Harley-Davidson (HOG -15.74%) issued a recall notice Wednesday for some 29,000 of its motorcycles, saying a hydraulic clutch system on the vehicles "may pose a safety issue for riders and/or passengers."
The motorcycles in question, all from the 2014 model year, and all produced between May 3, 2013, and Oct. 14, 2013, include:
- 25,185 Touring motorcycles, models FLHTCU, FLHTK, FLHTP, FLHX, FLHXS, FLHTKSE and FLHRSE; and
- 3,861 Softail CVOs (customized motorcycles) and Trikes (three-wheel motorcycles), models FLHTCUTG, FXSBSE and FLSTNSE.
On the affected bikes, the hydraulic clutch system may lose the ability to generate enough lift to disengage the clutch. If the clutch does not disengage as intended, the rider may have difficulty slowing or stopping the motorcycle, which could result in an accident.
To head off such an eventuality, Harley has issued a voluntary recall notifying owners to get their bikes fixed at authorized Harley dealerships. The company has issued a "Do Not Deliver" notice to its dealers, and also issued "Do Not Ride" notice to owners.
Because of the latter, Harley is saying that owners who want to get their bikes inspected and/or fixed can have them picked up and delivered to the dealership free of charge -- there to be repaired also at no cost to the owner. Harley expects each repair to take less than an hour to complete.
