2007hdtestimonials02

Softail Standard®, Softail Deuce®, Softail Fatboy®, Softail Deluxe®, Softail Heritage®

They keep coming in so I keep posting them up.... (5/31/2007) Rather than keep adding pages of testimonials I am going to let this page keep getting longer until you have to roll it up like a scroll if you decide to print it out.

11/21/2007

Just a note from someone cooking on my 2006 FLHTCUI. I bought the bike June 28th.This is a late model with the screaming eagle engine but still the 2006 transmission. I have the same heat problem. I have changed the mufflers added an oil cooler, wrapped the pipes with heat covers and switched to a cross over pipe. I still get heat when stopped, but bearable now. My wife is a passenger and gets the heat stopped and still when we are moving. Feels good in cold weather, but miserable in hot.

We had a 1987 FLHTC and loved it for 19 1/2 years. Thought it was time for a new one. Wish we had to old one back.

E in California

11/24/2006

I wanted to add my experience here—I’ve been posting to the various forums on the web and am frustrated and disappointed in the number of people out there who seem to think that those of us experiencing problems with our 2007 bikes are nuts. Your comments are well thought-out and informative and I appreciate that you are not bashing HD as much as trying to spread awareness.

I have been riding for about 25 years, all on metrics until a few months ago when I bought my first Harley. I’d dreamed of owning a Road King for many years, and I fell in love with the new Blue Suede Pearl Custom. I bought the bike and rode it 70 miles home. By the time I got there I knew something was wrong—why on earth would such an expensive and time-tested piece of engineering like this make so much noise in 5^th and 6^th gear? Why was it so hot? Why did it surge so badly?

Long story as short as possible here—I went to a local dealer who did what they called a flash download to the bike which was supposed to smooth out the surging. I installed a Screamin’ Eagle stage 1 air cleaner, and put on a set of VH slips. The surging was worse. I was then told by various sources that no such download existed yet for the ‘07’s and that I’d been taken for a ride on the download. The next step was of course to get the SERT installed. Once that was done the surging went away. The bike ran much better. However, the transmission noise was still there, and recently an intermittent rubbing noise can be heard from somewhere at the back of the bike.

I’ve been told the same thing as everyone else on the transmission noises-that it’s due to the differently cut teeth. I wonder with all the complaints why it is that HD doesn’t just recall them and put in the older teeth used on the ‘04’s and the ‘05’s just to stop the complaints-they will not help the resale value on these bikes and they can’t be helping HD’s reputation. I was also told by the Service Dept manager that putting any oil in the transmission other than HD’s product could void warranty. So I’ve decided to play it by their rules for now and wait it out.

I’m also amazed at the number of folks out there who assume we are lugging our machines—and all the postings that we just need to keep our rpm’s up over 2500. The last thing I want to have to do is keep the throttle up while cruising around on a touring bike! Talk about a killjoy. So much for cruising along at 50 mph enjoying the scenery—if you don’t want to hear the sound of rocks tumbling around in the transmission case you need to keep that throttle twisted?? Not for me. I can’t imagine what this would do to the engine long-term and it’s certainly not going to make the ride any better to do this.

The noise from the rear of the bike has not yet been identified. The service dept thought it was a tight belt, but on checking the tension it was right where it should have been. They thought the noise was something belt-related (although they really didn’t know what) and that it was being amplified by the wheel casting. They hear it, but have no fix. I am now arranging to take it to a third service dept in the hopes that a fresh wrench might figure this out.

I am deeply frustrated that what should have been one of the best experiences in my life has turned out to be one of the most bothersome. What a beautiful bike this is and yet with so many avoidable issues. It’s almost as if they were in such a hurry to get these to market that they forgot to test them first. The transmission and rear end noises are bad enough that I think about them all the time. It shouldn’t be this way. I hope that HD is paying attention to us and that something will be done.

Thanks for your insight and candor regarding your wife’s bike, and for giving us a place to explain and share our concerns.

11/21/2006

We had a 1987 FLHTC and loved it for 19 1/2 years. Thought it was time for a new one. Wish we had to old one back.

