NHTSA Complaint #10586460 — 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHX

DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON MAJOR INTERSTATE. HEARD LOUD NOISE AND THOUGHT DRIVE BELT BROKE OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE AS MOTORCYCLE WAS JUST COASTING AT THIS POINT. ENGINE AND THROTTLE FINE BUT NO FORWARD MOTION. ALSO THOUGHT MAYBE TRANSMISSION UNTIL I CHECKED REAR WHEEL AND SPROCKET. APPEARS REAR BEARING FAILURE WITH VERY LOW MILEAGE. CHECKED OTHER POSTINGS AND FORUMS ON INTERNET (HARLEY SITES) AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT LOW MILEAGE BEARING FAILURES, BOTH FRONT AND REAR. APPEARS DEALERSHIPS AND MANUFACTURER JUST GIVE IDIOTIC EXCUSES INSTEAD OF STANDING BEHIND THIS PROBLEM, SUCH AS DON'T RIDE IN THE RAIN. THEY TEST THEIR MOTORCYCLES IN INTENSE WATER TESTING PROCEDURES FOR CRYING OUT LOUD ATTEMPTING TO FIND ANY DEFECTS OR PRODUCE SOME TYPE OF FAILURE. THEY APPARENTLY WILL NOT ISSUE ANY RECALL OR GENERATE SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I ALONG WITH MANY OTHERS ARE PUT AT GRAVE RISK DUE TO FAULTY BEARINGS BEING SUPPLIED TO HARLEY DAVIDSON AND INSTALLED. THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY AND OBLIGATION TO PROTECT THE MOTORING PUBLIC AND THEIR FIRST PRIORITY SHOULD BE IN MANUFACTURING AND SELLING A SAFE PRODUCT. THIS NEEDS AT THE LEAST TO BE INVESTIGATED OR LOOKED INTO BY YOUR AGENCY OR DEPARTMENT. DON'T JUST TAKE MY WORD ON THIS, LOOK AT ALL OF THE RESPONSES TO THIS SAME PROBLEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT OR PROBLEM. *TR