This podcast is all about the law abiding biker (LAB). We talk about the world of motorcycling, motorcycles, ride reviews, equipment reviews, motorcycle law and issues, motorcycle clubbing, motorcycle news, motorcycle television and media, the motorcycle industry, smart phone app reviews, and so much more. We are the majority of bikers on the roads after all. You know, the "99%ers", and we are who the motorcycle industry looks to for product development and design, so let's be heard. This is your one stop shop for all your main stream law abiding biker (LAB) needs, so look no further.
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LAB-417-2026 Harley-Davidson Police Road Glide Review & Full Breakdown (FLTRXP)
Episode 417
Friday, December 19, 2025 • Duration 01:12:50
In this podcast we discuss the all-new 2026 Harley-Davidson Police Road Glide. I was invited to Florida by Harley-Davidson to test ride and review the Police Road Glide. If you're a motor officer, a fleet manager, or simply curious about what makes the Police Road Glide different from its civilian counterpart, you're in the right place. We breaks down every feature, upgrade, and engineering decision Harley made for this brand-new police model.
For decades, the Harley-Davidson Electra Glide dominated police fleets across the country. The batwing fairing became an iconic symbol of American law enforcement. But the landscape began shifting with the explosive popularity of the Mission King of the Baggers race series. Harley invested heavily into R&D from that racing platform, and we've seen that tech filtering into production bikes for years.
The 2026 Harley-Davidson Police Road Glide is the most advanced, well-thought-out motor unit bike Harley has ever created. It solves real-world problems, integrates modern tech, delivers massive performance improvements, and arrives fully equipped from the factory—no more waiting on dealers or installers.
For motors officers: This bike will make your job easier.
For fleet managers: It will reduce costs, delays, and maintenance issues.
For motorcycle enthusiasts: This platform showcases where Harley-Davidson is heading with performance, tech, and engineering.
LAB-416-2025 Fall Drag Specialties National Vendor Presentation (NVP)
Episode 416
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 • Duration 01:19:35
The 2025 NVP Product Expo, hosted by Drag Specialties (in partnership with Parts Unlimited), took place at the Baird Center in Milwaukee on September 6–7. This marked the second straight year the event was held in Milwaukee after relocating from Madison, reflecting continued growth and a need for larger exhibition space.
The NVP isn't just a trade show — it functions as a showcase of the latest aftermarket products and accessories for powersports enthusiasts and dealers. Attendees got a first look at new offerings from some of the biggest names in the industry, with the expo floor doubling as a hands-on venue for vendor–dealer interaction, product demonstrations, and dealer-training sessions
Beyond business, the 2025 NVP also emphasized community and culture. The schedule included a bike show — featuring builds across vintage, metric and V-twin classes — a meet-and-greet with key industry figures, and additional perks like show discounts, dealer incentives, Sunday giveaways, and a "bagger bike build-off." All told, the NVP delivered value, excitement, and connection for dealers and enthusiasts alike.
Innovative products for Harley-Davidson & Goldwing
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Ciro 3D has a passion for design and innovation
Sponsor-Butt Buffer Thanks to the following bikers for :
LAB-407-HD Pan America meets Marvel Mayhem, Icon Fatboy Gray Ghost, and King Of The Baggers Goes Global
Episode 407
Wednesday, August 27, 2025 • Duration 01:16:55
A new movie in the Marvel Universe, Thunderbolts, brings together a team of assassins, outcasts, and fallen heroes who must work together after realizing they've been betrayed by their employer, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine. With nowhere to turn and the odds stacked against them, they must find a way to survive—and fight back. In the film, we see the 149-horsepower Harley-Davidson Pan America 1250 ST perform incredible, scene-stealing stunts without CGI.
Some bikes make history. Others rewrite it. In 1988 and 1989, Willie G. Davidson rode early Fat Boy prototypes into Daytona, seeking direct feedback from riders and igniting a legacy that would span generations. By 1990, the Fat Boy was born, quickly becoming one of the most legendary models in Harley-Davidson history. Now, 35 years later, the new 2025 Fat Boy Gray Ghost charges forward, bringing that legacy full circle. Inspired by the riders who made it an icon, this tribute honors the past while the next generation keeps the fire burning.
