NHTSA Complaint #10145907 — 2006 HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL883

12/20/2005HARLEY-DAVIDSON CUSTOMER SERVICE 3700 W. JUNEAU AVENUE MILWAUKEE, WI 53208. *NM DEAR SIRS, ON 13 NOVEMBER OF THIS YEAR I BOUGHT A 2006 XL883. THREE DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE BIKE I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A 2ND SEAT INSTALLED, AT THAT TIME I COMMENTED ON A BACKFIRING THAT WAS OCCURRING OCCASIONALLY OFF IDLE. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS COMMON ON THE 883. TWO DAYS AGO I TOOK MY BIKE IN FOR THE 1000 MILE SERVICE ( IT NOW HAS 1300 ON IT) AGAIN I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BACKFIRES, AGAIN I WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 883. I RIDE MY BIKE NEARLY EVERYDAY TO AND FROM WORK A MIXTURE OF CITY AND HIGHWAY RIDING, SO FAR THE RECOMMENDATIONS I HAVE GOTTEN TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ARE NEW JETS, PIPES OR MAKING IT AN 1200. I BELIEVE THIS IS NOT MY JOB. I FEEL THAT THE LITTLE STUMBLING BACKFIRE CAN BE A REAL SAFETY HAZARD FORTUNATELY MOST OF MY LIFE I HAVE RIDDEN AND DRIVEN CRAP SO I KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT; AGAIN I DO NOT FEEL THAT IS MY JOB, I FEEL IT IS YOUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT MY NEW BIKE PERFORMS LIKE A HARLEY SHOULD.