?? Batwing Adjustment ??

[Chappy]

Has anybody had a batwing fairing that need an adjustment?
Rhetorical question I know, because I have come to know that I'm not alone with this issue.

Some may know, but for those that don't know, I'll let ya know upfront. I'm am a newbie to the forum, however, I'm not a newbie to Harleys. I won't go beyond that point much but will add, in the recent passed I have had a challenge to do much of anything as far as working on my bikes, unlike the past. And the same issue has brought me to the point where I bought me a 2012 TriGlide so I could enjoy being in the wing since my love for long distance rides have pretty much ended on two wheels. My rides are more limited now and my riding loops are closer to home. Again, I'll leave it at that. But....

On my new trike I have noticed that my inner fairing is slightly tweaked to the right. I'm the kind of guy that has always bought a service manual for every new Harley I have owned before I added much of anything. And to my surprise not one word is mentioned in the service manual on adjustments for the fairing. Oh, yup I have owned and piled up miles and hours in the saddle and never have I seen an out of alignment fairing like I have now on my new trike. And I'll admit too that this is the kind of thing that will drive me nuts, especially when dealers just pass the buck and not fix a warranty issue.

I brought it to an official H-D Dealership for the 1000 service and waited for that appointment to bring up the problem to the Service Manager at that time. Oh, the trike rides and trails perfect, it's just the fairing is out of adjustment. The top dog Tech took my trike for a ride and agreed it was out of adjustment. I dropped off the trike thinking, "oh boy, it'll be adjusted when I pick it up" well, it wasn't adjusted and the tech said that he spent time on it but couldn't find enough play when the fastening points were loosened and then pulled and pushed the fairing as much as he could and retightened the fastening points. The final word was, "Bring it to the dealership where you bought it." Man, that's not what I wanted to hear. I figured warranty was warranty no matter what dealer I bought it to. So, here I am looking over again my new service manual and again nothing is mentioned, so, I start digging into the cobwebbed corners of my brain and remembered that on another Harley with a batwing that I have owned in the past had both cheap fairing brackets break and replaced them both, but really can not remember if there was any fairing adjustment points on that year and model ( '03 Ultra Classic ).

Any info or direction on this matter will be much appreciated.

I should mention that another person with the same exact problem was told, but a different dealer, that no bike is perfect. Well, not perfect, I understand, but looking at the sticker price of a brand new 2012 Harley TriGlide certainly should have a fairing lined up with the direction of travel and not have the appearance of a slight right hand turn on every mile ride. While going down the road, it does ride perfectly straight with no pull to one side or the other, but if I turn the handle bars to straighten and line up the gauges with the appearance that I have come to know so well, I actually will turn left. It bugs me to now end!

chappy

 

[Seatec]

I know I should not say this, and it's just in fun any way. I would adjust it by putting it under the front wheel of a truck and drive over it, I never seen a thing so ugly, and wonder who was the guy designed it, I could just help my self with the comment.
We can still be friends he he.
Wayne.

 

[trikermutha]

Has anybody had a batwing fairing that need an adjustment?
Rhetorical question I know, because I have come to know that I'm not alone with this issue.

Some may know, but for those that don't know, I'll let ya know upfront. I'm am a newbie to the forum, however, I'm not a newbie to Harleys. I won't go beyond that point much but will add, in the recent passed I have had a challenge to do much of anything as far as working on my bikes, unlike the past. And the same issue has brought me to the point where I bought me a 2012 TriGlide so I could enjoy being in the wing since my love for long distance rides have pretty much ended on two wheels. My rides are more limited now and my riding loops are closer to home. Again, I'll leave it at that. But....

On my new trike I have noticed that my inner fairing is slightly tweaked to the right. I'm the kind of guy that has always bought a service manual for every new Harley I have owned before I added much of anything. And to my surprise not one word is mentioned in the service manual on adjustments for the fairing. Oh, yup I have owned and piled up miles and hours in the saddle and never have I seen an out of alignment fairing like I have now on my new trike. And I'll admit too that this is the kind of thing that will drive me nuts, especially when dealers just pass the buck and not fix a warranty issue.

I brought it to an official H-D Dealership for the 1000 service and waited for that appointment to bring up the problem to the Service Manager at that time. Oh, the trike rides and trails perfect, it's just the fairing is out of adjustment. The top dog Tech took my trike for a ride and agreed it was out of adjustment. I dropped off the trike thinking, "oh boy, it'll be adjusted when I pick it up" well, it wasn't adjusted and the tech said that he spent time on it but couldn't find enough play when the fastening points were loosened and then pulled and pushed the fairing as much as he could and retightened the fastening points. The final word was, "Bring it to the dealership where you bought it." Man, that's not what I wanted to hear. I figured warranty was warranty no matter what dealer I bought it to. So, here I am looking over again my new service manual and again nothing is mentioned, so, I start digging into the cobwebbed corners of my brain and remembered that on another Harley with a batwing that I have owned in the past had both cheap fairing brackets break and replaced them both, but really can not remember if there was any fairing adjustment points on that year and model ( '03 Ultra Classic ).

Any info or direction on this matter will be much appreciated.

I should mention that another person with the same exact problem was told, but a different dealer, that no bike is perfect. Well, not perfect, I understand, but looking at the sticker price of a brand new 2012 Harley TriGlide certainly should have a fairing lined up with the direction of travel and not have the appearance of a slight right hand turn on every mile ride. While going down the road, it does ride perfectly straight with no pull to one side or the other, but if I turn the handle bars to straighten and line up the gauges with the appearance that I have come to know so well, I actually will turn left. It bugs me to now end!

chappy

Now that you mention this topic..My stereo is not lined up in the hole of the inner fairing. I just havnet really looked into why at this time..

 

[Chappy]

I know I should not say this, and it's just in fun any way. I would adjust it by putting it under the front wheel of a truck and drive over it, I never seen a thing so ugly, and wonder who was the guy designed it, I could just help my self with the comment.
We can still be friends he he.
Wayne.

Hi Wayne,

So glad you could help yourself to a comment.
Really, not so much fun for me, Anyway.
A powerful Proverb for living reads,
Never grab a mad dog by the ears!
Far as still be friends, he he. Well,
got to be one before you can still be one.

Thanks
chappy

 

[saab9k]

Looks like you are a victim of sloppy workmanship.

Lots of that going around.

 

[HDHoggly]

If the dealer is not able to help you then call the factory rep for your area. See if they have better luck in motivating your dealer.

 

[saab9k]

If the dealer is not able to help you then call the factory rep for your area. See if they have better luck in motivating your dealer.

yep, it is fixable.
Problem is finding someone there know how.

Don't give up, make noise

 

[Retcsm07]

Chappy,
Glad to know someone else has this issue.
Mine appears to be slightly canted to the right also, just as you describe, and does not seem to affect the ride/track of the TG.

I plan to bring it to the attention of my dealer when I take it in for it's first service.

 

[Gorilla]

The fairing does not really have an adjustment to it per say. The inter mounts to the bike and the outer mounts to the inter. The inter/outer mount is with screws along the outside including the widshield, that are not slotted for adjustment. You could probably play with the inter to the bike a little. The holes there really are not slotted either but there is a little play in them. I think what you are seeing is the shape that the material takes after it is molded. The curves are not lining up between the 2 fairing parts. I do not think it can be nade to fit any better unless you want to try a new part. Just my thoughts on this.

 

[Chappy]

Chappy,
Glad to know someone else has this issue.
Mine appears to be slightly canted to the right also, just as you describe, and does not seem to affect the ride/track of the TG.

I plan to bring it to the attention of my dealer when I take it in for it's first service.

Hi Retcsm07,

Wow, I brought this up on another forum That I go to and aske pretty the same this as I did on this forum.

I posted on the categorys:
1) was touring, mainly because the front end on the trike is as close to what my '03 Ultra is I thought there might be some of the same fairing issues. I was right!
2) was a Triglide category, again I asked for the same type of help. And Again more folks with the same problems.

In preparation for tomorrows ride I rode down to town and filled my tank with fuel. I've been so busy the last couple dys I haven't ridden, so, let me if I can express how good it felt to ride. Man, every time I ride my bike (only 1200 miles so far) I like it even more. She rides so nice.

I've been installing chrome and switching out parts off my '03 Ultra and digging into my parts is parts stash in the garage for the last couple days. And just about done for now. It's a good feeling for me to tinker and my '97 Heritage Springer that I sold in January was as done as I desired. Same with my '03 Ultra, just wasn't anything else I wanted to do to my Ultra. She has her break downs but I know, if you ride them they will break. She has been a faithful pony for 100,000 miles and now I'm getting ready to reire her. Now, to my pleasure I get to start all over again on my new trike and make it mine.

All that to say, "an out of alignment that results with my fairing being offset and slightly leaning to the right", is something That I will not allow to be part of my new toy and number 6 Harley. Fact is, I didn't even go see what a Honda Trike cost or consider a trike kit or my Heritage Springer or my Ultra. I just knew I wanted a new 2012 Harley Triglide and it went form idea to owning, in just three days. I picked a Black Triglide with a factory security system, Period. I called 5 local dealers and got the best price and after I got the best price I drove over with the check and rode it home. My next adventure will be visiting every dealer around and getting a written report on the fairing problem and go from there.

I'm old enough to remember the smell of a harly shop. And I miss it. It seems that the dealers then didn't screw with customers because if he did, the word was soon out. Today there is a turn around of such a volume in sales, that it appears the dealer just doesn't care if someone is unhappy. The truth is, people with a ligitament complaints are lost among the crowds of folks that just whine about everything and anything. In most cases when I have a complaint there has been about 10 or more whiners at the service desh just before me. But to bad, I won't give up until I am satisfied that the issue is fixed.