Harley-Davidson and MotoGP are launching a new global racing championship featuring Harley-Davidson bagger motorcycles, debuting in 2026. The twelve-race series will race at six Grands Prix across Europe and North America, with riders battling it out on race-prepared Harley-Davidson Road Glide motorcycles in two races per round. More details, including the calendar and how fans will be able to watch and stay up to date, will be revealed soon.
Get Ohlins Suspension for your Harley Davidson! We installed the Ohlin's FKS 226 Harley NIX 22 Front Cartridge Kiton my 2014 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special. After riding my Harley with the newly installed Ohlin's front suspension on a 10-day, 4,000-mile road trip, and on many different road surfaces, I can highly recommend this suspension and decided to carry Ohlin's right in the Law Abiding Biker Store. In our tutorial video, we show you exactly how to install Ohlin's front suspension and how to adjust things so you have the proper preload and proper rebound dampening.
We also installed the Ohlins 13" S36 Blackline Rear Shocks on my 2014 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special. I highly recommend these shocks and decided to carry Ohlin's right in the Law Abiding Biker Store. In our tutorial video, we show you exactly how to install Ohlin's rear shocks and how to adjust things so you have the proper sag and proper rebound dampening.
I was not happy with the overall ride of my 2014 Harley-Davidson Street Glide Special, which came with the standard front suspension Harley has used for many years now on its touring models, which has no adjustments. Unfortunately, it is what it is. I wanted a smoother ride, better cornering abilities, and adjustable preload and dampening, all of which the has! Upon ordering from the , you'll get to choose an Ohlin's front suspension spring that will be adequate for your particular weight.
WHY I CHOSE 13" SHOCKS: Sponsor-Ciro 3D Sponsor-RickRak Sponsor-Butt Buffer New Patrons: ________________________________________________________ FURTHER INFORMATION: Official Website: Email & Voicemail: Podcast Hotline Phone: 509-731-3548 🛒 🛒 😎 😎 📹 📹 🎬🎬 💰 💰 🎙 🎙 ⓕ ⓕ 🐦 🐦
So, what is going on with Harley-Davidson as we move toward 2023? Is Harley Permanently Closing Its Headquarters Building in Milwaukee and why? Why are so many independently owned dealerships closing their doors or selling? Oh, and what's up with the possibility of a 975 version of the very popular Pan America Adventure bike? Is the long-talked-about Harley Bronx Streetfighter actually going to become a reality? And what's all this mean for the future of the Motor Company?
Well, these are all loaded questions and I have a metric ton to throw at you, so let's dive in and see if we can make sense of it all for you! 2023 could prove to be a very exciting year for Harley-Davidson.
So, let's start with the question of whether Harley-Davidson is permanently closing the doors to its Milwaukee, Wisconsin Headquarters building, which has served as such since 1973. The answer is "yes", well kind of. You see, Harley-Davidson is letting employees work from home on what may become a permanent basis. Harley's Milwaukee headquarters closed in 2020 due to the global pandemic, but Harley CEO Jochen Zeitz says the complex is going to be repurposed rather than reopened for workers.
Neither Harley-Davidson nor the CEO has specified exactly what its 500,000-square-foot complex in Milwaukee will become. Still, the company insists the location will remain an important location for Harley's presence in the U.S. Further, Harley is fully embracing remote work and the flexibility and openness it brings.
So, what's my opinion on all this? I personally think that varies greatly from industry to industry. I do recognize that there are some benefits to remote working, such as fewer distractions, workers may feel less stressed and stay more focused, and of course, remote workers love having flexibility in their schedules if feasible. With that said, I think Harley needs to tread lightly here because a huge part of the motorcycle lifestyle is riding and hanging out with other like-minded bikers.
