First, I mentioned my bike ran hot and lean as all '07's do. I am speaking of the new 96 cubic inch engine. It seems mechanics, masquerading as Harley engineers, could not meet EPA standards without over leaning the engine. Why is this a big deal? Leaning an engine creates the following situation:
1. The engine runs uncomfortably hot (in warm weather you will want a heat guard for your inner thighs).
2. The engine will not produce the horsepower it should, because there is not enough fuel.
3. The engine will sometimes lean surge from a stop or at low speeds (fuel starvation).
4. Does an engine run hot last as long? I will let you decide.
Now, Harley does have a fix. For a mere $1,400-2,000 you can have your dealer install a "Stage One Race Tuner" kit. Now, of course to get around the EPA it is "for off road uses" only. This is another way of saying it is illegal! Can you imagine walking into a car dealer to buy a new car, only to finding out that it will cost substantial money just to get it to run correctly and will then be illegal? I will bet you would turn around and walk out.
What is this kit? $450 of it is a plug-in device (SERT) that allows the dealer to access the onboard computer of the bike and retune it! Why was the system made like this? To require you to spend more money. Harley could have made it so the dealer could just plug-in without any device, but were is the profit in that? As to the device, I am sure it was made in China for $5, or less (just plan greed). Anyway, after you have purchased your plug-in race tuner, you then need to increase the intake air flow and exhaust flow. Read that: spend more money buying pipes and air cleaners assemblies that allow more air to flow in and out, so the newly enriched fuel can burn properly. Question: is a "Harley race tuner" an oxymoron?
Of course, there is labor involved and the dealers have their own scams going that they borrowed from car dealers. Here, they charge you the book rate for doing each and every items, as though it were separate. You may pay for 5 hours, when it took 2.5. "But the book says so." Ask the dealer in advance how they are calculating the labor, and then tell them you want either actual time or negotiate. You will save hundreds! I did after I paid full price the first time I had something done and realized I was being scammed.
If you do "Stage One", you then will have a decent (illegal) machine that runs a lot cooler, and has sufficient power. Every Harley owner I know has forked-out big money for this. An amazing scam! And here is the kicker, Harley is saying since you've made the bike illegal by doing Stage One, HD may not honor your warranty. Even if you use all HD parts! The dealer that installed it probably will honor the warranty to keep your business, but if you breakdown on the road, there is a real possibility the warranty will not be honored. Honor among thieves - I don't think so! If you live in a state that does EPA emissions testing, forget "Stage One," you won't pass.
Second issue: the new '07 six-speed clunker transmission. I remember my first ride on the bike wondering what was wrong with the transmission. Shift smoothly, not on a Harley; find neutral easily, not on a Harley. (Dealer said they have voiced their concerns to Harley about this). Make a huge macho "clunk" when shifting, yeah - on any year Harley; the '07's fifth gear makes a weird noise while engaged. The dealer told me this is because its a helical gear - whatever! It couldn't be because they can't find competent engineers to design it correctly could it?
