Nope, I'm right there with you. As an old shade tree guy for almost 54 years now, I do have a certain amount of appreciation for just doing what it takes to get something working. But I don't expect shade tree crap from a manufacturer on a new highly overpriced piece of equipment. For the prices they charge, I expect first class engineering and quality. I guess that's why I've refused to buy anything from them in many years now. I often question if they actually have an engineering department at all, or do they just farm everything out to their lowest bidder suppliers?
Jerry
Your remark suggests another question Jerry. The supply chain. In a normal relationship a supplier (for a worst case scenario think of Takata) will suffer charge backs or other negotiated costs/penalties if their engineering or manufacturing is deficient and incurs costs on a final assembler or up-chain manufacturer.
If that final OE has guidelines or poor engineering/assembly that leads to the problems the suppliers simply bail. The trade press, however, doesn't say much about Harley suppliers bailing on them. They're not captive suppliers. So can't help but wonder how much of the all too common problems seen are (at that level of negotiation) recognized by Harley to be Harley's fault so recovery costs aren't pushed downhill or, if not, what else is unreported in the background.