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.

[-YYZ-]

Actually, what you've just described is more like heat-induced pre-ignition or self-ignition (aka dieseling), which while it can also result in detonation, is not detonation.

Detonation occurs when the air-fuel mixture in part of the cylinder reaches a critical point and then flashes over in an exposive manner (ie detonates), in advance of the flame front reaching it. Things that contribute to it include temperature and the time for flame propagation to ignite all the fuel in the normal manner. It's actually a very complex subject that wasn't at all well-understood until the 40's, and still isn't well understood by many people who work with engines for a living.

[-YYZ-]

Thanks, Melas.

Yes, I did get a little hot and bothered and make some injudicious comments. I hereby apologize for those.

I think you already schooled me on the importance of H-D in motorcycle land-speed records. Was that you? I fully acknowledge the superiority of H-D style engines in certain types of motorsport.

[Melas]

And, how old are you?

I'm old enough to be a grandfather, so calling me "kid" would seem a bit innapropriate. Please note, I'm talking about real children, and real grandchildren here. Not dogs and cats that I just call, "son."

I told you I did not mean to offend you or anyone else. Although I am very much capable of doing so.

Oh please tell another lie Pinochio. Your charming picture urinating on a Harley-Davidon logo wasn't supposed to offend?

Harley owners are like democrats. isn't supposed to be insulting in a conservative forum?

Harley's success is built in the fact that people are not very smart, isn't supposed to be insulting to Harley owners?

The picture of the t-shirt that called Harley owners special ed students wasn't supposed to be insulting?

You should also read the Harley owners manual. Gives no mention about the workings of the bike as far as matenance, spark plugs, tires, controls, oil, etc. It tells you how to shave your goatee. What beer to drink. Exactly how to prop your legs in the air while riding, etc. isn't supposed to be insulting?

Please, tell another lie. Tell us again how you didn't mean to offend me or anyone else. By all means, we'd love to hear it the second time through. Now you're not only a jerk, but a damned liar to boot.

[Salamander]

You got the obvious part, anyway....:)

[-YYZ-]

So you pull away from a stop and then stay in the same gear and stay there right up to 75 mph?

I know what you mean, but when discussing specifics, and comparing the performance of different types of engines, your definition is a little vague.

BTW, I can ride all day between 80 and 160 km/h (50 and 100 mph) in one gear on my bike. It's just that my useful powerband runs from say, 5000 to 9000 rpm, instead of say, 2500 to 4500 rpm. Which is to say that I've got a fairly flat torque curve. (actually it peaks around 6500 rpm and slowly decrease from there)

[-YYZ-]

BTW, it's not that I hate the sound of loud pipes (although many cruiser "straight" pipes just sound obnoxious to me), I just believe that in the long run making too much noise will hurt all of us.

[Melas]

You should be banned for life. Lucas Electrics should never be mentioned in polite company, ever. Triumph should send umbrellas girls door to door to apologize for LE to this very day.

The Lucas motto: "Get home before dark."

[Melas]

And that's fair. Loud pipes do have a potential for abuse. I take a lot of care rolling into the neighborhood to not blip the throttle.

[-YYZ-]

Was there a subtext that I missed?

Maybe that a purple CM400 is a suitably gay bike for someone like Prince? I dunno.

[-YYZ-]

Unfortunately, too many guys don't take that care. The guy across the street has a rather loud Wide Boy, and when he or his buddies pull away from his place they without fail do so at full throttle making as much noise as possible. And everyone within earshot (that I can see) flashes them a dirty look.

[Poser]

"Longevity? Harleys are no more durable out of the box than Japanese bikes, in fact I'd say a bit less so. I know people who've gone over 100,000 miles on (liquid cooled, to be sure) Japanese bikes without ever opening the engine at all."

I keep hearing that argument, but in practice, the Harleys are far more durable. All I have to do is count the crappy AMF Harleys vs. the Hondakawayamazukis of the same era. The Japanese bikes outsold the Harleys by a wide margin, yet the Harleys remain on the road while the J-brand bikes are gone.

The old technology of the Harley motor, combined with the improved steel of recent times create a motor that is astoundlingly long lived, easy to maintain and reliable. Even the mechanically challenged, like me, can replace the top end every 100K miles or so.

All of that high tech stuff wears out and costs a lot to replace. I'll stick to 1930's tractor technology.

Here's another one of my bikes with crappy old technology that has outlived all of that high-tech stuff.