Thanks for listening and thanks for your replies
Sincerely
Sam aka chappy

 

[Chappy]

The fairing does not really have an adjustment to it per say. The inter mounts to the bike and the outer mounts to the inter. The inter/outer mount is with screws along the outside including the widshield, that are not slotted for adjustment. You could probably play with the inter to the bike a little. The holes there really are not slotted either but there is a little play in them. I think what you are seeing is the shape that the material takes after it is molded. The curves are not lining up between the 2 fairing parts. I do not think it can be nade to fit any better unless you want to try a new part. Just my thoughts on this.

Wow, I hope your wrong. But if your right why wouldn't I be able to dermal out a slot where the joules are now. Create a slot going down on the right side and a slot going up on the left side in both of the outer mounting points on each side. I'd have to have a SE nod pair of hands but push the fairing up on the right and pull the fairing down on the left and tighten the Torks screws while holding the fairing where it should be.

This response from the dealer reminds me of the responses to the many '08 Harley's with the Stage 1 Hi Flow breather box that dripped oil over the right side of the bike (right pant legs too) and also would leave a puddle of oil on the case between the tappet blocks. What a mess. I didn't have that problem with my '03 Ultra, but I have many friends that still are dealing with it, I'd be nuts by now.

Well, lets keep each other in the loop
And maybe, just maybe
This can be corrected.
I hope so
Sam aka chappy

 

[rap47]

Hey Seatec...Looking at your fairing, your statment is like the pot calling the kettle black. Just fun anyway, right?

 

[Skeet7373]

This may not show much, except my nasty garage, but look at the heigth of my handlebars, the left one is 11/4" higher than the right. Maybe you can see the fairing turned to the right a little. I came into the garage as straight as I could. If I turned the bars to the left the bike would have hit all that stuff lying on the floor.:blush:

<img src="http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h295/sarge384/0516121352.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket]

 

[trikermutha]

since the risers mount to the top tree is something wrong on the top tree or the bushings for the risers??

arm the forks even??

just a thought

 

[BlueTrinity]

Hey Seatec...Looking at your fairing, your statment is like the pot calling the kettle black. Just fun anyway, right?

Actually, I think Seatec's fairing looks OK and the exhaust tips are nice...but everything in between the two is just stone ugly!

I never seen a thing so ugly, and wonder who was the guy designed it, I just couldn't help myself with the comment.
Think we can still be friends ?

 

[Gorilla]

Chappy I bet if you took the time to slot out the mounting area then yes you might be able to square it up better.

 

[Seatec]

I know I should not have said that, it was not a nice thing to say about someones bike. I guess I was in a bad mood, but I still just hate the look of them when I met them on the road and think they could have done a lot better job. I have talked to some people and they just love the look of them, so we do not see everything the same.
Few cars I think is ugly, the Honda Element, older style and the CUbe, but think the new Camero is the best looking car ever built.
The Victory touring bike is not my cup of tea , just too wide at the front.

The Stallion, well the back end is very nice, but that front end I just don't like, they could have give it a better look.
By the way Im not political correct, if I don't like something I say so.
Wayne

 

[Seatec]

Dave , that's just my first attempt at building a body, never done it before, just started carving foam and that's what came out, Im sure Harley done a lot more than me. WE all don't like the same thing, I guess I just don't have much like for Harleys, , noisy, hot, vibrating, got to wear black in the heat, and the BATWING.
I looked at the new Harley trike body, and they could have made something a little more modern looking, but I guess they like the old look.
Wayne
Wayne

 

[oldtimer]

I know I should not have said that, it was not a nice thing to say about someones bike. I guess I was in a bad mood, but I still just hate the look of them when I met them on the road and think they could have done a lot better job. I have talked to some people and they just love the look of them, so we do not see everything the same.
Few cars I think is ugly, the Honda Element, older style and the CUbe, but think the new Camero is the best looking car ever built.
The Victory touring bike is not my cup of tea , just too wide at the front.

The Stallion, well the back end is very nice, but that front end I just don't like, they could have give it a better look.
By the way Im not political correct, if I don't like something I say so.
Wayne

Just a thought here, but you know there's no law that says you need to give air to every errant thought that goes through your mind. Often a good practice on the internet is to not say anything you wouldn't say to a guy's face. Assuming you've lived enough years to reach adulthood I'd guess you typically don't display the moxie to say these sorts of things to people's faces.

 

[SEAlaskan]

Dave , that's just my first attempt at building a body, never done it before, just started carving foam and that's what came out, Im sure Harley done a lot more than me. WE all don't like the same thing, I guess I just don't have much like for Harleys, , noisy, hot, vibrating, got to wear black in the heat, and the BATWING.
I looked at the new Harley trike body, and they could have made something a little more modern looking, but I guess they like the old look.
Wayne
Wayne

There's nothing that says you have to wear black because it's a harley, wear what ever you want.
Butch