Harley-Davidson is recalling more than 57,000 touring bikes sold worldwide, including some in the UK, to fix potentially dangerously defective oil-line clamps. The affected machines are a variety of 2017-model Electra Glides, Street Glides, Road Glides and Road Kings.
Owing to poorly-installed clamps on lines connected to the oil coolers on these bikes, under some circumstances a line can become detached, dumping oil on to the back tyre with predictable consequences.
The problem was first detected by a US dealer in March, when an oil feed came off the cooler while a customer’s bike was being dyno-tested. This incident was reported to Harley but its Recall Investigation Committee decided “that there was no systemic defect and the issue was closed”. However, nine other examples of rogue oil lines on tourers subsequently emerged, causing two crashes and one minor injury. Harley finally admitted to a safety defect in mid-May and declared a recall, beginning in early June.