2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON Flhtk

The ABS module has failed on my HD FLHTK causing the rear brake to stop working with no warning. The dealer has my bike but said the module is out of stock and is back ordered until April of 2024. Doing an internet search reveals this is a known problem, sometimes causing both front and rear brakes to fail without warning. They said the brake fluid should have been replaced every two years to avoid this problem. I did not know this. The risk is obvious. The diagnosis was done by Henderson Harley-Davidson, in Henderson, Nevada. My bike remains there. There was no warning before the failure.

THE 2014 HARLEY-DAVIDSON SERVICE MANUAL TOURING MODELS (99483-14) CONTAINS A PROCEDURE FOR BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER UNLESS AIR IS INTRODUCED INTO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. SUBSEQUENT TO THE PUBLICATION OF THIS MANUAL, SOME 2008-2011 HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE MODELS WERE INVOLVED IN AN NHTSA RECALL FOR ABS BRAKE ISSUES. AFTER THE RECALL WAS ISSUED, HARLEY-DAVIDSON NOW REQUIRES THAT ALL YEAR MODEL MOTORCYCLES WITH ABS HAVE THE BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT PERFORMED USING THE DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II (HD-48650), WHICH IS NOT AVAILABLE TO OWNERS. THE DIGITAL TECHNICIAN II ACTIVATES THE ABS MODULE DURING A BRAKE FLUID REPLACEMENT TO ENSURE ALL CONTIMANATED BRAKE FLUID IS FLUSHED FROM THE ABS MODULE AND BRAKE LINES. AS I STATED, THE 2014 SERVICE MANUAL DOES NOT REQUIRE THIS STEP. HARLEY-DAVIDSON ALLOWS OWNERS TO PURCHASE SERVICE MANUALS IN ORDER FOR OWNERS TO PERFORM THEIR OWN SERVICE AND REPAIRS TO THEIR HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLES WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLES TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE AND REPAIRS. THEREFORE, OWNERS WOULD HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT A CRITICAL BRAKE SERVICE PROCEDURE HAS BEEN CHANGED WHICH, IF DONE AS OUTLINED IN THE OLDER SERVICE MANUAL, COULD END UP CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO THE THE RIDER AND/OR PASSENGER. I FEEL IT IS NEGLIGENT OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON TO SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGE THIS PROCEDURE WITHOUT NOTIFYING OWNERS.

FAULTY ABS SYSTEM. MYSELF AND MANY OF MY FRIENDS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABS SYSTEMS ON OUR HARLEYS. THE RECALL COVERS FROM 2008-2011. WE ARE NOT QUITE SURE OF WHY YOU WOULD LET HARLEY CONTINUE TO MANUFACTURE MOTORCYCLES WITH A FAULTY SYSTEM THAT WOULD ALLOW BRAKES TO LOCK UP INSTEAD OF THE SYSTEM MOST EVERYONE ELSE USES WHERE THE ABS IS JUST DISABLED BUT STILL HAVE NORMAL BRAKE FUNCTIONS EXCEPT FOR THE ABS. I WAS A MECHANIC FOR MANY YEARS AND WAS AROUND WHEN THE FIRST ABS SYSTEMS CAME ABOUT. I NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE HURT.

WHEN APPLYING THE FRONT BRAKES, UNDER LIGHT BRAKING SITUATIONS, BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT TURN ON. I BROUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER WITH MY CONCERN AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. SINCE I FIRST NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHT NOT COMING ON WHEN THE FRONT BRAKE WAS APPLIED, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE EVENT WITH CONSISTENT RESULTS. I HAVE A STRONG CONCERN THAT WHILE HOLDING THE BRAKE AT A FULL STOP AND WITH NO BRAKE LIGHT ACTIVE, THAT I AM SUSCEPTIBLE TO A REAR END COLLISION.

THE FRONT BRAKES MAKE A TERRIBLE NOISE WHEN APPLIED. NOT ALL THE TIME, BUT VERY OFTEN. WHILE BRAKE STOPPING IS CURRENTLY NORMAL, I HAVE NEVER HEARD THIS KIND OF NOISE ON ANY OF THE DOZENS OF MOTORCYCLES I HAVE OWNED OVER THE LAST 40+ YEARS. I HAVE HAD THE BIKE AT THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY SAY THEY ARE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE NOISE. YET IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I RIDE IT. I EVEN PROVIDED THEM AND H-D FACTORY WITH VIDEO OF IT HAPPENING OVER AND OVER. THE DEALER (HELLBENDER H-D, MARIETTA GA) SAID THEY WILL NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. H-D FACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE BLAMED ME FOR THE PROBLEM, SAYING IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS NOT USING THE REAR BRAKE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, AS I HAVE USE COORDINATED BRAKING ALL MY LIFE, AND BESIDES, NO BRAKE SYSTEM SHOULD MAKE THIS NOISE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE IS A MATERIALS PROBLEM WITH THE ROTORS OR CALIPERS, OR THAT A MANUFACTURING ERROR HAS CAUSED A DEFECT THAT WILL PREVENT THE MOTORCYCLE FROM STOPPING. THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE ANY PARTS (EXCEPT BRAKE PADS) AND REFUSED TO SWAP A WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR DIAGNOSTIC PURPOSES. THEY SIMPLY DO NOT WANT TO SPEND A PENNY, EVEN IF IT MAKES THE BIKE SAFE FOR ME TO RIDE. *TR

THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER HYDRAULIC PRESSURE SWITCH, WHICH ACTIVATES THE BRAKE LIGHT AND DISABLES THE CRUISE CONTROL, FAILS TO ACTIVATE BEFORE SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE IS APPLIED. THE BRAKES BEGIN TO FUNCTION LONG BEFORE THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON OR THE CRUISE DISCONNECTS. THIS CAUSES A PROBLEM WHEN STOPPED, AS THE BRAKE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON WHEN USING THE FRONT BRAKE ALONE, UNLESS SERIOUS PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE LEVER, FAR MORE THAN NORMALLY REQUIRED TO HOLD THE BIKE STOPPED AGAINST A SLOPE. ALSO, CRUISE FAILS TO DISENGAGE IF ONLY THE FRONT LEVER IS GENTLY PULLED; THE BIKE BEGINS TO SLOW CONSIDERABLY BEFORE THE CRUISE DISENGAGES. BRAKE STOPPING ACTION IS NORMAL. REAR BRAKE FOOT PEDAL WORKS PROPERLY AND THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON NORMALLY, THAT IS WITH LIGHT PRESSURE, ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS BRAKING ACTION BEGINS. THE DEALER (SHOP MANAGER [XXX] , MARIETTA GA) COMPARED MY BRAKE ACTION TO SEVERAL OTHER 2014 BIKES AND HE SAID THEY ALL ARE LIKE THAT. BUT IT'S NOT NORMAL AND IT CAUSES ME DISTRESS THAT IT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. I WANT MY BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ON WHEN I PULL THE LEVER. I WORRY THAT I'LL GET HIT BY A CAR WHICH DOESN'T THINK I'M STOPPED. I WANT MY CRUISE TO DISENGAGE WHEN I PULL THE LEVER. THIS SWITCH IS A COMMON PART WITH ALL 2014 TOURING MODEL H-D MOTORCYCLES, AND MAYBE EARLIER MODELS. *TR