Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[bikerbehaviorist]

3rd time that I am going to be with out the bike for over a week. I think I have had it with this bike. My dealer is willing to work with me. I am not sure exactly what that means, but I have to decide if I go the next step. I am thinking a street or road glide with a 103 kit. Or he is selling Ultra's with quick disconnect tour packs that may be I would also put a 103 kit in.... What would you do?

[bikerbehaviorist]

Any one know about the compatibility of a corbin solo for an 08 with an 09?

[ace07fxdl]

Whats wrong with your SERK? Not generally but specifically if you don't mind. I'm not a happy camper either but not giving up on the bike. Its too good of a bike for that. Whats up with yours?

[bikerbehaviorist]

Well.... I brought in for the warranty work and I had been noticing some blow by so I asked them to take a look at that too. I guess the mechanic could pour oil out of the intake. Said valve seals and seats looked good, did a leak down and got front: 10, 10, 11 which I am told is low and rear: 5, 5, 6. They will not know until it is all tore down but think it is rings, pistons or cylinders or two of three or all three. So we are talking have the bike down for a week to ten days.... I went through this just after buying the bike with the head gasket and it was more like 2 weeks because they couldn't get parts...I just do not feel like I can trust this motor at all. That is why I am thinking 09 with a 103 kit. Do the road glides handle better than the street glides??? How about the Ultra??

[skyhook]

that's a tough decision...on one hand there are some of us who have fixed the 110 issues on our own dime...cams, oil cooler, dyno tune with power commander or mastertune...about $2k...then your bike is as reliable as any other '08...on the other hand the '09 chassis improvements are nice...how much money will you lose on the trade?

[Gecko]

I'd say anything to get away from a 110 is a good move.  When I bought mine I had a friend along who was thinking of upgrading a 96 to a 110 and the dealer said more than once that he should think about going to a 103 instead.  I don't know if he knew anything already, but he sure tried steering him away from it.  It's what I would have done if I'd known what they were like.

[bikerbehaviorist]

that's a tough decision...on one hand there are some of us who have fixed the 110 issues on our own dime...cams, oil cooler, dyno tune with power commander or mastertune...about $2k...then your bike is as reliable as any other '08...on the other hand the '09 chassis improvements are nice...how much money will you lose on the trade?

For me I think it is more a matter of after market cylinders and pistons - can not remember the name of them but actel or axtel I think ...? Maybe a different cam, from the sound of it probably different heads and/or head work and lets not forget that there may be a problem some day with the crankpin and thus the flywheels how much is this all going to cost and there goes any warranty even probably for things like a starter gone bad etc.... So I guess I could sell back my warranty and have engine work done...... not sure of the cost of the engine work though??? Maybe I will go look it up.
In terms of what I would loose it kinda depends. I probably would not take less than 26K or trade equivalent I paid out the door 33K with out the warranty so that would be a 7k bath..... But I have but 17K on it and had it a year.... the things that worry me are things like will my $900 Corbin seat that I love fit a new bike.... How much will I get for my 2 mo old dead center fairing if I do not do a roadking and do not need it.... and how much will I put into something new once I get it - I know I will it would be my 3rd Harley and the first two were both cases of Harleyspenit.

[Black Diamond]

For me I think it is more a matter of after market cylinders and pistons - can not remember the name of them but actel or axtel I think ...? Maybe a different cam, from the sound of it probably different heads and/or head work and lets not forget that there may be a problem some day with the crankpin and thus the flywheels how much is this all going to cost and there goes any warranty even probably for things like a starter gone bad etc.... So I guess I could sell back my warranty and have engine work done...... not sure of the cost of the engine work though??? Maybe I will go look it up.
In terms of what I would loose it kinda depends. I probably would not take less than 26K or trade equivalent I paid out the door 33K with out the warranty so that would be a 7k bath..... But I have but 17K on it and had it a year.... the things that worry me are things like will my $900 Corbin seat that I love fit a new bike.... How much will I get for my 2 mo old dead center fairing if I do not do a roadking and do not need it.... and how much will I put into something new once I get it - I know I will it would be my 3rd Harley and the first two were both cases of Harleyspenit.

I hear you brother! Mine started leaking with less than 3800 miles on her. I replaced the cylinders with Axtells. Have an additional 8500 miles on them. No problems at all with leaks. Easy answer for me as I think this bike is a great platform. It isn't right to have to invest so much more but it's an individual choice.

JW

[56FLE]

For me I think it is more a matter of after market cylinders and pistons - can not remember the name of them but actel or axtel I think ...? Maybe a different cam, from the sound of it probably different heads and/or head work and lets not forget that there may be a problem some day with the crankpin and thus the flywheels how much is this all going to cost and there goes any warranty even probably for things like a starter gone bad etc.... So I guess I could sell back my warranty and have engine work done...... not sure of the cost of the engine work though??? Maybe I will go look it up.
In terms of what I would loose it kinda depends. I probably would not take less than 26K or trade equivalent I paid out the door 33K with out the warranty so that would be a 7k bath..... But I have but 17K on it and had it a year.... the things that worry me are things like will my $900 Corbin seat that I love fit a new bike.... How much will I get for my 2 mo old dead center fairing if I do not do a roadking and do not need it.... and how much will I put into something new once I get it - I know I will it would be my 3rd Harley and the first two were both cases of Harleyspenit.

The new head gasket fix is working and if they replace your top end you should not have problems up top anymore. After I got the new head gaskets I put on about 9K miles before a lifter roller bearing broke into pieces and broke my motor, had 24.5K on the bike before that happened but I did not have any head gasket leaks.

