Concerned about owning a Harley
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Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 67
Likes: 9
From: Ontario
Concerned about owning a Harley
So I now own 3 bikes.
2008 Honda VTX 1300
2013 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700
2016 Harley Road glide ultra
I use to tease all my buddies about there harleys. I'm sure you all have heard it. Lol
I've owned my Kawasaki and Honda for several years.
Never ever have I had any issues with either of them. I am a snowbird and go to Florida for the winter. Never an issue.
This year I thought I would get into the harley scene.
I purchased my Harley in Dec and came to Florida.
In the first week I was riding I couldn't shift gears. The clutch wasn't working. I took it to the dealer and no big deal, the fluid was low and had to be filled.
2 weeks later I begin to go for a ride and my temp light and check engine light comes on. I drove straight to the dealer.
Turns out the water pump failed. Apparently it's a problem with pre 2017 bikes. The water pumps were failing and they change the design. $700 US later I'm back on the road.
Now I fight with the decision, do I just get rid of this thing and go back to riding my other bikes or I've determined that in order to own a Harley you need 3 things.
1. Extended Warranty
2. Tool box in the bags
3. Twist Ties
This bike only has 6000 miles.
Just venting now, but really need to decide what to do.
2008 Honda VTX 1300
2013 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700
2016 Harley Road glide ultra
I use to tease all my buddies about there harleys. I'm sure you all have heard it. Lol
I've owned my Kawasaki and Honda for several years.
Never ever have I had any issues with either of them. I am a snowbird and go to Florida for the winter. Never an issue.
This year I thought I would get into the harley scene.
I purchased my Harley in Dec and came to Florida.
In the first week I was riding I couldn't shift gears. The clutch wasn't working. I took it to the dealer and no big deal, the fluid was low and had to be filled.
2 weeks later I begin to go for a ride and my temp light and check engine light comes on. I drove straight to the dealer.
Turns out the water pump failed. Apparently it's a problem with pre 2017 bikes. The water pumps were failing and they change the design. $700 US later I'm back on the road.
Now I fight with the decision, do I just get rid of this thing and go back to riding my other bikes or I've determined that in order to own a Harley you need 3 things.
1. Extended Warranty
2. Tool box in the bags
3. Twist Ties
This bike only has 6000 miles.
Just venting now, but really need to decide what to do.
Last edited by Brian Topolinsky; Feb 20, 2020 at 08:37 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 246
Likes: 102
From: Texas
I understand how you feel. 2019 Heritage bought brand new with 8 miles. Long story short, I got rid of it with 2,400 miles. I owned it for 5 months and it was at multiple dealers for 26 days of that 5 months. It was my first Harley.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 809
Likes: 570
From: Detroit Metro Area
It is always a roll of the dice when you buy something someone else has gotten rid of, especially something as new as 4 years old. Sounds like you bought it from a private party as well. 6000 miles in 4 years is pretty low riding time per year.
When I bought my 1999 Ultra Classic in 2004 (5 years old) it too was from a private party. I cursed the owner regularly because of 'gerrymandered' things he had done to the bike. Rounded off fasteners, cut electrical harnesses, etc. That bike stranded me on the road so many times I to cursed what I had done to myself. After I owned it for about 3 years I had finally undid all the stupidity and fell in love with it enough that I now have a new one after I rode that 1999 for 13 years and had 85,000 miles on it.
Check the brake fluid to see if it has been flushed. When the moisture content gets to 3% or more it needs to be changed to keep crud from plugging up the ABS module. There was a recall issued so a good place to start is to see if the recall has been performed. If not, get it taken care of.
Other than that...ride it and keep fixing whatever other messes the PO has done. One by one it will clear up and be a rewarding experience!
When I bought my 1999 Ultra Classic in 2004 (5 years old) it too was from a private party. I cursed the owner regularly because of 'gerrymandered' things he had done to the bike. Rounded off fasteners, cut electrical harnesses, etc. That bike stranded me on the road so many times I to cursed what I had done to myself. After I owned it for about 3 years I had finally undid all the stupidity and fell in love with it enough that I now have a new one after I rode that 1999 for 13 years and had 85,000 miles on it.
Check the brake fluid to see if it has been flushed. When the moisture content gets to 3% or more it needs to be changed to keep crud from plugging up the ABS module. There was a recall issued so a good place to start is to see if the recall has been performed. If not, get it taken care of.
Other than that...ride it and keep fixing whatever other messes the PO has done. One by one it will clear up and be a rewarding experience!
Road Master
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 953
Likes: 954
From: Daytona Beach
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Yep, that's the Harley Tax. Once you get the little things worked out, It should be good to go for a while. Up around 25 K miles you might need some work on the compensator and preventative maintenance replacement of the lifters.
Your other bikes are nice, but really, trying riding that Ultra cross country (all the way cross country) and the ergonomics will grow on you. Effortless Highway Cruising is the best way to describe it. But a HD does require that you take care of it, unlike the HON or KAW.
Your other bikes are nice, but really, trying riding that Ultra cross country (all the way cross country) and the ergonomics will grow on you. Effortless Highway Cruising is the best way to describe it. But a HD does require that you take care of it, unlike the HON or KAW.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 144
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
sorry to hear about the issues. 09 Ultra with 133,000 trouble free miles through 40 states, three Canadian provinces and Mexico. No extended warranty, never would have needed it. It's always smart to have a set of tools with you even if you never need them. 14 Limited has been troublefree as well at 63,000. Not sure how many miles you have on your metrics?
Last edited by bmaier; Feb 20, 2020 at 10:17 AM.
