Why Are New Harleys Leaking Oil Like They're Old Harleys?

TL;DR: Key Takeaways

• Harley-Davidson recalled 57,000 motorcycles worldwide due to an oil line that can come loose, dropping oil in front of the rear tire and causing crashes—affecting specific 2017 models built between July 2 and May 9
• Affected models include Electra Glide Ultra Classic, Police Electra Glide, Police Road King, Road King, Road King Special, Street Glide, Street Glide Special, Road Glide, and Road Glide Special—all requiring immediate dealership service
• The oil leak problem has already caused two crashes and one minor injury, with potential for more incidents if owners don't heed the recall and get their motorcycles serviced immediately
• Harley-Davidson will fix the problem free at dealerships by reinstalling a clamp in the engine—a relatively simple repair that prevents potentially dangerous oil slicks on the road
• This recall resurrects Harley's historical reputation for oil leaks, a problem that had been resolved for years through engineering advances but has returned due to this specific manufacturing defect in 2017 models

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Have you ever watched Discovery Channel’s Harley and the Davidsons? It’s a docu-drama about the creators of America’s legendary motorcycle marque. For anyone fascinated by Harley-Davidson, it’s an interesting watch, but there’s a scene in this film that has rippled through the ages. Now, a new recall harkens back to this classic Harley problem, and you need to be aware of it.

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New Harleys Leaking Oil Like Old Harleys
In the scene mentioned above, Walter Davidson helps solve a problem with the engine of their motorcycle. Unfortunately, this fix causes the engine to leak oil, a detail that Bill Harley—the engine’s engineer—is reluctant to accept. This scene depicted a detail about Harley-Davidson motorcycles that would follow the brand for decades.

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Harley engines have been known by many enthusiasts to leak oil, but that hasn’t been the case for quite a few years. As Harley has become more advanced, oil leak problems have become the stuff of legends to the manufacturer. However, a new recall is digging up that old skeleton.

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Harley-Davidson is recalling 57,000 motorcycles worldwide due to an oil line that can come loose. This could drop oil in front of the rear tire and cause a crash. The problem affects specific 2017 models built between July 2 and May 9. The affected models include the Electra Glide Ultra Classic, Police Electra Glide, Police Road King, Road King, Road King Special, Street Glide, Street Glide Special, Road Glide and Road Glide Special.

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The company promises to fix the problem at dealerships by reinstalling a clamp in the engine. If you own one of these recalled Harley’s, you need to take your bike in ASAP. So far, the company has said that the oil leak problem has cause two crashes and a minor injury, but if the recall isn’t heeded, that number could grow.

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Brought to you by the motorcycling attorneys of the Metier Law Firm—keeping an eye on motorcycle safety.