2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU Service Brakes Problems

ABS System failure causing brakes to fail

I was riding my motorcycle with a group of bikes and had to make an emergency stop. When the brakes were applied, as directed in the owners manual, the ABS failed and caused the rear tire to lock and skid. The resulting skid caused a loss of control of the motorcycle and ultimately laying the bike down on the asphalt highway. This resulted in the rider and passenger sustaining injuries. The passenger received a Tramatic Brain Injury which a month and a half later she is still in recovery. The motorcycle has not yet been repaired or looked at by any Police or Technical personnel. There were no warnings or lights prior to the accident.

I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION NEAR MY HOME. I HAD TO STOP QUICKLY AS A CAR TURNED INTO MY LANE JUST A HEAD OF ME. I APPLIED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES OF MY MOTORCYCLE BUT THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER DID NOT MOVE AT ALL. IT WAS AS IF IT WAS FROZEN IN PLACE. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE FRONT BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW USING THE REAR BRAKE AND AVOIDED A COLLISION BY STEERING OUT OF THE WAY. AFTER ARRIVING HOME AND INVESTIGATING, I FOUND THE ABS MODULE HAD FAILED. I ALSO FOUND THIS IS AN ISSUE KNOWN BY HARLEY DAVIDSON OF THEIR 2008-2014 MOTORCYCLES WITH ABS. THEIR SOLUTION, IS TO BLEED THE BRAKE FLUID EVERY TWO YEARS NO MATTER WHAT. I DO THAT MYSELF EVERY TWO YEARS. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT IF I REPLACE THE ABS MODULE, AT SIGNIFICANT COST, THAT A FAILURE WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

Mileage: 51,080

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY DAVIDSON ELECTRA GLIDE ULTRA FLHTCUI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GREELEY HARLEY-DAVIDSON AND WILD WEST MOTORSPORTS, INC. LOCATED AT (3010 29TH ST, GREELEY, CO 80631 (970) 351-8150) TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS FLUSHED REFILLED WITH PLATINUM DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE BRAKES FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN SOUGHT PERMISSION FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO AUTHORIZE AN ADDITIONAL REPAIR HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO AUTHORIZE A SECOND REPAIR. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT PART AND REPAIRED THE MOTORCYCLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Mileage: 60,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE RIDING AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THE REAR BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND WERE INOPERABLE. MOMENTS LATER, BOTH THE REAR AND FRONT BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED AND THE MOTORCYCLE DID NOT IMMEDIATELY STOP, NEARLY CAUSING A CRASH. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO CENTENNIAL PARK HARLEY-DAVIDSON (12477 E. BROAD ST SW, PATASKALA, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC UNIT AND MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V016000 (SERVICE BRAKES) WITHOUT REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER AND HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

Mileage: 21,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE FRONT BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HANNUM'S HARLEY-DAVIDSON (1011 W BALTIMORE PIKE, MEDIA, PA 19063, (610) 566-5562) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

Mileage: 11,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU (ULTRA CLASSIC). WHEN REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF GREENVILLE (30 CHROME DR, GREENVILLE, SC 296615) DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 30,000

I,M LIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS. OWNER OF A HARLEY DAVIDSON. MY STEEL REAR BRAKELINE WAS SANDED THROUGH.( RESULT NO BRAKE WHILE RIDING) I WENT TO MY DEALER IN BELGIUM, I REPORTED BY THE AFTERSALES MANAGER MR. ANDERSON HARLEY DAVIDSON BENELUX. I ASKED THEM TO TAKE ACTION. (SAFETY RESEARCH) I SENT A E-MAIL TO HARLEY DAVIDSON COMPANY. ( MILWAUKEE) NO REACTION. IN MY E-MAIL I ASK SEVERAL TO DO RESEARCH, I TOLD THEM THAT THEIR ARE RESPONSIBLE, TAKE CARE ABOUT SAFETY OF ALL ROAD USERS. ( NO REACTION. I WROTE THAT I TAKE RESPONSIBILTY AND I REPORT IT BY COMPETENT AUTHORITIES. I REPORT IT BY : N.H.T.S.A. ( COUNTRY OF MANUFACTERING), BELGIUM, OFFICE OF HOMOLOGATIE VAN VOERTUIGEN, NETHERLANDS, R.D.W. ( NATIONAL ROAD SECURITY) I HAVE THE BROKEN BRAKELINE IN MY POSSESSION. I OFFER THE BELGIUM OR DUTCH INSPECTION THIS BRAKELINE FOR A CHECK WHEN REQUIRED. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP. PLEASE INFORM ME.

