Yamaha Roadliner up till now

[POE-BOY SAMICH]

I've thought about getting a bagger for something longer than the day trips I have been taking. It might be a while before I make the move, but I had been impressed with some of the current metric tourers. I demo'd an '07 Road King and liked it except for the serious case of the shakes at idle. Now, I wonder if the extra couple thousand $$ for the H-D might not be worth the peace of mind of having help while away from home...hmmm.

[DrBob]

Yup, the service makes the difference, turning a minor manufacturing defect or assembly error into huge problems. I can tolerate a lot if you just treat me right.

I bought a 1996 Intruder 800 new. Riding it home from the dealer the front tire blew out- they had pinched the tube assembling it. I had serious concerns about my purchase when the dealer said they were too busy to come and get me that day (even though I was only 10 miles away on the side of the road), so I had to PAY for a tow truck. The next day my bike was ready, but about the third time I rode it the rear tire blew out- the spokes were not put together right, puncturing the tube the first time I hit the brakes real hard. They did come and get me that time, but it took over a week for them to re-lace the wheel and get me my bike back.
But the bike was pretty much problem-free for 135,000 miles, so I figured it was just the dealer. But a second Suzuki dealer screwed me on the carb-boot thing at the 600 mile service on my second new Intruder. A third area dealer had my buddy's bike for 6 months, which led to the obvious question of why they scheduled him for the recall work if they didn't actually have the replacement tanks yet. The also returned his bike with a dented side cover and a hole in the seat. A fourth Suzuki dealer dropped another bike against my bike in the service bay, and then tried to give it back without saying anything, like I wouldn't notice the twisted front fender. It took several phone calls to the owner and general manager before they owned up and bought me a new fender.
In both cases the actual bike was great, but the dealer's service turned me off, so I will never buy another bike from a Suzuki dealer. Four out of four sucked, so Suzuki must not hold them to a very high standard. Pity, as the Intruders are some of the most reliable, longest-lasting, trouble free bikes ever built. I still love them, but now I buy them used.

By contrast, my GF and I went to the Harley dealer for a luggage rack, as I put a tall aftermarket sissy bar intended for a Harley on her Intruder 1400. But I didn't know what model the sissy bar was supposed to fit, as I got it used and a swap meet and modified the mounting plates to make it fit. The Harley parts guy spent over an hour trying 10-12 different ones he had in stock, carrying each one out to the parking lot for a trial fit, until he found one that fit and that she liked. He then wrote down the part number, and what model bike her sissy bar was supposed to go to, and invited her to shop around online for a better price or an aftermarket one if the Harley rack was more than she wanted to spend. Guess where she will be buying her next bike?
I stopped by a different Harley dealer and asked the parts guy if he knew anyone who made a tour pack lid gasket for my old shovelhead, as I was unable to find one online. He dug for 15 minutes, found the part number in an old parts book, and found Harley still made it. He apologized that he did not have the gasket in stock (Harley still stocks most shovelhead parts at the dealer), gave me a 10% discount, took my address, and had it mailed directly to my home so I would not have to come back. This for a $9 part that goes on a 30 year old bike.
Again, this is typical of the service you get at a Harley dealer, so corporate must hold them to a high standard. Yup, I can live with an extra minor problem or two with the bike when you treat me like that.

Maybe the difference is that Harley's (and Victory's) main business is motorcycles for the US market, while Suzuki makes 95% of there money from small car and small motorcycle sales in third-world countries. US motorcycles are not their primary business, and cruisers in particular are a minor side line for them. It they want to get into the US market as a major player, they need to treat their customers like Victory and Harley do. It doesn't really matter if you make a great product if you piss off your customers and they never come back.

