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[RonandJanet]

This is of course a bad situation to have happen. If this is truly isolated then that is good news.  Automotive companies will not have a recall if one car has an issue.  We all agree this is a bad situation. Maybe there is a bad batch of these switches. The question is "Is this is truly isolated".  Other than this forum how do we know for sure?

[grc]

This is of course a bad situation to have happen. If this is truly isolated then that is good news.  Automotive companies will not have a recall if one car has an issue.  We all agree this is a bad situation. Maybe there is a bad batch of these switches. The question is "Is this is truly isolated".  Other than this forum how do we know for sure?

I think the real issue isn't just the sensor that went bad, but rather the entire system that took that erroneous signal and decided to shut the engine down.  There should be multiple safeguards in the system software to override an engine shutdown after receiving a "fork locked" indication while the bike is in operation.  As an engineer developing these systems you have to be aware of all the possible failure modes and design the system to compensate.  Just hoping the sensor never fails while someone is riding down the highway at 80 mph isn't an acceptable solution.  FMEA (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis) is a real discipline used in engineering to try to prevent exactly what happened in this case.  I suggest that the folks at Harley need to revisit their system and figure out why this happened, then fix it.  Waiting to see if a large number of people experience this problem isn't the answer. 

Jerry

[longlast]

On the chance I'm not being a  But dose HD not put these components/motors etc. threw a vigorous testing stage of operation for a period of time?

It seams like we're the ones forking out 30+K to do the testing

Just wondering.

[longlast]

76 Shovel in the days of my winding down riding days. When you did not have to be a electronics whiz. That was part of the joy, ride and tinker. In most part repairs could be done out of shop, now it's for the most in shop.   

[Hawaiian Hog]

Thanks for the responses guys. As I am still wary of getting back in the saddle worrying that the problem might rear its ugly head again, even with the road testing by the dealership, I will take the sage advice of contacting the NHTSA and following up again with my correspondence with HD Corp. The dealership stated they have also initiated such contact with the MoCo. 

It will probably be awhile before I'm confident on that Road Glide. Thank God for back up bikes! 

[RonandJanet]

I like the bike!  I remember the same for bikes and cars.  We really did work on everything and many times outside!  vehicles have made a lot of improvements and overall don't break down or need as much work but it was still "The Good Old Days!".

FMEA - A process used in Six Sigma and used to identify root cause.  I don't know how much it is used in problem identification until you have component failures.  I assume the bikes are tested but I know you think you test everything but something will always get you. 

I agree there must be by-passes for critical systems like the ignition system! 

I have not heard of other issues on this and I hope it is not a problem. Sorry it had to happen to anyone!

[ultrarider123]

76 Shovel in the days of my winding down riding days. When you did not have to be a electronics whiz. That was part of the joy, ride and tinker. In most part repairs could be done out of shop, now it's for the most in shop.   

Don'tcha wish you still had that '78 Shovel, Pete? 

I agree with y'all on tinkering.  I miss that on these new bikes but except for the sentimentality of having the old '72 EG, I wouldn't trade backward for any of my former rides.  Great bikes all with their own set of issues and LOTS of memories.

However, the fork lock deal whether it's a fluke or a sensor fail is a very serious issue.  Glad you are contacting the NHTSA, Hawaiian Hog.  Keep us posted....