Big Bear Cycle offers honest and reliable HARLEY-DAVIDSON repair. Our customers can vouch for it!



   Big Bear Cycle had my problem diagnosed within two hours and had my Harley back to me within the same day. I was shocked when I was told that the problem was minor. My repair cost substantially less than I expected. I knew then, that I had finally found an honest mechanic.

    -Bill P.
   

  You Better Read This: Customer goes to dealer to buy his new dream bike. Signs they’re name on the dotted line and then have the salesman look them in the eyes and say. "You must sign this waver, that if anyone but us the dealer, does any Performance Work on your motorcycle and anything happens, your warranty is void". This Is Unlawful For The Salesman To Say and I'd Make Them Put That Statement In Writing.

Let’s Get Started!      Part 1         Warranty by the Manufacturer

    I went to the dealer to get some help with my performance upgrades, that's when they told me if I don't get that Powercommander off my motorcycle that it will void my warranty! Then they tried to sell me their ECM Performance Tuner and said that it would not void my warranty! I asked what does that flag mean on their Tuner in their accessory catalog and the salesman said, "that's over looked by the factory if we install the tuner".

   Now think about this for just a minute, how can your ECM controller void your warranty but there's will not. Get on the internet and look up the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. 2302(C) and read for yourself why the Federal Government has passed laws to protect you the consumer from this kind of tactics.  Now Remember upgrades are for off road use only in most cases. This is where you decide and the info is there for the consumer.

Understanding the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975

Nearly everyone has heard about someone who has taken a motorcycle that has been modified with aftermarket parts to a dealer for warranty service, only to have the dealer refuse to cover the defective items. The dealer usually states that because of the aftermarket parts the warranty is void, without even attempting to determine whether the aftermarket part caused the problem.  "This Is Illegal".

Motorcycle manufacturers are not allowed to void warranty just because aftermarket parts are on the motorcycle. To better understand this problem it is best to know the differences between the two types of new motorcycle warranties and the two type of emission warranties.  I'm Going To Try to give you some helpful points that my make your riding an enjoyable experience instead of feeling like you just got shafted by a salesman.   I will go over these in the next few weeks, so stay with me.

                                    Part 2

    When a Motorcycle is purchased new and the owner is protected against the faults that may occur by an expressed warranty - an offer by the manufacturer to assume the responsibility for problems with predetermined parts during a stated period of time. Beyond the expressed warranty, the motorcycle manufacturer is often held responsible for further implied warranties. these state that a manufactured product should meet certain standards. However in both cases, the mere presence of aftermarket parts doesn't void the warranty.   Dealers also try to sale Extended Warranty Plans which are mere Insurance Service Plans and should not be stated other wise. These Extended Service Plans can be used at any motorcycle repair shop, they are not factory warranties and you don't have to go to a dealer for repairs.  Don't let a salesman use these unethical tactics to make you think otherwise. Some Insurance Extended Service Plans can be obtained even years after buying the motorcycle, just like the TV Extended Warranty Plan at department stores. These Extended Service Plans only go into effect after the stated period of time  the manufacturer has given to their warranty! Tell you the truth I'd rather spend money on my motorcycle and have a good time, than worry about some Extended Service Plan that some dealer is making commission off of. If you feel you need a Extended Service Plan just remember that they can be used at just about any motorcycle shop in the country.

Next, I'll talk About Emission Warranties, So Stay With Me.

                             Part 3

     There are also two emission warranties (defect and performance) required under the clean air act. The defect warranty requires the manufacturer to produce a motorcycle which, at the time of sale, is free of defects that would cause it to not meet the required emission levels for it's useful life as defined in the law. The performance warranty implies a motorcycle must maintain certain levels of emission performance over it's useful life. If the motorcycle fails to meet the performance warranty requirements, the manufacturer must make repairs at no cost to the owner, even if an aftermarket part is directly responsible for a warranty claim, the manufacturer cannot void the performance warranty. This protection is the result of a parts self- certification program developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).

