NHTSA Complaint #10414250 — 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU

I WAS RIDING AT ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN MY FRONT WHEEL BEARING STARTED TO FAIL (NOISE ONLY, NOT CATASTROPHIC). I WAS NEXT TO AN INDEPENDENT HARLEY SHOP AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE BEARING REPLACED. DURING A CONVERSATION WITH THE OWNER, I LEANED THAT HARLEY CHANGED WHEEL BEARING WITH 2007 MODELS. HE HAD NEVER REPLACED A WHEEL BEARING, EXCEPT ON BIKES WITH VERY HIGH MILEAGE, PRIOR TO THE 2007 MODEL. HE HAS CHANGED AN ALARMING NUMBER ON 2007 AND NEWER MODELS WITH AROUND 20000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I PICKED UP A JULY '11 THUNDER PRESS MOTORCYCLE NEWSPAPER LATER AT MY LOCAL HD DEALER. THERE WAS A LETTER TO THE EDITOR ABOUT FAILED WHEEL BEARING ON 2008 HARLEY'S AND WHEEL BEARING MADE IN MEXICO. I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH FAILURES ON MOTORCYCLES, BUT THERE SHOULD BE ONE. IN THE MEAN TIME, IT APPEARS THAT HD HAS A VERY HAZARDOUS WHEEL BEARING PROBLEM. I HOPE HD HAS LEARNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND MADE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS, AS THEY DID A MAJOR OVERHAUL ON MANY MODELS IN 2009. THANK YOU.