Read post #2 again. Frank’s drum has the correct beat. Understand that almost all of these bikes were made before 2012. The company that made them went out of business and was resurrerected (small scale) about 2016 with many mechanical changes.
HDM, Inc. bought much of that old BD parts inventory, and continues to sell OEM parts, as well as finding alternatives or engineering new solutions to keep our bikes running. When those parts can be difficult if not impossible to get, HDM (and Wildsteedworx) are the only folks I’ve ever seen create solutions for us riders. For example they might find a business willing to make a bunch of replacement battery covers for Mutts and get it done. Problem is that maybe the business could make ‘em for $50 a copy if you ordered 20,000 of them, but guess how many Mutts out there need battery covers? Count ‘em on your fingers and still eat a bag of popcorn….. So HDM has to pay more for small lot production of those battery covers after all the OEM are sold. Sell you 2 of them and they have an $$$ inventory of the rest of them waiting to go to other Mutt owners who broke a tab on their battery covers. Good way to go broke……
You’re correct to yelp a bit about the battery covers—probably one of the best examples of an “OUCH!!” purchase for our bikes. If you can find a HD part to use and it works, feel free to do so—but this forum is the best place to learn how to keep that custom Dog barkin‘ at reasonable cost. And some guys comb salvage bike sites for parts like you need, etc.
I don’t know if you can edit the title of this thread, but if you can, you should.
Like Frank says, hopefully you’ll really enjoy your Big Dog—this forum will help you keep it in tip-top shape.
