Print

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

[SDCVO]

You might want to go on a BMW forum before you pull the trigger. If you think you have problems with HD customer service....

[Robmay]

Phantom, I ended up selling mine to a friend. Sometimes I wish I had kept it for just me to ride, but I rarely ride anywhere except to work without mama. She had severe issues with the wind on the backseat and pretty much hated to ride on it. It is a wonderful bike and a lot of others enjoy riding it two up. If you can, find a dealer that has a demo and take a good long test ride or two. Once you learn how to work all the adjustments it's a blast. You can really tell the difference in them too (sport vs touring suspension, rain vs full throttle etc).

Dealer I bought mine from seemed like good people. Owner came over and shook my hand after I made my deposit. He was in the parking lot moving bikes to the inside at the end of the day and came over to my truck when he saw me.  Seemed to really appreciate our business. I never had to use them for service so I can't speak of that. Dealers are like everything else, there are good ones and bad ones. I have to travel 100 miles one way for a good one when I have one 3 miles from my office and several more between me and the one I use now. Don't get rid of a bike nor buy one based on dealer service.

[Phantom309]

SDCVO, I have alot more reading to do before I jump the gun. I'm just really anxious to go ride one after hearing all the good stuff about the GTL.

Rob, that sucks u couldn't keep it. I do the majority of my riding solo & the service alone is by no means y I considered trading mine ... just pissed at HD period for many of the same reasons other people are. I never had any loyalty to any particular brand of bike since I've had quite a few in the past. I ride whatever puts the biggest grin on my face & sometimes I want a change too. I bet u made your buddy's day! 

[Robmay]

SDCVO, I have alot more reading to do before I jump the gun. I'm just really anxious to go ride one after hearing all the good stuff about the GTL.

Rob, that sucks u couldn't keep it. I do the majority of my riding solo & the service alone is by no means y I considered trading mine ... just pissed at HD period for many of the same reasons other people are. I never had any loyalty to any particular brand of bike since I've had quite a few in the past. I ride whatever puts the biggest grin on my face & sometimes I want a change too. I bet u made your buddy's day! 

That's the exact reason I bought mine to start with.

My buddy had recently gotten a divorce after a bunch of years being married. He's also an engineer so he really appreciates the engineering of the bike. He has been riding every chance he gets.

[Phantom309]

I finally got to ride the 1600 GTL today & it was alot of fun but I didn't care for it. The power is unbelieveable ... I wrung it out a little going up I-79 & it got up to 125 without breaking a sweat, that was fast enough for me. I never had the tach over 6k to do so & it had a redline of 8500. Cruising around town at 40mph in 6th at about 1500 still had decent torque just rolling it on. The thing feels like sitting on a crotch rocket & not as comfortable as mine. The one thing I hated most & would never be able to live with was all driveline lash ... its terrible. Very easily getting on/off the throttle you're constantly feeling & hearing a clunk, there was no avoiding it no matter how hard I tried. The shifting sounds/feels clunkier than any HD I've ridden. Pre-loading the shifter while being quick with the clutch helped but still not as nice as mine. Handling & brakes were definately better than mine in the twisties. Looks like I'll be keeping big blue now!

[UFO_HOG]

I'm getting very close to dumping the SERG for a K1600GT. Haven't ridden one yet, my cousin just bought the GTL and keeps offering it to me. Maybe ride it next weekend before Christmas.

[Phantom309]

I'm getting very close to dumping the SERG for a K1600GT. Haven't ridden one yet, my cousin just bought the GTL and keeps offering it to me. Maybe ride it next weekend before Christmas.

Thats exactly what I thought about mine until I rode one today ... completely different bike if you're used to a Harley. I was anxious, nervous, excited & stressed out thinking about the whole thing & was a little dissaponted after riding the GTL today ... just not my cup of tea. Take your cousin up on his offer & get it over with!

[Robmay]

As I mentioned before, the crotch rocket feel can be aided by installing highway pegs. The seating position is great in town though. Also, that driveline lash does pretty much go away with riding time. Once I stopped trying to ride it like a Harley, it became way more enjoyable to ride.

[Phantom309]

As I mentioned before, the crotch rocket feel can be aided by installing highway pegs. The seating position is great in town though. Also, that driveline lash does pretty much go away with riding time. Once I stopped trying to ride it like a Harley, it became way more enjoyable to ride.

How does the driveline lash "pretty much" go away or are trying to tell me that you just get used to it? There was no avoiding the lash no matter how gentle I tried to be. From a mechanical aspect you would think it could only get worse over time since a new bike is so tight. Don't you think once it wears in a little the lash would be worse?

BTW, I only spent about half an hour on it ... hardly enough time to get the whole experience I'm sure. Do you think I should go back in the spring & give it another chance?? I did like it, just weird & not used to it. I did catch myself short-shifting it alot in town, I felt they could've spread the gear ratios a tad more for how much balls the thing has ... the sound of it kinda fools you into thinking its revving tighter than it actually is ... in reality its barely breathing around 1500-2000. Just a completely different animal than my bike.

I hardly had enough time to play with all the gadgets,lol. That motor is REALLY snappy ... VERY easy to over-rev downshifting ... although I got better as the ride went on. I suppose to give the bike a fair chance I would need it for at least a half day ... I doubt they would go for that!

