Born To Ride News

Dealerships across the Country to Host Women-Only Garage Parties in March 2010

MILWAUKEE (December 2009) – Harley-Davidson has announced plans for National Garage Party Month, when dealerships across the country will host Garage Party events during March 2010.  Harley-Davidson Garage Party events provide a fun, social environment for women to learn about the sport of motorcycling, as well as meet other women who are interested in riding. Dealers host the events year-round, but the Motor Company has declared March as a special focus to bring national awareness to the events, which have encouraged thousands of women to learn to ride in the last few years.

Harley-Davidson started hosting Garage Party events at dealerships throughout the country in 2005 to encourage women to embrace the sport of motorcycling. The growth of female riders has continued to rise over the last two decades. In 1990, women represented just three percent of riders, but according to recent data from the Motorcycle Industry Council, women riders now represent 12 percent of new motorcycle purchasers and 23 percent of all motorcyclists.

“Garage Party events provide women with a no-pressure chance to learn, socialize and ask questions about Harley-Davidson motorcycles,” said Leslie Prevish, women’s outreach manager for Harley-Davidson Motor Company.  “Garage Party events are not only educational, but also an empowering experience for women, which is why they have been so successful.  We know millions of women are interested in motorcycling, but don’t know where to start, and we look forward to encouraging thousands of new women to get a taste of riding and learn how it can change their lives, like it has for more than a million women in the last few decades.”

Garage Party events are fun and interactive, covering topics such as a review of the basic motorcycle controls, how to customize a motorcycle’s style and ergonomics and how to gear up for a ride.  Garage Party event attendees are organized into small groups, getting their first taste of the camaraderie that goes along with riding.  Groups will visit four informational seminars, including:

•  Motorcycle Orientation to learn the basic differences between Harley-Davidson motorcycle families.
• MotorClothes^® Merchandise to discover the important attributes needed in motorcycle gear.
• Customization to learn how to customize a motorcycle to reflect a rider’s personal style and ergonomic needs, using Fit Shop that many dealers have.
• Self-Service to find out how just about anyone can handle the weight of a motorcycle, including an interactive experience on picking up a motorcycle – for those who are interested in trying it out. 

Between seminars, women get the chance to interact with each other, as well as hear from women who are already living their motorcycle dreams.

The women-only Harley-Davidson Garage Party events are free for any woman who is looking to take the next step to get behind the handlebars.  For more information about Garage Party events or to find an event in your area, visit www.harley-davidson.com/garageparty. The main Harley-Davidson Women Riders site, www.harley-davidson.com/womenriders also has hundreds of Rider Stories from women who have realized their dreams of riding and want to encourage others to do the same.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company, the only major U.S.-based motorcycle manufacturer, produces heavyweight motorcycles and a complete line of motorcycle parts, accessories and general merchandise. For more information, visit Harley-Davidson’s Web site at www.harley-davidson.com.

The following is a recall notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

Vehicle Make / Model:    Model Year(s): 

     BUELL / XB12X    2010

     BUELL / XB12XT    2010

Manufacturer: BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO. Mfr’s Report Date: NOV 25, 2009

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V465000  N/A

NHTSA Action Number: N/A 

Component: EQUIPMENT

Potential Number of Units Affected: 23

Summary:

BUELL IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 XB12X AND XB12XT MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED AUGUST 20 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2009. THE RIGHT HAND SIDE FOOTPEG MOUNT MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO INCORRECT SPECIFICATIONS. 

Consequence:

THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW THE FOOTPEG TO MOVE SIGNIFICANTLY OUT OF POSITION, WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH OF THE RIDER.

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FOOTPEG MOUNT WITH A NEW FOOTPEG MOUNT THAT WAS MANUFACTURED TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATIONS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 14, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUELL DISTRIBUTION COMPANY AT 1-414-343-8400.

Notes:

BUELL RECALL NO. 0840. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

The following is a recall notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

Vehicle Make / Model:    Model Year(s): 

     H-D / FLHP    2009-2010

     H-D / FLHPE    2009-2010

     H-D / FLHR    2009-2010

     H-D / FLHR SHRINE    2009-2010

     H-D / FLHRC    2009-2010

     H-D / FLHT    2009-2010

     H-D / FLHTC    2009-2010

     H-D / FLHTCU    2009-2010

     H-D / FLHTCU SHRINE    2009-2010

     H-D / FLHTCU W/SC    2009-2010

     H-D / FLHTCU4-CVO    2009

     H-D / FLHTCUSE4    2009

     H-D / FLHTCUSE5    2010

     H-D / FLHTCUTG    2009-2010

     H-D / FLHTK    2010

     H-D / FLHTP    2009-2010

     H-D / FLHX    2009-2010

     H-D / FLHXXX    2010

     H-D / FLTR    2009

     H-D / FLTR3-CVO    2009

     H-D / FLTRSE3    2009

Manufacturer: HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY Mfr’s Report Date: NOV 25, 2009

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V457000  N/A

NHTSA Action Number: N/A 

Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

Potential Number of Units Affected: 111,569

Summary:

HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 TOURING FAMILY MOTORCYCLES, INCLUDING CVO TOURING AND TRIKE PRODUCTS, MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 6, 2008 THROUGH NOVEMBER 19, 2009. THE FRONT FUEL TANK MOUNTS MAY DISTORT IN REACTION TO SEVERE FRAME DAMAGE FROM A FRONTAL COLLISION. THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE A FUEL LEAK AT THE WELD OF THE FRONT BRACKET TO THE TUNNEL.

Consequence:

A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A LEFT AND RIGHT BRACE, WHICH ARE INTENDED TO REDUCE FRONT MOUNT DISTORTION DURING CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS. THIS REPAIR WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 14, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HARLEY-DAVIDSON AT 1-414-343-4056.

Notes:

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

The following is a recall notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

Vehicle Make / Model:      Model Year(s): 

KAWASAKI / EX250      2009-2010

Manufacturer: KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A. Mfr’s Report Date: NOV 24, 2009

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V464000  N/A

NHTSA Action Number: N/A 

Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Potential Number of Units Affected: 259

Summary:

KAWASAKI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 EX250 NINJA 250 MOTORCYCLES. POROSITY IN THE ENGINE CASE COULD ALLOW ENGINE OIL TO LEAK, AND BE DEPOSITED ON THE REAR TIRE. A SMALL NUMBER OF UPPER ENGINE CASES FOR THE AFFECTED MODEL COULD HAVE POROSITY IN THE ALUMINUM CASTING. THIS POROSITY OCCURS IN THE VICINITY OF A PRESSURIZED OIL PASSAGE JUST ABOVE THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT.

Consequence:

ENGINE OIL LEAKING FROM THIS LOCATION CAN BE DEPOSITED ON THE REAR TIRE, CREATING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy:

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND CHECK FOR LEAKS IN THE VICINITY OF THE SUSPECTED POROSITY. UNITS EVIDENCING SIGNS OF LEAKAGE WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 8, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.

Notes:

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .