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Newbie - 2016 FLTRU - 2nd RG since 1984

3K views 38 replies 26 participants last post by  captainoverdrive 
#1 ·
Just found this site since I am buying a new 2016 FLTRU soon.

The order is in and delivery is expected next week ... all being good.

I had one of the first RG's back in 1984 and put near 100k before I sold it due to the family growing. Since being retired from the Police Service 8 years ago I have had 4 used FLHTP's.

Nows the time for some comfort and trouble free riding. 1984 was the last new Harley I had. I am excited that this is a dedicated forum and hope to learn tons over time.

Here's my last bike...

I hope the 2016 FLTRU treats me as well :)
 

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#9 ·
Welcome from Norway; almost like Canada – we love moose meat, bacon and beer! :D
And congrats with the new FLTRU!

Wow, you actually had the Tour Glide, with a "shovelhead"?? That's cool, man. I never saw one over here and I believe that MoCo never sold the FLT outside North America.

Cheers!
 
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#16 ·
Thanks for the Welcome.

I just learned that my new bike has arrived at the Dealership and that I should be getting it by Monday.

I am still learning about the correct use of this forum and how to post appropriately.

If I make mistakes... please feel free to Blast me accordingly :)

Can't wait til Monday :)
 
#18 ·
Welcome to the forum from Central Illinois. Nice looking bike. I'm sure you'll love your new shark. Have a good one.
 
#23 ·
Welcome from Wisconsin
 
#25 ·
I picked her up on Saturday and it has rained steadily since then.

My first accessories will be Saddlebag Bras and rear LED saddlebag signals and a service book.

It had 8km on it when I rode out the Dealership .

The sound is a lot beefier than other years and I may just hold off on mufflers for a while... I have 2 sets of new ones at home anyway :)

But on the short ride home it was easy to tell how much better it handled than my 2009.:grin:
 

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#26 · (Edited)
Here's the thing...

I buy this bike. I ride it home. I ride it back to the dealer with the wife and she complains the backrest vibrates to much. I notice it runs... let's just say... 'rough'. So now we have put a total of maybe 60 miles on the bike. When we get home I call the Dealer back and voice my concerns then make an appointment to bring the bike in (5 days later).

In the interim I go over the bike and find :
- The rear shock bolts are out of torque 1/2-3/4 of a turn (40 ft.lbs.)
- The front heat shield is loose
- The radio software is out of date
- The Battery was near dead as it took all night to recharge (day one)
- The battery Tender was routed incorrectly out the top side of seat.

I was looking for anything that could cause unwanted vibration or noise. The overall bike had a loudness (roughness) to it that I was not used to in any other 2016 FLTRU I had test rode.

So the 5 days go by and I take the bike in with a list of my concerns. Formost was my concerns that there might be an exhaust gasket, manifold or throttle body leak.To be truthful one of the biggest was that my wife found it uncomfortable as well.

I get a call at 4:30pm to go get the bike. Its been there since 9am.

The tech guy goes over stuff. Saying... You guessed it... "sounded Great to me!" Plus some other stuff which only made me feel like crap as in... "It's Normal... It's a Harley... What did you expect???"

I asked if he had taken it for a test ride .. He said yes up and down the main road here. Which just happens to be the biggest and busiest road crossing borders from Canada to the USA. You wouldn't here gun fire if it went off right next to you.

I asked if he did a leak test... "Nope"... Did you re-seat the exhaust gaskets... "Nope"...

He tried to explain away my thoughts on engine noise as maybe I was not used to the TBW or the fact that it is a 103 engine.. Boiling over inside I (as politely as I could) said ..."Nah... I don't think so!"

Did you find anything??? ... He did find that the crossover pipe was loose, rattling and was misaligned. So he re-aligned the whole system.

And... their Detailer did a great job on the bike as it was a little messy from the drizzle that morning.

Next comes their Service Guy. Not the Service manager... the guy behind the desk... receptionist, call taker, scheduler...

"We talked it over with management and I am going to give you an invoice but don't worry... we have decided not to charge you this time. This is not our usual custom but we will eat the cost on this one!!!"

My jaw just about hit the ground... I felt like saying.."What was your last job kid... call boy at Jiffy Lube??" He's trying to make me feel honored that the mighty Dealership has decided not to charge me for an inspection that should have been performed before the bike even went on the road. Especially knowing all I had found prior to this.

He went on to say that if we have our tech look at a bike and everything is Normal... we have to charge. In my mind I'm thinking... 60 miles... brand new bike... PDI sucked... and there was debate on whether or not to charge me...

Yep... I lost it !!! ... Things were said !

As it was now almost 5:30pm (closing time 6pm) I spent 1/2 hour with the sales guy I bought from (who happened to walk in the service area at the height of the moment.

The Gen. Manager had gone home but I relayed my concerns about my overall experience. From having the bike for 2 weeks and never a mention from anyone about any concerns I might have (although I did send several emails that were never answered).

So I left him with this idea.... I would be asking for a complete refund of my PDI costs. As the bike should never have been put on the road... and by the way... The GPS on this 2016 FLTRU... did not even have this Dealership on it... how out of date is that?

Thanks for listening :surprise:

****
Oh yes... I ride the bike home... Guess what... It rides smoother than ever it had. So just like an oil leak... its never where you find it. I guess being directly under the bike the crossover issue caused vibrations and sounds that filtered to other areas.
 
#27 ·
I have 1600 km's on it now. It goes in again on Monday for the check up... Boy do I have a list.

I actually put on a pair of 2012 Street Glide Slash Slip On mufflers I had to see if there was a difference... Yep... rear vibration was less and power range was smoother.

I have the Clutch Rod Rattle issue that goes away when you pull in the clutch... hope its just an adjustment... But Holy Cow... does this thing sound like a bucket of bolts when that rear cylinder kicks into Air Pump Mode.

After the 1600 check I'll be formulating a plan of attack ... An ESP has to be seriously considered (at their expense) as does a new set of mufflers.

To me... it just (overall) sounds rough. I cant explain it any better .
 
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