This is the first time I've heard of a warranty claim being denied due to a lift.
Possibly it was because the lift was installed incorrectly? There is no way a properly installed lift can cause damage to a belt, therefore, there is no basis for the lift to void the warranty.
Of course it is not worth it to fight a legal battle with them...but if the lift was installed correctly, then a claim being denied because of it is bogus.
The other side of the coin is that belts are not covered under warranty. It is a wear item. Many times HD will replace a belt on a low mileage bike/trike, just as a PR move.
We have well over 100 HD Dealerships install our Comfort Lift™ Kit on brand new Trikes...I doubt any of them would deny a claim. Those that are not familiar with the Comfort Lift™ will not even know, 99% of the time, that there is a Lift installed, since it looks so much like the OEM bracket.
I would like to hear more about why/how the belt lost it's teeth...it certainly was not from the lift kit. The belt was not adjusted right, or there was some road debris that got caught in it. If it was road debris, the riders insurance should cover the cost of repair. A photo of the belt would be nice. (I guess it could be from a defective belt, but those are EXTREMELY rare)
Kevin
That is what I though. H-D does make 'customer satisfaction' adjustments from time to time when conditions warrant it even if not technically a warranty item. However, I seriously doubt that any ESP contract would cover a drive belt for any reason. Those guys fight tooth and nail to not cover anything. And you do not have the Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act to give any protection with and ESP. An ESP is not a warranty - it is a service contract.