Posted: 5/29/2007 4:42:06 PM EDT
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I havent had a street bike in years, and had been thinking heavily about buying one. So I went out, and found an 02 Fatboy that only had 3700 miles on the odom. and at the right price. I bought it from a local HD dealer. The bike is great, runs strong, and have been using it daily. Now my dilemma At highway speeds, I was sensing a wig-wag from the rear. Not ever having a HD before, I thought maybe it was normal, or just wind buffeting. The girlfriend and I spent the weekend riding, and at lower speeds, 35-50, there was no wig-wag. Only at the higher highway speeds, So I pulled into a gas station to check air pressure, the rear tire only had 12 pounds in it. Holy shit!!!! I filled it to the recommended 40lbs for 2up riding, and it was like a cadillac compared to before. This morning I go out to the garage to check the tire, and the pressure has bleed down to 20 lbs of pressure already. Upon closer inspection, I find not 1, but 2 frickin plugs in the rear. One of the plugs is damn near next to the sidewall!!! The bike is going back to the dealer tomorrow for V&H pipes and a stage one kit. I am going to insist the dealer replaces the rear for free of charge. They do not plug tires at this dealership, will only sell new. It appears to me, a safety check was never preformed on the bike. I am not even sure it is legal for him to sell me the bike with the rear tire in that condition. The girlfriends runs a car dealership, and she insists it is illegal for them to sell a car with a plugged tire, it has to be replaced. I would think that would carry over to MC dealers also. So do you think the dealer will pay, or do I not have a chance?? |
| If you had called it before buying you'd have had a new tire in a heartbeat, but after buying you're depending on his good will and the hopes you'll return for parts, service and maybe a trade in in the future. Some dealers place a lot of stock on goodwill, others don't give a rats ass about you once you ride off the lot. |
Agreed. You may be twisting in the wind on this one. Better start looking for a good price on a tire.
I would not ride a street bike on a plugged tire. A flat in your truck leaves you changing a tire on the side of the road. A flat on your bike means you could be getting scraped off the road. Edit: I'm currently on my second set of Dunlops, but if I still have my bike, I'll probably go Metzeler next. |
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<------- Works for HD! Not sure how OH does it, but GA, we don't send out bikes w/ plugged tires, we don't even have plugs in stock that I'm aware of... If you have a hole in the treaded areas, not the sidewall, they might put a tube in the tire, but unlikely. It is HIGHLY recommended to just replace the entire tire, but seeing as how you've had the bike for a little while, there is no evidence that you didn't have the plugs done... Not saying you did, but in the dealer's eyes, you see what I'm saying?? Even if they don't replace it for free, GET A NEW TIRE. I don't wanna hear about you and the lil lady in the evening news... |
He may think I did it myself, but I'm hoping not. They do have a dunlop in my size in stock, so, either way I'm getting a new tire. Whether I pay for it or he does, remains to be seen |
What shop in GA? 
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| Plugging motorcycle tires is OK, provided that the plug used is one of the large flat "disc on a stem" internal plugs made by companies like Tech Tire. They have to be installed correctly by someone who knows what they are doing. I was trained in this in the mid 1980s. These are the ones: http://www.nytechsupply.com/catalog/product306.html |
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Yep. Especially after riding all weekend double-up and way under-pressure. Did you notice whether you have a tube in it now? Might as well get the integrity of the wheel checked out. A few hundred bucks now buys a lot of peace of mind. |
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Assuming you are not proficient at wrencing on a HD (just assuming) By a moto jack at Sears. By a tire online ,tax free, and <30% cheaper than most steelers. I like Metzlers on HD's personally. Match radial and bias tires acordingly (preferred). Get a buddy at the HD shop to come over on the weekend to show you how to remove the wheel asembly, and do an oil change for the lesson. Only basic tools are needed. I personally taught myself with the HD manual (best $50 you will spend.) Take the tire and rim to a local indy and have it changed for ~ $25 then reinstall. Maybe you can swap the tires on the rim on your lunch hour at the shop. If your Fatboy has spokes, have that rim(s) checked for loose spokes or an out of true rim. If you have the $$ do both tires at the same time. |