    In cases where such a failed aftermarket part is responsible for a warranty claim, the vehicle manufacturer must arrange a settlement with the consumer, but by law the new-motorcycle warranty is not voided.  Always ask the services personnel or salesperson to prove that your warranty will be void in writing by them, not just a say so!  Up grades in most cases are designed for off road use only. However there are many up grades that are designed for highway use and does not have to be  just dealer installed only and will not void warranties because of aftermarket parts. These unethical tactics are used by many dealers to keep customers from finding quality repair shops.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. You can call toll free 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

 "More to help you understand some of your protection rights!"  These are only reference not anything else. This article is only intended to help you understand more about your motorcycle and the fun you should be having even if you need repairs. All resposiblity is still on you to research and ask questions.  I will do as much as I can to lead you down the right path.   "So Stay With Me, Much More to Come."

                                      Part 4

      Lets talk about one of my favorite ECM Tuning Controllers, the DynoJet  Powercommander USB III  http://www.powercommander.com/  one of the first tuners for Fuel Injected Big Twins and the most popular of all tuners for injected Big Twin Motorcycles. Also back in the early 1990's I bought a DynoJet Dyno for my shop, man was I something around town after that. Since then I've owned 2 more DynoJet Dyno's.  The latest has Engine Temp. Monitor, Air Temperature Reading, Relative Humidity, (In-Hg)  Pressure, Plug  Firing, Tach Redline , Tire Speed, Absolute Pressure,  Air Fuel Ratio and much  more needed info to tune your motorcycle. We will get back to dyno's at another time. By the way, I had to stop writing this article to tune a 2007 factory big twin motorcycle that just had their dealer install tuner and  related bolt on combos.  After the Dealer Tuner install to the ECM we found only 70 HP, 86 Ft. lb. of torque, with a very wavy graph. Then installing the Powercommander USB III, I was was able to tune the same motorcycle to 75.25 HP, 92.28 Ft. lb. of torque and a much smoother curved graph. I'm also able to tune in real time, motorcycle running. Dealers Tuner has to be shut off, on, then off, on, over and over again to program the ECM for each change, that is an expense you don't need. Your looking about an hour to two hours longer in the tuning and the motor is getting hotter and hotter. Trust me, go with the Powercommander USB III, you'll be glade you did.

Benefits

• Improves Horsepower, Torque, Throttle Response and Rideability
• Reduces Running Temperatures, Pinging And Can Help With Bluing
• You Can Continue To Add Performance Parts Of Any Type                   Simply Have Minor Adjustments Performed To Your Controller

 Stay Tune For More To Come!      Part 5

       The Power Commander is a fuel injection adjustment module that plugs "in-line" with the motorcycles stock ECU/ECM.  The Power Commander is produced with "state of the art" electronics that include a four layer surface mount circuit board with a built in Microprocessor. Each unit is lightweight, compact and sealed for maximum durability and reliability.         Being plugged "in-line" with the ECU/ECM it has no effect on the factory ECU/ECM because it's only receiving the out going signal, not changing the factory settings on the ECU/ECM like the DEALER TUNER has to do. Remember the Dealer Tuner has to be turned on and off over and over to send changes to your ECM. So if your technician is not way above average, Your ECM and you are looking for major trouble!  The Power Commander plugs in using O.E.M. style connectors. There is no splicing required.  I sale many type of fuel controllers even the Dealers Performance Tuner, so if that's what you really want, we can also turn your motorcycle on and off, over and over again and change your factory ECM settings. Trust me on this, you don't want to do that. It's much better to plug "in-line" and run your motorcycle in real-time, any technician well tell you that.

   Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, you, Happy Consumer, have more rights than you probably realize. After all, you've spent a lot of money and time taking the best care of your motorcycle, "don't be a victim of unethical tactics" 

 Some Recommendations

1. Take Care Of Your Motorcycle and Document All Work Done To It
2. Do Your Home Work
3. Look Up Recall Notices and Technical Service Bulletins
4. Be Reasonable With Your Service Staff
5. Document All Conversations and Phone Calls With The Service Department and Ask To Have  Denials Of Warranty Work In Writing
6. Don't Threaten To Sue At First Sign Of Trouble
7. Read and Request Warranty Info From Your Dealer and Know What Is Covered, Why and Why Not
8. Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 Is Your Friend, Read What IT Has For The Consumer