NHTSA Complaint #11340250 — 2013 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTRX

WHILE RIDING ON A FLAT STATE ROAD (MD RT 124) I WENT TO USE THE FRONT BRAKE BY PULLING IN THE BRAKE LEVER AND IT SUDDENLY WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE THROTTLE/HAND GRIP. I THANKFULLY STILL HAD REAR BRAKE AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. UPON RELEASING THE LEVER AND PULLING IT AGAIN THE BRAKE PUMPED BACK UP. HOWEVER, ONCE RELEASED THE LEVER WENT RIGHT BACK TO THE THROTTLE AGAIN. SO ESSENTIALLY I HAD NO FUNCTION IN THE FRONT BRAKES. I SHUT OFF THE MOTORCYCLE, TURNED IGNITION SWITCH ON AND AS NORMAL THE ABS LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH. AS SOON AS I PUT THE MOTORCYCLE IN GEAR THE SYSTEM DID AN ELECTRONICS CHECK ON THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE LIGHT WENT OUT. PROBLEM! I STILL HAD NO PRESSURE IN THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER SO AGAIN NO FRONT BRAKE WITHOUT PUMPING THE LEVER MULTIPLE TIMES AND HOLDING IT. ONCE RELEASED IT WENT RIGHT BACK TO THE THROTTLE AGAIN. I WAS VERY LUCKY I WAS NOT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR GOING UP/DOWN HILLSIDE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO MY LOCAL H-D DEALERSHIP. THEY EXPRESSED IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE ABS MODULE/PUMP. I CALLED HD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. STILL WAITING TO HEAR HOW THEY WILL RESOLVE THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. I SPOKE WITH ALEX WITH TECH SERVICES IN MILWAUKEE.