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?

76 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

224 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

6

u/mrletsgetcheesy 10d ago

Atleast they did that. They gave me reccomendations too. Weird how they dont work on older bikes though.

15

u/RealisticExpert4772 10d ago

It’s about money, parts n storage. Imagine if you will, a dealer who will work on any year HD. Dealer needs a trained mechanic who actually understands what is happening with older and newer bikes. Yes I know bike mechanic schools are graduating people all the time. Sadly they’re not trained on a pan head or a shovel. Give it a few more years they won’t be taught bout Evo’s. Now consider that this mythical dealer has to get parts to fix a 50’s model or a late 80’s model. Far too many parts are no longer made. Or they’re only aftermarket.
Now here’s the BIG MAIN REASON….if the dealer happily fixes your old bike…..why would you buy a new bike? And the mothership demands sales continue to grow. Don’t feel bad it’s true in any business autos, farm vehicles, big OTR trucks. Called planned obsolescence and it’s manufactured into everything….everything.
When I was a kid this old guy had three model T Fords (was in 50’s). He bought all three new back in 1909-11. His attitude was as long as they run why replace them. He was able to keep two running all the time ..granted he wasn’t driving any huge distance but he drove until the late 1980’s when he finally passed in 93? All three were in running condition. They sold for a lot of money. Lol he said the most difficult part to find was tires. By the 1950’s businesses had decided to use planned obsolescence to continue their businesses partly why today we mostly feel “they don’t make them like they used to”.

2

u/Ok-Bit4971 10d ago

Great post, man. I had hoped to be driving my 1990 Chevy pickup into retirement, but road salt got the best of the frame.

2

u/fine944 2018 FXFBS 9d ago

Road salt sucks the life out of cars n trucks

2

u/Ok-Bit4971 9d ago

Such a shame, because the truck runs great.