NHTSA Complaint #10331643 — 2008 BUELL XB12XT

I AM HEREBY FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA CONCERNING A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE 2006 - 2009 BUELL ULYSSES XB12X AND XB12XT MOTORCYCLES. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF PREMATURE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ON THE AFOREMENTIONED MOTORCYCLES. SUDDEN AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THESE WHEEL BEARINGS CAN LEAD TO SEVERE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO RIDERS AND/OR PASSENGERS. MANY CASES OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED ON WEBSITES THAT SPECIALIZE IN BUELL MOTORCYCLES. LISTED BELOW ARE A COUPLE OF LINKS TO WEBSITES THAT HAVE HAD NUMEROUS THREADS POSTED CONCERNING COMPLETE FAILURE OF THESE BEARINGS: HTTP://WWW.BADWEATHERBIKERS.COM/CGIBIN/DISCUS/SEARCH.CGI OR HTTP://WWW.BUELLXB.COM/BUELL-XB-FORUM/BUELL-ULYSSES-XB12X/ULYSSES-DANGEROUS-REAR-WHEEL-BEARING-FAILURE. THE BUELL MOTORCYCLE COMPANY, WHICH WAS CLOSED DOWN OCTOBER 15, 2009 AND WAS OWNED BY HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY, REALIZED THE FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE 2006 - 2009 REAR WHEEL / BEARING / AXLE ASSEMBLY. BUELL COMPLETELY REDESIGNED THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE 2010 XB SERIES MOTORCYCLES, OF WHICH ONLY A SMALL NUMBER WERE MANUFACTURED LATE IN 2009. THE NEW DESIGN INCLUDES LARGER, HEAVIER DUTY BEARINGS AND ALSO ADDED A SECOND BEARING TO THE DRIVE SIDE OF THE HUB FOR A TOTAL OF THREE BEARINGS IN THE REAR WHEEL. THE NEW DESIGN ALSO ADDED EXTERNAL SEALS TO PREVENT DIRT OR MOISTURE FROM REACHING THE ACTUAL BEARING GREASE SEAL. THE ORIGINAL DESIGN ONLY USED TWO INADEQUATELY SIZED BEARINGS AND NO EXTERNAL SEALS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS BEARING FAILURE PROBLEM IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALL 2006 - 2009 BUELL ULYSSES XB12X AND XB12XT SERIES MOTORCYCLES SHOULD BE, IN THE INTEREST OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY, RECALLED TO HAVE THE REAR WHEEL / BEARING / AXLE ASSEMBLY REPLACED WITH THE NEW 2010 DESIGN REAR WHEEL AND BEARINGS. THIS RECALL SHOULD, OF COURSE, INCUR NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER. THANK YOU. *TR