I agree 100% with you, I would not want one of those model years. I would ALWAYS be in doubt.

Im just trying to look at the "other side". All this is, is a brake fluid change recall and I have no idea but it seems like the only reason for the failure is the brake fluid Jells because its not changed per the owners manual.

 

You keep throwing out the words "owner neglect". There are those that have entrusted their dealers to do all of their maintenance on their bikes. How is this owner neglect when the dealers themselves have neglected to perform this service? My uncle bought a bike from a gentleman just like this. Within 11 months of ownership the front brake lever seized due to the HCU failure. After the bike sat at the dealer for 2 months waiting on the HCU he finally traded and bought a new bike. The bike sat in the back of the shop at the dealer for another 2 months before it was repaired. The thing is, you can't claim owner neglect when the owners are paying for a service that they've entrusted to folks that are supposed to know what's needed and when. Then again, had the MOCO not released a faulty part, we wouldn't be having this conversation would we.

 

Good point, add to this how the problem "mysteriously went away" in 2012...

 

Actually, I do know it to be true that I know of no other motorcycle abs that fails by blinding the master cylinder. That was my statement, and I'll stand behind it. I am not saying other abs systems do not fail, they do. I am saying that I know of no others that fail the way Harley abs fails.

Other abs systems that I know of that fail, Yamaha and Honda for example, fail by not actuating and letting the wheel lock in a skid. I have never heard of them rendering the brakes inoperable as Harley's system can. Bosch abs ecu's are prone to failure due to corrosion at the solder joints. Also rending the abs non-functional, but the brakes themselves remain usable.

As for Harley having redesigned the HCU to no longer block the master cylinder, I have never seen anything that demonstrates that to be true. It may well be, Harley is remarkably obtuse on their abs system. But I have never seen anything official or anecdotal that indicates this change to have taken place. In fact, with the addition of stability control, which Harley indirectly alleges to be incorporating, the use of a master cylinder blocking valve becomes more prevalent.

I'm not trying to pee in anyone's cornflakes or attack anyone. Just that I see no sign of Harley or NHTSA truly acknowledging the problem, the design flaw, or taking true corrective action.

 

I don't know why you would need any poll or study to show that what foxtrapper is saying is true...when ANY other ABS system fails, the brakes and vehicle can still be operated. This is a well known fact...no need to go back and rehash old news.

A corporation does not "learn it's lesson". Your kids might, but in business at the MoCo ' s level, it' about lowering your exposure and avoiding litigation. To think otherwise is seeing this matter thru rose colored glasses.

In my opinion...

 

So, OP- what's your status? Did the dealer get their way?

 

If you notice, Harley just recently had all the dealers remove the availability of purchasing a new ABS hydraulic unit on your own. It has to be ordered and installed through the Dealers Service Dept. I was going to order the upgraded 2012 or 13 BOSCH unit and install myself. The day after pricing the unit I went back to place the order and its no longer listed as available. I spoke to the dealer and was told I cannot purchase an 09 through 11 ABS hydraulic unit and install myself. The dealer must do it all and there is about a months lead time minimum. In Vermont, if I take my bike in for the free flush and the dealer determines my ABS is bad, they will not release my bike to be ridden until I have the unit replaced. Needless to say there are a few ahead of me and also a few ticked off owners. See Diagram and price sheet ITEM 11....No longer available.

 

My first reaction to this was wroth. As was my second and third.

But then I considered that the typical home wrench does not have the equipment to cycle the unit, so they can't bleed it of air.

The first (and perhaps second and third) time they actually engage the abs out on the road, all that air goes into the caliper and the brakes promptly disengage, and cannot be engaged again because of all the air in the lines.

So...hate to say it, but I actually do see their point.

If a person cannot fully bleed the HCU, they probably shouldn't be installing it.

 

It did not mysteriously go away. My 2012 abs locked up and is awaiting a new unit.

 

Sounds right. My 2012 has been in the shop waiting for a new unit for a week now and still doesn't have an ETA. He called it a restricted part that can only be ordered by the dealer when needed for repair.