The 2011 Harleys are out

When I was looking for a new bike, I went to several dealers around the state to see what they had. If the bike is in their inventory, they will deal on it to get it off the floor. But you have to know what the other guys have first and use that in your bargaining.

When I found the bike I wanted ('08 FLHX) in the color I liked (Black Pearl) at the dealership in Colo. Springs, they were happy to sell it UNDER MSRP because they knew I could buy one from somewhere else cheaper (end of model year), or wait for the new models to come in in a couple weeks.

By the way, H-D manufactures only wheels outside the USA. H-D has an arrangement to get it's cast wheels from it's Australian partnership there. The new operation in India is strictly sales for Malaysia. You will NEVER see an H-D motorcycle made outside the USA.

My question is if HD removed the brass bushings from the connecting rod,cam plate and all how is this going effect the life of the motor
I continue to hear buddy's say they are scared

Almost all of the tech support industry is in a different country at some point. I did a big research paper on outsourcing for college and it is amazing, but not surprising what is in other countries from the U.S. The good thing is that stats show that a lot of these things are coming back because of the competition in these other countries is starting to grow so the wages there are going up as well. So we all know what happens when the wages go up?

I see your point on this, I would not pay over MSRP either, but I am curious to know. This particular bike, did it have some extra goodies on it that would cost them to jack the price of the bike up?? I ask this because I guess if I were looking at a bike a stock one, then right across from it there was the same bike, but with all of the trimmings, but they were asking more for the bike that had dealer installed goodies, which would buy?? Me, I would buy the one with the trimmings if the trimmings were to my liking. Do you consider this as paying over MSRP???

I am in the process of looking at bikes because I am in the market to buy another one. I do this with almost everything that I buy. I tell them that I am looking at numerous places to see what they have and what kind of deals I can get. I agree with you that there is always another dealer. My home dealership is Wild Prairie HD, which is the sister dealership of St.Paul HD which is the founder of the MVP program. I like going there the most, and to be honest, it would save me a lot of money in the long run to buy my bike there because I am a member of the MVP program, I would prefer to buy bike there, but it doesn't automatically mean that I will, even though it will save me a lot of money in the long run. I have been to a lot of dealerships in the past month, and there are 2 of them that offered to give 1k to put towards anything I want, whether it be motorcloths, chrome, big bore kit, whatever, my home dealership has not. What would you do?? Pay full price and get that deal, or buy a bike that has the goodies already installed and pay over MSRP??

Get the one you feel you get the best deal on. you are the one who is going to ride and make payments on it. in the past month I have been to 18 different dealerships and they all want your business, some just more than others.

Was at a dealer Saturday in western Wyoming and a young guy said he was to busy to help me, told him you don’t look busy to me. The owner over heard my statement and came over and was very helpful, when we left the store SHE was having a little talk with the guy.

I want to add my 2 cents on a couple points your talking about. #1) Johnny Biker:I would buy the bike at the dealership where you will take it when it's time for service and warranty work. This is going to happen, so you should be at the place where they will take care of you as a return customer. Plain and simple. When I travel, I don't get the service I'd like.

#2) The cam plate is made from aluminum with clearance for oil lubrication. Metal never touches metal here, as it's not carrying a load. I have over 40,000 miles on my '08 with not one single problem or return for warranty work. Older bikes (pre '06) would have been in for cam chain replacement twice in those miles. Yes, a roller bearing here would probably live longer, but really is not needed. Very best arrangement would be gear drive cams with no chain at all, then you could go 100,000 trouble-free miles.

I don't have any experience or know what to expect for the cam-chain life on my '08, but it still rubs on a plastic tensioner. I get a mental image of a chain saw cutting through that plastic at some point in the future.

I'm a mechanical design engineer, and I think about how machinery can last a lot longer without friction devices. Heck, it would be even better if the chain was made the exact length needed without all the lash and the plastic tensioner at all. The Woods belt-drive cams are a good example of what can be done here. Hey, cog belts work fine on the rear wheel.

Don't worry........
And quit lettin people scare you.
Ride yer bike and enjoy it dude.

I have a 08, you have the new style cam plate and new style high volume oil pump, and hydraulic tensioners.
The spring loaded tensioners were the ones that created more wear and I think ChuckTx had over 35,000 on his 06 bike before he changed them.

You can put over 35,000 on yer bike bike before you would even have to think about checkin them.
I have a set of Woods TW6 cams in my bike and I hammer it all the time and have over 39,000 on it. I mean i wind up 1st 2nd and 3rd gear to 5200 rpm and wind up 4th gear to 105mph. I don't like to go over that with a full fairing.
So when I say enjoy yer bike I know you don't have nothin to worry about.
The chain drive setup you have with the nylon style cam shoes is a good setup.
In yer primary there is a auto tensioner shoe with the same nylon style shoe on it to keep tension on the primary chain.
Whatever you do, DO NOT GO TO GEAR DRIVE.
kEEP yer oil changed every 2500 miles and enjoy yer bike.

Yes Cardboard, I do enjoy it to the max, and ride like you do. Mine is basically stock with Rinehart 2 into 1 pipes, K&N air filter, and a V&H FuelPak. The stock motor does amaze me how well it runs with these mods, and still gets great gas mileage. For steady cruising, it's getting 60 mpg (no lie) and drops to 50 mpg when running hard.

Geez, we took a ride yesterday around the southwest part of the state over 4 mtn. passes (all over 10,000 ft). Rode 356 miles and didn't have to stop for gas until we got home. All the other guys had to gas up along the way. My low-fuel light was on for about 100 miles, and I was a little worried, but I had a siphon hose just in case I didn't make it the last few miles. It's good to know just how far you can go, for the times when there's no one else riding with you.