Taking a bath on a trade-in instead of just having HD fix the motor under warranty seems like a high price to pay for missing a couple weeks of riding. Take the money you save from not trading and adding the 103 kit to a stock 09 and just rent a bike while yours is in the shop. If you can rent a bike for 100/day, one week is only 700.

I was in Salem OR. two days ago where they replaced my motor, saw an 09 SE Ultra Classic and asked what they would give me in trade for my 08 SERK with 24.5K miles, they only offered $21,000 in trade blaming high mileage and 1 year old even with a new motor.

[bikerbehaviorist]

The new head gasket fix is working and if they replace your top end you should not have problems up top anymore. After I got the new head gaskets I put on about 9K miles before a lifter roller bearing broke into pieces and broke my motor, had 24.5K on the bike before that happened but I did not have any head gasket leaks.

Taking a bath on a trade-in instead of just having HD fix the motor under warranty seems like a high price to pay for missing a couple weeks of riding. Take the money you save from not trading and adding the 103 kit to a stock 09 and just rent a bike while yours is in the shop. If you can rent a bike for 100/day, one week is only 700.

I was in Salem OR. two days ago where they replaced my motor, saw an 09 SE Ultra Classic and asked what they would give me in trade for my 08 SERK with 24.5K miles, they only offered $21,000 in trade blaming high mileage and 1 year old even with a new motor.

Yes I am hearing from folks that "the fix" is working and I could rent a bike, my extended service plan will even pay me toward a rental, but how many times am I going to have to do this. I guess I will have to see what the bottom line with my dealer is. I will probably rent a bike later in the week and where I rent the bike they will be having their demo days and I will ride a few 09's. Maybe I will even talk to the service manager about the Axtell P's and C's?

[skyhook]

the axtell cylinders are a great idea if you don't mind spending the money...I'd also recommend changing the cams...the stock cams make too much compression and heat, which I believe are the causes of the leaks...unfortunately harley doesn't make an ideal cam for 110's...the 203 and 204 are too small....the 211 and 251 are too big unless you raise compression....I like the yuill 14 and t-man 525

[Gone Fishin']

Hi, when reading your post you seem to have an issue with the engine. So why are you considering other models with the same engine? If your dealer can not fix your engine, go elsewhere to get it sorted out. The SERK is a great bike and you should not suffer from the engine issues! Otherwise how about getting a stock '09 Road King with a 103 stroker kit? Just my thoughts here.

Ride safely,
Louis

[kojak]

Well.... I brought in for the warranty work and I had been noticing some blow by so I asked them to take a look at that too. I guess the mechanic could pour oil out of the intake. Said valve seals and seats looked good, did a leak down and got front: 10, 10, 11 which I am told is low and rear: 5, 5, 6. They will not know until it is all tore down but think it is rings, pistons or cylinders or two of three or all three. So we are talking have the bike down for a week to ten days.... I went through this just after buying the bike with the head gasket and it was more like 2 weeks because they couldn't get parts...I just do not feel like I can trust this motor at all. That is why I am thinking 09 with a 103 kit. Do the road glides handle better than the street glides??? How about the Ultra??

I traded my 07 SERK for a 09 Ultra. It's my second glide in 5 years. They are good handling, very comfortable bikes that you can safely modify to get some extra pop. I liked the SERK but for me, the Ultra was much better.

[bikerbehaviorist]

louis and kojak2 I am very  much leaning in that direction. There is a possibility of an 04 electraglide classic screaming eagle that I am looking at with low milage, or why give up six speed and new frame and go FLHTC - I like the two tone flame blue and pewter on the web with ABS, security, cruise, ca emissions, freight and tax we are talking a out 24K I hoping that they can do the 103 for 2k more and then docking of the tourpack say for $500 and we are at 26500. Wonder if I can transfer my warranty or just sell it back and use what's left to extend what is on the new bike??? I still would have paid around 7K for a bike for a year but I think this would make me happy. I could sell my brand new dead center fairing and perhaps get an amp and SERT - I just put away $400 for a tune so... and then maybe if it will not fit sell my corbin seat too.
Louis yes they "should" be able to fix the engine, but from what I am reading around here and elsewhere, what that requires is about the 7k (read JIMS 120" and all that needs to go along with that) that I am losing. So sink more in or have a brand new bike??

[FNGw/08SERK]

louis and kojak2 I am very  much leaning in that direction. There is a possibility of an 04 electraglide classic screaming eagle that I am looking at with low milage, or why give up six speed and new frame and go FLHTC - I like the two tone flame blue and pewter on the web with ABS, security, cruise, ca emissions, freight and tax we are talking a out 24K I hoping that they can do the 103 for 2k more and then docking of the tourpack say for $500 and we are at 26500. Wonder if I can transfer my warranty or just sell it back and use what's left to extend what is on the new bike??? I still would have paid around 7K for a bike for a year but I think this would make me happy. I could sell my brand new dead center fairing and perhaps get an amp and SERT - I just put away $400 for a tune so... and then maybe if it will not fit sell my corbin seat too.
Louis yes they "should" be able to fix the engine, but from what I am reading around here and elsewhere, what that requires is about the 7k (read JIMS 120" and all that needs to go along with that) that I am losing. So sink more in or have a brand new bike??

BB, I have the same SERK and have given this thought myself. Seems to me, reading your post, either way the cost is "similar". Seems like it comes down to which type of scoot you would like to ride. 6-7 grand in the SERK instead of trade in loss and you still have a new bike. The other alternative is to ride it out for another year and then take a pulse. JMO

Howie