Mileage: 29,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V076000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO SANDY'S HARLEY-DAVIDSON SPORT CENTER (11940 N MAPLE ISLAND RD, FREMONT, MI 49412, (231) 924-3020) FOR SERVICING. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS BLEEDING THE BRAKE FLUID PER THE RECALL, THE ABS MODULE BECAME DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.

Mileage: 21,000

ABS UNIT FAILED I HAVE NO REAR BRAKE ON THE MOTORCYCLE.

Mileage: 56,000

I RECEIVED A RECALL ON HD ULTRA CLASSIC 2008 ABS SYSTEM. HOWEVER ABOUT 2 MONTHS BEFORE THE FRONT BRAKE FROZE UP AND BECAME NON-FUNCTIONAL RESULTING IN A VERY UNSAFE EXPERIENCE. WILL THIS RECALL COVER THIS OR AM I ON MY OWN TO PAY FOR THIS FAILURE? I HAVE OWNED MANY VEHICLES IN MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN.

Mileage: 40,000

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THE REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP WITH NO WARNING. LUCKILY I WAS GOING STRAIGHT AND WAS ABLE TO RECOVER THE SKIDDING BIKE BEFORE I HIT THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. I BROUGHT MY BIKE THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE CLAIM THE ABS MODULE IS BAD.NO ONE MENTIONED TO ME ABOUT THE RECALL.

Mileage: 9,200

WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION I TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS LOCKED IN PLACE. LUCKILY THE REAR BRAKE STILL WORKED AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP. AFTER I STOPPED AND PULLED OVER I WAS ABLE TO GET THE BRAKE LEVER TO MOVE AGAIN. IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN ON THE NEXT ATTEMPT TO STOP SO I SLOWLY DROVE HOME USING ONLY THE REAR BRAKE. I HAVE BEEN RIDING BIKES FOR 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF IT HAS NOT CAUSED SERIOUS ACCIDENTS LIKE IT ALMOST DID FOR ME AND MY WIFE. THE ABS MODULE HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN USED ON ANY BIKE! ON TOP OF THAT THE DEALERSHIP WANTS AROUND $1200 TO FIX THE ISSUE.

Mileage: 25,000

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE EXPRESS WAY A CAR CHANGED LANES IN FRONT OF ME TO CLOSE FOR COMFORT. I ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE REAR BRAKE BUT COULD NOT PUSH THE PEDAL DOWN. I SWERVED AND USED THE FRONT BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO CREATE SPACE BETWEEN MYSELF AND OTHER TRAFFIC. I CONTINUED HOME KNOWING I ONLY HAD FRONT BRAKES. ONCE HOME I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT WOULD NOT MOVE. UPON RESEARCHING THIS ON THE COMPUTER I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS SOMETIMES THE REAR BRAKE SOMETIMES THE FRONT BRAKE. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALERS FOR MAINTENANCE. WHAT FAILED WAS THE REAR ABS CONTROL MODULE. THIS IS THE SAME PART LISTED ONLINE BY MANY AS FAILING. ONE WEEK AFTER TAKING THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON INFORMING ME THAT MY MOTORCYCLE CONTAINED DOT 4 BRAKE FLUID AND THAT IT WAS REQUIRED TO BE CHANGED EVERY TWO YEARS TO PREVENT POSSIBLE FAILURE. I HAVE OWNED THIS BIKE SINCE NEW, 2008, AND NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HARLEY BEFORE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE ABS MODULE THAT HAD FAILED AND ORDERED ONE. THE PART THAT WAS ON MY BIKE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. (I AM ASSUMING BECAUSE HARLEY KNOWS THEY ARE NO GOOD). THE NEW PART THAT IT HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH WILL NOT WORK ON MY MOTORCYCLE UNLESS I PURCHASE A NEW ELECTRONIC ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT ALSO WHICH IS IN EXCESS OF FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS. WHEN THE ABS BRAKES FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY, THEY FAILED IN A MANNER THAT I HAD NO BRAKES. NOT JUST NO ABS BUT NO BRAKES ON THE REAR SYSTEM WHAT SO EVER. ALTHOUGH HARLEY DAVIDSON KNOWS THAT THIS PART WAS DEFECTIVE, AS IT WAS DISCONTINUED AND REPLACED WITH ANOTHER PART, THEY BLAME THE CONSUMER BY SAYING THE BRAKE FLUID WAS NOT CHANGED OFTEN ENOUGH. THIS WAS NOT A GRADUAL FAILURE BUT SUDDEN. THEY WORKED FINE THAT MORNING. THE COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES COULD BE FATAL.

