" will appear
on the odometer display.
3. Press and release the trip odometer reset switch. ECM
will appear on the odometer display. It will have either a
"Y" or an "N" after it, depending if there are any ECM
codes or not.
4. Quickly press and release the trip odometer reset switch
to cycle through the modules. The modules include the
BCM, SPDO, ABS and RAD.
5. Once the desired module is displayed, press and hold the
trip odometer reset switch.
6. If any DTCs are stored in the module, the odometer will
display the DTC. Quickly pressing and releasing the trip
odometer reset switch will cycle through the stored DTCs.
7. When all the DTCs have been cycled the odometer will
display "end".
8. To clear all the DTCs in that module press and hold the
trip odometer reset switch, while a DTC is displayed. If
DTCs are not to be cleared, quickly press and release the
trip odometer reset switch. The part number of the module
will be displayed.
9. Press and release the trip odometer reset switch again to
continue to the next module.
10. Make note of all DTCs. Clear all the DTCs and operate
the vehicle to verify DTCs set and are current. Historic
DTCs are not to be diagnosed unless the condition is
reoccurring and intermittent.
11. Turn the IGN OFF to exit diagnostic mode. If IGN is not
turned off, vehicle will exit diagnostics mode when vehicle
starts moving.

 

I didn't really expect service to be great, I totally understand the situation. Stuff happens it was just my turn. I am a bit frustrated, so my apologies. The question I'm after is, is there a way to clear limp mode without the dealership computer on the M8 bikes? Just frustrated that if i could have cleared it, my vacation wouldn't have been cut short.

 

Let me clarify my question, Two dealers told me this doesn't work on the 18's, as far as getting out of limp mode. IE, clearing the codes is all well and good, but only the dealership can get it out of limp mode. Can you confirm if clearing the codes through the speedometer works to get out of limp mode? If so, thanks, and I wish I had that on Wednesday. It would give me a lot of piece of mind knowing I have a backup plan if it happens again.

 

Don't know about the new bikes but disconnecting the battery has always been a good go to for clearing codes.

 

Tried that, it didn't work. thanks though.

 

Not to be a negative comment... but I have learned the same thing the hard way... I don't ride a new Harley on a long trip... I build up to it. 100 mi from home near dealers, then 300 mi, then 500 mi. If you had a big change in altitude plus hot weather that certainly could have caused that error. I can't imagine not being able to clear a limp mode but it is trying to protect your engine from a warranty claim I would say. Thanks for cluing us in! Sorry HD ruined your trip...

 

Would"nt you bill HOG if they could not get to you??

 

How new is new?

Like "I picked the bike up Monday and left for Sturgis" new?

OR "ive had the bike a few months, its broken in, first service done, but this is its first big trip" new?


Because my opinion of the situation changes depending on how new is new.