This problem seems minor compared to others on your site, but it is driving me nuts. This season, my '08 Dyna Superglide has developed a nasty clunk that seems to come from the gas tank, whenever I go over a bump, manhole cover, or pot-hole. This is its second riding season, and I have about 5200 miles on it. At first, I thought it might actually be inside the tank, like the fuel pump, but I can't rule out the instrument console either. I have had that off a couple of times, but have not found anything loose.

Enter your Harley's VIN in this form and find out about recalls: http://www.harley-davidson.com/EX/MNT/SCHK/en/ServiceCheckup.asp?locale=...

Do you see a common thread in some of these complaints on the reliability of Harleys? It's modifications and service done improperly! I just purchased a new 2008 FXSTC anniversary model. The last new bike I bought was a FXRS in 1988. I drove the hell out of that machine, had it cammed up, heads modified, and converted to AMSOIL synthetic in engine, trans, and primary at 10,000 miles. I paid 8,000 dollars for that bike new. I just sold it exactly 20 years later for 9,000 dollars and went and bought my new Softail. I changed the engine oil religiously at every 5,000 miles.

Hi. I found your webpage today and wanted to relate what happened to me. I bought a new 2007 HD 883 sportster(the standard model). After riding it for around 4 months, I really wanted more power. As I was told when I bought it, there is a HD factory 1200 kit, and that was installed by an HD dealer(I already had HD SE mufflers on the bike). I was also told that the HD warranty would continue on the bike as it was all factory. What I am going to show you here is the letter I sent to HD after the bike had been gone for 4 months in a 8 month period. I did post this letter onto a few HD specific sites on the web in the hopes of warning other folks what can, and indeed did happen to me. In those posts I said that YMMV, obviously this does not happen to all people, sorry if I ruffled some feathers by posting, etc. Obviously some folks called this a 'troll' and that the entire episode was either fabricated by me, mishandled by me (could be that one, I have never had to deal with this before with any vehicle, so how am I supposed to know the 'correct' things to do), etc. In any event it happened as the letter I sent to HD states, and is entirely accurate. I just wanted you to know what I had done up to now, so that if you choose to post this story, you are not surprised(and I do hope you will share this). Here is the letter:

Harley Davidson Customer Service
3700 W. Juneau Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53208
414-343-4056

To whom it may concern,

Thanks Clayton, I appreciate how much work it is to keep a site like yours up-to-date.

The latest with my bike is actually good news for now. The good, albeit slow, El Cajon Harley[1] came through ultimately. And they did it with an excellent attitude. I have a new full-floating rear rotor, new rear caliper, new rear master cylinder, new (from the factory this time) motor with matching serial numbers, and a new oil cooler. As for the oil temp sensor, they ended up installing an adapter directly into the engine, so now I get real-time engine temp readings instead of the way it comes in the kit where it only starts moving the gauge after the oil cooler thermostat opens. Very nice. Still, the bike was down for almost three months total.

They comped my 500-mile oil change too. I highly recommend El Cajon Harley Davidson for their great service department. As for the bad guys, Biggs[2] in San Marcos, we're meeting in court in January - if they're still in business. I hear they're stocking even fewer and fewer parts, so I hope that's a sign that they're about done. The last time I went there, they threatened to call the Sheriff on me and threw me out. Guess they didn't want to talk about my service issues. I'll tell you how the Small Claims suit comes out after it's done. Don't want to give away anything in case they actually do have someone there who can read.

Thanks again for all your help,
Rich

[1] http://www.elcajonharley.com/
[2] http://www.biggsh-d.com/