NHTSA Complaint #10523474 — 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHX

ON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP THE ENGINE LOSES POWER AND GOES INTO AN IDLE MODE. THIS EVENT ALSO OCCURS WHEN YOU'RE ACCELERATING UP TO ROAD SPEED AND OCCURS WITHOUT ANY WARNING, INCLUDING SITUATIONS WHERE YOU'RE ENTERING INTO AN INTERSECTION AND POTENTIALLY IN THE PATH OF OTHER VEHICLES - IN NORMAL SITUATIONS, YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO HAVE A SAFE DISTANCE TO CLEAR THE INTERSECTION. WHEN ENGINE GOES INTO IDLE YOU'RE BASICALLY WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO MOVE OFF THE ROAD SAFELY WITHOUT POTENTIAL FOR COLLISION. THE LATEST SITUATION OCCURRED ON 7/3/2013 WHILE I WAS PASSING A VEHICLE AND ACCELERATING TO 70 MPH, WITH A PASSENGER ON THE BIKE. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND WENT INTO IDLE AT 2000 RPM WITHOUT THE ABILITY TO DECELERATE OR ACCELERATE. I WAS TRAPPED ABREAST OF THE VEHICLE I WAS PASSING - IF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY, I COULD HAVE LOST ANY ABILITY TO TAKE ACTIONS TO GET BACK INTO MY PROPER LANE OF TRAFFIC TO AVOID A CONFLICT. *TR