Your Motorcycle Keeps Going Back to the Dealer. California Law Says That's Not Acceptable.
Most riders don’t know that California’s lemon law covers motorcycles. They keep bringing their bike in — for the same stall, the same electrical failure, the same ABS warning that never stays fixed. They can feel stuck with the problems because no one has told them they have legal rights to a buyback or replacement just as a car owner does. You paid for a motorcycle that works. If the manufacturer can’t fix what’s wrong with it after a reasonable number of attempts, you can be entitled to your money back. Your down payment. Every payment you’ve made. Every incidental cost. In successful lemon law claims, the Manufacturer also pays attorney fees.
These rights come from California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act — considered the strongest consumer warranty law in the country. Under Song-Beverly, motorcycles purchased for personal use are protected as “consumer goods.” If a defect substantially affects the safety, value, or use of your bike and the manufacturer can’t fix it, they can owe you a refund or replacement. This applies to street-legal, highway-registered motorcycles from every major manufacturer — Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Ducati, BMW, Suzuki, Triumph, Indian, and others.
Court House Lawyers handles California motorcycle lemon law claims from intake through resolution. We review your repair records, prepare the pre-litigation demand, and negotiate with the manufacturer, and litigate when they won’t settle fairly. If the manufacturer tries to redirect you to their own arbitration program — as Harley-Davidson commonly does — we know how to navigate their deflections and proceed directly with a buyback claim. Two things to know from day one: the law is on your side, and we never take a cut of your buyback.
See also: How Lemon Law Applies to Motorcycles in California — our detailed guide.
Under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, motorcycles are classified as “consumer goods” rather than “new motor vehicles.”
For critical-safety defects — ABS failures, sudden engine stall or power loss at speed, brake system failures, clutch or transmission failures that could cause a crash — courts can apply a strict standard. Two repair attempts on a safety defect with no lasting fix may support a strong claim.
For non-safety defects — persistent infotainment failures, electrical concerns, recurring oil leaks not impacting rideability, cosmetic defects affecting value — the standard requires more attempts, but 30+ cumulative days out of service for warranty repairs can be a powerful threshold.
Parts delays count. Every day your motorcycle sits at a dealership waiting for a part to arrive is a day counted toward the out-of-service timeline. Motorcycle manufacturers have smaller parts inventories and fewer service locations than car companies. These delays — which are the manufacturer’s fault — frequently cause motorcycle owners to not get the use from their bike they intended.
Highway-registered street bikes: fully covered. Off-road/dirt bikes not registered for highway use can be excluded from the lemon law provisions, though bikes used for both off roading and city/highway roads can apply.
Court House Lawyers has handled motorcycle lemon law claims across every major manufacturer. We know which defects qualify, which arguments manufacturers raise, and how to build a record that holds up.
Defective motorcycles are more dangerous than defective cars. Motorcyclists made up 15% of all U.S. traffic fatalities in 2023 while comprising only 3.5% of registered vehicles. That disproportion is why California’s lemon law treats unresolved motorcycle defects seriously — and why even a single unresolved safety defect, if it keeps happening, can support a strong claim.
Persistent stalls at speed or failure to start after multiple dealer visits. Particularly common in Harley-Davidson Pan America (2021-2023) and various Kawasaki platforms. A bike that won't start reliably impairs both safety and use
ABS failures, brake line defects, reduced braking pressure. Safety-critical — the lower repair-attempt threshold can apply. Harley-Davidson brake line routing issues (2023-2024 Road Glide/Street Glide) and Ducati ABS software failures are among the most active claims
Voltage regulator faults, instrument panel blackouts, engine control unit (ECM/ECU) software failures causing unpredictable behavior. Harley's 2023-2024 suddenly losing rear-wheel power loss and Kawasaki's electrical shutdowns fall here.
Touchscreen crashes, Boom! Box infotainment failures (Harley), ride-by-wire electronic throttle issues (Ducati Panigale/Multistrada), adaptive ride system malfunctions. Software-only fixes that don't hold are each a repair attempt.
Difficulty shifting, unexpected neutral engagement, gear slipping. Common across multiple manufacturers. Transmission failures that affect the rider's ability to control the bike safely qualify can be safety defects.
Radiator failures, coolant leaks, excessive heat generation affecting ridability (Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 class-action for excessive heat). Overheating that forces the rider off the road impairs both safety and use.
Fuel injection failures, fuel leaks, inconsistent fuel delivery causing stalls. These defects can create fire hazards and qualify as safety defects. Common across Honda, Yamaha, and Ducati motorcycles.
When your manufacturer can't source replacement parts in a reasonable timeframe, every day the bike sits counts toward days out-of-service. Motorcycle parts delays are disproportionately long compared to cars. We document and present these delays as part of every claim.
