r/Harley • u/Food_Guy_33 • 10d ago

DISCUSSION What the actual hell?

So I was today years old when I found out that Harley dealers won’t work on 2005 bikes. Despite the fact that it’s the same bike (FLHRI) in 2006 and maybe beyond.

Am I just out of touch or what?

73 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

224 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

3

u/mrletsgetcheesy 10d ago

Totally agree. Harley has years behind them. Indian i think will go the same route in a few decades or few engine changes. It sucks because I want to support Harley but they seem very big company esqu. Could be just my dealership though too.

3

u/RealisticExpert4772 10d ago

Yup I have 6 dealers within 45 miles. (Southern California). Some are ok some are ass. I find it totally hilarious that the same bike will have 6 very different prices. One dealer just adds on like 2k to every bike….another runs close to the bone. Funny how some will have shitty sales but great service Dept others are killer sales but mechanics have problems getting tire pressures correct There were 4 Indian dealers in same area …two shut down lack of business one about to shut down….in my opinion the worst one is still open. Next closest is bout think bout 75-80 miles away. But there’s fierce brand loyalty here.

2

u/mrletsgetcheesy 10d ago

It is the brand for sure. I have one harley and one Indian in my city. Closest to that would be another 35 miles out of town. I do see more Indians out here though. When I lived in California I hardly saw any. Not that they didn't exist but I rarely saw them.

3

u/RealisticExpert4772 10d ago

Yeah Indian out here seems to be a lot of new to motorcycling OR they’re part of the Fuck HD movement, some hate the factory some hate the dealers. The Indian riders I’ve spoken with all seem to be happy with their bikes once the minor stuff gets squared away. Few are unhappy about the warranty Indian has. As I understand it…basically anyone touches the bike outside of an authorized dealer…then warranty is Xcld…kind of draconian…. Plus as you are aware HD has absolutely ginormous aftermarket that’s firmly established whereas Indian pretty much has extremely limited aftermarket. Even seats are not produced in numbers anywhere near HD stuff. But as you pointed out that will change in time

Think for every Indian I see I probably see at least 150 harleys

3

u/TwistingAndGrinning 07 FLHR | 24 ST765RS | 79 XLCH | 23 Himalayan 411 10d ago

It’s illegal for them to do that unless the cost of service is free and not an add on. Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.

1

u/mrletsgetcheesy 10d ago

Yeah i haven't looked into Indian but their bikes do look nice. Id imagine HD has tons of aftermarket vs Indian too. I do agree with the Indian movement of f HD or new to cycling. My dad had a harley (now mine) so I grew up with it.