We wish to thank the Edwards Law Firm, a long supporter of motorcycle safety, for making this website possible.
Defect Victims
Calamity on Way to Sturgis Rally
(August 17, 2010) Hal, from El Paso, Texas, reported he and his wife were on their way to the 2010 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, when the rear tire of their 2003 Road King suddenly "fell apart." They were traveling at approximately 75 miles per hour on Highway 25 near Cheyenne, when the incident occurred. Miraculously, Hal, who had years of experience riding dirt bikes, was able to stay upright and wrestle the bike to a stop. The D402 tire was two months old and had been installed by a dealer as part of a complete checkup preparatory to traveling to Sturgis. Neither was seriously injured, but his wife is so traumatized that she will no longer ride.
Amarillo Couple Has Near Miss
(June 2010) Posted to our website recently by a Texan: "I purchased a Dunlop 402 MU85B16 for the rear tire and a 404 120-90-18 for the front on Tuesday, 06-08-10 for a trip from Amarillo, Tx. to Austin, Tx. We left on Wed the 9th. The trip was about 500 miles one way. We had no trouble at all with the new tires until about 50 miles from home. On Sunday the 13th, we were about two miles south of Plainview, Tx on Interstate 27, when both myself and my wife heard a whining noise. I began to slow down and as soon as I did, the back end began to fishtail violently. We were going about 70 mph, before I began to slow down. I was able to keep the bike up long enough to slow down a bit and the bike, (a 1999 Harley Road King) fell and we slid for about 30 yards(guessing). Luckily, the only injuries received were my wife has some road rash on her right thigh, a little on her right elbow and her wrist hurts a little. I only received a sore right calf. There was a witness behind us that stopped to check on us. I read that some of these tires should be recalled??? I had replaced the old tires with these tires because the tires I had on the bike were beginning to crack along the sidewalls and felt safe with the new tires. The tires I had taken off were the same size and models and the replacements. The crash bars on the bike really saved us from serious injury."
Note: Like others who contact us, we have urged him to report this tire deflation to NHTSA at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/. If enough people report incidents, the agency will investigate a possible recall.
Man experiences TWO D402 failures in one year
(August 24, 2009)
A Toledo, Ohio man reports he's experienced TWO blowouts of D402 tires, a year apart! Norman (we're only using his first name), told us he bought a used 2002 Ultra Classic touring bike in June, 2008, from an estate sale. The bike, which had 6,002 miles on it, checked out mechanically, and he was comfortable with the bike's history. He had his first rear tire blowout about a month later. Fortunately, he was able to bring the bike under control and was not injured. He had the tire replaced with a new D402.
In early July, 2009, he took his bike into the local Harley dealership for a 15,000 mile check- up. Everything was in good order, including the tires. He drove the bike to Florida. On his way home on July 14, he experienced a second blow-out of the rear tire. This time he was not so lucky. He lost control and the bike went down. He suffered a punctured lung, severely broken scapula, broken clavicle, several broken ribs, bruised, punctured and collapsed left lung and then a pulmonary embolism. His injuries will probably keep him from returning to his construction job for 6 to 8 months. Norman reports the tire was just 13 days less than a year old when the accident occurred, and that he regularly checks tire pressures.
Harley Business Owner reports D402 deflation
Kurt Riffe, who owns 45" Parts Depot, an on-line motorcycle parts business, reports a close call involving failure of a D402 tire while he and his wife were riding on their 2008 Harley Davidson Ultra Classic. They were traveling at about 75 mph on an Ohio highway when suddenly "the tire just let go," he said. After bringing the bike under control, he had to exit up the on ramp. Fortunately neither was injured. The tire had 7,600 miles on it, he said. For the couple's long Sunday rides, he always checks the tire pressures and oils the night before, he noted. He is sending his suspect tire and rim to Unsafemotorcycles.com for inspection. We want to thank Kurt for his report and his help in tracking down the source of these tire deflations.