Pushrods forever! (I love them old Vespas too)

[R. Scott]

The Lucas motto: "Get home before dark."

My most sincere apologies. I had several friends with Trumpets and later Yamaha. I replaced all their electrics.

[Melas]

Maybe that a purple CM400 is a suitably gay bike for someone like Prince?

Lol! Now that was funny.

[-YYZ-]

"The Japanese bikes outsold the Harleys by a wide margin, yet the Harleys remain on the road while the J-brand bikes are gone."

That's because they've been rebuilt, probably more than once. Of course, parts for those old Harleys are readily available, whereas the supplies of them for most Japanese bikes are disappearing. But some older Japanese bikes have started to reach the level of collectible, and a market in repro parts for them is developing. Of course, the Japanese also made huge technological strides every couple of years, whereas parts for Harleys tend to be usable in many model years. Not a knock against either one, in my opinion, just a different frame of mind. In fact, I agree with you, and as I've said if I wanted to touring rig I might well choose Harley, and the ease of rebuilds and availability of replacement parts would be part of the reason. But at the 10,000 miles a year or so I've currently got the time to put on my bike, it'll last until I'm sick of it and ready for a new one. And meantime I'll be riding a bike with higher performance and better handling than any of those "classics", which is important to me. Apparently it's not so important to you, which is fine with me.

[Poser]

"So you pull away from a stop and then stay in the same gear and stay there right up to 75 mph?"

In fact, I can. My Harley delivers over 100 pound feet of torque from 2400 to 6000 rpm. It's a little hard on the clutch, but no problem.

My Concours had pretty good torque, but it's no contest. The motors are like night and day, buzzy horsepower vs. raw torque. Each has its purpose.

If you want to have some fun, test ride the Triumph Rocket III. It delivers 147 pound feet of torque at 2400 RPM and over 120 at idle. Of course, you could always try a Boss Hoss with a 502 crate motor, but that's just ridiculous.

[toros]

Nice Pan.

I had a 62 pan in a 58 frame. . Looked stock enough, but had andrews "B" grind cam, with .58 lift, and andrews close ratio 1st/2nd tranny. The front exaust rocker had to be refitted because the push rod to it kept snapping off the arm (too long). 44 mm SU carb, worked great, and especially so in the higher elevations. Ran like a well oiled sewing machine, kinda hard to start (10.5/1 pistons). Put average of 8,000 to 10,000 miles a year, never had major problems. Even the oil drip was cool, because I ran a belt drive primary, and redirected the chain oiler to the back chain instead. (did make the rear rim dirty on long trips !). Comfort was no problem, regular trips from sacto to LA 5-6 times a year, always looked forward to same.

Those who bad rap HD's either are totally envious, or wish to build up their choice/affordability by bad rapping another bike.

[bellas_sister]

Hey, my next door neighbor Johanna just bought one of these exact bikes.(the one in the picture)

[Melas]

The Boss hoss doesn't have much real world torque as the Rocket III. The raw power is there in the boss hoss, but it's squandered by the bike's weight. Sort of like a Abrahams tank. 1500hp and 2200 pounds of torque, but it's used up just moving tonnage.

[Poser]

" Those who bad rap HD's either are totally envious, or wish to build up their choice/affordability by bad rapping another bike."

Bingo. Anyone who bad raps anyone else's bike deserves scorn. Every bike is fun (well, all but a couple I have owned).

Only the cases and heads of my '48 Pan are stock. All of the internals and the sleeves have been replaced over the years. As you can see from the picture, I have an S&S oil pump and a Mallory 12v electronic ignition. The frame is a 58 Duo-glide with a Santee weld-in hard tail (very stupid move by a previous owner). The tanks are 68. The front end is an early Wide Glide with dual 10" disk brakes.

In its next iteration I plan to put a black, stock springer from a current model on the front. I want the disk brakes but would prefer the classic fork style. I have the pogo stick seat, but probably won't ever put that on again. Same for the floorboards. I have a set of 2000 Indian Chief forward controls with the brake pedal in front of the foot. I think I will use the right side setup but keep the mousetrap clutch. The primary is 1.5" belt drive already with a Barnett clutch.

I have considered getting a Duo Glide frame and swapping the motor out, but I'm too lazy.

[-YYZ-]

Hey, I had a Concours, too. Good value, but a dog in the engine department compared to my ZRX1100 (the 1200 is even better in every way) and my DL1000. Both are smoother and more flexible than the Concours was.

I'd love to test ride a Rocket III. Maybe I'll get out on one this year.