Happy New Year everyone.

I've just done 1200kms on my new (stock) FLHRC and I think I might have a problem with the motor... When I'm in 4th or 5th on the highway and I roll on the throttle - the bike doesn't accelerate, it just makes a little more noise. Even when the RPM are at around 3000 and I twist the throttle I hardly get any response from the motor - even pulling WOT nothing really happens and it takes ages for the motor to wind up and actually start pulling. This makes overtaking a little hard and I would have expected more from this 103" HO motor with the new cam profile and higher compresion, even in it's stock form.

I've had 3 other HDs in the past 5 years and all of them, even the stock 96" streetglide I rode seemed to be more responsive and accelerate harder. I'm starting to think there is something wrong with this motor.

I'm taking it back to the dealership - but what do you recommend I ask them to do?? Compression test? Check for intake leak?  I'm not very mechanically / technically minded so thanks for any advice.

Adam

Hi Pauly, no it has not had its first service yet - booked in next Friday.

If I open the throttle VERY slowly the bike responds properly, but if I twist the throttle as I normally would during normal riding the exhaust gets louder but the bike doesn't respond ie it doesn't accelerate and takes ages to feel the bike start pulling. This goes against what I would have thought with these "improved" cam profiles that are supposed to have TQ similar to the SE255 cams.

Sounds like slipping clutch if all noise but getting nowhere as you should. After an adjustment, good chance the clutch could now be stuffed, They will have to replace under warranty I would say,
even though they will try to get out of it.

sounds like a warranty job if it is still covered.

You may be experiencing the electronic throttle lag that affects some FBW bikes. Give it a handful and nothing happens....apply gently and it goes. It feels obvious when jumping from a cable throttle to a fly by wire system. My FXDC 96" would leave the 103 Street glide sitting at the lights... like it stalled. Talk to the dealer about it and also check out the V & H throttle pack as well. All quite fixable.

OK, thanks for the explanation. I have a power vision tuner on order so that should sort thst out, and i have the bike booked in for a custom tune, but not until March.

For the record, I haven't been cracking the throttle open from a walking pace, and if I was to do so I would definitely expect a hesitation / lag affect... I'm mainly talking about highway riding at around 100 kph in 5th gear when I open the throttle to overtake a truck. The motor is usually doing 2800 / 3000 rpm when I accelerate and get the effect I have described in my first post. I hope its just the clutch adjustment and that I haven't stuffed the clutch altogether.

Cheers

does it actually sound louder from increases Revs or just a tone change? like bogging down from being loaded up
If the clutch is slipping in 4th from 3000 on the highway with gentle roll on's I would think you would notice it a lot more often.
You only have 1200kms on it so it is still tight more or less depending on how you ran it in.
Still has to get 1st service hopefully they will check it all over. Just tell them how it feels and let them work it out. If you say clutch is slipping they may just say we check and adjust at 1st service and never go looking for other issues

Your 3 other bikes all likely weighed less and may have had better gearing along with more free reving motors

Hi all...If your clutch is slipping,You will see the revs increase on your tachometer and the bike speed not moving along with it.A clutch will also slip much more in taller gears.

If your convinced the clutch is slipping,Stop riding the bike until you fix it.Because your wearing/burning out your clutch.

why not ride the shit out of it?
It's brand new they will have to fix it if there is a problem.
The time to ride it is under warranty