NHTSA Complaint #10747341 — 2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTK

I WAS DRIVING MY MOTORCYCLE ON US 18/20 NEAR SHERIDAN, WY. I NOTICED FOR SEVERAL MILES THAT THERE WAS A VIBRATION/SHUTTER IN THE FRONT END OF THE MOTORCYCLE. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THAT A WHEEL WEIGHT FRONT FROM THE FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF CAUSING A TIRE IMBALANCE. AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES THE SHUTTER BECAME MORE VIOLENT AND I PULLED MY MOTORCYCLE OF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE RIGHT SIDE, FRONT WHEEL BEARING RETAINER BECAME SEPERATED FROM THE WHEEL BEARING AND SEVERAL OF THE BALL BEARINGS CAME OUT AND THAT THE FRONT WHEE BEARING HAD FAILED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO BLACK HILLS HARLEY DAVIDSON IN RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA FOR REPAIRS ON 8/5/2015. BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $170.60. TOWING OF $880.00 WAS COVERED BY MY INSURANCE THROUGH THE HARELY OWNERS GROUP/ROAD AMERICA. WHILE BEARING FAILURES ARE SOMEWHAT COMMON IN AN AUTOMOBILE, THEY CAN BE CATASTROPHIC ON A MOTORYCYCLE SHOULD THE FRONT WHEEL LOCK UP AND SIEZE. HARLEY SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TO DETERMINE IF THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER FAILURES OF SIMILAR PARTS WITHIN A SIMILAR VIN/LOT/VINTAGE OF MY MOTORCYCLE TO DETERMINE IF THERE HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS IN THEIR MOTORCYCLES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED.