I said I'd tell it like it is/was... And here are the first manufacturers I've had dealings with. Each one has a separate section on this page; if the list gets too long, I'll slice this up into separate pages, and make this page a linking page. That way you won' t have to wade through all the folks I've dealt with by next year — you can just go right to the one you want to know about.
I've put several parts manufactured by The Motor Company on my FXR, so far. The saddlebags are well-made, and the bag supports work well; the handlebar riser clamp is a nice piece of billet; the new "ergonomic" control levers are very comfortable and fit perfectly; and if I ever get the luggage rack, I suppose it will be well-made, too.
That luggage rack was ordered way back in early August, shortly after I got the bike, and decided that I was going to want to do some touring on it. I paid, up front, the entire price. Dave Frank ordered the rack that same day — sometime right around the 6th or 7th of August. It isn't here yet; and this is the 8th of October.
Now, I understand that luggage racks for FXRs aren't exactly common; and I understand that Harley-Davidson practices JIT (Just In Time inventory); but even if they had to make the damn thing, does it have to take over two months? Maybe I'm lucky the saddlebags just happened to be in stock at the shop where I bought them?
Update: The luggage rack came in today (October 18th), so it took The Motor Company about two months and a week or so, to manufacture and deliver the luggage rack. Just thought you'd like to know how the story ended.
Mike Corbin is a gifted designer. Anyone who looks at the "Warbird" bikes can see that without even trying. You may not like 'em, but you have to admit they are beautifully done. His saddles are designed the same way. They're just plain good.
But what good is a saddle you can't get? On August 23rd, Dave Frank faxed an order to Corbin for the touring saddle and backrest I wanted to use on the FXR. He was told it might be a few weeks before he received it; and I told him that was fine, and to go ahead with the order.
Between August 23rd and the 4th of October, Dave made three calls to Corbin to try to find out what progress had been made on the order. On all three occasions, the Corbin person on the other end of the phone line couldn't locate the order. Dave was told, "It's in the pipeline, though. I'm sure of that. I'll get back to you."
Famous, last words. No calls, no faxes, no nothing.
Finally, on October 4th, after Dave's most recent call to Corbin (with me sitting there, listening in on the conversation), I wrote an email to Mike Corbin himself, explaining the whole story, and letting him know that I would cancel the order if there hadn't been some response by October 7th. There wasn't any response. In fact, there hasn't been a response, yet! (If they ever do respond, I'll put the response date here.)
Update: Well, I ordered a Mustang saddle from Drag Specialties on October 11th, and it arrived at Dave's place on the 17th — one day less than a week. So Drag Specialties outperforms Corbin by nine to one. During that week, the Corbin saddle showed up at Dave's, COD. He refused to accept the shipment. I don't blame him; I wouldn't have, either.
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