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[bikerboy53]

My '10 CUSE5 is nearing the end of its factory warranty, so I took it to the dealer the other day to have some chrome issues looked at. Among other things, the chrome is bubbling on one of the muffler tips. The service writer called later and said that since my exhaust system was modified (I've got the Fullsac X-pipe and 2" muffler cores) it is no longer covered under the factory warranty! After a friendly discussion with the service writer's boss, they agreed to "look the other way" for me on this one. 

They proceeded to tell me that the factory is cracking down, and any modification can void that part of the factory warranty.  Who doesn't have a modified exhaust system, or some suspension work, or whatever?

My bike has a weave or wobble in some high speed sweepers, but since it has been lowered they don't want to look at it. The front suspension is the H-D lowering kit, but rear is Bitubo (the rear H-D lowering shocks weren't worth poop, so I took them off). The dealer installed the lowering kit too!

They also told me of an acquaintance whose extended warranty claim on a transmission repair was turned down because he had a trailer hitch on his bike. I bought an extended warranty for this bike, but now I'm thinking it may be time to cancel it and try to get some money back. (I can neither confirm nor deny the existence of any alleged trailer hitch on my bike.)

Is anyone else getting these kinds of warranty responses from their dealerships? 

[Boatman]

I think it mostly depends on the dealer regarding the items you mentioned.

Most people state the trailer hitch is a flag holder-sounds good.   

Did not buy the extended warranty.  Hope I don't need it in a bad way.  Will deal with the issues.  Can always find an answer/help from someone on this site.

FWIW

[grc]

Yes, there are other threads around here concerning that exact subject, ESP coverage denied based on the presence of a trailer hitch.  It's actually spelled out in the contract.  Try a search, there was a thread just recently.


Jerry

[bikerboy53]

Thanks guys. My dealer has always treated me well in the past, but this popped up all of a sudden.

The flag pole holder sounds good, but not sure they would buy it. 

I have the wheel & tire coverage as well as the regular ESP. Guess I'll have to see if they will let me keep the wheel & tire part and cancel the rest...

Strangely, no one mentioned anything about trailers being a no-no when I bought the ESP! 

Almost forgot to mention that my dealer sold the trailer to me, and now I get this?! 

[grc]

Thanks guys. My dealer has always treated me well in the past, but this popped up all of a sudden.

The flag pole holder sounds good, but not sure they would buy it. 

I have the wheel & tire coverage as well as the regular ESP. Guess I'll have to see if they will let me keep the wheel & tire part and cancel the rest...

Strangely, no one mentioned anything about trailers being a no-no when I bought the ESP! 

Almost forgot to mention that my dealer sold the trailer to me, and now I get this?! 

Somehow I find neither of those things terribly surprising.  And I also doubt those two facts would cut any ice when a major failure occurred and you needed to use the ESP.  The ESP company makes the decision, not the dealer, and they don't care how much the dealer mislead you.

BTW, there is a huge difference in your rights between factory warranty coverage and ESP coverage.  The factory two year warranty is regulated by Federal law, and gives you rights as well as requiring them to prove things before just blowing you off.  The ESP is a service contract that is not regulated under the warranty laws, since it isn't a warranty regardless of what people call it.  So your muffler chrome issue under the factory warranty can't just be blown off due to supposed modifications unless those modifications can be shown to be the proximate cause of the failure.  Fortunately the dealer backed off on that BS, so you didn't have to fight them.  But I suggest you haul out your contract on the ESP and read it carefully.  You will find that it specifically states they will not pay for failures if the bike is equipped to tow.  Not if they can prove you towed anything, but if the bike is just equipped to tow.

I think I'd invite that dealer to refund the entire price of the ESP, since he didn't mention the exclusion when he sold you the trailer or the contract.  Invest that money and use it to pay for any failures you experience once the warranty expires.


Jerry

[ultrafxr]

The ESP contract has a lot of 'wiggle room' all in favor of the provider.  It does not spell out in crystal clear detail exactly what not covered.  It just gives some 'examples.'  However it flatly states that if you bike is equipped (never mind if you did or not) for towing then that voids coverage.  Don't know if they would deny coverage for a bad radio for example blaming it on the presence of a trailer hitch (bad karma?).  But I guess they can just claim the entire contract null and void if you violate its terms.

Easy enough to remove the trailer hitch should you need work covered under the ESP.  Well that is unless you have a breakdown on the road.  Then all bets are off I guess.  It's a crap shoot I guess.   

[bikerboy53]

Thanks for the info guys!  I went to the dealer and had them cancel my ESP yesterday. Guess I should have paid more attention when I bought it. Of course the guy who sold the ESP (and bike) to me is retired and the "new person" is claiming ignorance. I'm hoping to get most of my money back, but they already told me that the ESP starts from the day you purchase the coverage -not the time the factory warranty expires. So I expect to lose at least two years worth of the 7 year fee + whatever they charge me to cancel the ESP contract. Nobody could tell me what the cancellation fee will be... I'm not expecting much, but I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised -NOT! 

