Sportster S recall 0190 affects thousands of motorcycles worldwide

Why Harley-Davidson has to replace the upper triple clamp on the Sportster S and what owners should do now

Harley-Davidson is recalling RH1250S Sportster S motorcycles worldwide. The upper triple clamp can break under load and, in the worst case, lead to loss of vehicle control. The recall bears the internal code 0190 and is listed by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) under the campaign number 25V590.

Details of the 0190 callback

The recall was originally initiated in September 2025 and initially affected 8,422 units from model years 2021 to 2025. According to the latest reports, the campaign has been extended to a total of 9,401 motorcycles and now also includes model year 2026. This affects all Sportster S models with the model code RH1250S produced since 2021.

What can happen on the upper triple clamp

At the center of the recall is the upper triple clamp. This component connects the two fork legs above the steering head bearing and is therefore a load-bearing element of the front wheel guide. According to Harley-Davidson, the triple clamp can break under extreme load conditions. The manufacturer has not defined exactly what these conditions are.

If it breaks while riding, the steering can be impaired, which increases the risk of an accident. Harley-Davidson would like to point out that riders may be able to visually detect incipient damage or notice a change in riding behavior.

The component comes from China

Since a new regulation, the NHTSA must name the manufacturer of the affected component. The upper triple clamp of the Sportster S is not manufactured in the USA, but by Weihai Wanfeng Magnesium S&T Dvlpmt Co. in Weihai, Shandong Province, China. The company specializes in the processing of magnesium alloys.

Chronology of the recall decision

On September 9, 2024, the first case of a cracked upper triple clamp was reported to the Harley-Davidson Technical Subcommittee. In the following months until August 2025, the manufacturer carried out several analyses to narrow down the fault. The decision to recall was made on September 3, 2025. At this point, there were six warranty claims, field reports or service reports documenting a break in the upper triple clamp.

Production was temporarily halted

In the course of the investigations, Harley-Davidson temporarily suspended production of the Sportster S. Resumption was planned for the fourth quarter of 2025. The newly produced motorcycles will receive a triple clamp with revised geometry, which should eliminate the problem.

What the workshop is doing now

As a remedy, the authorized dealer replaces the upper fork bridge. The replacement part has a redesigned geometry. The repair is free of charge for the owner. In the USA, dealers were already informed between September 15 and 19, 2025; vehicle owners were notified from September 29, 2025.

Does the recall also apply in Europe and Germany?

The NHTSA notification formally concerns the US market. However, as the Sportster S is delivered worldwide with identical components from the same supplier, a parallel recall via the Federal Motor Transport Authority in Germany or the corresponding authorities in other countries is to be expected. This was regularly the case with previous Harley-Davidson recalls such as the 0173 clutch recall or the 0188 Softail recall. European Sportster S owners should contact their authorized dealer and have the chassis number checked.

Why VIN verification is important now

If you ride a Sportster S from model years 2021 to 2026, you should not wait for the post, but take action. With the chassis number, the dealer can check in the system whether their own motorcycle is listed in the 0190 campaign. In the USA, the VIN can also be obtained via the NHTSA website at www.nhtsa.gov/recalls check. For the German market, the Harley-Davidson service portal at serviceinfo.harley-davidson.com is the right place to go.

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Text: Harleysite 18.02.2026