David Zien
A true road warrior from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin finds himself in a dispute with his beloved Harley-Davidson after the company denied his warranty request for repairs on a new 2014 trike. According to news reports, Harley-Davidson refused to honor its warranty because the biker had been flying seven different flags from the back of the bike.
Owner David Zien has been riding motorcycles in the 1970s. In fact, he has logged over 2 million miles and has one of his bikes now on display at the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame. He has thought nothing of mounting flags on his bikes for decades. But apparently, Harley-Davidson doesn't agree with the practice.
When Zien's trike failed on a trip to Dallas with just 15,000 miles on it, he expected Harley-Davidson to fix it free as part of the warranty. The company did not. In denying his warranty claim, Harley-Davidson said that the bike in question was not to designed to handle the excessive drag posed by the flags at high speed. The company maintains that the drag is enough to damage both the engine and the transmission. It maintains it could also affect the clutch.
Harley-Davidson spokesperson Maripat Blankenheim told the Journal Sentinel that any time an owner modifies a production bike using non-compliant parts he or she is jeopardizing the warranty attached to the machine. Blankenheim maintained Zien was using his machine in a way it was never intended to be used. At this time, it appears as though Harley-Davidson does not intend to repair the bike free.
Questions of Future Claims
Harley-Davidson's decision in this matter could set the stage for other problems with future claims. For example, it's not uncommon for groups like the Patriot Guard Riders to ride with large flags attached to their bikes. Some fly American flags while others display flags honoring POWs and MIAs or other patriotic and military causes. Flags have become nearly universal for any rider wishing to show his or her patriotism above and beyond the patches on their vest.
The rejection of Zien's warranty claim is not likely to stop anyone from mounting flags on a motorcycle. However, it may give some a reason to consider buying a new brand when it's time to replace their current bike. The question is would any other manufacturer honor a warranty under the same conditions?
We suspect Harley-Davidson's decision may open the floodgates for other manufacturers to be more diligent about their warranties. This may be just the start. We hope that Zien and Harley can come to some sort of agreement that would settle the issue in a way that makes both sides happy. Otherwise, Harley-Davidson could be in for a bumpy ride in the coming months.
As for Zien, he told the Journal Sentinel that'ain't nobody gonna stop our flags, not even Harley-Davidson corporate'. He went on to explain his choice to fly flags was his way of 'serving the Lord with prayer, flags, and Harleys'. The former state lawmaker fully intends to continue riding as he always has, proudly, and with flags flying behind him.