[Robmay]

Because you stop trying to shift it and just ride it. I had the same challenge to the point it was aggravating me. Then one day I realized I was trying to hard and just rode it. Problem solved. It's not lashing because it's loose. It's lashing because of the way you are trying to shift it. I only put 700 miles on the thing but most of that was in town back and forth to work. You mention you were short shifting a lot but you also mentioned in your first post about the test ride that you were "Cruising around town at 40mph in 6th at about 1500 still had decent torque just rolling it on..." no need to short shift this bike. I could pretty much leave it in 3rd or 4th all around town as long as i didn't get stopped at a light. That was one thing I really enjoyed about the bike.

I think you should ride it again if you have any doubts. However, I don't think you will change your original impression. If you like your HD, don't bail and get a different bike altogether just because the mother ship sucks. They won't care. Just enjoy your bike. Fix it even if it has to be your own dime and don't worry about the principal of it. Not saying this is you, but myself and many others buy these bikes, do things to void the warranty and then whine when MOCO refuses to fix them. Bottom line pretty much is, if you change ANYTHING drive related from OEM you have voided the warranty. Most of us have done that. HD spends a lot of R&D money to walk the fine line between EPA and customer satisfaction. Then we buy a bike we already feel is substandard then go about trying to "fix it". Believe me, I have done MORE than my fair share of it on more than a few bikes and end up disappointed in the return on my investments.

The RG I have now is one of if not my favorite and I have done the least to it.

I think you would enjoy the GTL, but you would probably just miss your HD in the end. I think you have already figured that out. 

[Phantom309]

Rob, I did switch things up while riding it ... I know I didn't have to constantly ride in top gear at 40 mph & I didn't... just curious to see how it lugged briefly & was shocked how well it motored along if you threw that scenario at it. The lash I experienced wasn't from changing gears, it was there in any given gear anytime the throttle was lightly rolled on/off when keeping pace with traffic ahead of me.

You're right about 3rd or 4th gear being perfect for those situations, but me not being used to the bike gave me the feeling I was spinning the motor faster than neccessary. Seemed like I was screaming it even though I wasn't.

Sure would be nice to have both bikes! This would be easier to talk on the phone if you would't mind PMing your number. Thanks for your time & sorry to be a PITA.

Brian

[Robmay]

Rob, I did switch things up while riding it ... I know I didn't have to constantly ride in top gear at 40 mph & I didn't... just curious to see how it lugged briefly & was shocked how well it motored along if you threw that scenario at it. The lash I experienced wasn't from changing gears, it was there in any given gear anytime the throttle was lightly rolled on/off when keeping pace with traffic ahead of me.

You're right about 3rd or 4th gear being perfect for those situations, but me not being used to the bike gave me the feeling I was spinning the motor faster than neccessary. Seemed like I was screaming it even though I wasn't.

Sure would be nice to have both bikes! This would be easier to talk on the phone if you would't mind PMing your number. Thanks for your time & sorry to be a PITA.

Brian

No worries man. Not a problem at all. Just wanted to make sure everyone realizes that the reason you want a different is because it is...different.  In your case the differences were not good for you as they weren't for my wife too. I'll try and give you a buzz in a few, I'm finishing up some keg cleaning at the moment.  

[Phantom309]

No worries man. Not a problem at all. Just wanted to make sure everyone realizes that the reason you want a different is because it is...different.  In your case the differences were not good for you as they weren't for my wife too. I'll try and give you a buzz in a few, I'm finishing up some keg cleaning at the moment.  

Ok. 

[screaminCVO]

Reading this thread makes me mental! As a loyal supporter of HD for over 30 years, I hope this gets back to management. When I ordered my RG this year, it was very dissapointing to hear about the dealers meeting. The Mom and Pop shops all over the US have gotten screwed. The very people who sweat blood and tears to make the MOCO who they are.  The small dealership I have been going to for the past 2 years has been shout down after 100 years of service. It seems to all boil down to corporate greed.........at our expense. Sorry if I am off topic, just had to vent. Don't really want to get laser treatment for all the HD tattoos on my body!!!!Happy Holidays!!

[evebradan]

I also felt put off by my HD deal here in Jacksonville, FL took my 2011 CVO RG back in September to dealer kept hearing a nose. After a week they said they could not find anything. The next day I rode it the bike got hot and of all things I also lost the clutch had the bike tow to deal. after two weeks they replace the lifters I got the bike back and got it home. Next day at home I see oil under the bike this is the first week of October now so again I have the bike tow to dealer. A week later I get a call from dealer that they found some hot spot and will and will start on full engine rebuilt. Mean while I go over to the BMW dealer test ride the K1600 GTL
and was very impress with the bike.
Now October Bike week come's and go and the bike is not worked on until November, visit another BMW dealer in the mean time and I am more impress. Finally I get my bike back second week of November asked the service manager what was cause engine failure he could not pin point it but told me not to worry  that my extended warranty would cover me again which I though was the wrong answer I wanted to hear.
Next day took CVO RG to the BMW dealer trader my bike in for 2013 K1600 GTL. I can say this after 38 years of riding this is the best handling bike I have own and the  power for a stock bike is unbelievable.