NHTSA complaint: 2009 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLTRU — WHEELS
AFTER A NICE HOUR LONG RIDE, ENTERING THE HIGHWAY (RT1 SAUGUS) COMING TO A STOP AT THE ON RAMP I APPLIED PRESSURE TO BOTH MY FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. MY RIGHT FOOT PUSHED THE BRAKE TO THE FLOOR AND CAUSED ME TO THROTTLE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. MY REAR TIRE STARTED TO SPIN OUT COMPARED TO BEING ON ICE. I IMMEDIATELY CORRECTED THE BIKE AND PULLED OFF THE ROAD. WHILE INSPECTING MY BIKE I PUSHED THE FOOT BRAKE IN WITH MY HAND AND FLUID FROM THE BRAKE SWITCH AND BRAKE LINE WAS SHOOTING OUT. THIS WAS CAUSING FLUID TO HIT MY EXHAUST PIPE CHROME AND SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE BIKE AND THE SWITCH ITSELF STARTED TO FLAME UP. I THEN WENT TO MY SADDLE BAG WET A RAG AND PUT THE FLAME OUT, ALONG WITH WIPING THE REMAINING BRAKE FLUID OFF OF MY CHROME. I BURNT MY HAND, BUT SAVED MY BIKE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS BIKE. I PURCHASED THIS BIKE IN 2011 FROM HD BRUCE ROSMEYER BOSTON, THE RECALL HAPPENED BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. IT WAS NEVER TAKEN CARE OF AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALLS THAT HARLEY DAVIDSON PUT OUT ON MY BIKE. NICE KNOWING THAT THE BIKE GOES IN FOR SERVICE AT HD AND THEY DON'T FIX RECALLED ITEMS. THIS COULD OF BEEN A LIFE CHANGING EVENT. I AM REALLY PISSED THAT LIFE SAFETY IS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION FROM SUCH A LARGE COMPANY LIKE HD. I HAD MY BIKE TOWED TO THE LOCAL BIKE SHOP AND NOW I WILL BE PAYING OUT OF POCKET UNTIL I GO AFTER HD FOR MY REFUND. VERY CONCERNED RIDER THAT'S PISSED......... *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation