NHTSA Complaint #11064416 — 2016 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FXSB

I PURCHASED A NEW HARLEY DAVIDSON FXSB BREAKOUT ON OCTOBER 2015. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 3,010 ACTUAL MILES AS OF TODAY 1-23-18. THE ENGINE OF THE MOTORCYCLE HAS ALWAYS HAD A VERY LOUD MECHANICAL NOISE FROM THE BEGINNING. HOWEVER, ONCE THE INITIAL BREAK-END PERIOD OF 1,000 MILES THE ENGINE WOULD QUIET DOWN. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN AND SUBSEQUENTLY WHILE I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO VIBRATE ERRATICALLY, THE BACK TIRE BEGAN TO SLIDE. I PRESSED IN THE CLUTCH LEVER IN ORDER TO GET A HANDLE ON THE MOTORCYCLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY INTERSECTION TO PULL OVER AND TO INVESTIGATE WHAT WAS GOING ON. UPON MY COMPLETE INVESTIGATION, I WAS ABLE TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE AT A VERY SLOW PACE TO THE HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP TO GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. ON THE HD MESSAGE BOARDS THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF THE HD 103B ENGINE HAVING SERIOUS MECHANICAL BREAKAGE PROBLEMS WITH THE VALVE LIFTER / CAMSHAFT. AFTER THE HD SERVICE TECHNICIAN DID HIS COMPLETE INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE PARTS. UPON REPLACEMENT OF THE LONG BLOCK ASSEMBLY AND ALL RELATED PARTS. I BECAME VERY NERVOUS ABOUT MY CONTINUED OWNERSHIP OF THIS MOTORCYCLE & WANTED TO TRADE UP IN SERIES TO THE NEW 2018 HD BREAKOUT. HOWEVER, HARLEY DAVIDSON CONSUMER DIVISION WOULD NOT GRANT / BUY THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE SO I'M STUCK WITH A VERY DANGEROUS MOTORCYCLE WHICH IS ABOUT TO RUIN MY FINANCIAL LIFE DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CAN'T GET RID OF IT. I HAVE ADVERTISED THE VEHICLE IN MANY PUBLICATIONS WITHOUT ANY TAKERS.