NHTSA Complaint #10168328 — 2005 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRCI

I PURCHASED A 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING LAST YEAR. I WAS DRIVING MY BIKE AND HAD NOTICED THE FRONT TIRE WOBBLE WHILE I WAS RIDDING EVERY NOW AND THEN. I TOOK INTO SAN JOSE HARLEY DEALERSHIP TO GET MY SECOND SERVICE AT 5K MILES AND EXPLAINED THAT MY BIKE WOULD WOBBLE FROM TIME TO TIME. A WEEK AFTER GETTING MY BIKE OUT OF THE SHOP, I WENT FOR A RIDE. AT 60 MPH, THE WHOLE BIKE GOT OUT OF CONTROL WITH WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS A TANK SLAPPER. THE BIKE LOOKED LIKE A FISH WITH THE MOST SEVERE WOBBLE I HAD EVER BEEN ON. I WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO HOLD ON AND SLOW DOWN UNTIL IT STOPPED AND THEN PULLED OVER. I HEARD STORIES THAT MOST PEOPLE DO NOT MAKE OUT OF THAT SITUATION SO LUCKY. ANYWAY, SAN JOSE HARLEY INSPECTED MY BIKE AND SAID THE RIM'S SPOKES IN THE REAR WERE ALL LOOSE. AT 5K MILES ON A NEW BIKE, I THINK THAT IS A DEFECT. THEY TOLD ME HARLEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THE RIM. ANYWAY, LONG STORY SHORT, THEY MENTIONED ALSO THAT THEY GET SEVERAL OF THESE PROBLEMS IN. THAT MEANS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COUGHED UP A TON OF MONEY TO BUY A HARLEY COULD HAVE THEIR LIVES IN DANGER IF THEY DON'T CHECK THE SPOKES. I THINK IT SHOULD BE A DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD PAY FOR A NEW RIM AND WARN NEW OWNERS. *JB