Concerned about owning a Harley
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 492
From: Heart of Georgia
Originally Posted by
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If I had not owned a Harley when I started reading these forums I would have NEVER bought one.
One thing a lot of people fail to realize is that forums like this one are made up of enthusiasts so it's only natural that there would be a lot of posts about mechanical issues. The same holds true for any enthusiast forum. Log onto a forum about Honda automobiles and you'll see a lot of posts about broken down Hondas.
So I paid the $1000 to repair the water pump. Also spent $2700 on the extended warranty.
So with all that and my tools and twist ties I will ride on. I just need to get the first 300 miles in before my warranty takes effect. Cross my fingers.
To all that responded to my post with good advice and intentions. Thank you.
To all other smart assess. Who cares!
So with all that and my tools and twist ties I will ride on. I just need to get the first 300 miles in before my warranty takes effect. Cross my fingers.
To all that responded to my post with good advice and intentions. Thank you.
To all other smart assess. Who cares!
Well, I can clearly see that you will fit in here just fine. You can take well intended jab and keep rolling on. That fix right away is certainly a kick in the ***** and would have pissed off even the most seasoned of us. But, now you will have that fixed and no longer a worry, and you have this thread to prove you survived the FNG hazing process.
Now on to the real stuff. The warning that every HD should come with before you sign.
WARNING:
You are about to purchase a Harley Davidson. Once signed this purchase agreement absolves the seller from any and all responsibility for your future addiction problems. It is highly recommended for your own mental well being and for the sake of your checkbook that you not participate in any harley related forums, websites, webchats, nor should you attend any motorcycle related events or look at pictures of other peoples' Harleys. Failure to adhere to these warnings will result in a deep and incurable addiction to tinkering, modifying, customizing, and updating your motorcycle for no other reason that you "had an itch".
You have been warned. Those "break in miles" are like taking your first hit. Then you're hooked. Welcome to the addiction. Weekly rehab here, bring donuts.
Oh, and my previous bike was a Vulcan Nomad. Loved it. Most comfortable stock seat I have ever had. But it was way under powered for the size it was. I'll never go back.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 2,235
Likes: 1,210
From: AZ
The funny thing is that back in the late 90s, early 2000s all of my riding friends had old FXRs. I had my Suzuki Intruder 1500LC(and I still do) and every time & I mean EVERY time we went for any type of long ride something would happen to one of them & itd get towed home. Snapped belt, wouldn't restart, once a gear actually broke & my buddy's rear wheel just locked up. Kind of soured me on the brand & I just stuck with Suzuki for years. Actually riding my SV1000S today, 61° this morning. Obviously HD reliability is far better these days.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 809
Likes: 570
From: Detroit Metro Area
It If I had not owned a Harley when I started reading these forums I would have NEVER bought one. ..especially a used one. Over the recent year or two, this Forum has turned into one of the most negative forums I have seen. Some people just can't wait to post about a problem they've had.
I don't know if I'll ever buy another used Harley or not...probably not. Mainly because of what you said Lattitude. It's amazing what you see here about folks that work on their own bikes and what they have done to them. ...folks that don't have a clue what they are doing. Also folks that "short-cut" things they do. And these folks are giving bad advise to others too. It's really scary.
If I was going to buy a used bike, I'd want to see a service history DOCUMENTED, by a QUALIFIED service professional, not some DIY jackleg. You can open up my right saddlebag and pull out gallon size Zip Lock bag with my owners manual in it, with ALL the receipts of the service work done on my bike...by my Harley Davidson Dealer. And it's all been done at the proper service intervals too, mileage wise. If a seller can't provide that kind of info to me, I don't buy that bike. That's my version of a CARMAX history.
And for the record, I have NEVER owned a Harley that didn't have an issue at some time. When I read these quotes from folks that say they haven't had an issue with their Harleys and they have ridden many thousands of miles on multiple Harleys over a long span of years, I just shake my head. I must be the most unlucky Harley owner ever, or some of these folks have a bad problem with memory. Really, no problems at all? And all you did was change tires and fluids? REALLY???????????????? Boy, I wish I could make a statement like that.
Of course they have had issues. However, here's the caveat: what WASN'T an issue to them, might be a "broke down on the side of the road stranded" issue for others. For instance, a shifter linkage break. A shifter shaft strip and they are stranded too, because you don't pull the whole primary and tranny apart to repair that shaft that won't work to change gears when you're on the side of the road. Thank goodness the Cam Tensioner issue has finally been fixed by Harley.
As far as DIY hacks go I am one. I have all my records in OneNote however. I do my own maintenance and upgrades. I am not a trained service tech but I am a degreed Mechanical Engineer with a Masters degree and work in the Powertrain and Electrical business of the Auto Industry and have WRITTEN maintenance procedures and trained techs. If I screw something up I will figure out how to fix it...I would never just sell my boat, motorcycle, or car to push the issue to someone else.
Supporter
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 3,714
From: Mid Con USA
The funny thing is that back in the late 90s, early 2000s all of my riding friends had old FXRs. I had my Suzuki Intruder 1500LC(and I still do) and every time & I mean EVERY time we went for any type of long ride something would happen to one of them & itd get towed home. Snapped belt, wouldn't restart, once a gear actually broke & my buddy's rear wheel just locked up. Kind of soured me on the brand & I just stuck with Suzuki for years. Actually riding my SV1000S today, 61° this morning. Obviously HD reliability is far better these days.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 6,536
Likes: 11,068
From: ohio
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 2,235
Likes: 1,210
From: AZ
Yes every time, it was almost comical. Bartlett lake ride, friend's 90 FXR just died, couldn't get it restarted, towed home. Quick ride out the Saguaro Lake, didn't get a block and another friends belt snapped. Ride out towards Globe, FXR went into limp mode or something, wouldn't go over 40 mph so we turned around & 'limped' home. Brother-in-laws FXR wouldn't restart after stopping for a break. Had to fiddle around & I got him push started. Another time an FXR lost a gear & my buddy nearly dumped it when the back wheel locked up, towed home. Just recently riding w my brother-in-law in Colorado Springs his shifter linkage fell apart on his Street Glide. Got it monkey rigged to get home. Most of the them were ok for bike night runs just in town.
Now I've had great luck with my Ultra Classic but this is why I waited so long to move from Suzuki.
Now I've had great luck with my Ultra Classic but this is why I waited so long to move from Suzuki.
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 67
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From: Ontario
Not sure how the "you do not have a clue what your doing" has anything to do with this post. I guess their are all kinds of people out there....
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 6,536
Likes: 11,068
From: ohio
The funny thing is that back in the late 90s, early 2000s all of my riding friends had old FXRs. I had my Suzuki Intruder 1500LC(and I still do) and every time & I mean EVERY time we went for any type of long ride something would happen to one of them & itd get towed home. Snapped belt, wouldn't restart, once a gear actually broke & my buddy's rear wheel just locked up. Kind of soured me on the brand & I just stuck with Suzuki for years. Actually riding my SV1000S today, 61° this morning. Obviously HD reliability is far better these days.
Last edited by Long lonesome highwayman; Feb 21, 2020 at 10:25 AM.