[JDOFLHRIDER]

I was thinking they might have to show how a trailer is any differet then overloaded tour pak and saddlebags when trailer only has 35-50 of hitch weight less. might be like a non-harley oil  warrenty thing.

[Midnight Rider]

I was thinking they might have to show how a trailer is any differet then overloaded tour pak and saddlebags when trailer only has 35-50 of hitch weight less. might be like a non-harley oil  warrenty thing.

Regardless of tongue weight, you're still moving the mass down the road.  Bottom line is that a motorcycle is not designed as a tow vehicle, so if you have any problems with the drive train, you could be hosed.

[HOGMIKE]

My '10 CUSE5 is nearing the end of its factory warranty, so I took it to the dealer the other day to have some chrome issues looked at. Among other things, the chrome is bubbling on one of the muffler tips. The service writer called later and said that since my exhaust system was modified (I've got the Fullsac X-pipe and 2" muffler cores) it is no longer covered under the factory warranty! After a friendly discussion with the service writer's boss, they agreed to "look the other way" for me on this one. 

They proceeded to tell me that the factory is cracking down, and any modification can void that part of the factory warranty.  Who doesn't have a modified exhaust system, or some suspension work, or whatever?

My bike has a weave or wobble in some high speed sweepers, but since it has been lowered they don't want to look at it. The front suspension is the H-D lowering kit, but rear is Bitubo (the rear H-D lowering shocks weren't worth poop, so I took them off). The dealer installed the lowering kit too!

They also told me of an acquaintance whose extended warranty claim on a transmission repair was turned down because he had a trailer hitch on his bike. I bought an extended warranty for this bike, but now I'm thinking it may be time to cancel it and try to get some money back. (I can neither confirm nor deny the existence of any alleged trailer hitch on my bike.)

Is anyone else getting these kinds of warranty responses from their dealerships? 

Yep, all true!
Most depends on your relationship with your home dealer IME
 

[timo482]

in the past this whole "tow" thing was one of the really good arguments for a hd sidecar.

a ultra with a sidecar is rated at 1600~ lb gvw and the esp is in full force. i once had a dealer try and charge me to take the sidecar off for warranty work - i made a fuss... turns out the dealer has to do the repairs and if they cant do it with the sidecar on taking it off and putting it back on is there problem. good dealers long ago figured out how to unbolt the front body mounts of the sidecar and strap the body vertically to a stand so they could work on the bike without taking the sidecar mounts and brakes apart.

of course now they stopped making sidecars so its mute but what the h

to

[bbiehl]

I have a very good relationship with my local dealer.  I was HOG director for a couple years and my wife & I have been officers for many years.  When I bought mine, I asked about the trailer hitch, which was going to be used for flags (PGR since Nov. 2006).  They were honest and said you didn't want to do that.  Even if it wasn't intended for a trailer, it would void the warranty.  So, I just had to keep the 2003 Fatboy with the flags and ride the CUSE5 without flags, at least until the warranty expires!    ;-)   Seems like a good reason for 2 bikes!!

[bikerboy53]

in the past this whole "tow" thing was one of the really good arguments for a hd sidecar.

A couple of years ago the Service Mgr was trying to back out on a Factory Warranty issue by telling me that the warranty didn't cover trailers. I read thru the entire warranty with him and he couldn't show me where it says that. Then I brought up the point of a side car putting more unbalanced forces on the bike and at least as much weight as a trailer. He conceded and agreed to cover my claim. As you said tho, no more side cars now! :

Now they've hired some new people, and the new guys are back to telling me that a trailer voids the factory warranty!

Too bad Harley doesn't wake up and smell the money! Polaris sells a (very nice looking) trailer to tow behind their reverse trike. It's set up so that when you plug the trailer in, the bike knows it's there and revises some settings to adjust for it.

I have a very good relationship with my local dealer.  I was HOG director for a couple years and my wife & I have been officers for many years.  When I bought mine, I asked about the trailer hitch, which was going to be used for flags (PGR since Nov. 2006).  They were honest and said you didn't want to do that.  Even if it wasn't intended for a trailer, it would void the warranty.  So, I just had to keep the 2003 Fatboy with the flags and ride the CUSE5 without flags, at least until the warranty expires!    ;-)   Seems like a good reason for 2 bikes!!

I've had a pretty good relationship with my dealer and been a HOG officer for the last 10 years. Everything from Head Road Captain (multiple times) up to Assistant Director and Director (twice each). I'm taking a year off from being an officer this year tho. Maybe the dealer's pissed about that?!