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Harley Announces Recall of 13,400 Bikes
AP (Absolute Prevarication) ^ | 11/23/2005 | Staff

Posted on 11/23/2005 12:31:34 PM PST by Red Badger

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Harley-Davidson Inc. issued a voluntary safety recall on 2006 model Dyna series motorcycles built between June 9 and Oct. 19 due to a transmission defect.

The company said late Tuesday the recall affects some 13,400 motorcycles and is expected to cost less than $5 million, which it will make reservations for in the fourth quarter.

Harley-Davidson also said it expects to meet its previously announced wholesale shipment target of 329,000 motorcycles for 2005.

The Milwaukee-based company said it will provide owners with free pickup and delivery and will make recall kits, which include three redesigned transmission components, available at dealerships starting the week of Dec. 12.

The defect may allow the motorcycles to go into a false neutral position even though the neutral indicator light is illuminated, it said.

"If that happens, the transmission could engage into first or second gear unexpectedly," Harley-Davidson spokesman Bob Klein said Wednesday.

Two accidents related to the problem were reported, but none resulted in injury, Klein said.

The defect resulted from a design flaw in the six-speed transmission, which replaced the five-speed on the Dyna to make for a smoother ride at highway speeds and increase fuel efficiency, Klein said.

The redesign also resulted in a change to the front forks, chassis and a wider rear tire.

Shipments of the 2006 Dyna had been delayed but resumed after a change to production, he said.

Harley-Davidson shares rose $1.20, or 2.2 percent, to $55.67 in Wednesday afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange, amid a general gain in market prices on optimism over consumer spending this holiday season.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Unclassified
KEYWORDS: gearhead; harley; motorcycle; motorcycles; recall
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To: Poser

It's nice to convert them over yes, but give me an electric start anytime. I have torn up both my knees (on motorcycles of all things, go figger) and like to look at them but I have no interest in using one. I don't like kick starting a KX250 either.


101 posted on 11/23/2005 5:25:13 PM PST by blarney
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To: blarney
The VMAX and the Eliminator are about the only Japanese bikes I would even own.

I've put over 8000 on my stock '87 ZL 1000 Eliminator since April.

There's a Harley on every corner but only one or two Eliminators in town. I get more comments, admiration, 'thumbs ups', etc from the public than I could ever get on a stock hog.

And yeah, its fast.

102 posted on 11/23/2005 5:44:32 PM PST by Eagle Eye (There ought to be a law against excess legislation.)
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To: Eagle Eye

Oh yea eliminators are very fast. It might depend on the area you are in because where I have been the Harley's are the bikes of admiration. If this wasn't so then why did so many people jump on having to say how much better theirs was. Plain and simple I got all the racing out of my system but I guarantee that the two vtwins I ride(one is S&S and the other is el Bruto) have more than enough to smack down pretty much anything except maybe a bosshoss.

The GPZ mentioned earlier depending on if it's a turbo or not is a little monster too, but still doesn't have the value of the American bikes. Eliminators are just great bikes just like the VMax. Comfortable riding position and a buttload of power and toque. But they still aren't the big American VTwins. Kawasaki found a good formula with the Zx1 or whatever it was, (they were kz900's) and were smart enough to not do too many changes

It's like the fast and the furious cars as opposed to the great American Muscle Cars. You can go real fast in a Supra but in a Chevelle SS 396 you don't have to.


103 posted on 11/23/2005 5:54:21 PM PST by blarney
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To: HOTTIEBOY

Now why is it you feel the need to come on here and insult people like me? I don't understand the motivation.


104 posted on 11/23/2005 6:02:01 PM PST by Melas (What!? Read or learn something? Why would anyone do that, when they can just go on being stupid)
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To: freepatriot32

I have 35,000+ miles on my '03 Harley, and my only mechanical failure has been the throwout bearing on the clutch, which no doubt the result of operator error. Read dropping a non-race clutch. Replaced it with a race clutch.


105 posted on 11/23/2005 6:04:36 PM PST by Melas (What!? Read or learn something? Why would anyone do that, when they can just go on being stupid)
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To: HOTTIEBOY

I know where all the parts come from, from the Showa forks, to the Kehien carb. It's not a problem for me, so why is it a problem for you. Your whole bike came from Japan and that's not a problem, so I don't get it.


106 posted on 11/23/2005 6:05:45 PM PST by Melas (What!? Read or learn something? Why would anyone do that, when they can just go on being stupid)
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To: Abathar

Now that was funny.


107 posted on 11/23/2005 6:08:01 PM PST by beaver fever
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To: TXBSAFH

I've yet to find a Honda that fits me better than my Harley. At least not one with enough engine for sustained riding. The Rebel and the VLX are nice bikes, but not enough engine.


108 posted on 11/23/2005 6:08:11 PM PST by Melas (What!? Read or learn something? Why would anyone do that, when they can just go on being stupid)
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To: pt17
My son-in-law has a new VTX 1800. Aside from being better looking, more reliable and less expensive, it always gets a lot of favorable attention from the good HD folks.

