2015 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Flhtk

AFTER SITTING IN THE SUN APPROX. 8 HOURS, WHILE IN MOTION, ENGINE DIED APPROX. 2 SECONDS WHEN STOPPING, TURNING OR ACCELERATING. 1 TIME ENGINE SPUTTERED WHEN IT DIED AT A STOP, THE OTHER TIMES ENGINE JUST STOPPED RUNNING. STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. OK IF FUEL TANK AND PCM (SEAT) ARE COVERED OR BIKE IN GARAGE. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP TWICE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY. DIED SEVERAL TIMES FROM 3/18/17.

SPARK PLUG WIRE LEADING TO FRONT CYLINDER RUBS AGAINST THE FUEL TANK, LEADING TO ABRASION THROUGH THE INSULATION OF THE SPARK PLUG WIRE. REPLACEMENT OF PARK PLUG WIRE UNDER WARRANTY DENIED BY FORT BRAGG HARLEY DAVIDSON. ABRASION THROUGH THE INSULATION BY CONTACT OF THE FUEL TANK COULD LEAD TO FIRE OR EXPLOSION SHOULD THE WIRE ARC ON THE FUEL TANK OR IF FUEL LEAKS.

DECEMBER 23, 2016, WHILE RIDING MY HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTK ULTRA LIMITED MOTORCYCLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF INTERSTATE 295 IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE RIGHT SADDLEBAG MOUNTING PINS DETACHED FROM THE RECEPTACLES, ALLOWING THE SADDLEBAG TO DETACH FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS UNWANTED EVENT CAUSED A TRAFFIC HAZARD FOR OTHER MOTORISTS. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND THE ROAD SURFACE WAS DRY AND RELATIVELY EVEN. THE SADDLEBAGS WERE CHECKED APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES BEFORE THE EVENT, PRIOR TO OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE, AND NOTHING UNUSUAL WAS OBSERVED. THIS EVENT OCCURRED AFTER RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE PIN CONNECTORS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V427000). THE REPLACEMENT DESIGN OF THE PIN CONNECTORS HAS NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO UNWANTED DETACHMENT OF THE SADDLEBAGS. AN INSURANCE CLAIM HAS BEEN FILED WITH GEICO MOTORCYCLE AND IS IN PROCESS. PHOTOS HAVE BEEN TAKEN.

DECEMBER 23, 2016, WHILE RIDING MY HARLEY DAVIDSON FLHTK ULTRA LIMITED MOTORCYCLE AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A STRAIGHT SECTION INTERSTATE 295 IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE RIGHT SADDLEBAG PINS FROM THE RECEPTACLES, ALLOWING THE SADDLEBAG TO DETACH FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS EVENT CAUSED A TRAFFIC HAZARD FOR OTHER MOTORISTS. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND THE ROAD SURFACE WAS DRY AND RELATIVELY EVEN. THE SADDLEBAGS WERE CHECKED APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES BEFORE THE EVENT, PRIOR TO OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE, AND NOTHING UNUSUAL WAS OBSERVED. THIS EVENT OCCURRED AFTER RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL DEFECTIVE PIN CONNECTORS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V427000). THE REPLACEMENT DESIGN OF THE PIN CONNECTORS HAS NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO UNWANTED DETACHMENT OF THE SADDLEBAGS. AN INSURANCE CLAIM HAS BEEN FILED WITH GEICO MOTORCYCLE AND IS IN PROCESS. PHOTOS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AND WILL BE UPLOADED.

WHILE ON A TRIP THROUGH COLORADO I WAS DESCENDING A STEEP MOUNTAIN GRADE. I APPLIED LIGHT PRESSURE TO THE FRONT BRAKE AND FELT A VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. AS I INCREASED THE FRONT BRAKE PRESSURE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SLOW FOR A TIGHT TURN, THE VIBRATION INCREASED UNTIL THE ENTIRE MOTORCYCLE SHOOK. THE VIBRATION CEASED ONCE THE SPEED WAS REDUCED BELOW ABOUT 30 MPH OR BRAKE PRESSURE WAS RELEASED. THIS SITUATION CAUSED ME SURPRISE AND DISTRACTION IN A CRITICAL STAGE OF OPERATION AND IT IS MY BELIEF THAT LOSS OF CONTROL IS POSSIBLE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO HARLEY DAVIDSON FOR ADVICE THEY REPLACED THE TWO FRONT ROTORS THAT HAD BEEN CHECKED TWICE AND FOUND TO BE WITHIN "SPECS." VEHICLE NOW OPERATES NORMALLY.