2005 Harley-Davidson Sportster Owner Complaints

I AM A 55 YEAR OLD U.S. TAXPAYING REGISTERED VOTER WHO HAS BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES FOR OVER 42 YEARS. I HAVE ADEQUATE HEALTH INSURANCE,OWN MY HOME,FAMILY MAN AND HAVE BEEN AT THE SAME JOB FOR 28 YEARS.I HATE WEARING MOTORCYCLE HELMETS AND HATE EVEN MORE,THE GOVERNMENT TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TO WEAR ONE WHEN I RIDE MY BIKE.I STRONGLY BELIEVE IN FREEDOM OF CHOICE.IT SHOULD BE LEFT UP TO THE RIDER TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WANT TO WEAR ONE OR NOT AND NOT THE GOVERNMENT ! FORTUNATELY THERE ARE MORE STATES WITHOUT A MANDATORY HELMET LAW THAN THERE ARE WITH THEM.A MOTORCYCLE HELMET WILL ONLY SAVE YOUR LIFE IN A CRASH UP TO 13 MPH,AFTER THAT IT IS NOT OF MUCH USE. HELMETS IN MOST IF NOT ALL STATES ARE ILLEAGLE TO WEAR WHILE DRIVING A AUTOMOBILE BECAUSE IT RESTRICTS YOUR HEARING AND PERIPHERAL VISION. THEN WHY ARE WE FORCED TO WEAR THEM ON MOTORCYCLES ? IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.THE KEY TO MOTORCYCLE SAFETY IS DRIVER SAFETY EDUCATION BOTH FOR THE AUTOMOBILE AND MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR. PLEASE LET ALL OF THE LEGISLATORS KNOW OF MY CONCERN.A LOT OF LEGISLATORS WHO IMPOSE MANDATORY HELMET LAWS AND OTHER OPPRESSIVE MOTORCYCLE RELATED LAWS,HAVE NEVER EVEN TOUCHED A MOTORCYCLE BUT YET WANT TO GOVERN OUR LIVES WHEN IT COMES TO A LIFESTYLE/SPORT THAT WE DEARLY EMBRACE.THANKYOU FOR YOUR TIME ! *TR

NHTSA ID

10392428

Incident

Mar 21, 2011

I WANT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MANDATORY USE OF MOTORCYCLE HELMETS. I BELIEVE ANY PERSON WHO IS LEGALLY OPERATING A PROPERLY REGISTERED, LICENSED AND INSURED MOTORCYCLE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE FOR HIM OR HERSELF IF HE/SHE WANTS TO WEAR A HELMET OR NOT. FORCING ALL MOTORCYCLE RIDERS TO WEAR A HELMET IS DISCRIMINATION AND SHOULD NOT BE ENFORCED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10390381

Incident

Mar 16, 2011

THERE IS A COMPANY - DNA SPECIALTY INC. 1415 W. 178TH ST. GARDENA CA, 90248 TEL: (310) 767 - 4070 FAX: (310) 767 - 4091 WORLD WIDE TOLL: (800) 608 - 4446 MAKING "SEALED SPOKE WHEELS" FOR MOTORCYCLES SO THEY RUN WITHOUT TUBES. THE PROBLEM IS, THEY ARE NOT BEING SEALED CORRECTLY AND LEAKING AIR!! NOT A HUGE DEAL FOR ME... I JUST GET HOME, HAVE A FLAT, AND AM OUT ALL THE MONEY I SPENT ON THEIR BAD PRODUCT... BUT OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING ACCIDENTS AND IT IS CAUSING LOTS OF PROBLEMS. THEY SAY IF YOU SHIP THE WHEELS BACK THEY WILL FIX THEM, THE PROBLEM IS, THEY ARE NOT BEING MADE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, AND IN SOME CASES, NOT BEING FIXED WHEN THEY ARE SENT BACK! THIS GUY COULD HAVE LOST HIS LIFE: HTTP://WWW.HDFORUMS.COM/FORUM/SOFTAIL-MODELS/483658-2ND-SET-OF-DNA- WHEELS-LEAK-AND-COULD-HAVE-KILLED-ME.HTML PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS COMPANY. I HAVE ALSO REPORTED THEM TO THE BBB, BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. THESE ARE MOTORCYCLE TIRES... WE ONLY HAVE 2, AND WE NEED THEM BOTH! THESE DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS COULD GET SOMEONE KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319132

