Warranty / Recall Issues

This seems to be a topic that has a lot of people confused.
If you are having a problem with your bike and it is still under the factory warranty period - take it to the dealer! Just about everything on your bike is covered by the warranty as long as it was not obviously caused by abuse or a botched repair/installation by another shop (in which case it should be returned to that shop and they should stand behind their work) with the exception of chrome or paint (only covered during the first 6 months).
If you get a letter stating that your bike is involved in a Recall Campaign - take it to the dealer!

Warranty and Recall issues cost you, the customer, NOTHING!
Let me repeat that...

WARRANTY PRICE TO YOU =  $0
RECALL PRICE TO YOU =  $0

"But even though it doesn't cost me anything for warranty work, I'm still not taking my bike to those greedy bastards because they still get paid by the factory and I don't want to make them any richer!"

HAH!
I hear this all the time and that statement just proves that your stupidity is showing.
Dealers get screwed on warranty work. H-D pays a little more than half of the normal repair rate!
If the technicians are paid by Flat Rate, then he is getting screwed too!

For example:
  A normal complete transmission replacement would pay the tech 7.6 hours labor.
The same transmission replacement under warranty pays the tech 4.4 hours labor.

Extended Warranty

All extended warranty companies are different and usually decide what they will cover on a case by case basis.
You bring your bike to the shop for repairs, the shop submits a claim to your extended warranty company. If they decide to cover it, you pay only your standard deductible. If they decide not to cover it, you pay for the repair.
Pretty much the same way insurance companies work.