Law and Rights
The very first blog we ever wrote was about Harley Davidson and the games they were playing with their customers back then. Well, here we go again.
Harley Davidson has a pretty good reputation with bikers. They've been around a long time and the quality is pretty good, but lately we've been seeing them and their dealers play the same game over and over.
You go and buy a bike and, of course, the dealer talks you into adding on a new "aftermarket" exhaust to give it that genuine throaty "Harley sound" that you expect from a real Harley bike.
Then a few months later it blows a head gasket, starts vibrating bad, throws a drive belt, the battery goes dead and the fuel mileage sucks. The dealer scratches their head and calls Harley and gets nowhere. You scratch your head and call Harley and get nowhere. Is it Lemon Law Time? You betcha.
So what's really going on here? Simple. The dealer wants to make an extra 800 or so off the deal so they talk you into the new set of pipes. Then, if anything goes wrong with the bike later, Harley says you altered the bike's original equipment so now there's no warranty coverage. Even though you know it has nothing to do with the pipes, Harley still tries to stick it to you. Don't put up with it.
Legally, if you add new parts to your bike and later the bike acts up - the only question is whether those parts are the cause of your problem. If so, then no warranty coverage. If not, then they owe you.
If the add-on parts have nothing to do with the problem with your motorcycle - then Harley is still on the hook. They are liable and they can not legally try to blame it on you. Of course, that won't stop them from trying.
Best thing to do is to not buy those add-on "aftermarket" parts in the first place, of course, but if you do, then just make sure that you first ask your dealer if putting those parts on your new bike is going to void the warranty. Then when Harley (or any other manufacturer) tries to tell you that you're stuck, you can turn around and stick it back to them.
That's only fair. If they build it wrong, then they should take care of you. And if the dealer lies to you, then they should step up to it and take care of you. Either way, if it's not your fault then don't let them run over you.
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- Harley Recalls Bikes For Parts Falling Off Danger
The first blog we ever wrote about was the problem with Harley. Well, some things never change. Harley Davidson has announced a recall of 2012 and 2013 VRSCDX motorcycles. It seems that the license plate bracket can fall off. That can end up hitting...
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A consumer called us today and asked if they should file their Motorcycle Lemon Law case now or wait until spring since they aren't using the bike anyway. Good question. Like boaters, most bikers don't use their bikes in the winter months in the...
- The Rip Off Introductory Rate Scam
We've come across a Rip off Introductory Rate Scam that we are seeing several motorcycle dealerships using. Since several dealers are doing the same thing in different areas, the source of the problem is outside of the dealership itself. Maybe it's...
- Baltimore Sun Quotes Burdge On Lemon Laws
The Baltimore Sun newspaper reporter's Dan Thanh Dang interviewed Lemon Law attorney Ron Burdge on Motorcycle Lemon Laws for a recent news article. She also blogs for the newspaper on Consumer Interests. Focusing on a typical motorcycle buyer's...
- Motorcycle Karma Can Kill
You can't believe everything you read in the paper, but even if only half the story below is true, it's a beaut ! Sometimes the lemon is the one on the bike. Sometimes it is the bike. We can help you get rid of the bike if it's a lemon, but...
Law and Rights
the problem with Harley and how they try to hurt you
The very first blog we ever wrote was about Harley Davidson and the games they were playing with their customers back then. Well, here we go again.
Harley Davidson has a pretty good reputation with bikers. They've been around a long time and the quality is pretty good, but lately we've been seeing them and their dealers play the same game over and over.
You go and buy a bike and, of course, the dealer talks you into adding on a new "aftermarket" exhaust to give it that genuine throaty "Harley sound" that you expect from a real Harley bike.
Then a few months later it blows a head gasket, starts vibrating bad, throws a drive belt, the battery goes dead and the fuel mileage sucks. The dealer scratches their head and calls Harley and gets nowhere. You scratch your head and call Harley and get nowhere. Is it Lemon Law Time? You betcha.
So what's really going on here? Simple. The dealer wants to make an extra 800 or so off the deal so they talk you into the new set of pipes. Then, if anything goes wrong with the bike later, Harley says you altered the bike's original equipment so now there's no warranty coverage. Even though you know it has nothing to do with the pipes, Harley still tries to stick it to you. Don't put up with it.
Legally, if you add new parts to your bike and later the bike acts up - the only question is whether those parts are the cause of your problem. If so, then no warranty coverage. If not, then they owe you.
If the add-on parts have nothing to do with the problem with your motorcycle - then Harley is still on the hook. They are liable and they can not legally try to blame it on you. Of course, that won't stop them from trying.
Best thing to do is to not buy those add-on "aftermarket" parts in the first place, of course, but if you do, then just make sure that you first ask your dealer if putting those parts on your new bike is going to void the warranty. Then when Harley (or any other manufacturer) tries to tell you that you're stuck, you can turn around and stick it back to them.
That's only fair. If they build it wrong, then they should take care of you. And if the dealer lies to you, then they should step up to it and take care of you. Either way, if it's not your fault then don't let them run over you.
Burdge Law Office
www.MotorcycleLemonLaw.com
Because life's too short to ride a bad bike.
www.MotorcycleLemonLaw.com
Because life's too short to ride a bad bike.
Subscribe in a reader- Harley Recalls Bikes For Parts Falling Off Danger
The first blog we ever wrote about was the problem with Harley. Well, some things never change. Harley Davidson has announced a recall of 2012 and 2013 VRSCDX motorcycles. It seems that the license plate bracket can fall off. That can end up hitting...
- Now Is The Time To Get Rid Of A Lemon Vehicle
A consumer called us today and asked if they should file their Motorcycle Lemon Law case now or wait until spring since they aren't using the bike anyway. Good question. Like boaters, most bikers don't use their bikes in the winter months in the...
- The Rip Off Introductory Rate Scam
We've come across a Rip off Introductory Rate Scam that we are seeing several motorcycle dealerships using. Since several dealers are doing the same thing in different areas, the source of the problem is outside of the dealership itself. Maybe it's...
- Baltimore Sun Quotes Burdge On Lemon Laws
The Baltimore Sun newspaper reporter's Dan Thanh Dang interviewed Lemon Law attorney Ron Burdge on Motorcycle Lemon Laws for a recent news article. She also blogs for the newspaper on Consumer Interests. Focusing on a typical motorcycle buyer's...
- Motorcycle Karma Can Kill
You can't believe everything you read in the paper, but even if only half the story below is true, it's a beaut ! Sometimes the lemon is the one on the bike. Sometimes it is the bike. We can help you get rid of the bike if it's a lemon, but...