Harley-Davidson recalled nearly fifty thousand motorcycles, beginning April 23. The problem is with the clutch master cylinder. Gas bubbles can affect the clutch master cylinder so that it can’t fully disengage the clutch. If the motorcycle is started in gear, the rider can lose control. This is especially true if the bike has been parked for a long time. According to Harley, the problem has cause 27 crashes and four minor injuries. As with all Harley recalls so far, it was Harley-Davidson’s quality testing folks who notified the National Transportation Safety Board of the problem and the need for a recall.
The problem is similar to, but not the same as, last September’s recall. Some models may have both problems, so some bikes that were recalled in September might be recalled again now. Some models from 2014 and 2015 from the Electra Glide, Street Glide, Road Glide, Ultra Limited, and Road King lines are included.
Harley sends the registered owners of affected motorcycles a letter notifying them of the recall. If you got such a letter, just call your Harley dealership and schedule an appointment. The fix is not complicated and shouldn’t take more than a few hours.
If your bike might not be registered, just call your local dealer. The service department can use your VIN to see if your ride is involved in this recall. In fact, your dealer can check for any recalls in just a couple of minutes. Dealerships still see vehicles with recalls that go back twenty years—and the fix is still free. If you have a pre-owned vehicle take the short time to check for recalls. (You can do the same thing with your automobile—just call a dealer with the VIN and they’ll be able to tell you if it’s been recalled for any reason.)
