EPA Nonsense
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,460
Likes: 3,554
From: Idaho
As far as the non-Harley parts, there's a Catch-22 clause in the legally binding warranty statement in your Owners Manual; the word "may." If you use non-Harley parts, it "may" void all or part of your warranty. So, the kicker there is: Is your dealer a dick or not. Only you know for sure. Even if your dealer is a great guy, that, obviously, gives you no sense of comfort if your bike craps out 1,000 miles from your home dealer.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 3,518
From: PA
There is nothing in the EPA consent decree about non-Harley parts. There is, however, a requirement that you only use the Screamin' Eagle Pro Street Tuner to tune the bike. Here's the kicker: the Pro Street tuner downloads tunes from the MoCo, and there are NO tunes for non-Harley parts. So, your two options are to use the Pro Street tuner and end up with a crappy-*** tune that doesn't take advantage of your new go-fast parts, or use another tuner, get the power you paid for, and void your powertrain warranty forever.
As far as the non-Harley parts, there's a Catch-22 clause in the legally binding warranty statement in your Owners Manual; the word "may." If you use non-Harley parts, it "may" void all or part of your warranty. So, the kicker there is: Is your dealer a dick or not. Only you know for sure. Even if your dealer is a great guy, that, obviously, gives you no sense of comfort if your bike craps out 1,000 miles from your home dealer.
As far as the non-Harley parts, there's a Catch-22 clause in the legally binding warranty statement in your Owners Manual; the word "may." If you use non-Harley parts, it "may" void all or part of your warranty. So, the kicker there is: Is your dealer a dick or not. Only you know for sure. Even if your dealer is a great guy, that, obviously, gives you no sense of comfort if your bike craps out 1,000 miles from your home dealer.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,186
Likes: 2,412
From: USA
Just want to slightly disagree. The H-D warranty was/is the only thing EPA had to hold over H-D s head from an enforcement standpoint. EPA was not willing to accept HDs settlement unless there was someway to guarantee that bikes wouldnt be immediately modified by customers and essentially undo all that EPA was trying to accomplish.
The likes of a Rinehart muffler is indeed part of the MM act, as it is essentially comparable to the oem part and most importantly does not create adverse effect. This is why you can install not only non-oem tires, but performance non-oem tires, without voiding your warranty. As well aftermarket rims, even of a different size. To void the warranty the manufacturer must substantiate that the non-oem part created the damage. An aftermarket wheel does not. But, an oversized aftermarket wheel that fouled the wiring harness could. At that, it could only void the warranty as far as the damage to the wiring harness goes, not to say leaking fork tube seals. Not that such a legal prohibition even slows down the likes of Harley when it comes to making sweeping denials of warranty claims.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 201
Likes: 57
From: Gorham NH
Who in their right mind is going to wait two years before modifications? Nervous Nellies and posers I guess. Two years of running lean with all the extra heat and lousy performance, punishing your baby by restricting air and fuel. It's kinda like child abuse...well not really. Zzzzzzzzzz. The odds are in your favor. Get the air cleaner, headpipe and mufflers you like, then tune it with a real tuner right after purchase. If not, enjoy the long wait. It's gonna be painful to pull up to all the other bikes for two years that have been modded properly while yours is still in stock form. Tsk tsk. Oh you have your warranty though. Guess that's somethin'. No guts no glory. Most of us say shove the warranty.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,000
Likes: 5,266
Who in their right mind is going to wait two years before modifications? Nervous Nellies and posers I guess. Two years of running lean with all the extra heat and lousy performance, punishing your baby by restricting air and fuel. It's kinda like child abuse...well not really. Zzzzzzzzzz. The odds are in your favor. Get the air cleaner, headpipe and mufflers you like, then tune it with a real tuner right after purchase. If not, enjoy the long wait. It's gonna be painful to pull up to all the other bikes for two years that have been modded properly while yours is still in stock form. Tsk tsk. Oh you have your warranty though. Guess that's somethin'. No guts no glory. Most of us say shove the warranty.
Last edited by GalvTexGuy; Jul 3, 2019 at 02:02 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 201
Likes: 57
From: Gorham NH
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 3,518
From: PA
Who in their right mind is going to wait two years before modifications? Nervous Nellies and posers I guess. Two years of running lean with all the extra heat and lousy performance, punishing your baby by restricting air and fuel. It's kinda like child abuse...well not really. Zzzzzzzzzz. The odds are in your favor. Get the air cleaner, headpipe and mufflers you like, then tune it with a real tuner right after purchase. If not, enjoy the long wait. It's gonna be painful to pull up to all the other bikes for two years that have been modded properly while yours is still in stock form. Tsk tsk. Oh you have your warranty though. Guess that's somethin'. No guts no glory. Most of us say shove the warranty.
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,460
Likes: 3,554
From: Idaho
For other posters that are mentioning MM, that does NOT protect you if you do something illegal. In that case the MoCo does NOT have to prove that what you did caused a failure. All they have to do is say "Denied", and then you can go find an attorney. If you're feeling lucky.
