NHTSA Complaint #10198460 — 2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLSTFI

FUEL LINE INSIDE OF MOTORCYCLE GAS TANK IS TOO LONG ON EARLIER MODELS OF H-D FUEL INJECTED MOTORCYCLES. IN TIME, VIBRATION WEARS A SMALL HOLE IN THIS LINE, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO STALL OUT WHEN STOPPING. IN EARLY 2004 I HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY AND THE BIKE STALLED. THE CAR BEHIND CAME VERY CLOSE TO REAR-ENDING ME. BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT HAPPEN, HE WAS ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE FROM MY REAR TIRE. I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH AND QUICKLY LET IT OUT TO START THE BIKE AGAIN BUT WAS IN FOURTH OR FIFTH GEAR SO I HAD TO QUICKLY DOWN-SHIFT TO FIRST TO GET MOVING AGAIN. THE CAR BEHIND ME GOT EVEN CLOSER AS I WAS DOING THIS (ALL THIS HAPPENED IN A SECOND OR TWO). IT'S AMAZING HOW FAST A MOTORCYCLE DECELERATES WHEN THE MOTOR QUITS. THE BIKE STALLED OUT NUMEROUS TIMES THAT SUMMER AND THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS (2005 & 2006). IF A CAR WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE MOTORCYCLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED, I COULD'VE BEEN REAR-ENDED. I TOOK THE BIKE IN FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THE H-D DEALER COULD NOT REPEAT IT BECAUSE (I REALIZED THE FOLLOWING YEAR) IT ONLY DID THIS WHEN THE GAS TANK GOT BELOW 3/8 OF A TANK. WHEN I ORIGINALLY TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE, I DROPPED IT OFF WITH A FULL TANK. ONLY THREE YEARS LATER DID I GET IT SERVICED AT A H-D DEALER THAT THEY TOLD ME IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO ALL THE EARLY FUEL-INJECTED MODELS AND THAT H-D CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON LATER MODELS (MINE IS A 2001 FATBOY). H-D REFUSES TO PAY FOR MY SERVICE ($153) AND I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. IT IS TRULY A SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A HARLEY RIDER IS KILLED BECAUSE OF IT (IF IT HAS NOT HAPPENED ALREADY). *JB