Sponsor-Ciro 3D New Bikes for 2023? Pan America 975 Sponsor-RickRak Sponsor-Butt Buffer Bronx Streetfighter New Patrons: Thanks to the following bikers for :
LAB-316-Harley Davidson Icon El Diablo Low Rider ST And The All New Enthusiast Collection
In this episode, I'm joined by Lurch and we talk about the new Harley Davidson Icon release; the Low Rider ST El Diablo. We also talk about the all-new Enthusiast Collection. This particular collection celebrates those who have and continue to serve in the U.S. Military. On top of these releases, we chat about the recent installation of Boss Audio saddle bag lid speakers on a 2017 Street Glide. We've tested the Boss Audio saddle bag speaker kit and found it to be loud, crisp, and clean. We used a decibel meter to measure the sound and it was in line with other available top-brand audio systems.
This Icon is an extraordinary series of Harley-Davidson motorcycles inspired by the most recognizable and sought-after models. Each Icon in the collection celebrates our signature colors, designs, and parts and merges them with the latest technology. These bikes are limited-edition numbered motorcycles produced only once. A new Icon will debut annually.
A modern expression of the iconic 1983 Harley-Davidson FXRT and representation of the custom movement it ignited that lives on to this day, the embodies the spirit of counterculture in Southern California in the '80s in a contemporary package that includes meticulously crafted custom paint and high-performance audio from Rockford Fosgate, each one individually serialized.
Sponsor-Ciro 3D Sponsor-RickRak Sponsor-Butt Buffer New Patrons: Thanks to the following bikers for :
LAB-315-Minnesota Motorcycle Trip With The Sworn Few Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club | Part 2 of 2
This is part two of a two-part series about our 2022 Midwest motorcycle trip. In June 2022, members of Law Abiding Biker™ Media along with members of the Sworn Few LEMC embarked on a 10-day, 4000-mile, 5-state cross-country motorcycle trip. This trip would take us out of Washington State and into Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. We stayed over in cities such as Butte, Montana, Bismark, North Dakota, Duluth, Minnesota, Minot, North Dakota, Havre, Montana, and Whitefish, Montana. You can find the Harley-Davidson Ride Plan HERE.
We took a day trip along Lake Superior, which was a great ride and a lot of fun. You can find the Harley-Davidson Ride Plan HERE.
There will be a motorcycle documentary film released later on this entire trip and experience!
We visited many places and saw a ton of great country on our Midwest motorcycle trip. We stayed at some good and not-so-good hotels and motels. We ate at some good restaurants and some bad ones. We experienced good and bad weather and a few of the bikes experienced some mechanical problems that had to be fixed.
We had some very funny times as a group and made memories that will last a lifetime. Everything that happened shaped the trip in some way.
Listen in as we tell all the stories of our Midwest motorcycle trip. We also share tips and tricks to assist riders who may be thinking of a long-distance motorcycle road trip.
Sponsor-Ciro 3D Sponsor-RickRak Sponsor-Butt Buffer New Patrons: Thanks to the following bikers for :
LAB-314-Minnesota Motorcycle Trip With The Sworn Few Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club | Part 1 of 2
This is part one of a two-part series about our 2022 Midwest motorcycle trip. In June 2022, members of Law Abiding Biker™ Media along with members of the Sworn Few LEMC embarked on a 10-day, 4000-mile, 5-state cross-country motorcycle trip. This trip would take us out of Washington State and into Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. We stayed over in cities such as Butte, Montana, Bismark, North Dakota, Duluth, Minnesota, Minot, North Dakota, Havre, Montana, and Whitefish, Montana. You can find the Harley-Davidson Ride Plan HERE.
We took a day trip along Lake Superior, which was a great ride and a lot of fun. You can find the Harley-Davidson Ride Plan HERE.
There will be a motorcycle documentary film released later on this entire trip and experience!
We visited many places and saw a ton of great country on our Midwest motorcycle trip. We stayed at some good and not-so-good hotels and motels. We ate at some good restaurants and some bad ones. We experienced good and bad weather and a few of the bikes experienced some mechanical problems that had to be fixed.
We had some very funny times as a group and made memories that will last a lifetime. Everything that happened shaped the trip in some way.
Listen in as we tell all the stories of our Midwest motorcycle trip. We also share tips and tricks to assist riders who may be thinking of a long-distance motorcycle road trip.
