Harley Davidson
reviews and complaints

I love my Harley but their finance company is about as full of it as my septic tank. I have paid religiously from the day I bought my bike, oh and with the honor of giving them a six dollar “service fee”. This fee through the life of the loan can become expensive. After setting up paper billing I received a bill for two payments which I wrote a check for and sent. Last week I began to receive phone calls at work telling me that I’m late, this is called harassment. I found the payment receipt with the check attached called them and they wanted to hear nothing, they just wanted the money. I was told that I could make the payment over the phone but that would cost me twelve additional dollars, so once again I returned to the online payment system paid the payment plus a late payment, a six dollar “service fee”, and not to mention the twenty-0five dollar charge to stop payment on the check. This experience coasted me a total of $260.42 for a $104.72 payment all because their billing department failed to send the paper billing in a reasonable fashion and amount of time that would have allowed the payment to post as it should have. So if you’re buying a bike, find another way to finance your ride they are raping the buying public with all of these fees and harassing phone calls. The fees that are charged (Service Fees) to pay on line far exceed the cost of the paper billing cost including the postage. It would seem that they are making even more hand over fist money on these fees. Again find another institution to finance your bike they make a killing on the bike as it is.

Harley-Davidson Financial Services repeatedly called my bosses, friends, and neighbors to track me down when I had an existing payment plan in place ! This is illegal in most states and the harassment continues. The representatives are rude, laugh when you try to honestly explain your financial situation, and they all apply bullying tactics. Such a shame that a great product has to stoop to this level with their customers. Oh, and when you call them and make a payment over the phone they have the nerve to charge you $12.00 for a payment fee. They do not like to accept checks and ask you to go to your local Western Union to send them money. I'm tired of being bullied by this company. I will NEVER EVER buy any other Harley-Davidson product again.

I purchased a brand new HD Sportster 1200 XLC at the end of Sept 2013.
The bike was illegally registered with KMH speedometer and headlight for EU use so it cannot be used on UK roads.
After one month from new one of the locks failed and it took TWO MONTHS only to have the spare, but the most serious matter is that
on the 30th Nov 2013 (when the vehicle was only 60 days old) the bike presented widespread sign of corrosion (mainly rust) is several areas. Wheels, top shock absorbers, bolts and, most serious of all, welding of the frame.
To have such problems of rust after few days from new is a clear evidence of the very poor build quality of these bikes.
My HD Sportster here in the UK costs GBP 38 / KG, now a brand new Nissan Juke (which is a car..) costs something in the area of 11 GBP / KG. To find a vehicle with a similar price per KG as my HD one has to look at Mercedes E63 AMG (cost 39 GBP / KG).
The price of HD is not minimally justified by their outrageous price. To buy a HD is a big mistake.

I purchase Merchandise from Hard Rock USA Website, goods are shipped from the states. I buy their products on the exchange of the goods in $. I object at Harley Davidson extortionate prices for Tshirts. Recently went on their USA Website online. Not only could i not purchase to be shipped to Europe. But the Tshirt online was $70. In the Glasgow shop the same Tshirt was £65. Way above what the customer should have pay.If buying online. I have shopped in Harley Davidson for over twenty years. But the European stores prices for belts £89, jewellery, TShirts are now ridiculous!

I want to see the prices lowered for all their Merchandise for their shops in Europe. When will this happen, so customers, get a fairer deal?

regards

Justine Bohan

I own a 2008 Harley Ultra Classic with 13, 000 that developed an oil leak. I took it to a mechanic who had worked for the local Harley shop for several years. He said the oil leak was coming from an internal o-ring in the starter which was letting oil by from the crankcase. He also said that Harley didn't sell the o-ring ($4) anymore and that you had to buy a starter ($319-$389) to solve the problem. I have had other work done by this individual so trust him but out of curiosity called a Harley shop in another town and was told the same thing. Seems to me Harley is more interested in making as much money as they can to to hell with the customer.

Back in April, 2010, I booked my Harley into the Kitchener HD shop, for some small needed work and a pre season check up. I requested that the front wheel bearings be checked and replaced if needed. As I was touring Nova Scotia the season before, and heard some nose coming from the front end and the bike was reacting like something was trying to hold it back. The miles on the bike when I booked it into the Kitchener shop was 38640 miles, the bike now has 52000 miles. Kitchener Harley claims the bearings were faulty and that they did replace them as stated on the work invoice. The amount was close to 700.00, and I paid the invoice in good faith and trust.

