Different company, same old song: Harley Settles Screamin’ Eagle Tuner Suit Without Conceding - Bloomberg Harley-Davidson Inc. will pay $15 million to end a U.S. lawsuit accusing the iconic motorcycle maker of selling performance-enhancing engine tuners the government said were illegal emission-control defeat devices. Harley also said it would stop selling and buy back and destroy its “Screamin’ Eagle” Pro Super Tuners. But Harley disputed the government’s claim that by selling its tuner through its dealer network, it enabled dealers and customers to tamper with motorcycles used on public roads. The Milwaukee-based company said they were meant for off-road and closed course competition, and that it did nothing wrong by selling them. . . . They caused motorcycles to emit more pollution than the company had certified to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to a civil complaint filed by the Justice Department. Bob Wilson
They sold an off road - competition only part to 330,000 Harley owners. How many ride their Harley off road only? How many are competing on race tracks? . That leaves about 329,700 used illegally. (A comparison between sales and registrations will be interesting, as HD has to retrieve all the ones used on public roads. Some dealers had no legal motorcycles sold, they modified every one for the instant mark up.
When I hear Harley owners playing the Loud-Is-Safe card, I tell them I will believe that, when HD start making their motorcycles with the exhaust-pipes sticking out the front!
I've always wondered how long they could get away with the "competition use only" clause as a CYA. They've been selling these types of parts for decades due to three reasons: 1) Their traditional (ancient) air-cooled engine design has a low horsepower per cubic inch ratio and the bikes have a high weight per hp ratio. 2) Modern noise and emissions regulations have lowered stock HP even further. 3) Due to factors #1 and #2, the factory makes HUGE profits selling performance parts to it customers. HD actually has a MUCH bigger problem. Those ever increasing noise/emission regs means the eventual demise of the air-cooled design; a sacrilegious concept for an overwhelming majority of their customer base.
