NHTSA Complaint #10239877 — 2006 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSTSI

WITHIN THE FIRST 90 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING MY 2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXSTSI IN MESA, ARIZONA I STARTED EXPERIENCING REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK IT AS A PRIVATE SHOP HAD ALREADY LOOKED AT IT FOR ME. I HAD APPROXIMATELY 4500 MILES AT THIS TIME AND WAS IN NEED OF NEW REAR PADS. ALSO MY REAR ROTOR WAS DISPLAYING A BRONZE OR GOLD COLORING WHICH I WAS TOLD WAS FROM OVERHEATING WHICH USUALLY OCCURRED DUE TO A WARPED ROTOR. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL AND THEY FELT IT WAS DUE TO THE WAY I RODE MY MOTORCYCLE. I WAS ASKED BY THE GM HOW I APPLIED MY BRAKES WHEN STOPPING. I TOLD HIM IT WAS ABOUT 60% FRONT TO 40% REAR (AS OWNERS MANUAL INSTRUCTS). I WAS TOLD ABSOLUTELY NOT, THAT IT SHOULD BE ATLEAST 70%FRONT TO 30% REAR. I THEN INFORMED HIM I HAVE BEEN RIDING HARLEY'S (DIFFERENT MODELS) FOR 15 YEARS, LIFE MEMBER HOG AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. I TOLD HIM THE REAR BRAKE WAS CATCHING CAUSING MY REAR TIRE TO SKID AND SOMETIMES I HAD TO KICK IT DOWN TWO OR 3 TIMES HARD TO GET IT TO RELEASE. THUS ALSO CAUSING MY REAR TIRE TO WEAR RATHER QUICKLY. I AGAIN TAKEN BACK AT ABOUT 8000 TO 9000 MILES TOLD THEM IT WAS DOING SAME THING. BIKE WAS JUST OVER A YEAR AND 2ND PAIR OF PADS NEEDED. I NOW HAVE 17,500 MILES ON 4 SETS OF REAR PADS AND EXPERIENCED A REAR CALIPER LOCK UP CAUSING MY BIKE TO GO INTO A REAR WHEEL SKID. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE BIKE UP LUCKILY AND SAFELY MOVE OFF THE ROAD. I HAD FAIRLY NEW PADS THAT ARE NOW WASTED AND AM LOOKING AT REPLACING ROTOR, PADS, CALIPER AND ANY OTHER PARTS AS I WILL HAVE A PRIVATE SHOP DO THE WORK AS I FEEL THE DEALERSHIP IS INADEQUATELY STAFFED. MECHANICS ARE MANY BUT ONLY TWO OR 3 WITH 5 YEARS OR MORE EXPERIENCE. VERY DANGEROUS AND FEEL IT HAS BEEN DUE TO A DEFECTIVE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM FROM THE START! ADDITIONALLY THE RUNNING LIGHTS / TAIL LIGHT HAVE BEEN BLOWING FUSES CONTINUOUSLY FROM TIME OF PURCHASE. WILL HAVE TO HAVE SAME SHOP TRACK DOWN WIRING PROBLEM. *TR