Stephen and Karla Gageby
Stephen Gageby, 52, active member of the local Harley Davidson Motorcycle Club, and his wife, Karla, 47, were on their way to a son's birthday party May 8, 2007, using their favorite mode of transportation: Stephen's 2003 Harley Davidson Classic. Stephen's Story
Note: This suit was settled July 28, 2010
Trish McCloud
Trish McCloud was riding on the back of a motorcycle, returning to her home in South Carolina from a bike rally in Illinois, when the motorcycle's tire deflated. The motorcycle's driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed. Trish's Story
More Defect Victims
British Columbia couple injured in blow out
A British Columbia couple has reported that on July 4, 2009, during a cross country trip to Vancouver Island, the rear tire blew on their 2003 Ultra Glide. It was a Dunlop D402 with 3,000 miles on it. They were traveling about 62 mph at the time and 'heard a noise' they thought might be from the car behind them, when the driver lost control of the bike. He managed to lay it down in their lane, and other cars avoided hitting them because they'd seen the blow out. The driver, who was the husband, sustained fractured ribs, bruised hips and lungs, and severe road rash. His wife, who landed on him, also sustained injuries. He is still under a doctor's care. The driver and owner, who said he's been riding Harley's for about 30 years and tour bikes since 1992, noted he checks tire pressures every third day while traveling and had checked the faulty tire on July 1. He said his insurance company expressed interest in examining the tire.
D404 Deflation leads to Month-Long Hospital Treatment
(June, 2009)-- A Washington state man reports he was riding his 2004 Yamaha Royal Star Venture, Yamaha's largest touring bike, at 70 mph along I-5 North near Willows, CA, on June 13, 2009, "when the rear of the bike 'twitched'. I thought at first that I was in a traffic rut, but the rear of the bike kept swinging back and forth more and more. I knew I had a rear tire deflating rapidly. The tire was a Dunlop 404 with less than 3,000 miles on it.
"I used a technique call "controlled deceleration" and moved to the shoulder of the road. The gyrations of the rear of the bike kept getting more violent and I was sure I was going down. The controlled deceleration transitioned rapidly to "uncontrolled deceleration." I had slowed to approximately 55 mph when I was thrown from the motorcycle. I remained conscious through the entire event.
"I was airlifted to Enloe Medical Center in Chico, CA. I suffered a fractured scapula (3 places), 5 broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a lacerated spleen, and bruised kidney. I spent from June 13 to July 1 in Enloe Medical Center, and from July 1 to July 10 in Enloe Rehabilitation Center. I arrived back in Olympia, WA on July 11."
We have promised to keep him updated about any defect news about these tires. According to his supplier, the Dunlop 402D and 404 are basically identical, except that the 402D is specific to the Harley Davidson.
Texas Couple Hurt in Honda Tire Deflation
Texas -- The Texas crash occurred in August , 2008, and involved a 2003 Honda GL 1800. According to the police report, a husband and wife were injured after the rear tire suddenly deflated, sending the bike out of control and ejecting the passengers. The tire was a Goodyear Dunlop, according to the police report.
"New" Tire fails, Accident Hurts Rider, Daughter
Georgia -- An Atlanta rider reports he was on his 2000 Harley-Davidson King Class in May, 2008, with his 19- year- old daughter on the back, when the bike started to 'get squirrely, all over the place.' He was traveling on a four-lane road at about 50 mph. He managed to work the bike toward the median area and estimates he was going between 20 and 30 mph when he hit a sandy area in median. He and he and his daughter were thrown off. Cause of the accident turned out to be sudden deflation of his rear D402 tire, purchased new the day before the accident with only 300 miles on it. There was no sign of puncture by a foreign object.
He broke his shoulder and some ribs. His daughter underwent two hand injury surgeries.
Boston Area Man Reports Deflation
Another owner of a Harley-Classic reported he's had to replace two original D402 tires because of sudden deflation.