I don't know about being better or more reliable, but it gets kudos from bikers, because it's a good bike. The VTX is a fine machine in just about every respect. I have a buddy who owns the 1800, and it's served him well, although not as reliable as my Harley. He had to have a stuck valve replaced at under 20,000 miles, and I'm still going strong at 35,000 with no real failures.

109 posted on 11/23/2005 6:11:02 PM PST by Melas (What!? Read or learn something? Why would anyone do that, when they can just go on being stupid)
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To: HOTTIEBOY
V-rods are hot bikes, don't get me wrong. But a 600cc R6 is one third the cost and have the displacement and will hand the v-rod its @ss any day.

Different kind of bike for a different kind of ride. I don't have anything against sport bikes, but I sure don't want to own one. They're too tall, and the riding position is uncomfortable.

This nonsense that one type of bike is better than all the rest is hooey. Some folks are best served by a full on highway barge like an Electra-Glide or a Goldwing. Others need a sport bike. Still others need a laid back cruiser. We don't all ride the same road.

110 posted on 11/23/2005 6:13:48 PM PST by Melas (What!? Read or learn something? Why would anyone do that, when they can just go on being stupid)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

"Oil leaks ? As the former owner of three Limeys, (last was a Norton 850) you don't know REAL oil leaks, my man."

1970 Triumph Bonneville. Drip, drip, drip.

Neither one of my Kawasakis leak a drop.


111 posted on 11/23/2005 6:14:32 PM PST by dljordan
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To: HOTTIEBOY
My Yamaha falls into neutral and still outruns harleys. At half the displacement and half the cost.

I have Tomahotsu. I like Yama too. Good motorbike. Yes?

112 posted on 11/23/2005 6:24:44 PM PST by Jigsaw John
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To: blarney

Harleys are still Harleys here, too. But they're everywhere.

My Eliminator is unique; American cruiser style frame and seating with the 1000 cc in line four. People who don't know bikes like the styling; people who do know bikes like the styling and appreciate the performance.

I'm in the market for something newer and easier to get parts for should I need them, but I can't bring myself to trade the ZL and I know that its gonna be hard to match the perfomance. And although I don't want to race-go-fast all the time, I don't want to go from a Mustang to a Town and Country Wagon.

If Kawasaki reintroduced the real Eliminator line, I'd be lining up for the new one.


113 posted on 11/23/2005 6:33:36 PM PST by Eagle Eye (There ought to be a law against excess legislation.)
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To: battlecry

The dumbest thing that ever happened to motorcycles was when they equipped them with batteries.


114 posted on 11/23/2005 6:36:32 PM PST by Old Professer (Fix the problem, not the blame!)
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To: Old Professer
Last bike was 1941, flathead, sidevalve ULH Harley. We had nicknames for it. Stump puller, pig iron, etc.

Most don't remember Ed Roth. Rat Fink, Big Daddy Roth, "Cartoons" and the rest. He helped rebuild the engine on the '41. 90 mph, and it was barely turnin over...Cool bike. Then I got married and retired from being an outlaw in the eyes of most everyone. Long ago. Life is very different now. Better. But I do find some humor watching all the dentist ride around on their brand new Harleys. Wish I could afford one. But flying is cool too.

115 posted on 11/23/2005 6:45:33 PM PST by Jigsaw John
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To: Jigsaw John

Not knowing when you are in neutral is about the same as not knowing when to shut up instead of standing up.

Machines were not originally meant for the meek.


116 posted on 11/23/2005 6:50:12 PM PST by Old Professer (Fix the problem, not the blame!)
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To: blarney
"It's nice to convert them over yes, but give me an electric start anytime. I have torn up both my knees (on motorcycles of all things, go figger) and like to look at them but I have no interest in using one. I don't like kick starting a KX250 either."

The only thing I ever have trouble kicking is a 1000cc iron head Sportster. Those things are dangerous. I love kicking this one. It's a '66.


117 posted on 11/23/2005 6:54:46 PM PST by Poser (Willing to fight for oil)
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To: Jigsaw John
"Most don't remember Ed Roth. Rat Fink, Big Daddy Roth, "Cartoons" and the rest. He helped rebuild the engine on the '41."

I've got Roth original with an autograph.


118 posted on 11/23/2005 7:00:49 PM PST by Poser (Willing to fight for oil)
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To: Poser

BWAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAH, thats probably still too rough on my knees. HaH!


119 posted on 11/23/2005 7:14:54 PM PST by blarney
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To: Eagle Eye

I've got nothing bad at all to say about the eliminator. To be honest though if you are looking for good performance I would do something like a Sportster and trick it out with Buell parts. The parts are fairly interchangeable and very available. People make fun of the sporty's but you beef up that motor and they will flat out run. Easy to setup for better ride so you can be lower, longer and more comfy. The new Triumphs are pretty nice also and some have a fairly good throwback look.


120 posted on 11/23/2005 7:19:20 PM PST by blarney
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