*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Unknown or other
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO WARN DRIVERS ATTEMPTING TO CUT ME OFF, OR JUST LETTING THEM KNOW THAT I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY BY THEIR DRIVING HABITS, I HAVE HONKED THE HORN ON MY MOTORCYCLE WITH LITTLE OR NO REACTION. SIMPLY PUT, THE HORN ON THIS MOTORCYCLE IS ABOUT AS LOUD AS A FART IN A RAINSTORM! I HAVE TALKED WITH NUMEROUS OTHER ROADKING OWNERS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. THE HORN IS TOO WEAK TO NOTIFY OTHER DRIVERS OF IMPENDING DISASTER! THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL. NOTE: HARLEY DAVIDSON OFFERS A LOUDER HORN REPLACEMENT FOR THE STOCK HORN HOWEVER IT IT A $50.00 UPGRADE! THAT TELLS ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE INFERIOR STOCK HORNS ON THESE…
Oct 28, 2020 · 38,587 milesService brakes
REAR BRAKE SWITCH WIRING MELTED. BRAKE SWITCH BEGAN LEAKING PROFUSELY. DEALER SAYS BRAKE FLUID EXCHANGE RECALLED FOR YEAR. THE SWITCH WAS NOT. HOWEVER, FORUMS SAY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO EXCESSIVE EXHAUST HEADER HEAT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE SWITCH HAS BEEN REDESIGNED. I HAVE ONE ORDERED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED SPONTANEOUSLY AND COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.*DT VIN PROVIDED HAS NO DISPLAYABLE RECORDS. UPDATED 10/2/18*JB
Sep 2, 2018 · 12,500 milesService brakes
WHILE STARTING TO EXIT AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND ENTERING THE RADIUSED EXIT RAMP, I APPLIED BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES ON MY MOTORCYCLE IN ORDER TO SLOW FROM 65 MPH TO A SAFE EXIT SPEED. WHILE ENTERING THE TURN, THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR THE REAR BRAKES, WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN. I LOST ALL REAR BRAKING ABILITY ON THE EXIT RAMP. I WAS UNABLE TO SAFELY SLOW TO THE POSTED EXIT SPEED. THIS MOTORCYCLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS BRAKING. I RETURNED HOME USING FRONT BRAKES ONLY. THE REAR BRAKE RESERVOIR DID NOT LOSE ANY BRAKE FLUID. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. I HAVE NOT RIDDEN THE MOTORCYCLE SINCE.
Nov 1, 2017 · 25,400 milesPower train
2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROADKING CLASSIC WITH 23,748 MILES STARTED HAVING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND THE STARTER MADE A LOUD "BANG" DURING HOT STARTS...ALSO NOTICED A LOUD CLUNK SOUND FROM THE PRIMARY CHAIN CASE WHEN SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF. THE HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE A WORN COMPENSATOR AND SPROCKET. APPARENTLY THESE COMPONENTS ARE HAVING A HIGH RATE OF PRE--MATURE FAILURE ON 2007 THRU 2010 HARLEY MOTORCYCLES. THIS PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE DEATH IF NOT PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED. CURRENTLY THERE IS NO RECALL BEING OFFERED BY HARLEY-DAVIDSON FOR THIS COMPONENT. THEY DO HOWEVER OFFER AN UPGRADED VERSION SE COMPENSATOR AT A…
Sep 26, 2015 · 23,748 milesPower train
THE GEAR SHIFT AND HEAL-TOE SHIFT LEVERS FELL OFF THE MOTORCYCLE WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 75 MPH, LEAVING NO MECHANISM FOR CHANGING GEARS. I HAVE RECEIVED ANECDOTAL INFORMATION FROM MANY OTHER RIDERS OF HARLEY DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES THAT THE LOSS OF THE HEAL-TOE SHIFT LEVERS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE, AND THEY ARE FORCED TO REPLACE THE SHIFT LEVERS WITH ACCESSORIES FROM INDEPENDENT PARTS MANUFACTURERS. I HAVE WITNESSED MANY SUCH AFTER-MARKET MODIFICATIONS DURING MY TRAVELS.
Aug 22, 2013 · 30,345 milesVehicle speed control
WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 60 MPH, I ENCOUNTERED A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I APPLIED MY FOOT OPERATED REAR BRAKE FIRST AND FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. ONLY AFTER I APPLIED MY FRONT HAND BRAKE COULD I GET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE LEAD TO SERIOUS RIDER/PASSENGER INJURY. *TR
Jul 21, 2013 · 17,749 milesElectrical system
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE BELTWAY AT 60 MILES AN HOUR MY MOTORCYCLE WENT INTO A LIMP MODE. SPEED DROPPED TO 15 MILES AN HOUR QUICKLY AND WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 15 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES. RECENTLY TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A SENSOR IN THE HANDLE BAR. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, HAVE TO TAKE THE BIKE BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN DUE TO THE SAME RECURRING PROBLEM. WHEN THIS OCCURS IT IS VERY SCARY. NOT SURE IF ANYONE HAS BEEN INJURED OR DIED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM (WHAT I EXPERIENCED IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME). THERE ARE (MANY) PAGES OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT HAVE OCCURRED ON THE INTERNET. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY HARLEY. *TR
Apr 23, 2013 · 5,000 milesEngine and engine cooling › Engine
2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON ROADKING TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR EXCESSIVE VIBRATION. AT 10,000 MILES, THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET ON THIS MOTORCYCLE DISINTEGRATED AND REPLACED BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY.. THIS SPROCKET IS CONNECTED TO THE MAIN SHAFT THIS INCIDENT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A LOOSE ENGINE MOUNT AT FIRST. THE DEALER TIGHTENED IT, BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY CLAIMED IT WAS THE COMPENSATOR SPROCKET. REPLACED IT AND VIBRATION WAS NOT CORRECTED. THEY TORE IT BACK DOWN AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE RUNOUT ON THE PRIMARY CRANK (AROUND .015) MY RESEARCH SEEMS TO LEAN TOWARD HARLEY-DAVIDSON INCREASING THEIR RUNOUT SPEC IN RECENT HISTORY. THIS TYPE OF PLAY AND VIBRATION…
Sep 24, 2010 · 25,000 miles
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.