Mileage: 36,000

THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER SUDDENLY BECAME VERY HARD TO PULL. I KNEW FROM OTHER RIDERS EXPERIENCES WITH THIS THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS (ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM). MY HARLEY CERTIFIED MECHANIC VERIFIED THAT THE ABS MODULE HAD GONE BAD. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL HARLEY-DAVIDSON DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT ABS MODULE WAS OBSOLETE AND THERE WAS NO REPLACEMENT. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS TO HARLEY CUSTOMER SERVICE I WAS GIVEN TWO PART NUMBERS THAT SHOULD WORK ON MY MOTORCYCLE. MY MECHANIC HAS TO DETERMINE WHICH TYPE OF ABS IS ON MY MOTORCYCLE AND THEN I HAVE TO FIND A DEALER THAT CAN GET THE PERT. THE MOTORCYCLE IS STILL OPERABLE BUT IT IS QUESTIONABLE WHETHER OR NOR THE ABS IS WORKING. ALSO WITH THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER VERY HARD TO PULL IT CERTAINLY LEADS TO A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I FEEL THAT THIS CONDITION SHOULD HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION BY THE MANUFACTURER AND SINCE IT INVOLVES CONTROL AND BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE MERITED A SAFETY RECALL OR AT THE VERY LEAST A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. IF I AM ABLE TO LOCATE THE CORRECT ABS MODULE IT WILL COST ME $373.71 - $ 481.73 PLUS LABOR COSTS OF INSTALLATION. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT IS GARAGE KEPT AND SERVICED ON A REGULAR BASIS. I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE WARNED ME OF THIS PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE REPLACED A CRITICAL PART THEY KNEW WAS GOING TO FAIL.

Mileage: 50,000

ON CITY STREET APPLIED FRONT BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE TURN AND LEVER WAS ROCK SOLID. NO FRONT BRAKE AT ALL. ABS LIGHT WAS NOT ON. REAR BRAKE WORKED. DEALER SAID THEY HAD TO ORDER ABS MODULE FROM HARLEY DAVIDSON BECAUSE HARLEY DAVIDSON NEEDED THE OLD ONE TO INSPECT. BIKE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WAITING ON NEW PART.

Mileage: 20,900

REAR BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP- NO REAR BRAKES- ABS MODULE FAILED-VALVE NOT LETTING BRAKE FLUID TO GET TO REAR BRAKE CALIPER-DANGEROUS SITUATION. WORKED FINE ON THE WAY TO RESTAURANT. CAME OUT TO LEAVE AND NO REAR BRAKES.

Mileage: 15,000

THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER FROZE UP LEAVING ME WITHOUT ANY FRONT BRAKES. IT WAS WORKING NORMALLY DURING A RIDE WITH MY WIFE AS A PASSENGER, THEN JUST FROZE UP. THANKFULLY IT WAS NOT AT A CRITICAL MOMENT AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY AND CALLED AAA FOR A TOW. I HAD JUST PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO HIGHWAY. THIS BIKE IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS. I STILL HAD REAR WHEEL BRAKES. I LOOKED ON INTERNET AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. INTERNET SEEMS TO THINK ITS THE ABS. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH BRUCE ROSSMEYER HARLEY DAVIDSON DEALER TOMORROW.