So this past summer while out on a chapter ride & event in southeren Ontario, the front end noise came back only much worse this time, I could hardly steer and control or hold the bike on course, twice at low speed the bike came to a complete stop and locked up. I had got the bike in to Dave Green’s shop in Aylmer, Dave replaced the bearings on both sides, he stated the bearings were never changed, there was no grease on the bearings or in the race. And what was left of the needle bearings just fell out on the floor. Dave also had to replace as a result of this, the speedo hub, the axle and the races. I will still have to replace both stainless brake rotors as they were scored from the inbalance in the wheel caused by the worn out bearings. This will cost around the 700.00 mark.

My concern is in a couple of areas ! FIRST that a Harley Dealer will stoop so low as that to rip a customer off ! BUT more so that a Bike has only 2 wheels and I feel as a result of Kitchener Harley-Davidson, they put our lives at a great risk and danger !

I bought a new 2012 Electra Gilde Ultra Classic in May 2012, took it in for 1000 mile check up and it started leaking oil. They thought it was coming from where the tranny joins the motor. Dealership Replaced all gaskets and it was fine until just before 7000 miles it started leaking again, after the dealership worked very hard to figure it out they contacted Harley and they determined the motor case was not machined correctly at the factory. Now my motor is torn down to nuts and bolts and having the case replaced. My concern is that this motor will never be the same again. If this happened to my bike my guess is there are others out there with the same problem. I am very pissed off that after spending $23, 000 on it that the motor needs to be completely disassembled before I hit 7, 000 miles

Hi. i have recently purchased a new harley davidson last friday on the 3/08/2012. On getting home and admiring the bike I noticed a terrible scratch on the back fender, which was pointed out to me by family members. In tryin to get in touch with the dealer again i feel like i am been set aside and nothing is been done to resolve this issue.

Dear Whoever
I am 60 years old, been one of the faithful since as long as can remember. My Dad raced flat heads, my wife rode a Fat Boy for years before her death, my daughter rides a sporter. Had flat heads, shovel heads, evo’s. The past 12 years been riding a twin cam Road king.
Have ridden through with you on the roller coaster, taken a lot of crap from jap bike owners and a few blues as well. Have brought new Harleys, then had to spend a motzer to get it to perform, change the seat so could ride some miles, change the shochies to get them to handle and the list goes on and on.
Well, times are changing, about to update my bike. This time changing camps to a Victory. Despite hating Ness’s designs. Most Victory’s look like poofs bikes.
Why the change? Lets see, when time comes to change the belt, don‘t have to strip the bike down to do it, comes stock with mags, has a seat that is comfortable, more powerful motor. And they are cheaper: Just those few alone are enough.
Why are you still putting the drive on the primary case side is beyond me. The effort and the buggererizing about you have to do is so frustrating.
In short I am not alone here, its time for Harley to pull there finger out and get your ### into gear and start giving value for money and stop running on there reputation.
I am so angry with you lot, the team has been with you for years. Harley prices have gone through the roof and can not see the value in them any more.

Good bye old friend

Brain

I am a Harley owner for long years, and recently I had an accident in Bahrain, and as per the insurance company I needed to get a quotation from the Harley Davidson Dealer in Bahrain as long as they do not acknowledge any other quotation, I went to the dealer and gave him the spare parts required and approved by the insurance company, they informed me that I have to pay BD 40 = USD 110 to give me the quotation even without inspecting the bike or seeing it.
I could not find any word to describe this other than BLACKMAIL ! is this the Harley Davidson Spirit you always talk about ?

Regards
Laith Shukayr
Mobile: +[protected]

On april, 2 2011 my 07 ultra would not start, checked my battery posts were melted. I put a new battery on it and restarted the bike, it ran for 5 seconds and then died with a loud clunk. I took it to Texoma Harley and they found a piece of metal lodged in my primary chain, wich cause both trans. and motor shafts to bend inward. I called Harley-davidson home office and they are supplying all parts needed for repair, but I have to pay 1300.00 for labor. I called Texoma Harley May 6 asking if they would give me a loaner bike, until mine was fixed and they refused. Its may 14 now and I still don't have my bike. I dont think I should be responsible for any labor costs, since this was a defect and if I had been riding this bike down the road when happened, I would have been killed!

