Don't fly your flags on the bike! Hope this doesn't become a trend

[Bob Denman]

They always say that "The loose nut behind the Bars", causes most of the problems! :joke:

 

[prmurat]

There are a lot of variables here but, 7 flags at highway speed, that could easily exceed 1,000 pounds of drag and if there were a lot of big ones maybe even a ton.

+1

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I am old enough to remember when people were proud of what they built and were willing to stand behind it when it broke or didn't work right as long as you didn't outright abuse it. In fact, even if you did they would sometimes stand behind it. Unfortunately, we now live in a world where litigation and profit mostly outweigh common sense and honesty. My Father once said to me that he thought that he had lived to see the best of America (He was born in 1917 and died in 2004). I scoffed at him at the time, but now, as time goes on, and with all the things I see happen around us, I'm not so sure anymore that he wasn't right.

What you are witnessing is an approach to machine design that brings the actual design closer to the expected operational range. Some equipment in the past was grossly over built due to limited design capability and techniques. On the other hand, a lot of stuff in the past didn't have near the useful life there is today. Fifty years ago cars seldom lasted more than a 100k miles. Today many aren't even well used until they hit that mileage, and aren't worn out until 200k.

In some ways your dad was right. Corporate investors' greed for profits is paramount and the innovations in large machinery isn't as common as it was 50 - 100 years ago.

Now, about the flags. Your Spyder is rated to pull a 400 lb trailer, and most likely will do that day in and day out. If the transmission fails while in the warranty period, BRP will fix it, no hassle. But, if you are a pulling an 800 lb trailer up and down the hills of the Rockies, or Arkansas, and your transmission craps out, and BRP knows you were doing that, you can forget about a warranty repair. It's a matter of degree.

What the Harley rider was doing may very well have created a much greater drag on the bike than it was designed for. We don't know, and won't know until someone does some objective testing. Carrying weight on the bike or trailer impacts the bike by additional drag caused by rolling friction and probably doesn't add much additional air drag. Flags are all air drag.

 

[flaggerphil]

The idiot is flying 7 flags from his bike! Come on...that's just stupid.

 

[Bob Denman]

He certainly was pushing the limits for all that he could...
(Which was more than the bike could stand! :shocked

We all pay for this kind of foolishness, when a warranty claim is covering something that it should not... :gaah:
If the guy did it out of ignorance; I feel sorry for him.
If he only did it to draw attention to himself... :lecturef_smilie:

 

[ARtraveler]

There are a lot of variables here but, 7 flags at highway speed, that could easily exceed 1,000 pounds of drag and if there were a lot of big ones maybe even a ton.

Last night, I was watching a replay of the 1973 Indy 500. They talked about air drag in one sequence. The air flowing over an Indy car across the rear spoiler causes 1600 #'s of down force on the rear wheels to keep them sticking to the track.

This might be a kind of similar comparison if we are talking 7 flags and all the wind resistance they would cause.

I do believe HD should take care of the problem though. There reasoning is pretty far reaching. They need to stand by their product and keep the customer in mind.

 

[Oldmanzues]

I think the first question should be, is the story real? On one Facebook page , the bike in the photo is the bike in question. Now here, it is a earleir version of his bike, which very much apprears to be photo shopped. Where is the pic of this 7 Flag mount ? What size are these Flags ? If he is saying, 7 3x5 Flags, I would question any weight on the front wheel.
If I am wrong, I believe HD should make it right, but I am waiting for more information. Just my thoughts.
I fly a 3 x 5 American Flag on Missions and two 11x14 flags all the time. I furl and case the 3x5 at other times, or take the pole assembly off the spyder.

 

[madozier]

What? This fat man doesn't have a chance with all the wind resistance I cause.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

[dndfindley]

FOX so happy to jump on this... I can imagine the resistance caused by these many flags (specially the NRA one (sarcasm)) and how the clutch and primary must suffer... Why should Harley should pay for it?? Just cause there is a US flag?? Will FOX would even mention it if the guy was flying the gay banner??

This is about warranties, flying flags and Harley Davidson. It is not about the highest rated news channel (Fox News) in the nation.