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[RedDevil]

Sadly, that gives a clear idea of just how poor H-D's quality and reliability is.  These days a Harley is one of the very few products that really needs an ESP.


Jerry

Not necessarily true Jerry.  I wish I would have had an ESP on my Wing. Would have saved me about $4000 in shaft, rear wheel bearing failure, and engine repair.  And the only thing I've had to use an ESP on my HD's was for a front engine mount, 2 front tires (screw and nail) and a rear tire (another screw). 
 

[bribe36]

The tire was worn down to the point where it needed to be replaced, there were over 26,000 km on the tire. No cupping.

[grc]

The tire was worn down to the point where it needed to be replaced, there were over 26,000 km on the tire. No cupping.

In that case, the new tire should not have been at no charge.  I have no idea why your dealer did that, perhaps a mistake?


Jerry

[Keats]

I will only include the ESP part
where I have to pay $50.00 deductible every time

Starter paid $50 got a chrome unit N/C
Heated grips twice and I now need a third set
Compensator SE they paid that all
Jugs
Pistons
Gaskets
2 radios only paid 1 ded $50.00
 
seems like that as far as the ESP I might look at it and believe I am ahead,
but some how I do not feel that way

Bike has been down at least 8 months out of the 3 yrs and 9 months I have had it.......

[Heatwave]

There were many issues initially with the '09 front tires cupping severely, and Harley did finally agree to replace the worst of them.  Was your tire severely cupped but still had significant measureable tread left?  That would be the only reason I can think of why they would replace an otherwise undamaged tire for free.


Jerry

The cupping was caused by the tread being reversed on the front tire of the 2009's. If you have a 2009 touring bike with the original front tire, you need to compare the tread with your buddies on your next ride. You'll see the the tread on the early 2009's runs in the opposite direction of all newer touring bikes. In fact if you check out any touring bike since the 2009's, the front tread runs in the exact opposite direction as the rear tread pattern. Dunlop tried to get the MoCo to reverse the tread direction on the 2009's and HD thought that would confuse customers. The end result was cupping and HD replacing a whole bunch of front tires on 2009 touring bikes.

Now front and rear tire tread patterns run in oppositie directions.

[grc]

While individual customers definitely can get their money's worth and then some, we need to always remember that ultimately the average person is getting hosed on an ESP.  For every person getting $5000 worth of repairs for their $2000 ESP purchase, there is also a group of folks who seldom ride and never have a claim.  Overall, out of all the "premiums" paid for the ESP, even after all the claims there are plenty of profits for H-D, the dealers, and the actual ESP company.  The only way that can happen is that there are many many folks (the majority) who never get their money's worth.  Kind of like playing the Lottery if you know what I mean.


Jerry

[Heatwave]

While individual customers definitely can get their money's worth and then some, we need to always remember that ultimately the average person is getting hosed on an ESP.  For every person getting $5000 worth of repairs for their $2000 ESP purchase, there is also a group of folks who seldom ride and never have a claim.  Overall, out of all the "premiums" paid for the ESP, even after all the claims there are plenty of profits for H-D, the dealers, and the actual ESP company.  The only way that can happen is that there are many many folks (the majority) who never get their money's worth.  Kind of like playing the Lottery if you know what I mean.


Jerry

That's very true but just like gambling in a casino there are "loser's" games (the big wheel) and there are games with odd much more favorable to the player (black jack & baccarat). Getting a return on an ESP with a very simple and well developed bike like a Sporty may not be a wise investment. However if you can get a deeply discounted ESP with Wheel & Tire coverage on a complex bike like an SE Ultra, it could have much have better odds of "paying off". Considering that an SE Ultra has heated seats, heated grips, ABS brakes, CB, Rider/Passenger Intercom, XM radio, Garage door opener, power locks, cruise control, LED interior lighting in the saddlebags and TP... there's alot of technology that can go bad over 5, 6 or 7 years of ownership.

I think the more complex the bike is, weighed against the discount you can negotiate is the best formula for deciding if the bet is in your favor or favors the "house". I think the $1000 I paid for 5 yr coverage including wheel and tire on an SE Ultra is probably a smart and good bet. I've already paid $0 for new heated grips in less than 2 yrs of ownership. Over the course of the next 3 yrs, I'll be very surprised if some of the technology above doesn't need to be replaced.

[CVOStreetglide]

The cupping was caused by the tread being reversed on the front tire of the 2009's. If you have a 2009 touring bike with the original front tire, you need to compare the tread with your buddies on your next ride. You'll see the the tread on the early 2009's runs in the opposite direction of all newer touring bikes. In fact if you check out any touring bike since the 2009's, the front tread runs in the exact opposite direction as the rear tread pattern. Dunlop tried to get the MoCo to reverse the tread direction on the 2009's and HD thought that would confuse customers. The end result was cupping and HD replacing a whole bunch of front tires on 2009 touring bikes.

Now front and rear tire tread patterns run in oppositie directions.

Some dealers figured this out early on and just remounted the tire with the rotational arrows pointed the wrong way until the MOCO told them to stop and replace the tire with the designated new ones.  

It seems that during the manufacturing process, a worker was putting the tires in the forming machine that placed the rotation arrows on the casings the wrong way.   OJT at it's best.

[Trapperdog]

ESP  on my '07 so far: 2 starter clutches, 2 inner primary bearing, shifter shaft seal, 2 compensators, primary chain, radio rebuild, and base gaskets,.  Most failures at different times.  Even at $50 a pop I still saved a bundle
(I have another long list for repairs done under regular warrantee)

[Sledge]

Geez man if even half of that stuff craps out on my 2011 SEUC I'll be one unhappy camper....

[Midnight Rider]

Geez man if even half of that stuff craps out on my 2011 SEUC I'll be one unhappy camper....

07's had the most problems.  HD let the consumer do the R&D on those bikes.

[AZ Sparky]

My wife hit a pothole and just bent both rims on her Softail deluxe.....have the ESP with tire and wheel...both rims replaced no problem. With labor it came close to the price of the warranty.

That worked out very well then!