Complaint Review: Fast Lane Cycles

I rebuilt my Twin Cam Harley engine using an S&S 106" stroker kit and replaced my stock Stage 1 ECM with a ThunderMax closed loop EFI system in mid - 2007. I ran this motor, without any performance problems whatsoever, until deciding to change my controller again, earlier this year, back to an open-loop fuel system ( Power Commander ). Since Power Commander offered no controller MAP for my engine configuration, I contacted Fast Lane Cycles and inquired about their services for writing a "custom MAP" on their dyno and made an appointment for the tuning.

I trailered my bike to their shop since operating the bike without a proper MAP would be detrimental to the motor and arrived there at 9:00 a.m. Shortly after arrival, I filled out the paperwork and my bike was loaded on the dyno. My wife and myself waited in our truck (since we weren't permitted to be in the shop and it was too cold to stand outside ) for the tuning and after FIVE HOURS on the dyno, my bike was PUSHED off the dyno. I walked back to the showroom, was presented with my dyno printout and paid for the tuning. Instead of starting the engine to ride the bike into my trailer, the guys at Fast Lane pushed my bike into the trailer and helped strap it in place and we left.

After arriving home, I unloaded the bike to take it for a ride and IMMEDIATELY the motor had a slight but noticeable knock. I shut off the engine and called Fast Lane and was told that there was no knock when it left their shop ( then why was it PUSHED around after tuning ? ) but, I could bring it back and they would diagnose / repair ( at an additional charge ). This time when I resatred the bike, the knock was MUCH louder and the motor sputtered and shut off. I took it to another shop that I trusted ( Pro Street Cycles ) and asked them to tear the motor down and find out what happened .... Remember, this motor ran perfectly until changing to the Power Commander and being tuned at Fast Lane Cycles ...

About two weeks later, John ( Pro Street Cycles ) called me with their findings and estimate for repair ... The motor had been SEVERELY overheated. Both pistons were scored, piston rings broken, rear cylinder had been cracked and metal throughout the bottom-end of the motor. It would need to be completely rebuilt. Cost: $2400.

I called Fast Lane Cycles and spoke with the owner. I explained that my bike ran fine before they "tuned" it and was now needing rebuilt because they had overheated it on the dyno. The owner explained that his "Tech" was a Harley trained mechanic and would not have overheated the motor and, when I told him that "it didn't matter if his Tech was Harley trained or not he obviously doesn't know s**t about an American air-cooled V-Twin" and demanded compensation for the damage, I was then told that they were "not responsible for the integrity of the motor".

BIKE OWNERS BEWARE ! I KNOW that my motor was built correctly ... I did it myself and I have been building my own Harley motors for years ... Shovels, Knucks, Pans, Evos and now TC's ... with NO problems. Fast Lane Cycles will have you believe that they are "top-notch" when it comes to tuning and I understand that sometimes mistakes DO happen but, Fast Lane will not own up to their mistakes by claiming that they are not responsible for the integrity of the engine they are entrusted with to tune.

It ran fine when they got it and they charged me $300 to roach my engine and I had to pay a COMPETENT performance cycle shop to repair it !

Joe
Ruther Glen, Virginia
U.S.A.