Sponsor-Ciro 3D Sponsor-RickRak Sponsor-Butt Buffer New Patrons: Thanks to the following bikers for :
LAB-313-Speaking With Curtis Sawyer of Indian Rider Radio
In this episode, I talk with Curtis Sawyer of Indian Rider Radio for his podcast. Curtis reached out to me because he sees me as an inspiration in the podcast and YouTube space. I have to admit that it is quite humbling, and I appreciate his kind words. Curtis is looking to grow his podcast through YouTube. We get into what it takes to be successful as a content creator. Let me tell you, it isn't easy.
We also talk about the motorcycle community; where it is and where we see it going.
One of the big changes is that motorcycle companies are looking to YouTube and other social media platforms for advertising. It seems the days of magazines and moto-journalists are passed. Riders watch YouTube and other social media platforms to get honest reviews of motorcycles.
Update to what I said in the episode. We finally connected with the company that handles Public Relations for Indian Motorcycles. We expect to ride and review some Indian motorcycles in the very near future. Keep an eye out on our YouTube Channel for those ride and review videos.
Has your Harley warranty been voided? Are the tuning days over? Harley-Davidson (HD) entered into an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on June 23, 2022. This relates to all Harley warranties and if you're a Harley owner this is absolutely must-know information.
Introduction:
As part of this agreement, HD agreed to the findings that it had violated the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act when it forced warranty-holders to buy only Harley-Davidson branded parts or lose warranty coverage. Let's start by discussing what the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is.
The Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act basically prohibits manufacturers from requiring consumers to use only original equipment parts or services to keep their warranty. This means you can service your own motorcycle and use aftermarket parts without automatically voiding your warranty. Now, we've preached this for years, which is why we produce our very popular premium Harley tutorial videos such as Harley oil change and service videos, handlebar installs, stereo installs, and much more! And, we have about 600 hundred free videos on the Law Abiding Biker YouTube channel. Start saving money now by wrenching on your own Harley using our very detailed tutorial videos.
Neither Harley nor any other manufacturer can void your warranty for servicing your own motorcycle at home or having a third-party shop service your bike. However, you are required to keep receipts for your oil and filter, etc, and keep track of whom performed the service, which would be you.
A Deeper Dive:
Let's dive into the meat and potatoes of the FTC settlement agreement. And at the end of this article, I'll break this down into good' ol' biker language and what it actually means for you as a Harley owner.
A Deeper Dive: Requirements Of The Agreement: What Does All This Mean For A Motorcycle Owner? What Is An EPA-Compliant EFI Tuner? Act Quickly If You Want A FuelPak 3: A Further Breakdown: What Are Aftermarket Parts Manufacturers & Third-Party Shops Saying: What Am I Going To Do? Sponsor-Ciro 3D Sponsor-RickRak Sponsor-Butt Buffer New Patrons: Thanks to the following bikers for :
I was also not happy with the standard manually adjustable rear shocks that Harley has used for many years now on its touring models. I wanted a smoother ride, better cornering abilities, and adjustable preload and dampening, all of which the Ohlins 13" S36 Blackline Rear Shocks have!
A Harley Street to Road Glide Special comes stock with 12" shocks and you can certainly maintain the 12" when choosing your Ohlin's rear shocks from the Law Abiding Biker Store. However, I ride and corner my Harley hard and am constantly dragging floorboards and supports. By installing the 13" Ohlin's rear shocks, I raised my Street Glide Special 1" which gives me more lean angle. It's definitely noticeable when riding. You really can't visually tell the bike has been raised 1". Note that Harley models like the Ultra Classic come stock with 13" shocks. The special models come with 12" shocks.
I was absolutely blown away at how much smother my Harley rode and cornered after installing Ohlin's suspension! I did not realize what a difference good shocks would make! Wow, it was more than I even expected and I highly recommend upgrading your Harley shocks to Ohlin's! It even got rid of most of the bagger wobble while cornering at faster speeds. My Harley just rode like a completely different bike!
You certainly want your employees to embrace, live, and understand the motorcycle culture. That's hard to do remotely. A ton of bonding, discussions, ideas and a sense of belonging can occur during those in-office in-person hours, and those motorcycle rides to lunch and back. That can't be replicated via video conferences and virtual check-ins in my opinion.
Next, let's talk about independently owned dealerships. It's true that some smaller independently owned Harley dealerships are closing their doors. In fact, the Denver Post reported this month that "Rocky Mountain Harley-Davidson (RMH-D), the oldest family-owned Harley motorcycle dealership in Colorado, is shutting down at the end of the month".
The longtime business, founded in 1979 by owner Kathy Yevoli, who still serves as RMH-D president, has fallen victim to a corporate downsizing strategy, said Marina Yevoli, Kathy's daughter and director of marketing at the Littleton motorcycle dealership. "We are closing, not by our choice," Marina Yevoli said. "To be politically correct, they (Harley-Davidson) are condensing the market and independent dealers do not fit that mold. They are doing away with family-owned businesses."
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My thoughts are that Harley should be careful if they are in fact snuffing out independent dealerships and going more corporate. I think that move could potentially hurt them in the long run. You see, many long-time Harley customers, and newer customers for that matter, have built personal relationships with their independent dealerships and personnel and get treated in a personal way. An independent owner takes great pride in their dealership for the most part.
It's more of a family-friendly one-on-one experience that many Harley owners are accustomed to and it very well may be one of the reasons they stick with Harley-Davidson. Don't forget that many of these independent dealerships have become staples of their communities. But, this seems to be the way many industries are going these days like Comoto Holdings, Inc., which owns Revzilla, J&P Cycles, Cycle Gear, and Rever. I guess only time will tell.
Okay, now, let's talk about the potential release of a new Pan America 975. This is not surprising to me, since Harley's first stab at the adventure market was the Pan America 1250, which quickly claimed the title of the #1 selling Adventure Motorcycle in North America, beating out other long-standing adventure motorcycles like the BMW 1250 GS Adventure.
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Earlier this year, signs of the new Pan America 975 were mistakenly mentioned on Harley-Davidson's website for an accessory locking fuel cap. The fuel cap was listed as being compatible with the current Pan America 1250 models as well as two unannounced models; the RA975 and RA975S, which I assume to be new Pan America models which will be powered by the 975cc version of the Revolution Max engine, like the one in the new Nightster.
Now, the fact that the smaller Pan America was mentioned on the Harley website, would suggest that they likely planned to include the mid-sized Adventure bike this year but decided against launching them, perhaps due to supply chain constraints. So, my prediction is that the new Pan America 975 will come out at some point in 2023. I will note that Harley-Davidson is expected to announce the bulk of its 2023 models in January.
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Finally, let's talk about the infamous Harley Bronx Streetfighter that never came to be. Remember, this bike was supposed to come out in 2021 with the Revolution Max 975T motor but never did. Now, Harley never confirmed they scrapped the Bronx Steegfighter, but they did come out with the Nightster in 2022, which has the Revolution Max 975T engine.
Many thought that was the replacement for the Bronx, that it was dead, and would never make it past a concept bike. However, new information has leaked that Harley reapplied for the trademarks for the Bronx Street Fighter name. So, that begs the question, how much longer will Harley dangle that carrot in front of us? Will we finally see a Bronx Steetfighter actually release and hit the streets in 2023?
The Enthusiast Collection is an ongoing collection of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles inspired by our community of passionate riders, the Enthusiast Collection celebrates the diversity of our community and the unique backgrounds and interests of the people within it. Launched annually, each series pays tribute to a subset of our broader community of riders, available in limited quantities across a selection of models.
The 2022 G.I. Enthusiast Collection honors Harley-Davidson's longstanding community of riders who have and continue to serve in the US Armed Forces. These limited-edition motorcycles are draped in stunning Mineral Green Denim Deluxe paint with graphics exclusively featured on the Pan America 1250 Special and Tri Glide Ultra.
Check out Episode 307 of the podcast where we discuss the installation and a full review of the Boss Audio BHD3F audio system in a 2017 Harley Street Glide.