[azkober]

Here's an e-mail I got 5 minutes ago:

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Good morning everybody,
Anybody interested in a XL1200C Sporster, 2007, 405 miles as of yesterday? I received a letter from Harley stating my bike had a defective voltage regulator, Harley is not very prompt when it comes to fixing its problems, this was also a problem in 06 yet it still exist in the 07 bikes?
It will be fixed eventually but I am not happy with a manufacturer that reacts like this and when the part eventually comes in there is know wait list so it's a first come first serve deal which will create a feeding frenzy. I am not happy with this situation at all and will never go the Harley way again.....think I will get a Yamaha.....please put the word out, I will give somebody a really good price....Case

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by azkober

Here's an e-mail I got 5 minutes ago:

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Good morning everybody,
Anybody interested in a XL1200C Sporster, 2007, 405 miles as of yesterday? I received a letter from Harley stating my bike had a defective voltage regulator, Harley is not very prompt when it comes to fixing its problems, this was also a problem in 06 yet it still exist in the 07 bikes?
It will be fixed eventually but I am not happy with a manufacturer that reacts like this and when the part eventually comes in there is know wait list so it's a first come first serve deal which will create a feeding frenzy. I am not happy with this situation at all and will never go the Harley way again.....think I will get a Yamaha.....please put the word out, I will give somebody a really good price....Case

Are you trying to say this unconfirmed, second hand story, is easier to believe than the first hand accounts we have been telling you about?

And even if it is true, the customer doesn't deal directly with the manufactr, the customer deals with the local dealer, that's the guy you get face to face with, and all the Harley dealers I have dealt with have been helpful, and friendly.

To be fair, I have met a few individuals working in metric dealerships that have been helpful, and friendly, but that was a function of there personality, not something they were directed to do by there management.

[azkober]

I'm not trying to say anything. I simply posted in toto an e-mail I received from a member of a large group of riders that I'm a part of. 95% of these guys own HDs. This is not a second hand story. He sent this e-mail to over 100 members who know him well.

If you're interested in buying the bike, lemme know, I'll get you his e-mail address.

I was very impressed with the above anecdotes about how great HD dealers are, giving up parts from their personal bikes to help customers, etc. So when this email arrived I thought it was an interesting counterpoint, that's all.

If you think it's all a madeup secondhand story maybe a call to HD would confirm or debunk his information. In this case, the manufacturer did in fact deal directly with the customer, by mail.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by azkober

I'm not trying to say anything. I simply posted in toto an e-mail I received from a member of a large group of riders that I'm a part of. 95% of these guys own HDs. This is not a second hand story. He sent this e-mail to over 100 members who know him well.

If you're interested in buying the bike, lemme know, I'll get you his e-mail address.

I was very impressed with the above anecdotes about how great HD dealers are, giving up parts from their personal bikes to help customers, etc. So when this email arrived I thought it was an interesting counterpoint, that's all.

If you think it's all a madeup secondhand story maybe a call to HD would confirm or debunk his information.

It just so happens that I'm going to the dealership later today, I'll see what I can find out.

Thanks, but Sportsters arn't my cup of tea.

[homegrown]

Really the dealer has treated me pretty good they didn’t half to give me the instrument panel to put on my self. They could have made me wait until they had time to work on it. And the service department is trying to repair the belt noise . Its more the disappointment of having a shiny new toy and something is jacked.

[DrBob]

The email is only partially correct. The problem is under recall, and it does involve Sportsters (and some Buells) and the voltage regulator. But the problem is not that the regulator is defective, and it did not carry over from the 2006 model year. The problem is that Harley switched to a more robust voltage regulator for the 2007 model, and it is a little thicker than the previous one. Because of this the back of the front fender may contact the voltage regulator under certain extreme conditions when the front suspension is compressed all the way and the forks turned at a certain angle.
No, the manufacturer does not make appointments, so it is fair to say 'first come, first serve.' But if you call the dealer they will put one aside for you. It takes about two minutes to make the swap- two mounting bolts and a plug in connector.

[azkober]

Ok, well, the guy wants $12,000 for the bike, 405 original miles on it. I can't tell you why is so pissed, I only know what he said in his e-mail and I posted here.

[DrBob]

Originally Posted by azkober

I can't tell you why is so pissed.

