2006 HARLEY-DAVIDSON XL1200R Recalls, Complaints & Safety

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A CONDITION WHEREBY THE PANT LEG OF SOME RIDERS CAN HAVE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST PIPE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A NEW EXHAUST SHIELD WHICH PROVIDES ADDITIONAL COVERAGE OFTHE EXHAUST PIPE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

35,112 vehicles affected

The contact owns a 2006 Harley-Davidson XL1200R. The contact stated that while the motorcycle was parked in the garage, the odor of fuel was present. Upon inspection it was discovered that the fuel had leaked from the motorcycle due to a failed fuel supply line. The cause of the fuel line failure was not determined. The local dealer was contacted regarding the failure. The manufacturer was not yet notified. The failure mileage was 10,500. The VIN was not available.

THE 2006 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORTSTER XL 1200R(AND MANY OTHER MODELS AND YEARS) HAS SHORT STEMS ON MIRRORS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE RIDER TO SEE BEHIND WITHOUT SHIFTING FROM SIDE TO SIDE TO KEEP FROM SEEING HIMSELF. WHEN RIDING DOWN THE ROAD IN A NORMAL RIDING POSITION, THE RIDER CANNOT SEE ANYTHING DIRECTLY BEHIND BUT CAN SEE ONLY HIMSELF WITH PROPERLY ADJUSTED MIRRORS. I BELIEVE THAT HARLEY-DAVIDSON MAY USE SHORT-STEMMED MIRRORS FOR STYLING REASONS AS THEY DO LOOK BETTER WHEN LOOKING AT THE MOTORCYCLE. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS ALSO AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS IT OFFERS EXTENSIONS FOR THESE STEMS IN ITS PARTS AND ACCESSORIES CATALOG. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND I BELIEVE THAT HARLEY-DAVIDSON SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THESE SHORT STEMMED MIRRORS WITH ONES THAT ARE LONG ENOUGH SO THE RIDER CAN SEE BEHIND IN A NORMAL RIDING POSITION. *NM