Left CT on Saturday morning and headed off on a weekend trip to Maine, NH, and VT this past weekend. Woke up Sunday morning in Portland, ME and proceeded to ride 6 miles to Big Moose. En route my check engine and battery light went on (2012 SG).

The dealership was closed but thankfully there was a tent set up from the night before. It provided a nice shelter from the pouring rain. Figured it was voltage regulator related, made some calls to NH dealers as ME dealers aren't open on Sundays.

Tim at Seacoast HD (the closest open dealer) checked the VIN, seemed extremely confident that it was the Voltage Regulator and equally confident that I probably wouldn't make it all the way to Seacoast without it breaking down further. I decided to have it towed.

My first call was to roadside coverage included with the HOG membership. Waited on hold for 26 minutes before they even answered the roadside call. They would only tow me to the closest dealer (which they said was in Lewiston ME). I told her that wasn't a viable option as they were closed and I didn't want to wait until Monday for service; besides, my bike was already parked at a dealer that could fix it in the morning, why move it? She had to call me back to check the rates of towing it the additional 30 miles to Seacoast. [She called me two hours later to tell me they were still waiting on the information. I cancelled the request.]

In the meantime, I hung up the phone and called AAA as I have the Plus membership. On and off the phone in 5 minutes. Truck on the way. Although there were some AAA issues, they were corporate policies I had to work around. Needless to say the bike was on its way three and a half long hours later. Throw in Maine tourist traffic, and my bike finally arrived at Seacoast at 4:15.

They operated like a emergency surgical team waiting for crash victims. Two guys met the bike, helped get it off the flatbed, brought it into service, where another tech was waiting to get started. I know it's a quick repair, but they literally had me off the truck, in and out in less than 40 minutes...

We chatted it up about the "Voltage Regulator Program" and why mine wasn't swapped out at the 1K service... based on our conversation and what I read here, I guess it was all on a need to repair basis.

I left Seacoast and was met up with my fellow riders two hours later in NH. We finished the trip yesterday with no further problems.

And the irony... In yesterday's mail I received a letter from the MoCo informing us that there are Voltage Regulator issues and we can schedule our free service to have it replaced. No harm, no foul. Just a temporary pain in the butt that all worked out wonderfully in the end.

Lessons learned:
- AAA can't be beat. My $30 Ultra upgrade to my HOG Roadside package let me down. I am hoping my experience was a fluke.
- ME dealers can't sell vehicles on Sunday and therefore are closed.
- AAA legally can't remove a vehicle from a dealer's lot when they are closed.
- Enterprise claims they "will you pick you up," but not on weekends.
- There is a big difference between "the closest dealer" and "the closest open dealer." Foolish when you think about it. The cost of taking my bike 30 extra miles to a dealer that can fix it that day and have me on my way is much cheaper than potential $500 trip reimbursement they offer because I am "stranded" overnight.

 

Yep, I have AAA, nobody is better in the experiences I have had, first thing I did when I got my Eg was add it to my AAA plan.

 

the HOG road service is a joke......just like HOG

 

My foremost insurance policy covers towing. Used it once with no problem. I called harley in Albuquerque, NM and told them I was broke down on I-40. They recommended a tow service. Called the tow service. They wouldn't come and get me without a credit card authorization, but that is reasonable. Cost was about $220 to come out forty miles and load up bike in enclosed bike trailer and take the bike and I to the dealer. The dealer took care of the problem and I was on my way. Foremost sent me a check after filing a claim.

 

And the irony... In yesterday's mail I received a letter from the MoCo informing us that there are Voltage Regulator issues and we can schedule our free service to have it replaced. No harm, no foul. Just a temporary pain in the butt that all worked out wonderfully in the end

I just got the same letter in the mail and since were both in CT I am guessing MoCo was sending letters based on States. However When I brought my bike in for the 1K service in Early July they had already been alerted and had the kits. A big note was posted at the service desk that stated "All 2012 Touring, Dyna's equipted with 103ci engines would be checked by VIN for the service notice and installed at time of service at no cost" Mine was in that batch and was done. I would be contacting the dealer that did your 1K service since my dealers service dept said they were notified in Late May early June.

 

I will definitely look into this, thank you. My first service was June 5th.

 

a big kudos to Seacoast HD....they are obviously part of the brotherhood.

 

+10 on AAA. Worth the membership rate in gold. I've used them several times over the years including using their lockout service for a car that wasn't even mine. Met a young mom in a grocery store parking lot that locked her self out of her car and with 2 screaming kids was at her wits end. I could tell she was about to just sit down and cry. I always heard AAA will cover a break down in any car even if your just a passenger so I gave them a call. Was on and off the phone in 5 minutes. Within 20 minutes the locksmith arrived. He opened her car expertly, never even asked who's vehicle it was. Just had me sign on the dotted line, no charge. Poof...done. I was very impressed. Their service is solid.

I never tried HOG but had plenty of friends tell me to save my money.

 

It's hard to beat Seacoast when it comes to parts and service.I've had nothing but good experiences there.

 

I just got my notice in the mail on the recall, oddly it was just in for service and nothing was said to me... guess I am heading back and signing up for AAA in the meantime