Anyone seen this ? TBW causes death
3rd Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
RE: Anyone seen this ? TBW causes death
I have a 2008 Sportster 1200, and the throttle has stuck on me three times, always in first gear. Mentioned it to service people at the dealer where I bought it while in for the 10000 mile oil change. Said it was only on 2008 touring bikes and that the Sportsters have cables, I don't care how many cables it has, know when something is not running right, scared the daylights out of me. I am going to send a letter to the Harley Davidson Co. and let them know, and hope anyone else with a Sportster would do so also, then maybe they will take it seriously. As a friend said, they aren't going to admit to any problems until there are alot of complaints or a recall. Riding and keeping my fingers crossed.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 95
Likes: 2
From: Libertyville, IL
RE: Anyone seen this ? TBW causes death
My condolences and prayers go out to the family and friends.
Since I was not there I can not speculate on what happened. I have worked with these types of sysytems on aircraft and there are pretty reliable. But, things do happen.
Since I was not there I can not speculate on what happened. I have worked with these types of sysytems on aircraft and there are pretty reliable. But, things do happen.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Who is to stop them?
Very sorry to hear of this and all my best for the friends and family.
I am, however, skeptical of the cause being the ETC. There are many, yes many, redundancies to override the ETC in such an event both electrical and mechanical(return springs ). Not saying it didn't happen, but a lot would have to fail to have the ETC lock the throttle open. H-D wouldn't be allowed to put a system on the road that didn't have those many overrides
I am, however, skeptical of the cause being the ETC. There are many, yes many, redundancies to override the ETC in such an event both electrical and mechanical(return springs ). Not saying it didn't happen, but a lot would have to fail to have the ETC lock the throttle open. H-D wouldn't be allowed to put a system on the road that didn't have those many overrides
Novice
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Open road, but I have a bed in NoVa
Fairfax County police officers have complained of the same thing. They have a pretty big riding force here in NOVA. I'm sorry for your loss. RIP HAMMER, hope there are bikes in heaven, or that the wings are really fast.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
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From: SW Minnesota
Harley has had an ongoing problem with their computers for long time. How many here, when shutting down the throttle and coasting, all of a sudden have a surge that lasts for a second or so? Until I did the stage 1, it happened all the time on my '06.
I had pretty much forgot about it, until I test drove an '08 Street Glide, and it happened again as I was rounding a cloverleaf exit and slowing to a stop. The surge almost took me off the road.
That said, I've also had clutch cables on previous non-Harley bikes break at the most in-oppportune times. I've appreciated the heavy cable of the Harleys, but now read that the new '09's have a lighter clutch cable than previous years.
I had pretty much forgot about it, until I test drove an '08 Street Glide, and it happened again as I was rounding a cloverleaf exit and slowing to a stop. The surge almost took me off the road.
That said, I've also had clutch cables on previous non-Harley bikes break at the most in-oppportune times. I've appreciated the heavy cable of the Harleys, but now read that the new '09's have a lighter clutch cable than previous years.