This package fits 1998+ Electra, Road Glide, and Street Glide Motorcycles. It has a 4 Channel 600W High Output Amplifier with 6.5 Inch Full Range 300W Speakers
300 Watt Max full range weatherproof 6.5" speakers
600 Watt compact weatherproof 4 channel/class D amplifier with model-specific amplifier mounting plate
Impedance: 4 Ohms, Frequency: 100 Hz to 18 kHz, Sensitivity: 90 dB
1" (25mm) dome tweeter
Loud and crisp speakers feature a rubber surround, poly injection cone, and a stamped steel basket
Professional re-flash of your factory radio is necessary after speaker installation in order to avoid speaker damage and obtain the correct/optimal sound quality and performance
Our Patron Members support us financially, so we can continue to help as many bikes as we can worldwide. Of course, our Patron Members get benefits and exclusive access such as meetups. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, I was unable to plan a Patron meetup this year. There is usually an awesome day ride prepared for the members. We have plenty of time to visit and get to know each other on a more personal level. We normally end the day at a private location where the Patron Members enjoyed a catered dinner by Law Abiding Biker Media! We look forward to doing a Patron Meetup Ride on our next summer trip.
Our Patron Members support us financially, so we can continue to help as many bikes as we can worldwide. Of course, our Patron Members get benefits and exclusive access such as meetups. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, I was unable to plan a Patron meetup this year. There is usually an awesome day ride prepared for the members. We have plenty of time to visit and get to know each other on a more personal level. We normally end the day at a private location where the Patron Members enjoyed a catered dinner by Law Abiding Biker Media! We look forward to doing a Patron Meetup Ride on our next summer trip.
The FTC filed an administrative complaint against HD for illegally restricting customers' right to repair their Harley's. The FTC's complaint said warranties on HD bikes included terms that made buyers believe their warranty would be voided if they used independent dealers for parts or repairs.
So, the FTC ordered HD to fix warranties by removing illegal terms and recognizing the right to repair, come clean with customers, and ensure that dealers compete fairly with independent third parties. While the FTC took action against Harley-Davidson, the organization does not have the authority to recover consumers' damages.
A federal lawsuit filed against HD in Wisconsin's Eastern District Court last week seeks to recover any damages consumers who bought a Harley motorcycle from Aug. 1, 2018, up until now may have faced. A second lawsuit was filed in California's Northern District Court. The lawsuits claim owners paid more for genuine HD parts, as compared to aftermarket parts, in fear of their warranties being voided.
Neither Harley nor any other manufacturer can void your warranty for servicing your own motorcycle at home or having a third-party shop service your bike. However, you are required to keep receipts for your oil and filter, etc, and keep track of whom performed the service, which would be you.
Let's dive into the meat and potatoes of the FTC settlement agreement. And at the end of this article, I'll break this down into good' ol' biker language and what it actually means for you as a Harley owner.
The FTC filed an administrative complaint against HD for illegally restricting customers' right to repair their Harley's. The FTC's complaint said warranties on HD bikes included terms that made buyers believe their warranty would be voided if they used independent dealers for parts or repairs.
So, the FTC ordered HD to fix warranties by removing illegal terms and recognizing the right to repair, come clean with customers, and ensure that dealers compete fairly with independent third parties. While the FTC took action against Harley-Davidson, the organization does not have the authority to recover consumers' damages.
A federal lawsuit filed against HD in Wisconsin's Eastern District Court last week seeks to recover any damages consumers who bought a Harley motorcycle from Aug. 1, 2018, up until now may have faced. A second lawsuit was filed in California's Northern District Court. The lawsuits claim owners paid more for genuine HD parts, as compared to aftermarket parts, in fear of their warranties being voided.
We'll see what the outcome of these lawsuits will be. So, definitely subscribe to our YouTube Channel for a future update video as this all gets sorted out further in the courts. Remember, every time that subscribe button and bell icon are hit, another biker joins the #BikerRevolution and we'd love to have you be part of it.
If you haven't already, you must make sure and listen to the Law Abiding Biker Podcast that is still going strong after 9 ½ years! We talk about issues like this, and in a lot more detail and we have a lot of fun doing it. You can listen on any major podcast platform and we even have our own free app for you. Head over to LawAbidingBiker.com/App and choose where you want to listen.
