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[HogBreath]

As some of you know, I recently bought a V-Rod. The survey/questioneer came in the mail today. Mostly the survey is looking to "Grade" the dealer and my sales experience. I gave my dealer the best score possible on every question. At the end it asks for any comments I might have about HD motorcycles. 

In summary I responded:

I've bought six motorcycles from this dealer over the years. It's obvious from my answers that I'm 100% satisfied with my dealer.  If you'll notice question #10 I didn't give a favorable response. (It asks if I'd buy another HD motorcycle). I then went through the spill of the head gasket leaks.

I was very civil in my response. I think I've been very civil throughout the problems I've had. I'm simply patiently awaiting a TRUE fix. I did tell them I'm a member of a club with hundreds of riders of their CVO bikes and a VERY VERY large percentage of them have the same problem. I then challenged them to have a HD technician call and discuss it with me. I left my cell number, my work number, and my home number. 

My bet is I'll never hear a word. That seems to me to be the way of the world anymore. It's not just HD. Business people have that attitude everywhere. I'm just one guy. I don't make a difference. It doesn't MATTER whether I'm satisifed or not.

I'm a General contractor. I get most of my business from repeat customers. If one of my customers sent me a survey with that type of response, I wouldn't call him over the phone. I'd find out where he lived and I'd go to see him. I'd look him in the eye and he'd KNOW that I'd make it 100% right. If that didn't satisfy him, I'd offer to put it in writing. Sadly though, I don't expect to hear anything.

[Unbalanced]

JGandara,

Many of the bikes had to be clearanced, because of noise / tapping being heard from the top end.   Many of the 07 110's that I have come across has had this problem.   In the rocker box they must remove material from the rocker box itself so that the springs/retainers arent hitting the rocker box thus making a tapping noise.   Some dealerships do a better job of this than others.   I saw Rhino's and it looked like someone did it as fast as possible  (a real hack job) and he ended up reremoving the rocker boxes and cleaned them up himself as he was not satisfied they took enough material off, because he was still hearing knocking from the top end.    I would hope you don't have a problem, but if they are willing to do it under warranty let them go ahead especially if you are hearing a lot of tapping in the top end.   In some cases if they are hitting they will ding (make an indentation) the rockerbox enough that the noise goes away in other cases you will see a mark / marks in the rockerbox where they are continually making contact and continue to do so until clearanced correctly. 

The SE 260 Cam if memory serves me right comes with a template to help show you where to remove the material in the rocker box to clearance it correctly for that cam.

Hope this helps explain it,

[SilverDawg]

As some of you know, I recently bought a V-Rod. The survey/questioneer came in the mail today. Mostly the survey is looking to "Grade" the dealer and my sales experience. I gave my dealer the best score possible on every question. At the end it asks for any comments I might have about HD motorcycles. 

In summary I responded:

I've bought six motorcycles from this dealer over the years. It's obvious from my answers that I'm 100% satisfied with my dealer.  If you'll notice question #10 I didn't give a favorable response. (It asks if I'd buy another HD motorcycle). I then went through the spill of the head gasket leaks.

I was very civil in my response. I think I've been very civil throughout the problems I've had. I'm simply patiently awaiting a TRUE fix. I did tell them I'm a member of a club with hundreds of riders of their CVO bikes and a VERY VERY large percentage of them have the same problem. I then challenged them to have a HD technician call and discuss it with me. I left my cell number, my work number, and my home number. 

My bet is I'll never hear a word. That seems to me to be the way of the world anymore. It's not just HD. Business people have that attitude everywhere. I'm just one guy. I don't make a difference. It doesn't MATTER whether I'm satisifed or not.

I'm a General contractor. I get most of my business from repeat customers. If one of my customers sent me a survey with that type of response, I wouldn't call him over the phone. I'd find out where he lived and I'd go to see him. I'd look him in the eye and he'd KNOW that I'd make it 100% right. If that didn't satisfy him, I'd offer to put it in writing. Sadly though, I don't expect to hear anything.

Ken,

Great comment. 

BTS, with your approach to business, you could build something for me anytime  (just not sure what it is you build , but with an attitude like yours, it would have to be good ).    I'll even wear a pair of bibs to the closing!!

[Coyote.]

Wow! I've been too busy for awhile to post or read much. My little survey has gone to many pages. I stopped counting a while back. My local HD dealership told me they no longer wanted my business as I continued to ask for a fixed bike. I guess 50k spent meant nothing to them. My 07 SE is not leaking at the moment but still is not running right. If you find yourself in the Sacramento area, my advise is to avoid the Sacramento and Elk Grove dealerships. Both are owned by the same guy who would not fix my problems and told me to vamous. I considered moving on to another bike but I really do like the Harley. So I will be taking mine to an indy to see if I can get this stuff fixed once and for all. Wishing all of you SE owners the best on Christmas Day! 

[vagabond6542]

Wow! I've been too busy for awhile to post or read much. My little survey has gone to many pages. I stopped counting a while back. My local HD dealership told me they no longer wanted my business as I continued to ask for a fixed bike. I guess 50k spent meant nothing to them. My 07 SE is not leaking at the moment but still is not running right. If you find yourself in the Sacramento area, my advise is to avoid the Sacramento and Elk Grove dealerships. Both are owned by the same guy who would not fix my problems and told me to vamous. I considered moving on to another bike but I really do like the Harley. So I will be taking mine to an indy to see if I can get this stuff fixed once and for all. Wishing all of you SE owners the best on Christmas Day! 