It most likely has something to do with him owing $12,000 on a Sportster that retails NEW for $9,695.

[texrider]

Originally Posted by DrBob

It most likely has something to do with him owing $12,000 on a Sportster that retails NEW for $9,695.

EeeeYuuupppp!

[azkober]

LOL, well, I guess not all Harley Dealers are as great as I've been reading ...

[Rickster]

I checked with my local dealer, and got the same answer "DrBob" outlined above. Also my dealer said they haven't had any scratched fenders yet, but the ones other dealers have been able to document were the result of one of three things.
1. A very large pot hole.
2. Hitting a curb.
3. Coming down hard off a wheelie.

In my cynical minds eye, I can see this guy a few months back pleading with his wife to let him buy the Harley of his dreams, now he has found a bike he thinks he likes better, and he is desperate for a believable reason he can give her, for why he needs to sell this almost new bike, so he can get the next new bike of his dreams. Oh wait a minuet, that was me back when I was married, never mind.

[hammersfan]

Thank you Rickster, Dr Bob and Poe-boy. I don't think I would have seriously considered buying a Harley mainly because of the extra cost over a metric, but recently I have been dreaming of travelling all over the USA over the coming years and I was thinking that maybe I'd be better off getting a Harley for servicing issues while on the road. You have confirmed my beliefs with your accounts. Now if only I could get some moola !!!

[Rickster]

My apologies to homegrown it seems we have strayed a bit off subject of your original post, I hope you are not offended.

[homegrown]

Not a bit, its all a good read. Its interesting hearing all the experiences and opinions.

[POE-BOY SAMICH]

Originally Posted by hammersfan

Thank you Rickster, Dr Bob and Poe-boy. I don't think I would have seriously considered buying a Harley mainly because of the extra cost over a metric, but recently I have been dreaming of travelling all over the USA over the coming years and I was thinking that maybe I'd be better off getting a Harley for servicing issues while on the road. You have confirmed my beliefs with your accounts. Now if only I could get some moola !!!

YOU'RE WELCOME!!

I'm in the exact same situation.

I'm now considering an H-D as my next bike. Much of this change of heart is because I've taken a new view on things thanks to threads like this.

[homegrown]

I’m still waiting for the whether to clear before I make the ride to the cycle shop. Last night I borrowed a friends bike lift. To try and find for my self what is still making the belt noise. Lo-and-behold the rim has a 3 sixteenth side to side wobble as dose the rear drive pulley also up and down movement. Is that normal? I’ve had way to many problems with it to be a coincidence. Unless they used every reject part in the factory to put my bike together with and forgot to tune it. All I can say is consumer beware.

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by homegrown

I’m still waiting for the whether to clear before I make the ride to the cycle shop. Last night I borrowed a friends bike lift. To try and find for my self what is still making the belt noise. Lo-and-behold the rim has a 3 sixteenth side to side wobble as dose the rear drive pulley also up and down movement. Is that normal? I’ve had way to many problems with it to be a coincidence. Unless they used every reject part in the factory to put my bike together with and forgot to tune it. Ill I can say is consumer beware.

That don't sound right to me, I'm sure if you check the specks, You will find both side to side, and out of round tolerances to be no more than a few thousandths. Your belt isn't going to last to long with that much play.

[IntruderCruiser]

I'll tell you this, its not the bike, but the dealer --- I have encountered the same problem with my local metric dealer as far as air cleaner, compression washers, and I was afraid oil filter -- their response -- we can't stock everything -- heck no they can't -- they carry 5 lines of bikes, jet skis and snowmobiles ----

except for the recall for the tank( which I've already told-- I wouldn't leave the bike at the dealer and not ride) I do my own work -- its not that hard and is really quite relaxing as well as saving me money.

I also now own a Harley Electraglide and it is a good bike and is a joy to ride

the LC feels heavier and bigger than the Harley -- but to compare them , well they are different bikes -- -- both in my opinion are good tourers with a different feel