The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Lawyer

Harley Davidson Recalls Over 111,000 Motorcycles
March 16, 2010

Harley Davidson is recognized as one of the best motorcycle brands in the world. Their motorcycles are produced to a quality standard that rivals motorcycles made in Japanese, German, and other American motorcycle companies.

Most people are more familiar with vehicle recalls since they are generally regarded as major news. Since motorcycle owners are a very small group compared to vehicle owners, motorcycle recalls do not get the headlines that vehicle recalls do.

Harley Davidson recent announced a major recall of some of their 2009-2010 vehicles that were produced between June 6, 2008 and November 19, 2009. The vehicles in the recall include Harley CVO, trikes, and all touring models. This recall includes over 111,000 motorcycles.

This is a huge recall.

In 2008, Harley Davidson sold approximately 219,000 motorcycles across all their brands. If one of the major automotive companies had a recall this large, there would be a congressional investigation and heads at the top of the company would roll.

Luckily, this is not the case with Harley Davidson as this recall is in an attempt to pre-empt rider injuries. According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the front engine mounts may distort in the event of a major front-end collision. This distortion can cause a fuel leak and in the presence of an ignition spark could cause a fire.

Owners of bikes in this Harley Davidson recall, need to take their bikes to their local Harley Davidson dealer to have a left and right bracket installed which will minimize the distortion in the case of a major front end collision.

Thankfully, this recall is based on a ‘worst case scenario’ of a major front-end collision and is intended to make Harley’s motorcycles safer. Unlike the current recall for the Toyota Prius, this Harley recall is not the result of everyday motorcycle usage.

Call your local Harley dealer to see if your bike is part of the recall or go to the NHTSA website to get more information.

Hi, I’m Tom Kiley, and when my buddies and I go riding we always put safety first. Get a free copy of my motorcycle book for some valuable riding tips. And if you or loved one are ever hurt in the Massachusetts area, contact the Kiley Law Group for legal advice from a real motorcycle attorney.