NHTSA Complaint #10268688 — 2000 HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200C

FAILURE OF A REPLACEMENT MOTORCYCLE TIRE INNERTUBE. I HAVE A 2000 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER. THE FRONT WHEEL IS A SPOKE WHEEL WITH A TUBE TYPE TIRE. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, I HAD THE FRONT TIRE AND TUBE REPLACED BY A REPUTABLE MOTORCYCLE DEALER. ALL WAS WELL UNTIL MAY 12 WHEN I SENSED THAT HANDLING HAD DEGRADED. I DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT TIRE PRESSURE WAS NEAR ZERO. I ADDED AIR TO THE RECOMMENDED PRESSURE AND CAREFULLY MONITORED PRESSURE. I COULD SEE NO DEFECT. A LEAK OF MORE THAN A FEW PSI/HR WAS EVIDENT. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER WHO ORIGINALLY INSTALLED THE NEW TIRE AND TUBE FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE TUBE HAD A SPLIT IN IT ALONG THE MOLD PARTING LINE. THIS DEFECT COULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES IF I HAD NOT SENSED I HAD A PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS GRAND PRIX MOTORSPORTS OF LITTLETON COLORADO. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE TUBE ORIGINALLY INSTALLED, ( AND LIKELY NOW PRESENT) IS MADE BY OR FOR MALCOLM SMITH RACING (MSR). IT IS A "HEAVY DUTY" TUBE MODEL 288208. AT THE TIME OF SERVICE ON MAY 12, I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALER HAS SEEN OTHER MOTORCYCLE TUBES THAT HAVE SPLIT ON THE MOLD PARTING LINE. A CONTACT AT THE MOTORCYCLE DEALER IS CHRIS STINSON (303) 761-2471. MAILING ADDRESS IS GRAND PRIX MOTORSPORTS, 3105 W. COUNTY LINE ROAD, LITTLETON, CO 80129. PLEASE NOTE..THE TIRE ON THIS BIKE IS A DUNLOP 402 IN 90 X 21 SIZE. THE TIRE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY DEFECT. THE ONLY DEFECT IS IN THE TUBE MOUNTED THEREIN. *TR