Wife Injured in D402 Blowout
A couple from Massachusetts reported a blowout in June, 2008, of an original tire on a 2005 Harley Ultra Classic. The wife was injured seriously.
Man Severely Injured in Marino Valley, CA
A 52-year-old man on a 2006 Harley Davidson Electroglide Classic was severely injured when his back tire suddenly deflated while traveling 60 mph on the 215 freeway. His attorney reported both tires, Dunlop D402s, were purchased new in 2008.
Death Lawsuit Challenges Harley Davidson Touring Bike Safety for Large Riders.
Georgia -- Steve Morris, of Georgia, is suing Harley Davidson and Goodyear Dunlop Tires in the motorcycle crash death of his wife, Patricia, in May of 2008. Steve and Patricia were riding their 2007 Harley Davidson FLHTCU Ultra Classic touring motorcycle at highway speeds along I-20 in Morgan County, GA, when the rear tire, a Dunlop D402, experienced "sudden and catastrophic deflation" sending the bike out of control. Both were ejected in the crash. Steven, who was driving, was seriously injured and Patricia was killed.
Among other things, the suit alleges Harley Davidson knew it was "false and misleading" to represent that its 2007 FLHTCU and its tires were safe for carrying up to two riders weighing more than 250 pounds each, plus their cargo and motorcycle accessories..
The suit alleged Harley Davidson, through photos and other images used to market the touring bikes, target large riders for their touring bikes, while failing to warn riders that the tires sold with the bike are not equipped to handle weights of both large riders, cargo and other common motorcycle accessories.
The suit was filed in U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia, Athens Division, case no. 3:09-cv-74 (CDL).
Texas Couple Serious Injured on Honda Gold Wing
Texas -- Roger and Ann Connor, of Parker County, TX, were riding their 1993 Honda Gold Wing touring motorcycle pulling a trailer on September 19, 2004, when the rear tire "debeaded from the rim," according to their lawsuit. The motorcycle was equipped with new Dunlop K491 tires and had some 500 miles on them when the accident occurred, the suit said. As a result of tire malfunction, Roger lost control of the motorcycle and crashed. Both were seriously injured. The law suit was filed in June, 2005, against Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America, Ltd., in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division, Case No. 4-05CV-365-A. The case was eventually settled for an undisclosed amount.
Florida Man Killed in Dunlop Tire Failure
South Carolina -- Paul Burns was killed and his wife, Carol, was seriously injured when the rear tire of their Harley Davidson motorcycle "failed and lost pressure" while traveling on I-95 through South Carolina, on June 25, 2003. When the tire failed, Paul lost control of the motorcycle, which crashed. They were being followed in a car by their son, Joseph, who witnessed the accident. The Burns were residents of Florida at the time. The motorcycle involved in the crash was equipped with Dunlop tires. Carol and Joseph filed a lawsuit against Goodyear Dunlop Tires North American, Ltd., on May 26, 2006, in the Court of Common Pleas, Hampton County, South Carolina, alleging the tire was defective as manufactured. The case was settled for an undisclosed sum.
Community College VP Dies in Tire Failure Crash
Utah -- Rand Johnson, interim business vice president for Salt Lake Community College, was riding his Kawasaki motorcycle on the first day of a three-day cross-country trip in 2002, when the rear tire suddenly "disintegrated," according to a lawsuit filed in the accident. Johnson, who was 53 at the time, was severely brain injured. Just a week prior to the accident, Rand had the bike professionally inspected and serviced by a motorcycle shop. The tire that failed was a Dunlop D205 180/55ZR17. Johnson's widow filed a lawsuit against Goodyear Dunlop Tire and other defendants in the Third Judicial District Court of Salt Lake County, Utah, in 2004.
Recalls
Get up-to-the-minute information on safety recall campaigns or the recall history of a particular make and model of motorcycle:
Call toll-free
1-888-327-4236
(NHTSA-National Highway transportation safety administration)
Visit the website www.nhtsa.dot.gov
See also the NHTSA Motorcycle Safety Program