NHTSA Complaint #10895416 — 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU

ACCESSORY P/N 91573-06 (CENTER STAND) FAILED. IT WAS PURCHASED MARCH 2009 FROM A LOCAL H-D DEALER AND INSTALLED PER PRINTED INSTRUCTIONS. IN AUGUST 2016 IT WAS DISCOVERED DURING USE THAT THE RIGHT AND LEFT LEGS HAD SEPARATED AND CAN MOVE INDEPENDENT OF ONE ANOTHER. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PLACE A PARKED MOTORCYCLE ONTO THE CENTER STAND WITH THIS UNEXPECTED CONDITION, THE MOTORCYCLE WILL INITIALLY BEGIN TO MOVE UPRIGHT (FROM LEFT) AS EXPECTED, BUT WILL CONTINUE PAST CENTERLINE UNTIL IT FALLS OVER TO THE RIGHT. PROPERTY DAMAGE OR INJURY TO SELF OR OTHERS MAY RESULT. (IN MY CASE, TWO ADULTS WERE PRESENT AND WERE ABLE TO PREVENT THE FALL AND SAFELY PUT THE MOTORCYCLE BACK ONTO IT'S SIDE STAND.) THE MOTORCYCLE WEIGHT IS ~850 POUNDS. ONE USER ALONE (AS DESIGNED) MAY NOT REACT QUICKLY ENOUGH OR BE PHYSICALLY ABLE TO PREVENT THE UNEXPECTED FALL. DAMAGE TO THE MOTORCYCLE AND ANYTHING NEARBY IS LIKELY. THE USER TRYING TO PREVENT THE FALL MAY BE PULLED OFF HIS FEET AND ONTO THE FALLEN MOTORCYCLE (RISK OF INJURY AND BURNS FROM HOT COMPONENTS). ADDITIONAL INJURY TO ANYONE TO THE RIGHT SIDE IS LIKEWISE POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN AND PERSONS OF SMALL STATURE.