Harley Davidson's Suggestion Box

TQuentin1 · Oct 10th, 2009, 07:54 PM

My two cents worth:

I agree with Hobbit on the crank. The ones in the TCs are an embarrassment!

I agree with the gang about the gauges not fogging up, and putting an oil temp standard on the Touring bikes

I would like a designed in "missing link"

Can HD do something to get the rotor and stator out of a metal particle slurry?

Replace the cheap INA bearings with high quality ones like the Torringtons

Locking system for the compensator nut?

Better sound system on the Touring bikes

Has the neck bearing grease fitting been moved on the new bikes? What about sealed bearings instead?

Just a few.

TQ

whatyardwork · Oct 10th, 2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Doolittle

Most of these suggestions (oil cooler, oil temp gauge, premium tour pak hinges) are great ideas but they will never come standard. It would eliminate a huge money maker for the MoCo as everyone streams into the dealership the first six months to buy these very items in addition to better seats, handlebars, highway pegs, backrests, and other items which are borderline "necessary" for a fully functional and comfortable bike. Besides it's better to keep the basic price of the bikes down and let each individual buyer decide where their priorities lie. Some want bling, some want comfort, some want safety, some want performance, and on and on.

As far as the water cooled issue - no, no, no! If I had wanted that I would not have bought a Harley. I'm just now getting somewhat comfortable working on this bike and I really don't want the added complexity of the whole water cooling system. More power would be nice but it's not worth it to me to get it at the expense of abandoning the whole air cooled, V twin history of HD.

Now, I guess I should address the OP. To me, I'd simply like to see better quality parts throughout, and I'm not really even talking about internal engine/transmission components. Too many stories of torx bolts and fairing bushings stripping out for my comfort.

The way I see it DOC...The only way they keep us buying there sub par junk is to start addressing these small issues.You can buy a Jap tourer making 100+ rear wheel hp at a fraction of an Ultras cost.Look up this years perenial favorite tourer according to any reputal bike magazine {barring ez rider}and youll find its not a Harley.

Water cooled is here to stay and kicking Harleys butt in terms of performance. If they dont get with the program they will be left behind.

Dont get me wrong I love my USA/JAPAN/made in CHINA Harley.Only saying there buying public is 40ish and not nearly as nieve as they think we are.

biscuit · Oct 10th, 2009, 08:08 PM

Well,lets see:How about FAR BETTER quality control on way overpriced products;a Dealer network that thinks its a priviledge to have you as a customer and not the other way around;making it instant dismissal for a Dealer to utter the words"They all do that";electrical components and systems that work reliably and for ever(everybody else can do it);decent fuel injection that wont run lean but will run well(once again,everybody else--);solidly machined non pressed Crankshafts that cost more but can be trusted and more attention to detail that DOES NOT CALL for the customer to do H-D's development work.

Oh,and standing behind their product when poorly designed things go wrong.And maybe,a gear primary drive.

Tell him,i liken my H-D to my early 70's Ducati.Deep down,you dont know if you can trust it.

Neilwillo · Oct 11th, 2009, 03:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whatyardwork

Eliminate the ambiant temp guage and replace it with an oil temp guage on touring models.

Also like to see some sort of a glove box incorporated into the batwing fairing.

Too true. It is even more useless when you live in a country that measures temperature in Celsius and not Farenheit. The numbers are useless to me. Only reason I've left mine in place is the access. manual says that the oil temp guage wont take the chrome bezel and I'm not will ing to risk that sort of money only to have three guages with chrome bezels and one without.

Neil

Neilwillo · Oct 11th, 2009, 03:38 AM

For me it would be two main things.

1- Offer any paint combination on any tourer bike as a factory option. Maybe I am oversimplifying this but if HD can put two tone paint on some of their tourers why can't they offer two tone paint on all of them. Happy to pay an extra cost for the colour combination I want, just don't want to buy another model of bike to get the colour combination...

2- Maybe this is unique to Australia as we have roads that have fairly coarse bitumen surfaces over here but I would like HD to sell tourers with shaft drive instead of belt drive. Road debris can be a real problem to HD belts and it can be their weak link when you are a long way from home. Our dealers are hundreds or thousands of miles apart. Alternatively, make it so we don't have to pull half the bike apart to change the belt and it becomes something that we can do on the side of the road if we carry a spare belt.

That's about it for me

Neil

Hobbit · Oct 11th, 2009, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glider

I think the Hob should be a test rider for these tractors. Maybe then we would get a better built bike.

now thats an awesome idea were do i sign up

TQuentin1 · Oct 11th, 2009, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neilwillo

manual says that the oil temp guage wont take the chrome bezel and I'm not will ing to risk that sort of money only to have three guages with chrome bezels and one without.