Mileage: 12,000

RIDING AT 60 MPH STARTED TO SLOW DOWN DO TO A PULSATING REAR CALIPER. TRIED TO STOP WITH THE FRONT ONE AND THERE WAS NO PRESSURE AND SQUEZZED ALL THE WAY TO THE END UNRESPONSIVE. REAR WORKED, STOPPED FOR A MINUTE TO CHECK...NO LICKAGE AND NO SIGN OF ANYTHING WRONG. STARTED RIDING AGAIN AND A MINUTE LATER WAS WORKING NORMAL AGAIN...HAPPENED TWICE IN FIVE DAYS, STOP RIDING IT AND THE DEALER PICK IT UP...THEY CAN'T FIND THE ISSUE....LOOKS LIKE ABS FAILURE.

Mileage: 80,000

VEHICLE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. I APPLIED MY REAR BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I ATTEMPTED THE REAR BRAKES AGAIN, AND STILL, NOTHING. I THEN APPLIED MY FRONT BRAKES, THIS CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE, AND WE CRASHED.

Mileage: 65,000

WHEN CITY DRIVING AT 25 MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT, AS YOU ARE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE REAR BRAKES IF YOU HIT A SMALL BUMP, THE ABS SYSTEM RESTRICTS YOUR BRAKING ABILITY AND THE MOTORCYCLE WILL ROLL INTO THE INTERSECTION BEFORE STOPPING. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS BIKE.

Mileage: 44,000

REAR BRAKE LINE WAS WORN THRU AND LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID AND USE OF REAR BRAKE. THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE CLUTCH CABLE IN CONTACT WITH THE REAR BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE HAD 64,000 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE WAS WHEN APPROACHING A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I WAS TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. THE STOP WAS MADE USING THE FRONT BRAKE.

Mileage: 64,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HARLEY-DAVIDSON FLHTCU MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FOOT BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE FRONT BRAKE WAS ENGAGED IN ORDER TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID VISIBLE ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WERE AIR BUBBLES IN THE BRAKE LINES. THE MECHANIC BLED THE FOOT BRAKE LINES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,102.

Mileage: 35,102

THE REAR BRAKE WILL LOCK UP FOR AN INSTANT IF YOU ARE APPLYING THE BRAKE AND YOU HIT A BUMP OR OVER A HOLE.

Mileage: 35,000

MY FRONT BRAKE LEVER LOCKED UP! NO FRONT BRAKES!! ABSOLUTELY NO MOVEMENT AT ALL WHEN APPLYING FRONT BRAKE, WITH OR WITHOUT BIKE BEING STARTED! NO ABS LIGHT ON. THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT (AFTER REVIEWS OF MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE DOING SAME AS MINE, ON MANY DIFFERENT FORUMS), IT'S DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ABS VALVE MODULE, THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. AGAIN, THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT, THE ABS VALVE MODULE IS SUPPOSED TO GO INTO MANUAL MODE AND I WOULD STILL HAVE AT LEAST SOME FRONT BRAKES! I HAVE NOTHING, NONE! NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON, AND ABS LIGHT OPERATED NORMALLY! BEING A MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURER, I'VE GOT TO BELIEVE SOMEONE THERE REALIZES THAT THE FRONT BRAKE IS 70% OF A BIKE'S STOPPING POWER.. ARE THEY WAITING FOR A DEATH TOLL SIMILAR TO FIRESTONE/EXPLORER ROLLOVERS, TO BE FORCED TO DO SOMETHING TO PREVENT THE CERTAIN ACCIDENTS THAT WILL CERTAINLY BE CAUSED DO TO THIS?!? THIS OCCURRED YESTERDAY, WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE THE BIKE OUT OF THE GARAGE. THANK GOD, FROM DRIVING TRACTOR TRAILERS FOR 25 YRS, I'M ANAL ABOUT MY "PRE-TRIP" INSPECTION, AND I DISCOVERED IT THEN, RATHER THAN ON THE ROAD WHEN IT WAS NEEDED!!