Ed in California

11/27/2006

I bought an 07 Road King Classic about 3 weeks ago, and now have about 1500 miles on it. I immediately noticed that the bike was MUCH hotter than my 99 evo. I talked to a brother who works as a mechanic at the local dealer, and he suggested less restrictive pipes. This has helped cool the engine at least 10-15 degrees. The bike now runs only slightly hotter than the evo. I have not noted ay electrical or surging problems. The only other problem was the heel shifter falling off before I had 1000 miles on the bike.

12/7/2006

Please pass this on to your readers. I hope it hastens legal action.

I just got off the phone with the Customer Service guy Harley hired to field all the ping answers. After reviewing my package of what my bike was ( Stock) and my itemized expenditures ending up with SERT and a lengthy nice guy conversation, he told me Harley was not reimbursing me for noth'in.

He also told me the "Torque smoothing" bullet was not to address any ping issues ??? Anyway we had this nice long conversation and all he called for was to tell me Harley wasn't standing any of my expense for the SERT that they told me would fix my bike.

Told him to re-register my complaint, I am not happy. He told me buy installing SERT my bike was no longer compliant with EPA and Harley can't sell bikes like that. My dealer did not tell me I would be violating EPA . They did not tell me I may void my warranty . Read that on SERT box when I got home. So, I have taken my battle as far as I can. I can only hope I can add my name to a class action. I'm sure many more are getting the same phone call. And I'm sure they are as unhappy as I am. Now that I've got my SERT I'm putting on true duals, pipes, air cleaner and some DYNO work to make this 96 incher run like it should have from the factory. I will still love my Harley. Even more after and extra $ 2,000. And True dual kit, pipes, air cleaner and Dyno work ain't from Harley. And when it comes time for my next new bike purchase I will certainly be doing some creative things to protect myself.

12/18/2006

I traded in my 06 ultra for a 07 ultra about 3 months ago. I have the same issues with my bike as yours, this bike runs hot. Hotter than the 06 did and there was a wire exposed on my fairing by the running lights. The heat coming off my bike is unbearable.

At times, when I am sitting at a red-light or stopped in traffic for whatever reason, it feels like I am sitting on top of a barbeque pit. I have had to raise my right leg away from the engine while stopped before, I may have to start getting off the bike totally. I hope HD comes up with a good permanent fix for this problem or issues a recall. If you decide to start some sort of petition to send to H-D, I would be more than happy to add my name to the list.

M. C.

12/18/2006

HI,

I wondered what mufflers you put on the bike. Mine runs hot and coughs and sputters occasionally. 5th gear whine is terrible.

Thanks,

Scott K in NH

1/8/2007

I have the same problems as your old lady had; bike running very hot, surging and when I get on it the bike doesn't want to go. Now I've owned plenty of H-D's to know that for a long time now they run lean as shit and are SEVERELY choked up on both ends, intake and exhaust. My dealer pretty much told me to put SE slip ons, high flow and a race tuner at my cost. I told him to "*%$# yourself", I like everyone else who bought an 07 HD spent a lot of coin on a new bike and I wasn't gonna put dime one into this bike with, of all parts, Harley parts, they got enough of my loot! Well he was shaken up a little and actually offered to do the download for free and 20% off on all parts and labor to do this job. My next question was how lean are the SE downloads for this upgrade and he told me they were still lean to comply with the neo-nazi's at the epa. I wasn't gonna spend close to $500 on the SE race tuner unless they had a dyno to get the proper use from the race tuner, which by the way if they didn't hook your bike to a dyno when they re-mapped your fuel system you will not get the best performance out of the race tuner.

Anyway I opted for the DynoJet Powercommander, Thunderheader 2into1 exhaust system and a SE high flow. The bike runs like a raped ape and Im much happier. By the way you said that you and your old lady has been riding Harleys for years? If you both have been then you know this really is nothing new for Harley, same game different parts! Except with the yuppie scum and RUB'ers in my way of life now Harley is more and more hestiant to make good for their fuck-ups. The wanna-be's hate confrontation and are afraid to get what is rightfully theirs. Anyway thanks for making it public and good luck. Ride Safe.

1/16/2007

I read your listings (not 100% all of it as of yet, since it is quite much) with great interest. Since I have a 2007 FLHR Road King I witnessed these
items too. Coming from a 2003 EFI Ultra and before that a 2001 carbed Road King, I noticed the more warmed up engine right away. I can feel some heat at my right knee during the ride and also saw that engine oil temp (new digital dipstick installed) was up 10 degrees Celsius (about 30 Fahrenheit?. The former bike was around 95 to 100 Celsius, depending outside temp and riding conditions.

