2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCI — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

MY 2001 HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAD A FRAME FAILURE ON THE SWING ARM (REAR FORK) WHERE THE AXLE BOLT GOES THROUGH THE SWING ARM. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON THE TOURING MODELS 1997-2001. HARLEY-DAVIDSON DID A RECALL IN 2000 FOR THE SWING ARM, THEY NEVER CHANGED THE DESIGN UNTIL 2002. HARLEY-DAVIDSON HAS DISCONTINUED THE SWING ARM FOR THE 2001 TOURING BIKES. THE DEALERS I SPOKE TO HAVE TOLD ME THAT HARLEY-DAVIDSON WANTS YOU UPGRADE TO A 2002-2008 SWING ARM BECAUSE THE CHANGED THE DESIGN TO PREVENT THE SWING ARM FAILURE FROM HAPPENING AGAIN, TO UPGRADE THE CONSUMER MUST UPGRADE TO A NEWER REAR WHEEL,BRAKE CALIPER,AXLE WHEEL BEARINGS , AND SPECIAL BUSHINGS TO ACCEPT THE LARGER PIVOT SHAFT. AT A COST OF APROX. $2900.00 JUST FOR THE PARTS.WHEN THE SWING ARM FAILS THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE REAR WHEEL ON THE BIKE IS THE DRIVE BELT AND SHOCK, IF YOU LOSE A REAR WHEEL ON A MOTORCYCLE IT IS ALMOST CERTAIN DEATH! I SPOKE WITH HARLEY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SEEM IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE FRAME FAILURE AT 70,000 MILES, WHEN I ASKED HOW I WAS SUPPOSED TO REPAIR MY BIKE WITH OUT THE PARTS I WAS TOLD TO JUST WELD IT BACK TOGETHER. HOWEVER IN MY RESEARCH I FOUND PEOPLE WITH FAILURES AT 30,000 MILES. THIS IS A TRUE SAFETY ISSUE ON 1997-2001 TOURING BIKES. .

THE REAR SWING ARM HAS FAILED ABOVE THE WHEEL AXLE. TRYING TO ORDER A NEW ONE FROM HARLEY AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A REPLACEMENT ONE. I WAS TOLD IT'S OBSOLETE. I LOOKED THIS UP ON GOOGLE AND FOUND OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY BIKE SHOP WANTS TO GET A USED ONE AND REINFORCE IT BY WELDING A PLATE ABOVE THE AXLE SHAFT. I WOULD FEEL BETTER WITH A FIX FROM HARLEY. THIS MAY BE MY LAST HARLEY. *TR

THE HORN ON MY HARLEY DAVIDSON, SOUNDS LIKE A HALF DEAD DUCK. MY WIFE WAS IN THE CAR AND I WAS BEHIND HER ON MY 2001 FLHTCI AND I WAS BLOWING MY HORN AND SHE COULD NOT HEAR IT IN THE CAR WITH THE WINDOWS UP. THESE HORNS ARE NOT LOUD ENOUGH TO BE HEARD. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.*JB

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS AND AT HIGH TEMPERATURES OIL SPRAYED FROM THE AIR CLEANER. THE HOT OIL SPRAYED BACKWARDS ONTO THE LOWER PANTS LEG OF THE CONSUMER. ALSO, THE OIL SPRAYED ON THE REAR TIRE AND THE REAR BRAKE PAD. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TEN TIMES. *AK

SCPD PURCHASED 4, 2001 FLHPI, 3 OF WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED BELT SEPARATIONS. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER FLHPI SINCE 1998 - 2002, WITHOUT A SINGLE FAILURE. ALL THREE ARE LOW SPEED SEPARATIONS. DEALER ADMITTED A "PROBLEM" WITH BELTS IN STORAGE BEING DEFECTIVE, BUT "DID NOT MAKE IT ONTO MOTORCYCLES". HARLEY SAID THEY WILL EXAMIN EACH CASE INDIVIDUALLY!*AK