NHTSA Complaint #10236597 — 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHX

I HAVE A 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE. THE BIKE IS ONE YEAR OLD THIS PAST JULY. I HAVE NEVER TOUCHED ANY OF THE MECHANICAL ELEMENTS OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY SERVICES DONE BUY THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE BIKE FROM. (HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF OCEAN COUNTY). I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON HIGHWAY 37 ON TUESDAY EVENING 29 JULY 2008. I WAS CUT OFF BY A DRIVER IN A CAR ENTERING MY LANE FROM THE LEFT SIDE. I BEGAN TO BRAKE HARD. THE CAR MISSED ME BUT AS IT GOT IN FRONT OF ME IT SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE RIGHT TURN. I WAS ON THE BRAKES HARD TRYING TO STOP AND STILL MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. AT THIS TIME THE HANDLE BARS OF THE MOTORCYCLE ROTATED DOWNWARD AROUND THE GAS TANK OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND I COULD NOT STEER THE MOTORCYCLE LEFT OR RIGHT. I SMASHED MY FACE UNTO THE FRONT FAIRING AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE BIKE TO A STOP WITHOUT DUMPING IT OR HITTING THE CAR. THE STEERING MECHANISM OF A MOTORCYCLE OR ANY VEHICLE SHOULD NOT FAIL DURING BRAKING. THIS INCIDENT ONLY COST ME A FAT LIP AND THE SCARE OF MY LIFE AS WELL AS A MOTORCYCLE THAT I NO LONGER CAN DEPEND ON FOR MY SAFETY. I CONTACTED HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF OCEAN COUNTY AND TALKED TO NOREEN THE GENERAL MANAGER THERE ABOUT THE INCIDENT. SHE SAID "BRING THE BIKE IN AND WE WILL TIGHTEN THE HANDLE BARS FOR YOU". I TOLD HER I WOULD NOT RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE IN THE CONDITION IT IS IN. SHE SAID SHE WOULD CONTACT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY WOULD GIVE ME A CALL. NOT ONCE DID SHE ASK ABOUT MY WELL BEING OR THE PARTICULARS OF THE INCIDENT. SHE ALSO SAID THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INCIDENCE OF THE HANDLE BARS ROTATING AND SHE FELT IT WAS DUE TO HIGH ADRENALINE IN THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT. THAT IS ABSOLUTE BS TO ME. THE HANDLE BARS OF A MOTORCYCLE SHOULD NOT MOVE IN THE RISER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER TO CONTACT ME. *TR