Incident

Mar 6, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER 1200 CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT DOWN SHIFT TO 3RD GEAR BECAUSE IT WOULD LOCK. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO UP SHIFT TO FOURTH AND FIFTH GEAR BEFORE DOWN SHIFTING TO FIRST GEAR. THIS WENT ON FOR A MONTH. THE DEALER KEPT REPAIRING THE FAILURE, AT LEAST FOUR TIMES UNTIL THE WARRANTY HAS RAN OUT. THERE IS STILL A FAILURE WITH THE MOTOR CYCLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THEY STATED THERE SHOULD BE NO FAILURE BECAUSE THEY HAVE REPAIRED THE PROBLEMS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,500 THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 9,000. UPDATED 5/10/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ESTABLISHMENT WHERE HE PURCHASED THE BIKE FROM HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH THE BIKE. IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE DAMAGE, THE CREATED A PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT LOCKED UP IN 3RD GEAR WHEN DOWN SHIFTING, THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED BUT WAS TOLD THAT WAS THE WAY IT SHIFTED. ALSO, THE STARTER HESITATED WHEN STARTING THE BIKE. UPDATED 07/01/10.*JB

NHTSA ID

10317090

Incident

Aug 18, 2009

Mileage

8,500 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM DELIVERY CONCERNING THE CARBURETOR. THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO TURN OFF OR START AND LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL VALVE, THE DRIVE BELT AND ADJUSTED THE TIMING. THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER.

NHTSA ID

10152592

Incident

Mar 7, 2006

Mileage

9,200 mi

NOT LONG AFTER MY 1000 MILE NEW VEHICLE CHECKUP, MY 2005 XL883R SPORTSTER'S FRONT BRAKE LEVER WOULD COLLAPSE TO THE HANDLE BAR. THE FRONT BRAKE WOULD OPERATE, BUT THE LEVER WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE REGULAR POSITION. ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON. AFTER RIDING A FEW HUNDRED YARDS, AND REPEATEDLY SQUEEZING THE BRAKE LEVER, THE LEVER WOULD FINALLY STAY FULLY AWAY FROM THE HANDLEBAR. THE ABOVE PROBLEM HAPPENS EVERYTIME I RIDE THE SPORTSTER, AND NOW THE LEVER COLLAPSES AGAINST THE HANDLEBAR, AND THE FRONT BRAKE DOES NOT WORK. THE BIKE IS UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER I WANTED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I CAN'T BELIEVE MY BIKE IS THE ONLY BIKE IN THE US TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I'M WORRIED ABOUT RIDING IT BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF USING THE FRONT BRAKE WHILE MOTORCYCLE RIDING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10135543

Incident

Aug 10, 2005

DT: 2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON WITH 37 MILES ON IT. AFTER THE OWNER LEFT WITH THE MOTORCYCLE SHE NOTICED THAT IT WAS CHOKING AND MAKING TERRIBLE NOISES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS ENGAGED. THE NOISE BEING A SEVERE CLICKING IN 4TH AND 5TH GEARS. IT WA S A TERRIBLE RATTLE AND RINGING IN THE TRANSMISSION. MOTORCYCLE WAS STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. IT WOULD MAKE A NOISE AND DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF THE STALLING, AND IT WAS NOW NOT AS BAD, BUT IS STILL STALLING/ CRACKING/RATTLING, AND RINGING WORSE. MOTORCYCLE IS IN THE SHOP FOR A SECOND TIME, AND THE DEALER HAS NOT EVEN LOOKED AT IT AS OF YET. *AK

NHTSA ID

10126717

Incident

May 23, 2005

Mileage

37 mi