NHTSA Complaint #11015065 — 2007 HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200L

I WAS RIDING MY STOCK 2007 HD SPORTSTER 1200 YESTERDAY ON A PAVED ROAD APPROX. 35 MPH WHEN I RAN OVER A ROUGH PORTION OF ROAD. THE RIGHT FOOT PEG / REAR BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY CAME OFF FROM ITS MOUNTING POSITION ON THE LOWER FRAME AND WAS DRAGGING ON THE ROAD. I PULLED OVER TO DISCOVER THAT THE TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD THE BRACKET / ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME HAD SHEARED OFF. I WEIGH 185 LBS AND THE MOTORCYCLE DID NOT BOTTOM-OUT ON THE ROUGH ROAD, NOR DID THE BRAKE / FOOT PEG ASSEMBLY STRIKE THE ROAD. THE BOLTS APPEAR TO HAVE SIMPLY SHEARED OFF FROM MY WEIGHT ON THE FOOT PEG ON A ROUGH PATCH OF ROAD. LUCKILY, I MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND WAS ABLE TO STOP IT WITH NO USABLE REAR BRAKE AS THE CONTROL WAS DRAGGING ON THE ROAD. I DID RESEARCH LAST NIGHT ON THE INTERNET AND READ SEVERAL POSTINGS ON A MOTORCYCLE BLOG WITH OWNERS OF 2007 SPORTSTER 1200 MOTORCYCLES THAT REPORTED EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE, SO I AM REPORTING IT TO YOU. THERE IS NO VISIBLE RUST ON THE BOLTS WHERE THEY SHEARED OFF. THEY APPEAR TO BELOW-GRADE STEEL BOLTS THAT FAILED UNDER NORMAL USE. I WAS LUCKY THAT I MAINTAINED CONTROL AS MY FOOT DROPPED TO THE GROUND AT 35 MPH - IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND IF THERE IS A RESOLUTION UNDERWAY.