Whether your issue is with a Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Ducati, BMW, Suzuki, Triumph, Indian, or another manufacturer — if the defect substantially impairs your bike’s safety, value, or use and the manufacturer hasn’t fixed it, we are here for you.
| Court House Lawyers | Typical Lemon Law Firm | |
|---|---|---|
|
Client’s Buyback Check |
Check handed directly to you at motorcycle surrender. |
Check routed through firm; client waits for funds release. |
|
Attorney Fees in Buybacks |
Never taken from your check. We bill the manufacturer separately under the Song-Beverly Act. |
Many firms take a cut of your buyback — reducing the payments you should get back. |
|
Manufacturer Arbitration Programs |
We know how manufacturers like Harley-Davidson redirect claimants to their own arbitration programs. We know how to navigate and proceed directly with a buyback claim. |
Many firms submit to manufacturer arbitration — which can be biased toward the manufacturer. |
|
Who Handles Your Case |
Our managing attorney, George Mkrtchyan, Esq. (CA Bar #339099), is personally involved in every file. |
Often rotating paralegals; the named attorney appears only on the letterhead. |
Bold math callout: On a $22,000 motorcycle buyback, a firm taking a 25% cut leaves you with $16,500. With Court House Lawyers, you keep all $22,000. The manufacturer pays our fees.
Two updates changed how California lemon law claims proceed — and both can apply to motorcycles. AB 1755 (signed September 2024, effective April 2025) added a pre-litigation notice requirement for certain manufacturers: before filing suit, you must send the manufacturer a formal written demand and give them a limited window to respond with a repurchase or replacement offer. For motorcycle claims, this demand must go to the manufacturer directly. Court House Lawyers is involved and up to date with legal changes to the lemon law, and can tell you if your claim applies under AB1755 or the traditional CA lemon law.
SB 26 (signed April 2025) added a dual-path option: manufacturers can now operate under AB 1755’s procedures or continue under the prior framework. Which path applies affects your claim, including the process and timing. We identify this for every case.
George Mkrtchyan
Managing Attorney
George Mkrtchyan is the Managing Attorney of Court House Lawyers, a California lemon law and personal injury firm. He has spent over a decade resolving defective vehicle claims under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act — including motorcycle claims involving persistent engine failures, electrical defects, ABS system malfunctions, and parts delays that manufacturers use to run out the clock on riders who don’t know their rights.
George understands the particular frustration of a motorcycle lemon claim: riders are often told their defect is “normal,” that the part is “on backorder,” or that the manufacturer’s own arbitration program is the only option. None of those things are true. If your bike’s defect substantially affects how safely and reliably you can ride it, and the manufacturer hasn’t fixed it, California law is clear. We build the case, file the demand, and take it to court when necessary.
“When manufacturers see a case without an attorney, victims often see an immediate denial. We see an opportunity to protect a consumer and their rights under the law”
— George Mkrtchyan, Managing Attorney
Also see: How California lemon law works across vehicle types in our California lemon law attorney page.
Every case is different. These are examples of what resolution has looked like for our clients.
Vehicle: Jeep Wrangler (4-year lease)
Issue: Client had 4 months left on a 4-year lease and believed the window had closed
What we did: Filed the lemon law claim immediately and we were successful with 1 day to spare before the lease expired
Outcome: Client recovered every dollar paid into the lease over 4 years, minus a very low mileage offset
Timeline: Resolved before the lease end date.
Vehicle: Mercedes-Benz hybrid
Issue: Recurring engine and battery defects. Client had already been denied once without an attorney, 3 repair attempts, 30+ days out of service
What we did: Built the case from the existing repair record and submitted a demand directly to MBUSA
Outcome: Full buyback. Manufacturer also waived the mileage offset, putting an additional $5,250 in the client’s pocket
Timeline: Resolved within 60 days.
This case was covered by Today in Law.
Read the coverage →
Vehicle: Harley-Davidson Motorcycle
Issue: Harley-Davidson Motor Company denied repurchase, claiming the motorcycle did not have a reasonable amount of repair attempts
What we did: Used the repair history and repeated unresolved defects to support a renewed demand
Outcome: Full manufacturer buyback approved
Timeline: Resolved within 45 days of demand.
Vehicle: Land Rover
Issue: Client’s previous attorney had been pursuing the case for over 12 months with no resolution
What we did: Reviewed the repair records, filed a new demand, applied current pre-litigation notice procedures
Outcome: Full lemon law buyback
Timeline: 3 months from the day Court House Lawyers took over the file.
Vehicle: Audi/Volkswagen
Issue: Manufacturer had offered the client a $3,000 cash-and-keep settlement directly
What we did: Stepped in, reviewed the file, and resubmitted the demand with full documentation
Outcome: Cash-and-keep settlement increased to $15,000
Timeline: Resolved without litigation.
Past results are specific to the facts of each case and do not guarantee future outcomes.
Every lemon law matter is evaluated on its own merits.
Send us your repair orders, your purchase or lease agreement, and your warranty booklet. We evaluate your case at no cost — including which standard applies to your motorcycle under Song-Beverly's consumer goods framework. If you have a claim, we explain your options clearly. We operate on a No Win, No Fee basis.
If your claim applies under AB1755, we prepare and send the formal written demand to the manufacturer. This is the step that triggers the manufacturer's formal response timeline under California's current lemon law rules. We get the notice right, because a deficient notice can delay your resolution.
The manufacturer has a limited time to repurchase, replace, or respond in writing. If they try to redirect you to their own arbitration program, we advise you on whether to engage — and when it's better to proceed with a demand or filing with the courts.
We handle all communication with the manufacturer and their counsel. We verify the buyback calculation, push back on any improper deductions, and negotiate every element of the recovery — including incidentals and any applicable civil penalties.
If the manufacturer refuses a fair offer, we file. Every case is prepared from day one as if it's going to trial. That preparation is why most cases settle, and why settlements are higher when we're on the other side of the table.
Under California Lemon Law, the manufacturer pays your legal fees if you win. If we don’t recover anything, you pay nothing.
How do you know if your motorcycle qualifies as a lemon under California law?
Yes. California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act covers street-legal, highway-registered motorcycles purchased for personal, family, or household use. Motorcycles are classified as “consumer goods” under the law, which means the same remedies are available — buyback, replacement, cash settlement, and manufacturer-paid attorney’s fees — under a “reasonable number of attempts” standard evaluated on the specific facts of your case.
Generally, No. Motorcycles used exclusively off-road that are not registered for highway use can be excluded from California’s lemon law. However, if your motorcycle is used for both off-roading and commuting on city streets and highways, then you may qualify. If you’re unsure about your bike’s coverage, call us — we’ll tell you where you stand.
For critical-safety defects — ABS failures, sudden engine stall at speed, brake system failures — two repair attempts with no lasting fix can support a strong claim. For non-safety defects, more attempts are typically needed. Also 30+ cumulative days out of service for warranty repairs is a powerful threshold regardless of the number of individual visits.
Not automatically. The manufacturer bears the burden of proving that your modification actually caused the specific defect at issue. If your aftermarket exhaust is blamed for an infotainment failure, that’s not a valid defense — the two systems are unrelated. If aftermarket parts are involved, we evaluate whether there’s a genuine connection before advising on how to proceed.
Not necessarily. Manufacturers cannot require you to use their own arbitration program only for pursuing a lemon law claim. Harley-Davidson’s arbitration program has a documented history of favoring the manufacturer. We regularly present claims directly to Harley-Davidson when allowed, and advise on whether arbitration is appropriate on a case-by-case basis.
Yes — every day your motorcycle is out of service for a warranty repair, including time spent waiting for parts to arrive, counts towards days out-of-service. Motorcycle manufacturers have smaller parts inventories and fewer service locations than car companies, and parts delays are very common. We document this from day one.
The full purchase price (or all lease payments made), down payment, taxes, and other incidental costs caused by the defect — minus a mileage offset for miles ridden before the first warranty repair attempt. In cases where the manufacturer willfully violated the law, civil penalties of up to twice the actual damages may also be available. The manufacturer also pays your reasonable attorney’s fees — separately from your recovery.
Yes. Replacement is one of the available remedies. Many riders — particularly Harley-Davidson enthusiasts loyal to the brand — opt for a replacement bike rather than a full refund. However, it is usually never apples to apples — from the bike to the contract terms. We evaluate your options and which remedy is the best outcome for your specific situation.
Possibly. As long as the defect first appeared and was reported to the dealer while the warranty was in effect. Keep any statute of limitations that apply in mind, but the warranty expiration itself does not generally bar recovery. However, do not wait for this. The sooner you speak with a lemon law attorney, the better.
Nothing upfront, and we never take a cut of your buyback. Under California’s Song-Beverly Act, the manufacturer pays our fees in successful cases — billed separately from your recovery. No hourly billing, no percentage of your check. We operate on a No Win, No Fee basis.
10
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND SUCCESS
Trusted California motorcycle lemon law attorney. Harley, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Ducati, BMW — if the manufacturer can't fix it, they owe you.
You paid for a bike that works. If it does not, then California law says the manufacturer should make it right — or give you your money back. The manufacturer pays our fees. You keep your buyback recovery.
Whether you’re in Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, Los Angeles, La Crescenta, Temple City, Eagle Rock, or anywhere else in California — cars, trucks, SUVs, leased vehicles, and motorcycles included — Court House Lawyers is ready to help you take action.
