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[FXD_TG]

Friend had his ESP claim denied because he had a hitch on his FLHR.

How many of y'all who pull trailers with your bikes have gone with the ESP and what's been your experience?

[JCZ]

Did you think about doing this as a poll?

[MIKEYTEE]

All I know is that I was told by my dealer that only the clutch and brakes would not be covered. Of course they were trying to sell me a new bike. My bike has been out of warranty forever so it doesn't matter to me. They will tell you anything to sell you something, s
Some dealers like their customers and will take care of then even if you pull a trailer, mine won't.
Mike
 

[dmnrdn]

Took my 07 Ultra in an they checked run out esp sad pull the motor and we will come in and look at it. ESP guy shows up and sees hitch. Takes pictures and denies claim. It was 6 days from being out of warranty. Was a bent shaft (sent motor to TMan and he found it). Really cannot complain as I had gotten my monies worth out of the ESP. I guess this was the first time they sent someone to see it.

A friend had his RG CVO eat a a cam roller while on a trip.  That dealer removed his trailer hitch & wiring and ESP replaced his motor.  New cases with his VIN and everything else but the heads & TB

Basically it depends on how the dealer treats you.

Fine print in warranty states the presence of the hitch void things

[grc]

I think the few responses so far are all you need to understand that this subject is just a crap shoot.  The contract specifically states trailer towing will void the contract (and not just part of it, the whole thing).  Some dealerships will look the other way and try to fly a repair past the ESP folks, some will not.  And neither the dealership nor the customer has any control over whether or not the ESP company will send a rep out to inspect and preapprove or deny a claim.  They have been doing a lot more of that in recent years, as the quality of Harley's stuff has gotten worse and the claims cost has risen.  Harley also does more of this prior approval required stuff for the factory warranty as well, for the same reason. 

So it boils down to that old Dirty Harry expression, "Do you feel lucky?".  If you do have an ESP and experience a failure of anything covered by the ESP, you would be smart to remove the hitch and wiring before taking the bike to a shop for repairs.  Even if it's a problem with an unrelated part, like a bad gauge for instance, an inspector could still cancel the contract and deny the claim if he saw the hitch and/or trailer wiring.  You roll the dice, and live with the results.  Such is life.

Jerry

[ultrarider123]

I agree with Jerry and others on this.  If you spend $1,700 or more on an extended warranty and then do something to the bike that voids that warranty, you are taking a chance.  If you know your choice of add-ons will void something that expensive, why pay for it in the first place?  We read all kinds of posts from folks mad at the ESP provider because a claim was denied but never mind the trailer hitch, tuner, header pipe, etc. that was installed knowing good and well it voided the ESP.  It's like the guy that gets a ticket for 70 in a 65 zone.  They get mad at the police officer but they were the one that took the chance in breaking the law.  Don't waste the money on an ESP if you plan to take a chance on voiding it.  Take that money and put it in a set-aside savings account and mod to your hearts content....

[JCZ]

It's interesting that dragging a side car along (probably much heavier than a Bushtec) will not void the warranty but pulling a trailer from the rear will. 

[JCZ]

Yes... Decided to go analog.

I think more trailer owners would have responded more directly if it were a poll (anonimously).  Otherwise.....I'm pleadin NOT GUILTY yer honor! 

[Fired00d]

It's interesting that dragging a side car along (probably much heavier than a Bushtec) will not void the warranty but pulling a trailer from the rear will. 

I thought the MoCo voided the warranty if you attached a side car.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[grc]

I thought the MoCo voided the warranty if you attached a side car.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

Some models in the past were made to be used with sidecars, but I'm not aware of that being the case since they redesigned the frame in 2009.  I know Harley no longer sells or offers sidecars since they jumped into the Trike market.  And knowing H-D, I have no doubt if someone grafted a sidecar onto a late model bike they would void the warranty in a heartbeat.

Jerry