NHTSA Complaint #10546811 — 2006 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXDLI

PURCHASED 2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON FXDLI FOR MY WIFE IN 2007, WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH IGNITION CYLINDER/FORK LOCK MECHANISM FOR SOME TIME. ISSUE IS THAT IT TAKES MORE EFFORT THAN REALLY NECESSARY TO OPERATE, WHETHER REMOVING THE KEY OR PLACING IN THE START POSITION. CAN NOT FEEL THE SWITCH DETENT POINTS ACCURATELY AT ALL TIMES. MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE CYLINDER REPLACED OR ADJUSTED. AT ONE POINT MY WIFE AND I WENT FOR A RIDE BUT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN POINT "A" AND POINT "B"....THE KEY FELL OUT. BEING THAT WE WERE AT POINT "B", MANY MILES FROM HOME, THERE WAS NO WAY TO PLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE "LOCK" POSITION LET ALONE TURN OFF LIGHTS. I ENDED UP REMOVING THE MAIN FUSE FROM THE MOTORCYCLE AND PUTTING IN MY POCKET. NOTHING WE COULD DO TO PLACE THE BIKE IN "LEVEL ONE" SECURITY (LOCKING IGNITION AND FORKS) OR "LEVEL TWO" BY ACTIVATING THE FACTORY INSTALLED SECURITY SYSTEM DUE TO THE MAIN FUSE BEING REMOVED. WE HAD A SPARE KEY AT HOME, SHE NOW KEEPS IT TETHERED BY THE KEY CYLINDER WHEN RIDING. WOULD BE NICE IF REMEDY WAS TO RELOCATE IGNITION SWITCH AWAY FROM FORK LOCK MECHANISM (LIKE THEY HAVE EVER SINCE THE 2007 DYNA MODEL ROLLED OUT I BELIEVE BUT NOT SURE), MAYBE A KIT FOR RELOCATING UNDER SEAT BY FUSE BOX. *TR