NHTSA Complaint #10261100 — 2000 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCI

IN AUGUST OF 2008, I WAS RIDING MY 2000 HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTCI ELECTRA GLIDE WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE MOTORCYCLE JUST SHUT DOWN. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. JUST AS I WAS ENTERING THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED RIGHT UP. HOWEVER, I NOTICED MY SPEEDOMETER BOUNDING UP AND DOWN AND NOT CORRECTLY REPORTING MY SPEED. WHEN I TOOK THE BIKE IN FOR REPAIRS, I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SPEED SENSOR WHICH WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MY PARTICULAR MODEL MOTORCYCLE. LESS THAN 4,000 MILES LATER, IT HAPPENED YET AGAIN. TODAY, WHILE RIDING IN TRAFFIC IN THE LEFT LANE OF A FOUR LANE ROADWAY THE BIKE CUT OFF. I WAS ONCE AGAIN ABLE TO COAST TO THE RIGHT AND GET OFF THE MAIN ROADWAY. AS SOON AS I GOT OFF THE MAIN ROADWAY, MY BIKE STARTED UP. HOWEVER, THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT RECORDING MY SPEED CORRECTLY. I HAD TO RETURN HOME ON RT. 95 AND ALTHOUGH I WAS KEEPING UP WITH TRAFFIC, MY SPEEDOMETER WAS REPORTING A SPEED OF ABOUT 45 MPH, WHEREAS THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT IS 70. THE UNEXPECTED SHUT DOWN AND LOSS OF POWER IS VERY DANGEROUS, THE LOSS OF SPEED DETECTION FURTHER COMPLICATES THE SAFETY CONCERN. *TR