NHTSA Complaint #10187626 — 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU

I PURCHASED A 2007 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCU IN AUGUST 20 06. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HEAT COMING FROM THE REAR CYLINDER. WHEN THE AIR TEMPERATURE GOT OVER 80 DEGREES IT WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO RIDE AT LOW SPEEDS. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. AFTER PURCHASING A HEAT GUN I BEGAN TO MONITOR ENGINE TEMPERATURES. THE REAR CYLINDER ROUTINELY TOPPED 400 FAHRENHEIT, THE FRONT RAN 70 TO 80 DEGREES COOLER. IN MARCH 29007 I CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE & AFTER MUCH ARGUING IT WAS AGREED THAT AN AREA REPRESENTATIVE WOULD LOOK AT MY BIKE. ON APRIL 3RD I DROPPED THE BIKE OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE I CHECKED TEMPERATURE WITH THE HEAT GUN, THE REAR CYLINDER READ 430*, THE FRONT WAS 350*. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS ABOUT 50 DEGREES. THE NEXT DAY I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE DETERMINED EVERYTHING TO BE WITHIN SPECS. ONCE AGAIN IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I REMOVE THE LOWER FAIRING AND INSTALL A RACE TUNER AND DIFFERENT MUFFLERS. THIS HAD BEEN SUGGESTED EARLIER BY THE DEALER, AND I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1,500.00. HARDLY A REASONABLE SOLUTION FOR A PROBLEM I DID NOT CREATE. SITTING ATOP A 400 DEGREE ENGINE IN SUMMER HEAT WAS A DAUNTING TASK. LAST YEAR WHEN TEMPERATURE REACHED THE 90'S THE BIKE SAT IN MY GARAGE. THE FAILURE OF HARLEY DAVIDSON TO IN ANY WAY ACKNOWLEDGE THERE WAS A PROBLEM, IN SPITE OF MOTORCYCLE MAGAZINES & WEBSITES WITH LOTS OF COMPLAINTS,WAS VERY DISAPPOINTING.*AK