What? Hmmm. Check here:

Oil Temperature Gauge - Fairing Mount, 75265-04A, Keep a close eye on your engines vi

Harley Davidson|Oil Temp Gauge Harley

TQ

gmurdock · Oct 11th, 2009, 10:58 AM

I would like a tranny that does not clunk. Another but they all do that story. If I want to know what the temp is outside I will drive by a bank put an Oil temp gauge in there.

kemo · Oct 11th, 2009, 10:58 AM

I would love shaft drive. Next to tube type tires that is always a concern when I am on a tour. I had a belt go bad on my Buell 150 miles from home when we were doing a day trip to Michigan once. I was sure happy that AAA and CAA were just a phone call away.
kemo

smitty901 · Oct 11th, 2009, 11:23 AM

I hope HD never goes shaft lot of unneeded junk and the belt is great.
Would I would like HD to do is go back in history and build bikes for the rest of the market and even a few scooters the market for them is growing world wide and in the US.
Picture a 250cc HD scooter with detachable side car for round town. make by HD.
I would buy one just for the heck of it.
How about some 250-500cc bikes not crotch rockets to many of those now some lighter weigh cruisers

Oct 10th, 2009, 07:54 PM	#21
TQuentin1 Moderators Ride: '03 FLHTCUI (Ultra Classic) Join Date: Apr 4th, 2008 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 2,332	Re: Harley Davidson's Suggestion Box My two cents worth: I agree with Hobbit on the crank. The ones in the TCs are an embarrassment! I agree with the gang about the gauges not fogging up, and putting an oil temp standard on the Touring bikes I would like a designed in "missing link" Can HD do something to get the rotor and stator out of a metal particle slurry? Replace the cheap INA bearings with high quality ones like the Torringtons Locking system for the compensator nut? Better sound system on the Touring bikes Has the neck bearing grease fitting been moved on the new bikes? What about sealed bearings instead? Just a few. TQ __________________ Please stop by the "self help section" for maintenance tips, diagnostic codes and much more. >>Self Help Information and Tips<< click me!

Oct 10th, 2009, 08:08 PM	#23
biscuit Contributor$ Ride: 2008 softail deluxe Join Date: Aug 25th, 2007 Location: Brisbane Queensland AUSTRALIA Posts: 331	Re: Harley Davidson's Suggestion Box Well,lets see:How about FAR BETTER quality control on way overpriced products;a Dealer network that thinks its a priviledge to have you as a customer and not the other way around;making it instant dismissal for a Dealer to utter the words"They all do that";electrical components and systems that work reliably and for ever(everybody else can do it);decent fuel injection that wont run lean but will run well(once again,everybody else--);solidly machined non pressed Crankshafts that cost more but can be trusted and more attention to detail that DOES NOT CALL for the customer to do H-D's development work. Oh,and standing behind their product when poorly designed things go wrong.And maybe,a gear primary drive. Tell him,i liken my H-D to my early 70's Ducati.Deep down,you dont know if you can trust it. Last edited by biscuit; Oct 10th, 2009 at 08:11 PM.

Oct 11th, 2009, 03:38 AM	#25
Neilwillo Warming The Wheels Ride: 2009 FLHT Join Date: Aug 11th, 2009 Posts: 81 My Mood:	Re: Harley Davidson's Suggestion Box For me it would be two main things. 1- Offer any paint combination on any tourer bike as a factory option. Maybe I am oversimplifying this but if HD can put two tone paint on some of their tourers why can't they offer two tone paint on all of them. Happy to pay an extra cost for the colour combination I want, just don't want to buy another model of bike to get the colour combination... 2- Maybe this is unique to Australia as we have roads that have fairly coarse bitumen surfaces over here but I would like HD to sell tourers with shaft drive instead of belt drive. Road debris can be a real problem to HD belts and it can be their weak link when you are a long way from home. Our dealers are hundreds or thousands of miles apart. Alternatively, make it so we don't have to pull half the bike apart to change the belt and it becomes something that we can do on the side of the road if we carry a spare belt. That's about it for me Neil

Oct 11th, 2009, 10:58 AM	#28
gmurdock Play The Throttle Ride: 2009 Street Glide Join Date: Jan 21st, 2009 Location: Winter Springs, FL Posts: 163 My Mood:	Re: Harley Davidson's Suggestion Box I would like a tranny that does not clunk. Another but they all do that story. If I want to know what the temp is outside I will drive by a bank put an Oil temp gauge in there.

Oct 11th, 2009, 10:58 AM	#29
kemo Moderators Ride: 2000 electra glide Join Date: Nov 5th, 2007 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 928 My Mood:	Re: Harley Davidson's Suggestion Box I would love shaft drive. Next to tube type tires that is always a concern when I am on a tour. I had a belt go bad on my Buell 150 miles from home when we were doing a day trip to Michigan once. I was sure happy that AAA and CAA were just a phone call away. kemo

Oct 11th, 2009, 11:23 AM	#30
smitty901 Retired Moderators Ride: 2007 Road glide Join Date: Jan 1st, 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 5,959 My Mood:	Re: Harley Davidson's Suggestion Box I hope HD never goes shaft lot of unneeded junk and the belt is great. Would I would like HD to do is go back in history and build bikes for the rest of the market and even a few scooters the market for them is growing world wide and in the US. Picture a 250cc HD scooter with detachable side car for round town. make by HD. I would buy one just for the heck of it. How about some 250-500cc bikes not crotch rockets to many of those now some lighter weigh cruisers __________________ The Infantry leads the way

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Harley Davidson's Suggestion Box

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