Two years ago I was told to come get my bike from the shop because they were done working on it and it was ready to go. In the holding bay I got on it and tipped it up and gas ran out the air cleaner into a large puddle on the floor, once that stopped I rolled it ahead out of the puddle and hit the starter and the bike would not turn over. But I had been told it was ready and to come get it. And that is a 140 mile round trip for me. I said ### happens and all is forgiven. I complained as I had a right to, then forgot about it and moved on. I guess I’m able to forgive and forget that kind of poor service and try to remain a loyal customer but they can’t forget about my complaining when I had a right to. Seems very childish and has a crybaby aspect to it. Provide bad service, get a complaint about it, and tell the customer not to come back. I don’t think that is the style that Harley Davidson wants to portray to the public.

The one other time I brought it in, was on a scheduled appointment. Which to me means it is going on the rack and being worked on until it is done starting on the date and time of the appointment. Otherwise why bother with an appointment?
Anyway, I took it in the day before the appointment but didn't get it back for 30 days, and when I did get it back, the bill was for 10 hours labor for carburetor adjustments.
So naturally I wondered why it took 30 days for 10 hours of labor for carburetor adjustments. Also, I may be wrong here but I didn't realize that you could possibly make adjustments on that tiny little carburetor for 10 hours, but maybe you can, and I'll give you that. I assumed that that little carburetor could be completely dismantled and rebuilt in less than 10 hours.
I believe had anyone gone through the same experiences, they might be a bit upset just as I was. But I [censor]ed a little and then took the attitude that ### happens and moved on. Both times wanting to take my business back to Harley Davidson. And for that, I was told to find some other place to service and/or repair my bike.
I feel under the circumstances I had a right to my complaints but I also said ### happens, and have tried to remain a loyal customer. I'm willing to go the extra mile but they aren't. In fact, I've already gone the extra mile and wrote it off to ### happens and attempted to do business with them again. How about a simple apology for the bad service, which I never did get on either ocaission and they get over it. What right do they have to be upset with me, I complained about poor customer service and for that they want to whine and be mad like children, and tell me to take my business elsewhere.
Now they are denying me service because they can’t take a complaint about bad service like an adult and apologize and move on. I’m the one that received the bad service, made my complaint, and moved on, why can’t they?
This franchise is portraying an infantile attitude that I’m sure is not the portrayal Harley Davidson wants to put out to the public about themselves

Sincerely,

Big John

I purchased a brand new Harley 20 months ago with a 2 year warranty.This bike cost £14, 500 i paid with cash in full. I have only done 6800 miles, and i noticed that the chrome was peeling away on the front wheel, and also my both tyres are bald. The bike is locked away in a new garage and has not been left out in any bad weather conditions.I went to riders of Cardiff where i purchased the bike, and explained the situation, and asked what could they do with it as the bike is still under warranty.I was informed that nothing would be done, when i told the after sales person i was not happy as i feel that this should not happen i was informed that even if the bike was six months old they still would not do anything! i feel that the quality of the chrome is not of satisfactory for a company like Harley especially when i have seen other bike s which are alot cheaper to purchase but don't have this problem.I feel that this is unfair and bad customer service.

It's a shame a person buys a new bike 06-01-2007 and he has problems with a oil leak since he bought it, has been in the shop 3 times and still has the same problem. Maybe you should have better mechanic's my son bought this bike cuz his father screwed him out of his bike since they have the same name and he took the bike away from him. So he decided to buy a new one but why buy a new one if you have to keep taking the dam thing in, he just went to pick up the bike yesterday in my truck and it leaked in my truck so I guess you know he was a little upset.

I have a 2006 XL1200L with 13, 500 miles. All services were done at the Harley dealer. Since the 1st service I had reported a little smoke on decel on long rides, nothing bad. After the extended warranty ran out it became worse. I took it in and the real cylinder was torn down. They found that the factory had not installed one oil ring scrapper. I am now waiting for Harley to do something.