NHTSA Complaint #10197031 — 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU

THE HEAT GENERATING FROM THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST ON TO THE RIDER'S LEGS AND SEAT AND ALSO TO THE PASSENGER'S LEGS IS EXTREMELY HIGH. I HAVE ON REPEATED TIMES, LEFT BURNED JEANS ON THE LEFT REAR EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD. AFTER EXPERIENCING THIS A NUMBER OF TIMES I ADDED AN ADDITIONAL AFTERMARKET HEAT SHIELD, WHICH HAS HELPS SOME, BUT NOW THIS HEAT SHIELD ON THE LEFT SIDE IS MELTING AND BUBBLING. I ALSO CAN NOT SIT ON THE SEAT WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, I HAVE TO STANDUP. THE HEAT TRANSFERRING UP THROUGH THE BIKE'S SEAT IS SO INTENSE I AM SURE THAT I WILL END UP WITH BURNS ON MY BOTTOM FORWARD AREA IF I REMAIN SEATED. THIS SAME HEAT IS TRANSFERRED TO THE PASSENGERS FEET AND LEGS, MORE SO WHEN RIDING DOWN THE ROAD. I FEEL AS IF HARLEY DAVIDSON, IN THEIR QUEST TO MEET EPA GUIDELINES HAVE LEANED OUT THE ENGINES, WHICH GENERATES INTENSE HEAT, AND HAVE DISREGARDED THE SAFETY AND COMFORT OF THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. THIS CREATES AN UNSAFE CONDITION IN WHICH THE RIDER AND PASSENGER ARE EITHER GOING TO GET BURNED BY THE EXHAUST AND/OR ENGINE HEAT, OR BE INJURED BY BEING DISTRACTED WITH CONSENTLY ADJUSTING THEMSELVES WHILE RIDING THE BIKE. I HAVE TAKEN THE BIKE TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON A COUPLE TIMES TO CHECK ON THE HEAT PROBLEM. THEY DID ADD A HEAT MANAGEMENT UPGRADE PROGRAM, AND THEY ALSO TELL ME THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE IS IN THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPECS. THIS MAY BE TRUE, HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL A PROBLEM WITH THE AMOUT OF HEAT AND THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. *TR