Mileage: 23,000

08 ULTRA CLASSIC ANNIVERSARY ISSUE. SAME ABS LOCKUP ON FRONT BRAKES, AS IT WAS MOVED TO OTHER SIDE OF BASEMENT, WHEN I NOTICED THAT I ONLY HAD ABOUT HALF INCH OF MOVEMENT. 3 WEEKS LATER, I GET READY TO RIDE AND THE FRONT BRAKE HAD NO MOVEMENT. TRACED BACK TO ABS MOD. THESE VALVES IN THE MODULE SHOULD NOT LOCK OUT ON A MECHANICAL FAIL, THE SPRINGS SHOULD FORCE THE VALVE SPOOLS INTO OPEN POSITION, PISS POOR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING THAT WILL GET SOMEONE KILLED IF NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO LEVER TESTS IN THAT 3 WEEKS, I RAN THE MOTOR FOR 10MINS FOR BATTERY CHARGE AFTER I MOVED IT. I DID START IT UP AFTER, THE LOCKED BRAKE, BUT NO CHANGE. I'M LUCKY I CHECKED BEFORE LEAVING HOME BECAUSE MY HOUSE IS ON A HILL. NOW AFTER SEEING HOW DANGEROUS THIS SITUATION COULD BE, I'M THINKING ABOUT HAVING THE ABS SYSTEM BYPASSED, UNTIL THEY MECHANICALLY RE-ENGINEERED THAT DANGEROUS VALVE MODULE. BESIDES, AFTER RIDING FOR 44YRS BEFORE THIS BEAUTY OF A BEAST, I'VE HATED THE ABS SYSTEM FROM THE BEGINNING. THIS IS FROM THE HARLEY FORUM - "THESE "LOCKED PEDAL OR LEVER" ABS MALFUNCTIONS RESULTING IN NO BRAKE ARE GETTING FAR TOO COMMON. PLEASE FILE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE NTSB. THESE ABS MODULES NEED TO BE REDESIGNED AND RETROFITTED AT NO COST BEFORE PEOPLE START GETTING KILLED."

Mileage: 44,000

WHILE COMING TO A SLOW STOP USING BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES THE FOOT PEDAL FOR THE REAR BRAKES FELT SOFT AND WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR BOARD. UPON STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID DRIPPING FROM UNDER THE MOTOR. DURING EXAMINATION I SAW THAT THE REAR BRAKE LINE WAS LEAKING AT THE POINT WHERE THE CLUTCH CABLE CROSSES BETWEEN THE MOTOR AND THE LINE. THE VIBRATION OF THE MOTOR APPARENTLY CAUSED THE CLUTCH CABLE TO WEAR A HOLE IN THE REAR BRAKE LINE DUE TO THE ROUTING OF THE TWO PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 45,546

WHILE RIDING MY 2008 FLHTCU AT LOW SPEEDS MY FRONT BREAK LEVER BECAME FROZEN IN PLACE, THE LEVER WOULD NOT ENGAGE THE BRAKES AT ALL. THE BIKE DID NOT DISPLAY ANY FAULT CODES. I TOOK THE BIKE TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY VERIFIED MY ABS MODULE HAD FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACED. MY COMPLAINT IS, THE BIKE WAS IN GOOD MECHANICAL CONDITION AND WITH OUT WARNING I HAD A CATASTROPHIC BREAK FAILURE. I BELIEVE THIS WARRANTS AN INVESTIGATION BECAUSE OF THE NATURE AND IMPORTANCE BREAKS ARE TO RIDING A MOTORCYCLE AND HOW MANY DEATHS ARE DUE TO OR FUTURE ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAVE SEEN ONLINE OTHER OWNERS REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 21,000

WHILE TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE AND EXITING ON THE OFF RAMP, I EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FRONT BRAKE FAILURE CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTIONING ABS MODULE. THE FRONT BRAKE COULD NOT BE APPLIED. THE BRAKE LEVER WAS FROZEN AS IF IT WERE WELDED IN PLACE.. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS WARNING PRIOR TO THIS TIME. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE BIKE USING THE BACK BRAKE ONLY AND NOT BY A LARGE MARGIN! AFTER THE INCIDENT THE BRAKE LEVER REMAINED FROZEN AND I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE PROBLEM YET. AFTER A LOT OF HEAD SCRATCHING I WAS ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE ABS MODULE IS NOT ALLOWING ANY BRAKE FLUID TO PASS THROUGH. THIS CAUSES THE BRAKE LEVER TO FREEZE. *TR

Mileage: 53,912

COMPLETE FAILURE OF REAR BRAKE. LINE FAILURE DUE TO CHAFING FROM CLUTCH CABLE AND LOSS OF FLUID. *TR

Mileage: 38,400