NHTSA Complaint #10339611 — 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHRC

MY 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ROAD KING CLASSIC WITH CRUISE CONTROL PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN HANDS ARE TAKEN OFF THE HANDLE BARS. THE BIKE ONLY HAS 3400 MILES ON IT AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE FIRST MONTH I HAD IT FOR THIS PROBLEM. NO FIX FOUND AND NOW THEY HAVE HAD IT FOR 6 WEEKS WITH NO FIX. IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THE BARS FOR A SECOND TO ADJUST YOUR HELMET, GLASSES OR REMOVE A BUG THAT GETS IN YOUR EYE THE BIKE STARTS TO PULL TO THE LEFT AND YOU HAVE TO LEAN VERY FAR TO THE RIGHT TO KEEP IT GOING STRAIGHT. THIS IS A VERY LETHAL PROBLEM AS YOU CAN BE FORCED INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC OR A BAD ROAD SURFACE WHILE TRYING TO FIX YOUR SHORT DURATION PROBLEM THE DEALER BOTH TIMES SAY THEY EITHER NEVER HEARD OF THIS OR THEY HEARD OF IT A FEW TIMES. THEY CLAIM ALL THINGS ARE WITHIN FACTORY SPECS AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HARLEY IS ONLY GOING TO PAY THE DEALER SO MUCH TO FIX IT AND IF THEY CAN NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM AND THE DEALER DECIDES THE PROBLEM IS TOO MUCH TROUBLE TO FIGURE OUT, THEY TELL YOU IT IS NOW NORMAL. WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SOLVE THE HAZARD IS TAKE THE FRONT STEERING, REAR WHEEL AND SWING ARMS APART AND CHECK FOR ALIGNMENT AND POSSIBLY CHECK THE FRAME AND DETERMINE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM THERE. A TOURING BIKE SHOULD NOT PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, THESE BIKES ARE AND SHOULD BE DESIGNED FOR SAFE ENJOYABLE STRAIGHT RIDING. THE PUBLIC THAT SPENDS ($30,000.00 ON A TOURING BIKE SHOULD FEEL SAFE AND NOT HAVE TO LEAN TO ONE SIDE TO CORRECT A STEERING-TRACKING PROBLEM). THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR