NHTSA Complaint #10578439 — 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHP

I PURCHASED THIS MOTORCYCLE ON 1/17/2014. ON 1/18/2014 I TOOK THIS VEHICLE FOR A RIDE. THE FRONT BRAKES OPERATED BUT HAD VERY LITTLE DEFLECTION OR MOVEMENT FROM THE BRAKE LEVER. THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO PULL. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. I CONTINUED TO RIDE THE VEHICLE AND I NOTICED THAT NOT ONLY WERE THE BRAKES HARD TO ENGAGE, THEY ALSO WOULD NOT HOLD AT RED LIGHTS. I THEN BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE HMU HAD A STICKING VALVE AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE TUNE OF $1200.00. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ABS ON THESE MOTORCYCLES WAS SUPPOSED TO FEEL LIKE A NORMAL BRAKING SYSTEM AND HAD A FAILSAFE IN PLACE THAT INSURED THAT IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG IT WOULD RESORT TO A SAFE MODE AND THE BRAKES WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. IN THIS CASE THEY ARE NOT ACTING NORMAL AND I DESCRIBE IT IN THIS MANOR. IF YOU HAVE EVER SHOT A HAND GUN, THE TRIGGER PULL IS APPROXIMATELY13 POUNDS OF PULL. MY FROM BRAKE LEVER IS APPROXIMATELY 60 POUNDS OF PULL AND IT WILL CREEP TOWARDS THE GRIP AT A RED LIGHT. AFTER A MINUTE OF BEING STOPPED AND HOLDING THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER, THE FRONT BRAKES ARE NONEXISTENT. I HAVE DONE INTERNET RESEARCH AND MY FINDINGS ARE THAT THIS MALFUNCTION IS VERY COMMON AND DOES POSE A SAFETY HAZARD TO THOSE THAT EXPERIENCE IT. I WAS ALSO AMAZED THAT MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS HAVE SUFFERED MORE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. FRONT BRAKES THAT LOCK UP AND CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. I'M REPORTING THIS BASED UPON THE SEVERITY AND THAT IT CAN CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE LEADING TO A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT. *TR