HD shall not imply or state that:
A warranty will or may be void due to you using unauthorized or aftermarket parts or services in connection with your motorcycle.
A warranty will or may be void due to you making a modification to your motorcycle without the HD's authorization or approval.
As a condition of warranty coverage, or within the Written Warranty, you must use only genuine Harley-Davidson parts or services provided by authorized service providers.
However, HD may represent, both in its warranty documents or otherwise, that it will:
Exclude warranty coverage for defects or damage caused by unauthorized parts, service, or use of the vehicle, including defects or damage caused by the use of aftermarket parts. Or, use of the vehicle for racing or competition, and denial of coverage may be based on the installation of parts designed for unauthorized uses of the vehicle, such as a trailer hitch. And, consistent with Harley-Davidson's July 2017 Consent Decree with the EPA, exclude warranty coverage and deny all warranty claims for functional defects of powertrain components. And, for any Harley-Davidson motorcycle registered in the United States if the vehicle was tuned using a tuning product not covered by a California Air and Resources Board (CARB) Executive Order or that was otherwise approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
HD must identify all consumers who purchased new or used motorcycles still under warranty and notify them of the FTC agreement and its terms. Further, HD must provide consumers with a complete copy of the warranty at the time of purchase.
First, I want to let you know that we did a very popular and highly viewed video about Harley Davidson Warranties and issues some time ago and you'll definitely want to watch that video after this one to be well educated and understand the issues in their entirety.
So, I mentioned earlier in this article that your warranty cannot be voided if you have your bike serviced at a third-party shop or simply decide to do your own oil changes and services in your own garage, which I highly recommend. You can save yourself a ton of money and have the pure satisfaction of wrenching on your own bike.
The next question is; Can a motorcycle manufacturer void your warranty for installing non-OEM aftermarket parts on your motorcycle, such as headers, mufflers, intakes, handlebars, stereos, cams, and even EFI tuner? They can deny any warranty claim if they determine the aftermarket parts you added to your bike caused the damage.
Let's start with mufflers as a general example. Let's say you put aftermarket mufflers on your Harley and the transmission goes bad suddenly. I think it'd be fair to say that mufflers did not cause a transmission failure, so you "should" be covered under a warranty.
Or, you do an aftermarket stereo install and your engine then has a major failure. I think it'd be fair to say that a stereo install has nothing to do with the engine failure and thus you should be covered under a warranty. Now, let's say you do a cam upgrade and afterward the engine has a catastrophic failure to a push rod. I think it'd be fair to say that the new cam upgrade caused the engine failure and you'd not be covered under a warranty.
The real question then is, does simply doing a non-motor upgrade like stereo install or handlebars for example, automatically void your powertrain warranty or overall warranty? No, those upgrades do not affect the powertrain, thus you should not have your warranty voided.
The next question is, does simply doing a powertrain upgrade such as a cam upgrade for example, automatically void your powertrain warranty? No, not by itself, however, you must remap your EFI after an upgrade like that and if you were to use a non-EPA compliant tuner, your powertrain warranty will be automatically voided by Harley-Davidson. You see, when Harley dealerships plug your bike into Digital Technician II for diagnostics it auto-detects whether the bike has a tuner, and then it will be determined whether it is EPA compliant. Digital Technician II automatically sends the detected tuner information to the Harley-Davidson mothership so to speak and your power train warranty is voided immediately if it's not compliant.
Now, in regards to Harley-Davidson and other motorcycle and auto manufacturers for that matter, the EFI tuner issue is because of pressure and fines from the EPA, who is making them void warranties if non-compliant tuners are utilized. In 2017, Harley entered a consent decree, filed by the United States EPA, that required them to cease the sale of all non-compliant EFI tuners. And, void warranties on those Harley's with non-compliant EFI tuners. And yes, Harley is voiding warranties for non-compliant EFI tuners as are other motorcycle companies and auto manufacturers.
