2014 Triglide problems

[martyjk]

I love my new 2014 Triglide. The way it brakes, the way it rides, the way it looks and feels.
The only disappointment is the recalls and the problems with the coolant system. Its in the shop right now waiting for Harley to send the new thermostats because the dealer was told to send back the ones they had in stock which I already had replaced once with no success.

The new coolant bottle neck has been replaced according to Harleys letter sent out about 2 weeks ago. Its just waiting for the new thermostat.I hope this solves the coolant issues because I love my new bike. Just wondering if anybody else is having the same problems.?

[tfdeputydawg]

I'm sure many are as they are recalls. All units involved.
Still not sure I understand just cooling the heads and putting the radiators in the lowers?????
Cylinders still air cooled and now you can't remove the lowers for summer!

[msocko3]

I've seen on other forums where some are having the same issue, some have had it back to the dealer several times and still no fix. IMO Harley did a sh!tty job putting this new design out to market. It reminds me of the 2009 Triglide when they had trunk leaks and didn't come up with the fix until the 2010 MY. My dad packed his luggage in trash bags the entire 1st year he owned his 09 because if it rained you could count on the trunk being full of water.

Just going to have to sit back and give HD some time for the total fix to be engineered.

[trikermutha]

My thoughts are like MSocko..You would think that putting the bike on the rode you do road testing before the public gets to inherit these 1st year problems..This way most if not all the bugs are noted and repaired before the public gets to purchase the new revised Trikes.. Now the buyer has to waste time and money bringing the trike back and forth to get things fixed..Thats not right in my book.

[martyjk]

The big reason I bought this 2014 trike as I was in Gatlinburg in October and was in heavy traffic. The engine started heating up so I turned on the fan I had installed to cool the engine. BIG MISTAKE! I cooked my goose! The 14 model blows the heat out the sides, big difference.Like I said, the potential is there for a great bike. I just hope they get everything worked out.
Besides, I could have bought a Cadillac cheaper!

[JimmyDee]

My thoughts are like MSocko..You would think that putting the bike on the rode you do road testing before the public gets to inherit these 1st year problems..This way most if not all the bugs are noted and repaired before the public gets to purchase the new revised Trikes.. Now the buyer has to waste time and money bringing the trike back and forth to get things fixed..Thats not right in my book.

Harley might have considered this, but then realized that their customer base is a much larger R&D Department.

[trikermutha]

Harley might have considered this, but then realized that their customer base is a much larger R&D Department.

Thats a good way to loose there customer base too.. I am sure there are people out there willing to give there product the R&D it needs before putting it out on the market.

[msocko3]

Thats a good way to loose there customer base too.. I am sure there are people out there willing to give there product the R&D it needs before putting it out on the market.

I grew tired of being Harley's beta tester and bought a Goldwing. Back in 2009 when I first got my 2010 I was busting HD's customer service departments chops about the heat and lack of power and told them they must have a bunch of yes men working for them afraid to tell them the truth. I told the guy to send me one and I'd ride the snot out of it and tell them honestly what I thought and find the weaknesses.

[Geezzer Glide]

Well as much as I hate to say it but anytime one buys a new vehicle the first year of a new design, regardless of weather it's a Harley, any other make of bike, a car, or a truck that's the risk one takes and normally there are a few recalls and repairs that will need to be figured out and done. I agree that it shouldn't be that way but that is normally how it works.
Against my better judgment I bought a new 1997 Ford F-150 in 97. The first year for a completely new redesigned F-150. Well after driving it for 3 years and the 36,000 mile warranty and it was spending more time in Fords garage than in mine I got rid of it. If it wasn't in for a recall something was broke and/or not working properly.
I've learned never buy a new vehicle the first year of a new design. Most of the time there are going to be issues.
I'm sure Harley will eventually get the issues worked out on the new Tri Glide but only time will tell.

Dan

[FRR]

It might be interesting for someone to research the various motorcycle manufactures and compare the number of recalls and major issues. I have purchased 7 Harley Ultras in the past 21 years and never owned one that didn't have some kind of mechanical or electrical issue that involved warranty work. During that same time I have owned 5 Goldwings and have never had a failure. If I go back 10 yrs before that I owned three other Wings and had one issue with a stator on my 1984.

I have never understood why Harley, with a loyal customer base and millions of dollars for R&D, can't produce a machine that is essentially mechanically sound.

I will admit that at my age I don't ride with many young guys, but of the older guys I know that, like me, have ridden Harley for years; they are getting increasingly frustrated with Harley and some of our local dealers.

[Jerry/MD]

I should probably keep my mouth shut, but call me a glutton for punishment.

I`ve worked in electrical engineering R&D for over 25 years and what I see going on with the 2014 H-D models does not surprise me. Most think this comes from poor design or testing but I can tell you it happens all too often. The transition from a prototype to production always has some bumps. I can't tell you how many times I`ve tested systems and had the craziest un-expected issues pop-up as soon as it was transitioned to production. Now you can call this sloppy design work or whatever term you wish to use, but it happens. I don't know anything about how H-D does product development and maybe they do use their customers as 'beta testers'. I hope not. All I can tell you is despite the best planning, testing and intentions stuff happens when the production switch gets turned-on. Just giving you my own perspective and experience folks.


