Hello All, :bigsmiley6:
I happen to have one of these little sporty's and I do like it...most of the time. This is the first Harley I ever owned and from what I have learned about the company itself, it will be the last.
Opposite to what sounds like I hate it, I do like my bike when it is running. I have a 2007 Nightster and I added the V&H Short Shots like many others because it looks so nice. I also added the V&H FuelPak and a hyper charger. It is fast, rumbles with the best of them and still gets me about 45-50 mpg. The throttle response is whiplash-like and surprises many as I zoom on by.
The one thing I hate about it though is it is rusting to beat all. Every piece of chrome on it is rusting. Actually, everything is rusting, not just chrome. I keep it in a sealed, insulated, weather-proof shed. The only thing I have not done is install a dehumidifier in the shed because nothing else is working. The spokes are rusting. The pushrod tubes are rusting. Along with the forward controls, the shift linkage, the headlight, the brake handles, the rear wheel bolt, every bolt for that matter, and anything else that is not painted. Harley chrome sucks. Even the aluminum rocker boxes are corroding.
So, like I said, when it is running, I like it. I am just systematically taking one piece off at a time and painting it. Harley warranty is a joke. You get better response from the government after a hurricane! They told me they would replace one piece of chrome over the life if the vehicle. For those of you that have not dealt with Harley "customer service" that means they will replace one SPOKE, not the one wheel that is rusting! Or, I can get one bolt or one exhaust replaced. profanity followed that point for about the next three months, but I am better now...
Does anyone else have this problem? I cannot make the rusting stop. I wipe it down after every ride, yes, I live in Florida, but I live dead smack in the middle of the state, 100 miles each direction to the ocean, so I do not think salt water is causing this. I keep it inside all the time, but it will not stop rusting. Harley has replaced the entire electrical system (when it is running...), I have gotten three new batteries because they (according to Harley) had a bad lot of batteries, and the fuel pressure regulator just toasted out on it a month or two ago.
If anyone has any pointers of what to do (outside of get another bike) let me know. I do like this one. It looks great and it is a riot to ride; quick, nimble and snappy are its best traits. That, plus nobody will buy it, so I am stuck with it and I want to be able to keep it after the payments are done and not sweep up the rust dust from where it was in the shed! Anyone?
Thanks in advance.
Red
