Someone Please tell me why...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 8
From: virginia
The best thing you can do to make wifey happy is put the adjustable footpegs on for her that will get her legs up and out of the heat and off of the bars. Then play with the air pressure change it 2 pounds at a time and you will find a sweet spot, the 50 pounds is not for everyone!! Good luck!!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 2
From: Northern Colorado
Owning a Harley isn't cheap, the bike itself is just the down payment. Be prepared to shell out some serious $$$ AFTER you buy the bike. That's one of the things you should have learned with all your research. As far as comfort is concerned, these bikes aren't perfect and everybody expects something different. There's no way MOCO will ever be able to please everybody. One more thing, not everybody thinks these bikes run "too hot", the percentage of bikes on the road with oil coolers is actually pretty low. I say use a good synthetic oil and don't worry about it.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
Are you just serving "whine" or are you going to do something about it?
Just trade for a Wing or the new 6 cylinder BMW.
Then please post all the imperfections that you discover on those bikes here.
Have a nice day.
Just trade for a Wing or the new 6 cylinder BMW.
Then please post all the imperfections that you discover on those bikes here.
Have a nice day.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
You owned an "Ural" and you are complaining about maintenance and reliability of a Harley?
Here is a little research. they make saddle guards with a 45 degree slant so they do not rub those caffs.
Good luck with that.
Here is a little research. they make saddle guards with a 45 degree slant so they do not rub those caffs.
Good luck with that.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,128
Likes: 27
From: florida swamp
I bought an HD FLHTC...Yep, this is a vent thread.
Before I vent let me say that the members of this forum are pretty incredible. I have received valuable answers to my pre-sale and post-sale questions. The HD community and this forum in particular are a great resource and support. Thanks.
The thoughts I am about to vent were initiated by the most recent (of many) oil cooler threads on this forum.
Now the vent...
I have had a motorcycle since I was approx 10 years old. Right around that early age I saw my first HD Electra Glide. Blue and white. This was about 1966 or '67. The bike was similar to the Road King today. Anyway, I fell in love with it. Even though I rode dirt bikes at this early age, I knew that some day I would own an Electra Glide. As it turns out it would be 45 years before that want would be satisfied.
In the meantime I had four Kawasakis, four Suzukis, a Yamaha, a Honda, a BMW, a Sportster, even an Ural, but all along I wanted an Electra Glide.
This past year we decided to trade in our Kawasaki Nomad for a "better" touring bike. We started at our local Honda dealer seriously considering the Gold Wing. But for a variety of reasons, we decided against it.
And after serious research, visiting these forums, asking tons of questions, and the news that the Electra Glide received a proper frame in '09, and so forth, we pulled the trigger on the '11 Electra Glide Classic.
It did not take long for an eternal truth to stab me in the heart: You never know something until you own it.
Case in point, our 2011 EGC.
On our first long ride the wife complained that the Saddle bag guards were pressing up against her lower leg. She's a pretty tough gal. 25 years teaching PE, two boys, two grand boys. She does not complain about much. But the indentations in her skin prove it. Hard to believe that Harley Davidson would miss this obvious comfort issue. Or did they? They offer a fix, a "comfort" accessory. Hmmm...
On our first long ride on a hot day her legs fried especially on the right side where the right/left exhaust pipes converge. Not to mention the heat burning my thighs. No fix for her, but again, HD knowing the problem regarding the thigh burns offers an accessory to deflect the heat. Bought them and they work pretty well.
Oh, and it would appear that a majority of seasoned HD riders recommend an oil cooler, standard on many similar air-cooled V-Twin bikes. Oh, the HD accessory catalog offers oil coolers as well. On a hot day my engine feels like the core of nuclear reactor. It takes hours to cool down in our air conditioned garage.
We also noticed on these first rides that the rear shocks are junk. Even with the air pressure set (using the appropriate $60 air shock pump) correctly, the ride is beyond terrible. I can see that on a Softtail, but not this bike.
The gear ratios are not very well thought out. With a six speed box, 1st should be a tad lower...
Then there is the scheduled maintenance. My dealer wanted $400 for the 1,000 mile service with non-synthetic oil. 400 frigging bucks! Another dealer did it for $350. Still, that is exactly $350 more than I ever spent for service at the Kawasaki and Suzuki dealers for my last two big inch motorcycles. And soon, I have the prospect of dumping another $350 for the 5,000 mile service. And I can wrench, that's not the point. But the scheduled maintenance list for these bikes is significant. The service intervals for the Nomad consisted of changing the oil, coolant, and tightening bolts.
Given the accessories commonly purchased, the performance pieces most of us want, the necessary comfort accessories, the replacement shocks, the oil coolers, the costly service intervals, the HD Electra Glide is like the gift that just keeps on giving, as far as a dealer is concerned. These bikes are cash cows!
So that is my vent. I just spent a ton of money on a new motorcycle and have to spend more to make the bike "right"). The wife will probably never be completely comfortable. So I am stuck. And of course with the 2012 103CI engine, I am sure my resale value has been shot to pieces.
On a positive note, as a solo bike, I like it a lot. It steers and handles incredibly well, it feels much lighter and smaller than its size would dictate, the rear shock is a bit better suited for solo riding, the power is satisfactory, I have no buffeting, etc. The paint, chrome, fairing, saddle bags, trunk, and so forth are excellent.
By the way, I printed out this vent and mailed it to Harley Davidson Headquarters.
JackL
Before I vent let me say that the members of this forum are pretty incredible. I have received valuable answers to my pre-sale and post-sale questions. The HD community and this forum in particular are a great resource and support. Thanks.
