Three trips to the Harley Shop

A couple weeks ago, I rode three times to the Antelope Valley Harley shop. 90 miles each way x3 = 540 miles. Here’s the story.

I’d been experiencing a shuddering effect when applying the front brakes for a long time. A mechanic at Bakersfield Harley told me he thought the front brake rotors were warped. My ‘08 Road King Classic has the new Brembo brakes. They stop really well. I ignored the shuddering, to the point I began tolerating it. Months passed. Since I plan to put a lot of miles on the bike this year, I decided to get the tires and brakes replaced. Over the weekend, I received some new tires I ordered (Dunlop Elite series 3). These are great tires and I recommend them.

I had Earl Burley Performance install the new tires and check my brakes. Earl said the rear brake pads had a few thousand miles left on them, but I had him replace them. He said the front were fine. I also told him there was a shuddering sensation when I applied the front brake. Earl said the rotors may be warped, but since the bike was still under warranty, I should take it to the shop for that. One more detail, Earl did this service for me the same day I called him.

New tires and rear brakes installed, I took it for a test drive east on 178 to the Randsburg Wash triangle. Very smooth up to 70 mph. Balance was perfect and rear brakes solid. Front brakes shudder still. Headed north on Searles Cut-off (downhill) and put on some excessive speed, still very smooth ride, better than I remember.

Monday I made an appointment to take the bike into the AV shop for the 25,000 mile service and to get the front brakes fixed. Weather was threatening rain, but it only lightly sprinkled on the way. After arriving, I mentioned the front brake shuddering and that it had been doing that for so long, I began tolerating it. 25,000 mile service completed, the mechanic and service manager Steve indicated the front rotors were slightly warped but not bad and that they recommended replacing the front pads (which Earl told me were fine). I had them replace them.

I had some rain gear that I’d bought on line, but decided to check out the new Harley rain gear. I like the zippered sides in the new Harley rain gear, making the pants easy to get on and the stirrups to hold them to my boots. The jacket fits well. With reflective surfaces on the pants and jacket, I know I’ll be seen much better than the other gear I have.

After paying the $438 bill for the service, I headed home with another member of our group that happened to be there getting some work done on his bike. I noticed the shuddering effect was more pronounced with new pads. I’d have to call to make another appointment to get that fixed.

I made an appointment for the following Friday and took it in. It rained both ways. Harley rain gear is great and worth the few extra dollars. It was pretty cold but I arrived dry and comfortable thanks to the rain gear. I mentioned the shuddering to Jenny the service rep, that had been going on for a long time and that another mechanic told me the rotors might be warped. I decided to go to lunch while they worked on it and walked over to Marie Calendars. While there, I picked up a cherry pie to take back to the shop.

The mechanic came out and mentioned he’d checked the brakes and one rotor was out .007 in while the other was out .0015 in and that he thought the brake rotors were bent rather than warped. Jenny, indicated that perhaps when the tires were installed, the tire was dropped and the rotor belt. I told her again, this had been going on for a long time, way before the tires were installed. Regardless, the shop was not going to replace the rotors.

While waiting for my bike, I called Bakersfield Harley and made an appointment to take it in. They had done great work for me on other occasions. Meanwhile, Steve, the other service rep (not Steve the service manager who was off that day), brought my bike out for me. He asked what was up with the rotors. I told him they were out of tolerance, but the shop thought they were bent rather than warped and would not replace them. I told him, I was more than a little upset that I’d brought it in twice just to find out the AV shop would not fix the brakes under warranty. I mentioned, I didn’t think it was very good policy that the shop where I bought my bike would let me ride away knowing my brakes were not 100%. I also mentioned I had an appointment with the Bakersfield shop and if they replaced the rotors, which I felt they would, I would likely not be back to the AV shop for service again. I left the pie and headed for home again in the rain. There was a beautiful full rainbow at the Garlock turn off. The road was still open so I took it. The road was a little muddy in places, but passable and I got home without incident and dry thanks to the Harley rain gear.

An hour or so after getting home I got a call from Scott, the AV shop owner. He apologized for the service shop not fixing my bike the first time, I brought it in. Scott was upset himself that the service rep had not talked to him before I left. Steve had gone to him after I left and told him that I was not happy. Scott asked if I could bring the bike back tomorrow, Saturday, they would fix it. He said he knew I’d taken it in twice already, but would appreciate another change to regain my confidence in their service department. I said I would bring it in. Perhaps the rainbow was a sign of good things to come and possible happy ending to this tail.

Saturday it rained again. Did I mention that Harley rain gear is great? I arrived at the shop and before turning the ignition off, Jenny was there clipboard in hand. The mechanic was also there to take the bike in for me. I thought to myself, “Am I at the same place”? Scott found me in a few minutes and we talked for a while. Ron the general manager also found me and invited me to lunch with him, but Steve the service manager, came and told me my bike was finished and ready to go. Steve the other service rep asked if I wanted my bike washed. I said it will probably just get all messed up in a couple miles, so no thanks. I got the bill indicating zero owed. Nice, but I wondered if it was enough. I asked Ron the general manager, if he wouldn’t mind compensating me for a couple extra tanks of gas it took for coming down the third time, by punching my frequent buyer card for me. He had Steve the service manager punch it twice. I thought that was good of him. Steve, the other service rep told me thanks for the pie I’d brought yesterday, the mechanics all got some and loved it.

Before leaving the parking lot, I checked the brakes a few times. Solid feel, no shuddering at all. Confidence in AV Harley service restored, I rode home in the rain. Arriving at the Garlock turnoff, I saw another rainbow. It was a happy ending. I arrived home again, without incident, dry and comfortable. Harley rain gear is great.

Tom Lystrup