Harley Announces Recall of 13,400 Bikes

AP (Absolute Prevarication) ^ | 11/23/2005 | Staff

[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.

[battlecry]

False neutrals are common on many motorcycles.

[steveo]

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

NINO? Neutral In Name Only?

[HOTTIEBOY]

Not surprising from a company that sells more t-shirts and genuine Harley induced crap than they do bikes.

[Disambiguator]

False Neutral = In Gear (but the light is on)

[TXBSAFH]

What they did not the the right number of oil (5+)leaks?

[TXBSAFH]

Harley Davison is a mechandising company that as one of the product line makes overpriced motorcycles.

[Abathar]

Yep, not enough power to yank a lesbian off your kid sister.

[Red Badger]

I had a 73 Honda that I could put in neutral between gears. I wasn't supposed to do that.......But then, the manual didn't say you couldn't do it.........The Dealer told me not to do it because it could suddenly "catch" and throw me off at a stoplight.......

[HOTTIEBOY]

Harley owners are like democrats. The ride around on this heavy, slow, overrated, chrome plated combine and follow the bewildered herd that clings to an image with no real substance.

[Red Badger]

That's not a safety issue. At least not for the rider.......

[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.

[rellimpank]

--b--

[Red Badger]

The light is on, but nobody's home.......

[HOTTIEBOY]

My Yamaha falls into neutral and still outruns harleys. At half the displacement and half the cost.

[Red Badger]

I hate it when you try to show off and miss a gear because it goes into a false neutral instead. You revv the hell out of it and look like a dork........

[freepatriot32]

buy a harley get the best ride a mile and walk the rest. :-)

[TXBSAFH]

Oh you owned a Norton Valdez?

[HOTTIEBOY]

I implore you all. For the real low-down on Harley visit this site.

[pikachu]

Funny that Baker et al have been doing six speed boxes for a while that HD gets caught this way. Anyone know if the Motor Company builds the boxes themselfs or who they buy 'em from?