I received this by email tonight, if it's been addressed already, disreguard...but does anyone have any info on it????
email below:

A Texas law firm says it is investigating motorcycle rim failures in two accidents that may lead to more claims.
The Edwards Law Firm says rim failures may have led to catastrophic deflations of tires on Harley Davidson Ultra Classics. Both were steel chrome-plated 40-spoke factory rims manufactured in Italy.
The firm operates the web site unsafemotorcycles.com, where it says consumers contacted the firm about incidents in Michigan and Ohio.
“Failures of two rims manufactured at the same plant could mean defective metals or processing. If this is the case, other riders could be at risk,” says Billy Edwards, attorney and motorcycle rider. “We will be sending the rims to experts to see if they can determine what caused the failures.”
A Michigan man riding a 2001 Ultra Classic reported he was traveling in October 2009 along a two-lane state highway at about 40 mph when his rear tire suddenly deflated.
“There was no warning, no sound, and all of a sudden the rear of the bike became extremely loose, squirrelly, uncontrollable,“ he said. He credited experience as a lifelong rider and Motorcycle Safety Foundation classes for his ability to stop without going down. “I knew, don’t panic, don’t slam on the brakes, bring it down easy. I was fortunate,” he said.
The tire had less than 1,200 miles on it and had been installed at a Harley-Davidson dealership, which also reported they had inspected the rim, he told the law firm. He said there was no hole in the tire, a D402, just a shredded tube and a long, lengthwise crack in the rim.
The Michigan rider, an engineer, says he contacted the firm after a fellow rider from Ohio experienced a similar rim failure in September, 2010. In the second instance, the Ohio rider reported he was traveling 78 mph on I-75 when the tire gave way.
“He crossed three lanes of traffic before he reached the berm where he could start applying brake to the front wheel. He almost didn’t make it,” according to the Michigan rider’s account. He said the Ohio rider, an auto mechanic, was on a 2003 Ultra Classic with Messler tires, again with no sign of puncture, but the rim shows a long, vertical crack.

 

One more reason to **** can the spokes on my Road King Classic. Waiting on Chrome Roulettes.

 

Thread on this a couple weeks or so ago.

 

Had to replace the rear rim on my old 98 Road King Classic due to a split down the middle. Scary looking when you see it!

 

I'm wondering how many miles were on the wheel, not the tire. I've got 32000 miles on mine and have it inspected at each tire change but now wonder if i should go with the 9 spoke.

 

bought a 05 roadking while riding to laughlin river run the rear wheel started feeling squishy got to barstow pulled over. when i looked at the rear tire after buying a new tire befor we left the tire was ok but 7 spokes was broken. cost me $700.00 to tow the bike to laughlin my insurance only allowed me 15 miles for a tow sinse then changed insurance. got to laughlin found a used tire and wheel for $150.00 had that installed for another $65.00 so my weekend in laughlin was **** canned be we made the best of it and went home when the rally was over. long story short harley wire wheels are not worth a ****..

 

I'd have to guess about 45 or 50 K on my rim. Check at tire change and see how much rust is under the band that covers the spokes.
I'll post pictures of mine when I get home and it'll send shivers when you see it.

 

Failures like the ones indicated are why there are published service intervals associated with all wheels. How many folks running wire wheels ever take the time or expense to have the spoke tension and trueness of the wheel checked?

How many folks running aluminum wheels ever think to have the runout checked when they are having new tires installed?

Both of these items should be addressed on all motorcycles to ensure the wheels are not just a neglected spot on the bike waiting to fail.

 

I had my spokes loosen twice. The second time about 200 miles after checking them....Loose spokes is one problem. The other is rusting steel rims. The below pic is of my rim at about 5 years. The bike is garage kept. I change my own tires and use Murphy's oil soap as a lube, so you can blame "dish soap" on corroding the wheels....Basically, the spokes let water in and it sits under the rim strip and causes rust. I guess if you never ride in the rain or wash your bike you won't have a problem. For the rest of us, how long do you think it would have been until the spokes pulled out of the wheel?

 

not only i dont like the looks myself, i have never trusted the spoke rims. when i bought my scooter, i told them i would take the deal as long as they changed the rims to the nine spoke mags. three people in the shop said hey didn't blame me for wanting them changed...