Also hear some noise coming from the tranny in 5th and was thinking of the helical/strait cut gear influence already. I hear the difference in whining
sound, but it doesn't bother me much (at the time). Would there be a fix coming from the MoCo I would have that installed naturally.

I was wondering about the new mapping (Service Bulletin 1186). The bulletin talks about a torque performance upgrade. Is it known already with bikes that had the new ECM flash done, if the engine temperature issue is influenced by this. Meaning: does the engine with the new ECM flash gets
less hot? That I would like to know.

Last week the mechanic asked me if I rode the bike at nighttime already (at the time 400 miles on it before winter came / I have the bike since end of
September 2006). Apparently it seems to be the case that the header pipes glow wine red, viewable in the dark of course. I can see that there is already bluing apparent on my bike. Nightly rides are coming in the near future, I guess.

Also I have to consider reading all info, the slight differences in the bikes configuration, since HDI (export) models have an active intake and exhaust system. These come with the in the US home market used O2 sensors. This has to do with laws concerning the sound levels of the bike. So not only exhaust gas EPA issues, also noise legislation bothers us over here.

2/19/2007

I too have had the clattering sound in my new bike shortly after taking it home. It was taken back to dealer several times just trying to get them to agree that they too have heard this noise. Area rep was called in and again bike was riden-no unusual noise noted.Bike was dynoed several time for this noise and was told it was again normal. HDs customer service was never any help,I have owned bikes all my life and know very well when something isn't right.

After the run around more heat on them was needed,I notified anyone that would listen, NHTSA, magazines, BBB, AMA, state legals and so on. I have been one the the biggest complainers on this and may have been one of the first few. Around Xmas I was called by a guy from HD as well as a few other owners to bring our bikes in after first of yr and hopefully a fix could be found. I was happier than the day I bought it. Bike went in as he wanted and was looked at by Cerinis HD of western PA. They had bike for at most 3 days of testing, never got any invoice or told what was/wasn't done. I also knew the owners of these other bikes and got much info that way.

This man from HD told me weather limited their testing but dyno info was taken. My bike still makes this horrible noise, HD has never returned by emails or called back. I am pissed and so are the other owners. Yes we were lied to for our silence. I gave this man my word but don't feel he held up his end of bargain. This noise comes from front cylinder and is effecting compensator sprocket and in some cases into tranny. The 903 download was aimed directly at this shock the lwr end is seeing. Remember oil pumps were starting to surface prior to this release? Some of these early builds may have the rumored short con rods in them. Many have excessive squish areas-just ask some builders about this. My bike had this new download and it makes the noise worse. I would like it removed! After 7 months of this, I feel HD isn't going to do anything or at best maybe an other download. This isnt going to completely silence these bikes and they know it. This summer when warmer temps come around for all this subject is going to get main line again. Once these owners get fed up maybe a class action suit will come about. Mike

3/4/2007

Hello there,

I have a problem with my Harley getting so hot I can not ride it very far either. The problem is that it is a 2002 HARLEY HERITAGE SOFTAIL. I bought it used about 6 months ago from a Harley Dealer. Have you heard of any other years than 2007 having the same problem?? It doesn't have the surging problem either. It just gets very hot on the right upper side by the oil dip stick. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

3/27/2007

Hello,

Great website. I want to buiy a new 2007 HD Road king. My father just bought a 2007 electraglide & the engine is putting off some serious heat & the trany in 5th gear sounds like hell & shifting gears is not nice smooth & quite as advertised. He only put 600 miles on his bike. I am very unsure if I am even going to trade my bike in for the 2007 after hearing all of this from my father & your web site. What is the up to date info on these problems as of today ? All he is getting from his dealer is hey, they all are making noise in 5th gear & if it over heats & causes engine problems we will fix it under warranty !

Thanks, P.B.

Keep sending in your feedback and I'll keep posting it. I hope that I don't have to post too many more of these. It is time for Harley to step up to the plate. If you have something to add, good or bad, email me at biners@crowderinc.com.