I will now put-on my flak jacket.

Jerry

[cscsonny]

Ever watch the video on the design,build and cost to design the V-Rod,it's an amazing video and was proclaimed the "Best"Harley to ever hit the streets.Yet,not many liked or bought the V-Rod because it just didn't look like a Harley,and there were very few problems reported on the V-Rod.
Maybe Harley should have used the same approach in designing 2014 models,keeping the appearence their customers want,and there might have been less problems from the beginning.
As you know,a lot of Harleys are sold and shipped out of country.I wonder how these owners in other countries are dealig with re-calls when the dealer base isn't as good as it is here.
We have had several Gold Wings and Harleys,I think they are both beautiful machines.
Just sayin.

[trikermutha]

I have owned a few Harleys in the past and have not had the issues that I have had with this bike (2010) Ex: oil leaks,loose oil pans bolts,trans bolts loose,compensator problems etc..I love the dam bike, but the R&D needs improvement before production to the customer.. It does bring the meaning of dont buy" the first year vehicle" to a new perspective..

[Geezzer Glide]

I should probably keep my mouth shut, but call me a glutton for punishment.

I`ve worked in electrical engineering R&D for over 25 years and what I see going on with the 2014 H-D models does not surprise me. Most think this comes from poor design or testing but I can tell you it happens all too often. The transition from a prototype to production always has some bumps. I can't tell you how many times I`ve tested systems and had the craziest un-expected issues pop-up as soon as it was transitioned to production. Now you can call this sloppy design work or whatever term you wish to use, but it happens. I don't know anything about how H-D does product development and maybe they do use their customers as 'beta testers'. I hope not. All I can tell you is despite the best planning, testing and intentions stuff happens when the production switch gets turned-on. Just giving you my own perspective and experience folks.

I think you explained it very well. But most people don't understand that.

Dan

[5x40]

1st year moans and groans are not limited to Harleys, trust me...2005 C6 Corvette, 2014 C7 Corvette Stingray,,,,and issues will continue even in the future yrs of the genre and then it begins all over again in the next generation of the name tag.

[DTR 11TG]

To add to the great comments by Jerry/MD, some of the problems found with first production runs are created by the 'bean counters' trying to keep cost down. I have experienced the 'bean counter' problems on cars, trucks & guns, they can make what they THINK are small unimportant changes and the product & customer pays for it. It can be amazing how a small change in a supplier and/or material can create problems with a great design, including well tested designs. Its a shame that some companies allow the wrong people make changes to products and we have to pay for it

[msocko3]

I have owned a few Harleys in the past and have not had the issues that I have had with this bike (2010) Ex: oil leaks,loose oil pans bolts,trans bolts loose,compensator problems etc..I love the dam bike, but the R&D needs improvement before production to the customer.. It does bring the meaning of dont buy" the first year vehicle" to a new perspective..

My dad and I both had good luck with our previous Harley's, he road the snot out of his 06 Ultra and never had one single problem. The guy who bought it off of him grind ear to ear every time he gets it out and rides it, still trouble free for the new owner. My 06 Ultra has never stranded me except for one time and I could have prevented that had I taken the time to replace the ignition lock before I left town. I'd get on that bike right now and take it out west without a 2nd thought.

Now my dads 09 Triglide has stranded him and spent its fair share getting fixed, his extended warranty paid for it self. The 2010 Triglide I had was looking to be more trouble than it was worth so I sent it down the road, I just didn't trust it anymore.

[bodymanpainter]

Well This thread has answered my questions about the new 2014 Triglide we looked at today. The wife and I are going to be in the market soon for our trike and are looking at the Goldwing and Triglide trikes. We want one that is as trouble free as possible as we ride a lot and take long trips. We like both but don't want to be a test pilot for anyone.

[Sloufoot]

I feel the real ignorant part of the problems they are having with the cooling should have been solved long before they hit the market ! They had designed a full water cooled Harley around 1980/81 that never hit the sales floor, & look how long they have been doing the V-Rod......!
But then again when you are afraid of putting out a water cooled Harley in the full size touring motorcycle because people might not like it, you just made your first mistake with it ! I hope they finish the job maybe next year or at least the next. Either sh*t or get off the pot ! Speaking of which I saw a pix of Denver all fogged in this morning. Maybe it was fog & maybe not......
Excuse the rant ! But it is JMO !
pepper

[Buckin']

Well This thread has answered my questions about the new 2014 Triglide we looked at today. The wife and I are going to be in the market soon for our trike and are looking at the Goldwing and Triglide trikes. We want one that is as trouble free as possible as we ride a lot and take long trips. We like both but don't want to be a test pilot for anyone.

Please don't listen to advice from those that have no experience with the product they are bashing. These folks are just bitter because of the experience they had with the earlier model TriGlides, not the 14s. I actually own a 2014 TriGlide and it is an awesome motorcycle. I have owned more Harleys than most on here, easily. Get a 2014 TriGlide and enjoy.