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2000

Harley Information!

Mon, 04/23/2007 - 08:00 — gabor

I read what Clayton posted on his WEB site and I could not agree with you more. Harley will get what is coming to them and that day is not too far off into the future. Once the EPA shuts them down from allowing them to sell their V-Twin the light at their factory will soon be going dim if not out forever. Harley can not compete on an even playing field with the Japanese of German bike builders. All that keeps them alive is the following that they have from us die hard that like their motorcycles. It is too bad that they do not take the time to build a product based on the price tags of their products. I purchased a 1998 Road King Classic in 1998 and Harley gave me a new 2000 Road King Classic to avoid a law suite. The 98 Harley had five upper ends along with a whole lot of other mechanical problems. The 200 has also had five upper ends, two transmissions, two ECM's. two rear swing arms, one bottom end, three stators, two starters and a whole lot of other problems. I agree with you 100% Harley's make wonderful static displays but if you ride them, they will break as mine has and as mine continues to break. I attached some history of my 2000 that I thought you might find to be interesting reading. Harley could care less about anyone's problems, all that matters to them is their bottom line and with the way they are going that will soon change as well.

Gabe's Service Log

Mon, 04/23/2007 - 08:00 — gabor

2000 Road King Classic VIN # 1HD1FRW33YY617896

Accepted Delivery on Thursday November 18, 1999

First Service performed by OCHD on December 7, 1999

2,500 mile service performed on January 13, 2000 oil& filter

Rear Tire Installed on March 22, 2000 with only 4,200 miles on the bike,

5,000 mile service performed on April 3, 2000 oil & filter, primary and transmission fluid change.

7,157 mile service performed on June 1,2000 oil change + filter, plus adjust primary chain.

Clutch Cable replaced at 9,200 miles.

Battery replaced under warranty at 9,300 miles August 22, 2000

10,000, mile service performed on August 26, 2000

Rear tire replaced at 10,000 miles,

Oil leaks repaired under warranty, stater plug was leaking, stater was replaced. Motor mount was replaced, as was the clutch cable (for the 4th time) on Saturday November 18, 2000

Oil Leak, cam cover seal replaced November 30, 2000, clutch cable properly secured to prevent it from rubbing against the motor.

Eight additional drop off visits to dealer to try and determine leak at clutch cable by transmission. After the Cam cover was replaced, it was eventually determined that the plastic cam sensing unit had a hair line crack in it that allowed the oil to leak out and splash onto the transmission.

95" Big Bore Kit installed December 14, 2000 at 11,485 Defective cam bearing were replaced at that time as well. Wolf built that motor! UPPER END NUMBER 2*******************

500 mile oil change and filter December 16, 2000 12,000 miles

Rear tire replaced at 13,300 miles January 24, 2001

Re: [Harleys?] Fw: '05 Heritage Softail

Wed, 07/05/2006 - 08:00 — gabor

Clayton, the majority of "Happy Harley Owners" live back East where their rides hibernate for seven or eight months of the year. Ask any Harley Davidson service manager the weak link in their twin cam motors, they will tell you that the cam chain tensioners is the weak link in their motor design. HD knows that full well and has done nothing to redesign the cam chain drive. The good news is that S&S gas by offering their gear drive. Unfortunately to purchase and have one installed it will cost the owner over one thousand dollars. Clayton, I really enjoy riding my Harley. I have 75,000 miles on my 2000 Road King. It only took five top ends, one bottom end, two starters, three staters. two transmissions, two ECM's and a whole lot of aggravation to get there! Western Warranty has paid over $7,000.00 in extended warranty. My 1999 BMW 1200 LT has 42,000 miles and the only thing that was replaced was theABS sensor!

Gabe

Re: 2004 Sportster

Mon, 12/12/2005 - 08:00 — gabor

Hello Clayton, I enjoy reading the various messages that folks send in to you. I agree that Harley's are not all bad, they do tend to have more problems that their Japanese competitors but as we all know Harley seems to spend more R&D money on paint than on engineering. They are masters in "Milking" out their technology by not being all that concerned about "Updating" their technology and in all honesty, I can't blame them, why spend the money on technology if you do not have to do so. Harley's sell because they are Harley's, plain and simple. I think that a big problem that all of us customers have is somewhat sell induced, when we allow the dealers to "Modify" and or build or motors we are opening up "Pandora's Box". Sure they have certain design flaws such as the cam bearing issues in the early twin cams, and the chain tensioner issues in all of their twin cams, but when we agree to modify our engines we are asking for trouble. The fact is that I honestly believe that most of the dealers mechanics rush the jobs they are working on to beat the "Flat Book Rate" and in doing so, they create new problems for their customers. It is a fact, the majority of Harley riders do not put a great number of miles on their bikes and all shops guarantee their work for a period of ninety days so after work has been done and paid for many problems appear beyond the ninety day period.

Sportster reliability

Mon, 07/05/2004 - 08:00 — john

I read with amusement your 4 year struggle with a Sportster. I've got a 2000 Sport model and have had a few of the same problems. But overall, while the Sportster isn't as reliable as a new Honda, it IS as reliable as a 1970s Honda, which isn't too bad. Harley sells a lot of Sportsters because it says Harley-Davidson on the tank. What most purchasers don't realize is that the Sportster was introduced in 1957 and remains today a 47 year old design. For those of us who rode motorcycles 40 years ago, we think it's pretty cool we can buy a brand new 50-year-old motorcycle.

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by Dr. Radut.