Posted on 05/29/2014 1:29:39 AM PDT by kingattax
As a former politician, Dave Zien has built a reputation for defending motorcyclists' rights – as well as cruising the country with patriotic flags hanging off the back of his Harley-Davidson motorcycle for millions of miles.
So it came as something of a shock when Harley rejected a warranty repair Zien sought for a broken clutch on a new Harley trike — citing his flags as the real cause. Zien, who bought the bike new in March, has voiced his displeasure throughout the biker community, telling Fox News that Harley-Davidson informed him he was "blocked" because of his flag displays, and can "never get any warranty work" for seven years.
Harley-Davidson responded to the Journal Sentinel of Milwaukee, stating that Zien's warranty is still valid, but that it denied this claim due to the the "terrific drag (the flags create) on the engine and transmission." The company also says that the flag mounts used were not Harley products, which played a part in the claim's denial, despite Zien arguing that a registered Harley dealer installed the mounts.
Zien, aged 64, served as a U.S. marine in Vietnam in the late '60s, prior to joining the Wisconsin State Senate between 1993 and 2006. His stint in the senate brought him some local recognition, but it was his full-size flags – including a 3-foot-by-5-foot American flag – waving proudly from behind his Harley that ensured an avid following of bikers.
(Excerpt) Read more at autos.yahoo.com ...
I agree it’s bad PR, but I am with Harley on this one. A warranty is supposed to cover manufacturing defects. If the clutch wore out prematurely due to excess drag of seven large flags, it is not a manufacturing defect. Nevertheless, Mr.Zien is a vet and a patriot. My offer to him is below.
This goes out to Mr.Zien, if you happen to read this thread or if someone here can contact him. If you’d like, we will repair your clutch as goodwill if you can get your motorcycle to us. Just message, “hdbc”, and I will make sure you get back on the road.
Yes, but it’s called the primary case oil. It lubricates the primary drive chain and the clutch.
So there are three separate oil systems.
That’s interesting. i feel exactly opposite. I rented a BMW last summer in France. Very uncomfortable and it felt like a cheap piece of junk. My girlfriend hated riding on it.
BMW’s aren’t any cheaper than HD’s, so I don’t see how a BMW is a lot of bike for the money when rice is half the price, more reliable and better engineered.
It wasn’t seven. It was two flags, and they’re 3x5’, not “huge”. And since Harley specifically sells mount kits to create this exact configuration, they’re talking out of both sides of their mouth. Not to mention, the bike in question is less than 6 months old (bought March 2014).
I still stand by my previous post. Other forums I have read said he has seven large flags. The size you would fly on a flagpole, not 3X5. Either the clutch has a manufacturing defect or it doesn’t. If he wore it out prematurely by having excess weight or drag, it’s not a defect. In my experience, clutch failures are mainly the result of abuse of some kind. Usually cop bikes used in parades and other extremely slow riding. Seven large flags could also stress the clutch beyond it’s design.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.