Well, that's not so clear, but we did some research and digging for you. Currently, we can find no credible list of "EPA compliant tuners". I will mention that of course, Harley-Davidson has a Screamin' Eagle EPA-compliant EFI tuner that will not void your warranty. But, it doesn't do much and we'll talk about that in a moment.
So, this begs the overall question, is something like the Vance & Hines FuelPak EFI tuner EPA compliant, and will it void your Harley warranty? Well, we spoke directly to two Vance & Hines technicians today, and here's what we learned. The FuelPak 3 (FP3) is not EPA compliant technically, because it allows you to tune non-EPA compliant engine upgrades such as cams and big bore kits. The FP3 will void your motorcycle warranty. But, Vance & Hines says the FP4 is EPA compliant and will not void your warranty. However, it will only allow you to tune up to a stage one upgrade, which means pipes and intake. It will not allow tuning for cams and big bore kits now or in the future.
We do sell the Vance and Hines FP3 and FP4 in the Law Abiding Biker store. With that said, you need to act very quickly if you want to get your hands on a Vance & Hines Fuelpak 3 for your 2014-2020 Harley before they're gone forever. Many of the large stores are already out of them.
For all of you who own 2021 to current Harley's, you can only use the FP4 as it has a different style plug.
We have stocked up with FP3's right in the Law Abiding Biker Store for you and they are moving very quickly. It's first come first serve and when they're gone they're gone forever.
If you have a 2014-2020 Harley and have ever thought about doing a future cam upgrade or big bore kit you'll need the FP3. In fact, we just did a cam upgrade on a Milwaukee eight and used the FP3 to tune it, and afterward, the bike ran like a raped ape. The FP3 is a very capable tuner with many options and we've used them for years. We will be releasing a full detailed cam install tutorial video on our YouTube Channel, so make sure you're subscribed so you are notified as we release videos.
Also, the FP3 allows you to tune your bike right from your smartphone, unlike some other tuners. It is super intuitive and we already have a tutorial video on that. Maybe you just want to do a simple stage 1 upgrade with pipes and intake right now, well you can with the FP3 while also future-proofing yourself in case you want to do more.
And of course, if you want an FP4 we have those too in the store and they are plentiful. Also, if you're a California resident, you'll have to get the FP4 regardless. Customers in California can't buy the FP3 and dealers can't sell it to California residents. If you appreciate this video and all the content we put out to help the biker community, please consider purchasing right from the Law Abiding Biker Store, so we can continue to put out great content like this. Now for argument's sake & for a better understanding of how all this works, I'll dive in a bit further.
Let's say you do an aftermarket muffler upgrade and have not installed an EFI tuner and your engine then has a failure. And, you take it to a Harley dealership, who decides to say that the mufflers caused it. Well, although the Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act is behind you it may or may not help you. You see, in a situation like this, the burden of proof is completely on you as the consumer. You'd have to decide whether the cost is worth it. Because you're the one that will have to find and hire an Attorney that may be willing to file a lawsuit.
Now, over the past years, we have had communications with Harley owners and particular dealerships conducting business like this in similar circumstances. I would say our local dealership and the vast majority were not doing this and following the rules. With that said, the FTC agreement included contact info to file a complaint with HD Headquarters and the FTC. You may find a resolution at this first step.
A statement from Vance and Hines CEO Mike Kennedy in an article said, "This action taken by the FTC is a huge win for motorcycle riders. While we still need to see how this plays out, we anticipate that riders will have more choices in how they repair and update their motorcycles during the warranty period, which is clearly a big deal for companies in the motorcycle aftermarket, too. I hope that the 'it will void your warranty threat for someone who just wants a better sounding or smoother running Harley is a thing of the past."
I will simply buy the motorcycle without any extended warranty and ride it hard for a bit on the manufacturer's warranty until I'm comfortable that the bike is going to hold up. Then, I'll immediately put any damn parts and tuners I want on it and ride it like I stole it. You decide what you're going to do and let me know in the comments, Harley-Davidson reps do read them and so do we. And what does this mean for the overall future of power train upgrades for motorcycle consumers? Well, you'll have to tune into the Law Abiding Biker podcast for our thoughts on that.
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