NHTSA Complaint #10245051 — 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDB

I PURCHASED A HARLEY DAVIDSON STREET BOB IN JULY. THE DAY I BOUGHT THIS MOTORCYCLE I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT ON TO THE SERVICE ROAD AND THE FRONT WHEEL STARTED WOBBLING REAL BAD. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE FRONT END AND I WENT ON MY WAY WITH THE NEW BIKE. THIS WAS NEVER LOGGED INTO THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MORE PROBLEMS OUT OF THE FRONT END. A MONTH LATER THE REAR TIRE WENT FLAT AS I WAS RIDING. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO AIR IT UP AND IT WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE VALVE STEM. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I HAVE TO BUY A NEW TIRE AND I DID EVEN THOUGH I FELT LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF IT. THEN ON 10/8/08 I WAS RIDING IT TO WORK AS I DO MON-FRI AND THE 6 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE REAR PULLEY SPROCKET TO THE REAR WHEEL WERE LOOSE AND WORKED THERE WAY OUT UNTIL THEY BENT OVER AND LOGGED INTO THE FRAME CAUSING THE REAR TIRE TO LOCK UP. I WAS GOING ABOUT 45 MPH AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS A SPORTS CAR BEHIND ME THAT LOCKED HIS WHEELS UP AND STOPPED ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM HITTING ME. IF THIS WAS A TRUCK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT ENDING. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS. I JUST HAD THE MOTORCYCLE SERVICED THE FRIDAY PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE BOLTS ARE PUT IN A THE MANUFACTURE AND NEVER COME OUT ONCE IN. THESE BOLTS HAD TO BE HAND TIGHT IN ORDER TO COME OUT, NOT JUST ONE BUT ALL SIX. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE PARTS BUT HOW DO THEY ASSURE ME OF MY SAFETY WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE? *TR