IllustrationMETZELER ME880 MARATHON TIRE SIZE 280/35/18 HAS SEPARATIONS ON THE SIDEWALLS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TIRE ALL THE WAY AROUND. TIRE WAS MADE IN GERMANY WITH STAMPED 1717 CODE. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY AS I HAVE JUST NOTICED IT DUE TO ANOTHER TIRE WITH SAME SEPARATIONS IN A DIFFERENT SIZE.
2005 American Ironhorse Texas Chopper
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Texas Chopper years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 5 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
5 reportsWE HAVE A 2005 AMERICAN IRONHORSE TEXAS CHOPPER MOTORCYCLE THAT MY HUSBAND WAS RIDING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 60-65 MPH. HE HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE BIKE AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN SLOWING DOWN. HE GOT TO AN EXIT RAMP BEFORE HE DOWNSHIFTED THE BIKE, AND WHEN HE SHIFTED DOWN THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND HE SKIDDED SEVERAL FEET. HE WAS…
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WE HAVE A 2005 AMERICAN IRONHORSE TEXAS CHOPPER MOTORCYCLE THAT MY HUSBAND WAS RIDING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 60-65 MPH. HE HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE BIKE AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN SLOWING DOWN. HE GOT TO AN EXIT RAMP BEFORE HE DOWNSHIFTED THE BIKE, AND WHEN HE SHIFTED DOWN THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND HE SKIDDED SEVERAL FEET. HE WAS LUCKY NOT TO BE KILLED. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OUR DEALER THAT THE BIKE HAS A ROADMAX TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TRIED TO REACH AMERICAN IRONHORSE IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS, SEVERAL TIMES. THEY DON'T RESPOND TO MY CALLS. I HAD ORIGINALLY ASKED THEM FOR HELP REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION SINCE THE BIKE ONLY HAS 4500 MILES ON IT, AND THEY REFUSED BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE TRIED TO CALL BACK SEVERAL TIMES TO SUGGEST SOMEONE LOOK INTO WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS TRANSMISSION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. SO FAR, NO ONE HAS RETURNED MY CALLS. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE PULLED VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT AND MADE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE REAR TIRE WHICH CREATED A HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BEARINGS- TRIPLE TREES NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MECHANIC AT THE SERVICE DEALER MENTIONED THAT S…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE PULLED VERY HARD TO THE RIGHT AND MADE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE REAR TIRE WHICH CREATED A HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BEARINGS- TRIPLE TREES NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MECHANIC AT THE SERVICE DEALER MENTIONED THAT SOME MOTORCYCLES RIDE STRAIGHT AND SOME PULL. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO OBSERVED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE MOTORCYCLE WHICH MAY BE RELATED TO THE FRAME, THE TIRES OR THE TRIPLE TREES. *NM
2005 IRONHORSE TEXAS CHOPPER CLAMP THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH CABLE WAS TORN OFF RESULTING IN THE MOTORCYCLE COMING TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP.*MR ADDITIONALLY THIS CAUSED THE SECOND CLAMP TO BE PULLED DOWNWARD, PEELING THE PAINT OFF THE MOTORCYCLE IN SEVERAL AREAS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND REQUESTED WARRANTY REPAIR: REPLACE…
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2005 IRONHORSE TEXAS CHOPPER CLAMP THAT HOLDS THE CLUTCH CABLE WAS TORN OFF RESULTING IN THE MOTORCYCLE COMING TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP.*MR ADDITIONALLY THIS CAUSED THE SECOND CLAMP TO BE PULLED DOWNWARD, PEELING THE PAINT OFF THE MOTORCYCLE IN SEVERAL AREAS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND REQUESTED WARRANTY REPAIR: REPLACEMENT OF THE TWO CLAMPS, REPLACEMENT OF THE CLUTCH CABLE AND PAINTING OF THE FRAME. AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS THE CONSUMER'S REQUEST CAME BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS DENIED. *NM
DT: CONTACT STATES THERE ARE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTORCYCLE. WHEN THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER GOES OUT THERE ARE NO LIGHTS/SIGNALS, OR TAIL LIGHTS. THE LOCAL SERVICE DEALER STATED NOT WASH THE MOTORCYCLE WITH WATER BECAUSE WATER WOULD GET IN THE CONNECTIONS UNDER THE SEAT AND UNDERNEATH THE GASOLINE TANK.*AK THE DEALE…
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DT: CONTACT STATES THERE ARE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE MOTORCYCLE. WHEN THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER GOES OUT THERE ARE NO LIGHTS/SIGNALS, OR TAIL LIGHTS. THE LOCAL SERVICE DEALER STATED NOT WASH THE MOTORCYCLE WITH WATER BECAUSE WATER WOULD GET IN THE CONNECTIONS UNDER THE SEAT AND UNDERNEATH THE GASOLINE TANK.*AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE MAIN COMPUTER BUT THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUED TO MALFUNCTION. *NM
Official recalls
105V199000 · Suspension:rear:shock Absorber
May 5, 2005
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH SHOCK ABSORBERS MANUFACTURED BY PROGRESSIVE SUSPENSION, INC. THE SHOCK ABSORBERS HAVE A SPRING PLATE ASSEMBLY THAT WAS INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN RESULTING IN THE SHOCK ABSORBER FAILING TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND IN SOME INSTANCES COULD SUDDENLY DECOMPRESS WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS IN OPERATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SHOCK ABSORBER FAILURE WILL CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO LEAN GREATLY TO THE SIDE OF THE DEFECTIVE SHOCK ABSORBER INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT ALL SHOCK ABSORBERS AND REPLACE ALL DEFECTIVE SHOCK ABSORBERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 18, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AMERICAN IRONHORSE AT 1-888-618-4766.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.