1999 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

THE REAR SWING ARM ON THE PRIMARY SIDE (LEFT) IS BROKEN IN TWO. THIS SWING ARM HOLDS THE REAR WHEEL, AND BRAKES TO THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH MANY OF THESE SWING ARMS FOR YEARS 1996 TO 2000 BREAK YET NO FACTORY RECALL HAS EVER HAPPENED. WHEN I CALLED THE LOCAL HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER, THEY CONFIRMED THAT THESE ALWAYS BREAK, AND THAT THEY HAVE REPLACED THEM ON THE POLICE MOTORCYCLES, BUT WOULD NOT REPAIR MINE OR ANY CIVILIANS MOTORCYCLE, AND SAID THAT THESE YEAR SWING ARMS ARE OBSOLETE. I INQUIRED ABOUT HAVING THEM INSTALL A LATER UPGRADED VERSION, WHICH I RESEARCHED CAN BE DONE, AND THE REFUSED TO SERVICE THE MOTORCYCLE FOR THIS CONDITION. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT H.D. IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT REFUSES TO ADDRESS IT FOR COST REASONS.

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE MOTORCYCLE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER STATED THAT CIRCUIT BREAKER HAS TO RESET ITSELF, THEN THE MOTORCYCLE WILL START BACK UP. A RECALL WAS ISSUED AND PART WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

I PUT A PRODUCT CALLED TIREFLYS ON THE VALVE STEM OF MY 1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE CLASSIC. THESE CADGETS GIVE OFF LIGHT AS THE WHEEL SPINS. AFTER 15 MINUTES OF RIDING ON I 75 I DEVELOPED TWO FLAT TIRES AT THE SAME TIME. IT SEEMS THAT THE TIREFLYS REMOVE THE STEM FROM THE TIRE. I CRASHED MY BIKE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE- LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE BIKE UP UNTIL IT WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 TO 10 MPH. THE BIKE SUSTAINED $7500.00 IN DAMAGE. I WAS OK, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PLANT THE ACCIDENT ENOUGH TO MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE TO ME. I CANT BELIEVE THAT A $20.00 PRODUCT CAN WREAK SO MUCH HAVOC! ROSSITER'S HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER IN SARASOTA STOPPED SELLING THEM MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. THEY TOO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEM AS CUSTOMERS APPEARED WITH FLAT TIRES SOON AFTER HAVING THEM PLACED ON THE BIKE. *NLM

I PUT A PRODUCT CALLED TIREFLYS ON THE VALVE STEM OF MY 1999 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE CLASSIC. THESE GADGETS GIVE OFF LIGHT AS THE WHEEL SPINS. AFTER 15 MINUTES OF RIDING ON I 75 I DEVELOPED TWO FLAT TIRES AT THE SAME TIME. IT SEEMS THAT THE TIREFLYS REMOVE THE STEM FROM THE TIRE. I CRASHED MY BIKE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE- LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO HOLD THE BIKE UP UNTIL IT WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 5 TO 10 MPH. THE BIKE SUSTAINED $7500.00 IN DAMAGE. I WAS OK, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PLANT THE ACCIDENT ENOUGH TO MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE TO ME. I CANT BELIEVE THAT A $20.00 PRODUCT CAN WREAK SO MUCH HAVOC! ROSSITER'S HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER IN SARASOTA STOPPED SELLING THEM MORE THAN A YEAR AGO. THEY TOO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEM AS CUSTOMERS APPEARED WITH FLAT TIRES SOON AFTER HAVING THEM PLACED ON THE BIKE. TODAY, 3/15/03 I SPOKE WITH A MR. WAYNE D. HOY AT ROSSITER'S OF SARASOTA, FL. HE INFORMED ME THAT LIKE ME, HE TOO EXPERIENCED TWO FLAT TIRES FROM THE PRODUCT, TIREFLYS. THIS HAPPENED TO HIM ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS AGO. IT WAS ALSO AT THAT TIME HE INFORMED MR. ROSSITER OF ROSSITER'S HARLEY DAVIDSON OF THE OCCURRENCE AND MR. ROSSITER, RESPONSIBLY REMOVED THE PRODUCTS FROM THE SHELF. MR. HOY INFORMED ME THAT HE WOULD BE PLEASED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE FROM THIS AGENCY OR FILE A COMPLAINT. HE CAN BE REACHED AT 941 745-2074. *NLM

WHILE TRAVELING 60-65MPH ON HIGHWAY BACK SEAT BROKE OFF. DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK