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,

I got my first Harley Davidson in 1986 for $2,000. It was a rough looking 1969 XLCH 900 Sportser.....the famed magneto ignitioned, leg-breaking, cantankerous satanic pile of iron that literally vibrated parts off while going down the road. It was a rolling basket-case. Mechanically speaking, it was very sound; however, it looked like it was painted with water colors by a 3-year old. No big deal, I completely ripped the bike down to a bare frame and commenced to build a decent street ride. I'd been on countless dirt bikes and one street bike up to this point and working on 2-wheelers was my hobby.

I learned fairly quickly that going to a dealership was not going to be a frequent experience. I was not at all impressed with the "modern" Harley Dealership. They had few parts for my bike and what they did have was way overpriced.

I learned from many experienced Harley owners via the 'ol barstool in the local watering hole the right places to go to get parts for an old 900. I also learned a few tricks on how to set up the frame, the correct tolerances for the engine (not even close to the factory manual) and basic tips on how not to break a leg while kicking this beast.

Hi! My dad owned a 1970's electra glide but did not ride it much. My brother started riding it a lot and had an accident. It slid out and their was no real damage. After the accident the engine needed a rebuild hahhah WTF!!!!!. Then as I grew up I always wanted a Harley because of the looks and the sound. My brother had a 1983 sportster and liked it but complained about the oil leaks. He sold it and got a new sportster 1991. then he got a 1998 FLH "NEW" (they both already have or had problems with under 15 thousand miles on them) . I got my 1973 sportster in 2001.

I am fresh off the freeway, and that piece of HD sh*t I have been trying to ride for the past four years has run out of last chances. Several weeks ago, it stranded me (again!) this time apparently because the vacuum valve in my fuel cock decided to stop working. Tonight for the first time in a long time, it went gutless on me *again* for most of my ride home.... Barely holding 50 MPH at full throttle, and this time with my girlfriend on the back.... How cool is that? How many of you would put up with this from whatever it is you commute to work with every day?

Hi Clayton,

I have an oil leak problem that seems to require a custom solution, as there is no off the shelf part for my particular engine case. That is how my search engine stumbled across your site.

Any way, I've been reading all these postings with a mixture of sympathy and amusement. My fist bike was a Kawasaki at the age of 16. I saved my pennies worked a night job through high school and bought my first Harley at the age of 19; a 1977 Sportster XLH. A tempermental bike at the best of times. Working on it (and a tight budget) taught me a lot about maintenance.

My current ride I've had for ten years. A generator shovelhead. Best bike I've ever ridden. It's been my daily rider when I have the money to maintain it, the rest of the time it's a bit of a project. Right now it runs astoundingly well. I've got 8000 miles on it since the last rebuild and the gaskets are just starting to weep a little now. I may put new gaskets in it this year, maybe not.

The most important lesson I have learned about Harleys and I include new bikes in this; GET THE ENGINE BALANCED BY A COMPETENT MACHINIST. It will make a world of difference. Your parts will stop falling off, your feet will not buzz off the pegs at high speed, your hands will not become numb from vibration. and your oil leaks will become much less frequent and severe. You will get twice the mileage out of your engine between rebuilds.

I did it to both my Harleys and it turned them from tempermental and unreliable machines, into very pleasurable rides.