The thoughts I am about to vent were initiated by the most recent (of many) oil cooler threads on this forum.
Now the vent...
I have had a motorcycle since I was approx 10 years old. Right around that early age I saw my first HD Electra Glide. Blue and white. This was about 1966 or '67. The bike was similar to the Road King today. Anyway, I fell in love with it. Even though I rode dirt bikes at this early age, I knew that some day I would own an Electra Glide. As it turns out it would be 45 years before that want would be satisfied.
In the meantime I had four Kawasakis, four Suzukis, a Yamaha, a Honda, a BMW, a Sportster, even an Ural, but all along I wanted an Electra Glide.
This past year we decided to trade in our Kawasaki Nomad for a "better" touring bike. We started at our local Honda dealer seriously considering the Gold Wing. But for a variety of reasons, we decided against it.
And after serious research, visiting these forums, asking tons of questions, and the news that the Electra Glide received a proper frame in '09, and so forth, we pulled the trigger on the '11 Electra Glide Classic.
It did not take long for an eternal truth to stab me in the heart: You never know something until you own it.
Case in point, our 2011 EGC.
On our first long ride the wife complained that the Saddle bag guards were pressing up against her lower leg. She's a pretty tough gal. 25 years teaching PE, two boys, two grand boys. She does not complain about much. But the indentations in her skin prove it. Hard to believe that Harley Davidson would miss this obvious comfort issue. Or did they? They offer a fix, a "comfort" accessory. Hmmm...
On our first long ride on a hot day her legs fried especially on the right side where the right/left exhaust pipes converge. Not to mention the heat burning my thighs. No fix for her, but again, HD knowing the problem regarding the thigh burns offers an accessory to deflect the heat. Bought them and they work pretty well.
Oh, and it would appear that a majority of seasoned HD riders recommend an oil cooler, standard on many similar air-cooled V-Twin bikes. Oh, the HD accessory catalog offers oil coolers as well. On a hot day my engine feels like the core of nuclear reactor. It takes hours to cool down in our air conditioned garage.
We also noticed on these first rides that the rear shocks are junk. Even with the air pressure set (using the appropriate $60 air shock pump) correctly, the ride is beyond terrible. I can see that on a Softtail, but not this bike.
The gear ratios are not very well thought out. With a six speed box, 1st should be a tad lower...
Then there is the scheduled maintenance. My dealer wanted $400 for the 1,000 mile service with non-synthetic oil. 400 frigging bucks! Another dealer did it for $350. Still, that is exactly $350 more than I ever spent for service at the Kawasaki and Suzuki dealers for my last two big inch motorcycles. And soon, I have the prospect of dumping another $350 for the 5,000 mile service. And I can wrench, that's not the point. But the scheduled maintenance list for these bikes is significant. The service intervals for the Nomad consisted of changing the oil, coolant, and tightening bolts.
Given the accessories commonly purchased, the performance pieces most of us want, the necessary comfort accessories, the replacement shocks, the oil coolers, the costly service intervals, the HD Electra Glide is like the gift that just keeps on giving, as far as a dealer is concerned. These bikes are cash cows!
So that is my vent. I just spent a ton of money on a new motorcycle and have to spend more to make the bike "right"). The wife will probably never be completely comfortable. So I am stuck. And of course with the 2012 103CI engine, I am sure my resale value has been shot to pieces.
On a positive note, as a solo bike, I like it a lot. It steers and handles incredibly well, it feels much lighter and smaller than its size would dictate, the rear shock is a bit better suited for solo riding, the power is satisfactory, I have no buffeting, etc. The paint, chrome, fairing, saddle bags, trunk, and so forth are excellent.
By the way, I printed out this vent and mailed it to Harley Davidson Headquarters.
JackL
sell it and stay in your minivan
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
We also noticed on these first rides that the rear shocks are junk. Even with the air pressure set (using the appropriate $60 air shock pump) correctly, the ride is beyond terrible. I can see that on a Softtail, but not this bike.
Then there is the scheduled maintenance. My dealer wanted $400 for the 1,000 mile service with non-synthetic oil. 400 frigging bucks! Another dealer did it for $350. Still, that is exactly $350 more than I ever spent for service at the Kawasaki and Suzuki dealers for my last two big inch motorcycles. And soon, I have the prospect of dumping another $350 for the 5,000 mile service. And I can wrench, that's not the point. But the scheduled maintenance list for these bikes is significant. The service intervals for the Nomad consisted of changing the oil, coolant, and tightening bolts.
Then there is the scheduled maintenance. My dealer wanted $400 for the 1,000 mile service with non-synthetic oil. 400 frigging bucks! Another dealer did it for $350. Still, that is exactly $350 more than I ever spent for service at the Kawasaki and Suzuki dealers for my last two big inch motorcycles. And soon, I have the prospect of dumping another $350 for the 5,000 mile service. And I can wrench, that's not the point. But the scheduled maintenance list for these bikes is significant. The service intervals for the Nomad consisted of changing the oil, coolant, and tightening bolts.
yes, maintenance can be a bit wallet intensive, if you don't do it yourself. but as far as 'significant', that might be a stretch. most of it is checks and/or adjustments. i have friends who have metrics that spend a heck of a lot more at the dealer having service done than hd charges. routine things like having a rear tire replaced become a lot more intensive when you have a shaft drive involved. my hd dealer charges $1.00 to install a tire. how much does it cost to have the valves adjusted? hd= $0.00.
get a manual, and do the service yourself. its more rewarding and you get to know your bike better.
