For those that complain about quality issues, you only have yourselves to blame when you bitch... and then go ahead and buy another new HD..
They ARE more reliable motorcycles out there...there ARE other American motorcycle companies still in business..the choice is yours...I have had two new HD's in the last 25 years and put many miles on both of them...with NO unusual issues. If I DID have problems with them, the LAST thing I would do is buy another new one. It's like drawing a bucket of bad water from a well on Monday, and expecting to get good water from the same well on Friday.

BTW, I'd rather adjust clock time than adjust valves...and time is the LAST thing I worry about when I ride.

 

Where did our Engineer go??????

 

Interesting to see how many on this post don't like the bike they bought. Pull your *** into a Honda, Yamaha, Victory, Kawasaki or Indian dealer and trade in that unreliable, poorly constructed piece of crap so someone who wants a Harley can pick your old one up for a good price.
As for me, I'll keep mine because I understand Harley's reputation, both good and bad and it's what I chose to ride.

 

The way I see it is it's not just a harley problem it's a problem with anything mechanical that you buy nowadays. They use the cheepst parts and most people just don't take any pride in what they do anymore. From the assembley line to the dealership, it's a do what we have to and go home attitude.

I have had just two harleys but never had an oil leak or had either one leave me anywhere. In todays world, thats not too bad.

Could it be better? Hell yes. But it could also be a lot worse. I think most harleys nowadays will get at least 100k miles without too many problems so what the hell?

 

The new breed of "machinists" are nothing more than CNC babysitters. I can't count how many parts I've had to have re-made because someone can't proof a drawing.

For my field of work, many design errors come from bean counters limiting time and material required to complete a project properly - especially when it's a first-of-a-kind implementation. Then when the design doesn't work properly, it's always the design's (engineer's) fault, not the other parties who influence the design process.

Just think about how many people have some level of say in any product - especially one that is mass produced - and you'll realize why the outcome of the product is the way it is.

 

No problems...just look at the 2006 Dyna's! IPB and associated parts that they manufactures wrong and did nothing, nothing for those customers other than make them beg to get it fixed. They knew of the problem and still no recall. I call that very poor quality control. Period. To say nothing about the customer service assistance.
But once YOU fix all the short comings and defects you have a good reliable bike.

 

That's a pretty big statement. Are you a machinist ? Or, can you set up a CNC machine from 3 blank jaws and a pc of raw material, and make a finished part that matched the print exactly ? If so, then good, but so can I. That's why I asked. Because if you can't you have no real right to bad mouth someone for not being able to do what you yourself can't do.

 

I am an engineer (EE) but I work in marketing. What's changed over the years is time to market. Engineers face shorter project timelines due to competition in the marketplace.

Harley did a great job with the Rushmore project. Never has the company introduced this number of improvements and new developments at one time. While this is no excuse for poor quality, early adopters of any new product should beware of the risks they accept in a first year product.

 

True story! lol

Ive worked on tug boats for the last 25 years, the requirement for becoming a engineering is your parents can never have been married. Go figure.....

 

I'm not here to rip HD's quality. But everybody knows that HD has had quality issues in the past with some components and possibly at present with the water leak reports. Anytime some customer has to return for warranty work, it's a quality issue.
Like every other company that farms work out, like radios for instance, has it made to there specs. Cant just always say, it's not harley, but the suppliers fault. They just build to specs given.