First long trip on first Harley
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 246
From: Columbia SC
I actually like the HD rear air shocks, one of the first things I bought was the air shock pump to keep them properly inflated.
Thread Starter
|
1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock, Arkansas
Wow! Some of these replies a harsh but thats ok! To answer some of the misconceptions, 1) I purchased the bike from a reputable dealer whose service department assured me the bike had been serviced and gone over with a fine tooth comb! 2) I first reached out to my brothers in the club who are Harley mechanics who told me it was a good bike! That is all! I do appreciate the comments..
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 631
Likes: 571
From: Northern Nevada
Wow! Some of these replies a harsh but thats ok! To answer some of the misconceptions, 1) I purchased the bike from a reputable dealer whose service department assured me the bike had been serviced and gone over with a fine tooth comb! 2) I first reached out to my brothers in the club who are Harley mechanics who told me it was a good bike! That is all! I do appreciate the comments..
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 695
From: Huntington Beach, CA
I have been following this thread and I have to say that I am firmly on Harley Davidson's side on this one. The OP bought what was obviously a poorly-maintained bike, and then he did no real inspection of it, or even a decent shakedown ride, before he goes on a long, hard road trip. To me it is just unbelievable that anyone would do that. The results were predictable, and not at all indicative of the basic soundness of the motorcycle model. Sorry if I sound like a MoCo fanboy (I am one, by the way) but that's the way I see it. My hobbies are driving, riding, and boating, and I would not do that with a new car, a new boat, or a new motorcycle. I suppose one positive way to look at it is that this long hard ride *was* the OP's shakedown ride. In which case I guess he figured out what the needed corrective measures for the bike were.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 303
Likes: 146
From: Az
Wow! Some of these replies a harsh but thats ok! To answer some of the misconceptions, 1) I purchased the bike from a reputable dealer whose service department assured me the bike had been serviced and gone over with a fine tooth comb! 2) I first reached out to my brothers in the club who are Harley mechanics who told me it was a good bike! That is all! I do appreciate the comments..
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,122
Likes: 51,433
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Wow! Some of these replies a harsh but thats ok! To answer some of the misconceptions, 1) I purchased the bike from a reputable dealer whose service department assured me the bike had been serviced and gone over with a fine tooth comb! 2) I first reached out to my brothers in the club who are Harley mechanics who told me it was a good bike! That is all! I do appreciate the comments..
Counter guy is a gray hair with worn hands then listen to what he says otherwise ........
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 307
Likes: 506
From: Saskatchewan Canada
Wow! Some of these replies a harsh but thats ok! To answer some of the misconceptions, 1) I purchased the bike from a reputable dealer whose service department assured me the bike had been serviced and gone over with a fine tooth comb! 2) I first reached out to my brothers in the club who are Harley mechanics who told me it was a good bike! That is all! I do appreciate the comments..
This bike was obviously not maintained. But that doesn't mean it is a write off. Take the invoices for the expenses you incurred back to them and see if you can get them to pay them for you. Go over the bike yourself or have a mechanic you trust go over it for you so you don't run into any other surprises. Then chalk this up as a learning experience.
Good luck and ride safe.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
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
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,156
Likes: 11,244
From: San Diego, CA
Wow! Some of these replies a harsh but thats ok! To answer some of the misconceptions, 1) I purchased the bike from a reputable dealer whose service department assured me the bike had been serviced and gone over with a fine tooth comb! 2) I first reached out to my brothers in the club who are Harley mechanics who told me it was a good bike! That is all! I do appreciate the comments..
Many of the replies weren't meant to be harsh, but were blunt...... You started out complaining about a restaurant's food, and then seemed to be blaming Harley for stuff that was outside their control, and solely the responsibility of the prior owner and any potential buyer... which could have happened with any motorcycle... That fostered the blunt responses, IMHO....
The only thing you are guilty of is taking a major trip, three days after getting a "new to you" motorcycle... that's something most experienced motorcycle riders just wouldn't do...
Your issues could have been caught before purchase during an inspection, and absolutely should have been caught by a dealer..... I hope you realize by now, that the dealer is NOT all that reputable, and they DID NOT go over that bike with a fine tooth comb... you were lied to...
Your club brothers didn't let you down, that IS a good bike, if cared for and in good condition... However if they inspected it for you before your trip, I would suggest you don't let them work on it in the future..
Once straightened out, you should get many years of good service from that bike, with peoper care & good maintenance...
Enjoy...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 7,147
From: Las Vegas
Y'all should think about saving your heavy hits for the stupid people that come here. This guy may not have taken the time to properly pre-trip his new bike, but that doesn't make him stupid, nor does he sound stupid.