Just out of curiosity, did you post the Dealerships name for the "Bad Dealerships"?
Before going off to another bike, what have you tried that will fix the 07 SE?
If your problem is pinging and detonation, try changing the heads to a better configured set of heads.  Its doable.
JMHHO

[Coyote.]

Just out of curiosity, did you post the Dealerships name for the "Bad Dealerships"?
Before going off to another bike, what have you tried that will fix the 07 SE?
If your problem is pinging and detonation, try changing the heads to a better configured set of heads.  Its doable.
JMHHO

Yes IMO these are bad dealerships. Neither could fix the bike and in spite of the fact I purchased it from them, and paid for pipes, a/c, sert and labor, it's still not fixed and they no longer will even look at it. The heads and pistons have been replaced twice. The bike still has the dreaded idle problem, sometimes idling 2-3k rpm and sometimes dieing when coming to a stop. It's not too bad about pinging unless it gets above 230 which only happens in extended slow speeds.

I will be taking it to an independent to see what they have to say. I guess we'll see.

[Steve_G]

Yes IMO these are bad dealerships. Neither could fix the bike and in spite of the fact I purchased it from them, and paid for pipes, a/c, sert and labor, it's still not fixed and they no longer will even look at it. The heads and pistons have been replaced twice. The bike still has the dreaded idle problem, sometimes idling 2-3k rpm and sometimes dieing when coming to a stop. It's not too bad about pinging unless it gets above 230 which only happens in extended slow speeds.

I will be taking it to an independent to see what they have to say. I guess we'll see.

You shouldn't have to go anywhere but to a Harley dealer.  If you haven't done so, call the Harley customer service department and get somebody to contact your local dealer to get it fixed.  I had to do this on my '06, and next time I showed up at the dealer, it was a different story.  They finally fixed my problem. (Please don't tell me you have tried this already and still can't get help)!  -Good luck. 

[Coyote.]

You shouldn't have to go anywhere but to a Harley dealer.  If you haven't done so, call the Harley customer service department and get somebody to contact your local dealer to get it fixed.  I had to do this on my '06, and next time I showed up at the dealer, it was a different story.  They finally fixed my problem. (Please don't tell me you have tried this already and still can't get help)!  -Good luck. 

The factory CS Rep sent me to these guys. Sorry!

[vagabond6542]

The factory CS Rep sent me to these guys. Sorry!

Do you have any other dealerships nearby to work on the Scoot?
And please don't say that didn't get it done also.

[ride on]

07 flhtcuse/2 At 3800 miles I noticed oil at the base of the rear cylinder.Took it to dealer they called back and said it was the base o-ring and the case halves.They removed the engine resealed case halves and reassembled with all new gaskets and seals. Replaced loose cylinder studs.Clearanced rocker boxes.I only road 100 miles till winter set in. Will have to wait until spring to see if it works.

[derekkey]

Greetings from Poland
New to the group but seems like We all speak same language.

I had first oil leak after about 1000 miles. That time I thought it was my fault and the engine is OK. Then I took a ~5000 miles trip around Europe. During the road I did an engine review in Zurich (Switzerland) and they said I have green light to continue my trip (looks like they did not know about the problem with 110's). Although I heard some strange noise and felt engine heat I reconfirmed what they sad and continued the trip. What was my surpirse when after geting back to Poland my dealer arrested my motorcycle in service facility for 2 months and 20 days. Finally the whole engine was replaced.

Now after reading Your posts I am wondering whether replacement will change anything. I see that the problems are still there even after fixes. Because my warranty period will end in few months and I plan another 10000 miles trip for 2008 I wonder if I should stick to FLHTCUSE2, change to newer version or buy Goldwing.

Do You know whether FLHTCUSE3 has the same problem?

Regards
Darek

[ccr]

Greetings from Poland
...Because my warranty period will end in few months and I plan another 10000 miles trip for 2008 I wonder if I should stick to FLHTCUSE2, change to newer version or buy Goldwing.

Do You know whether FLHTCUSE3 has the same problem?

Regards
Darek

Darek, welcome by the way.  Sorry you have had problems with your bike.  Can you buy the extended warranty that goes out to seven years like we can here in the US?   

[derekkey]

Good idea. Thank You.
I will check that on Monday with a dealer.

Darek

[Eqcons]

Good idea. Thank You.
I will check that on Monday with a dealer.

Darek

Historically we've never been able to buy any extended warranty in Europe, Darek, but last August/September they introduced a sort of package to extend the warranty to 4 years, including HOG membership and so on, so perhaps you can get that.

Yes, the problem still exists with the 08 models - which is good from our point of view as it means the MoCo still have to work to find a fix for ours too.

Stick with the HD - a Goldwing has no soul - and the problem will eventually have a fix!   

Jim

[derekkey]

Thank You for the information about a warraty.

I plan 15 000 KM trip around Europe for July 2008.
Although I love my Electra though of having a motorcycle that can stop working e.g. in Giblartar makes me scared of costs that I woul have to bare with.