Photo: Harley-Davidson
It’s time for a funny reason for a Harley-Davidson recall, but when dealing with corporate business, some of the fellows involved in this might not be that amused. More than 500 motorcycles belonging to the 2014 and 2015 model year Softail Slim are expected to reach the dealerships in Canada for a software upgrade.
While the problem which has triggered the recall is not actually a defect, it is serious enough to collide with the homologation requirements of Canada motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108, which deals with Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices.
In these motorcycles, the electrical system provides no warning when a turn signal bulb goes out. Needless to say, changing direction without using the corresponding turn signal first can get you a ticket, but this is the least of your troubles.
Other motorists would be caught unaware as a motorcyclist in front of them makes a change of direction, and thy might not have enough time to slow down or stop and avoid the collision. This scenario is even worse as such mishaps may occur when the rider of a Harley-Davidson Softail Slim with a defective bulb is approached from behind by traffic, but also when steering to either left or right in an intersection.
The Harley-Davidson dealers will upgrade the software of these bikes and load a version which will inform the rider about the defective turn signal bulb. Now, while the bikes will become compliant with the Canadian safety standard and a similar recall will most likely be carried out in the US and around the world, the safety problem remains unsolved if you’re riding in an area where you can’t get a spare bulb. Or if you’re the kind of rider who barely knows how a screwdriver looks like and how it is used.
So, before you head out with your bike, which doesn’t necessarily have to be a Harley, you could do well and find a small storage to deposit some spare fuses and bulbs. You just can’t tell what’s going to happen.
Even more, this gives me a neat idea reharding an article about other Must-have things for a bike trip. Watch this space.
In these motorcycles, the electrical system provides no warning when a turn signal bulb goes out. Needless to say, changing direction without using the corresponding turn signal first can get you a ticket, but this is the least of your troubles.
Other motorists would be caught unaware as a motorcyclist in front of them makes a change of direction, and thy might not have enough time to slow down or stop and avoid the collision. This scenario is even worse as such mishaps may occur when the rider of a Harley-Davidson Softail Slim with a defective bulb is approached from behind by traffic, but also when steering to either left or right in an intersection.
The Harley-Davidson dealers will upgrade the software of these bikes and load a version which will inform the rider about the defective turn signal bulb. Now, while the bikes will become compliant with the Canadian safety standard and a similar recall will most likely be carried out in the US and around the world, the safety problem remains unsolved if you’re riding in an area where you can’t get a spare bulb. Or if you’re the kind of rider who barely knows how a screwdriver looks like and how it is used.
So, before you head out with your bike, which doesn’t necessarily have to be a Harley, you could do well and find a small storage to deposit some spare fuses and bulbs. You just can’t tell what’s going to happen.
Even more, this gives me a neat idea reharding an article about other Must-have things for a bike trip. Watch this space.
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