30 of the
52 complaints filed about the Yamaha XVS1100
are about the transmission —
58% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
30
Complaints
58%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
Mid shaft broke at the nut that hold the yoke on the mid shaft. This can cause the rear wheel to lock up and cause loss of control. The issue has not been inspected by the manufacturer or police but after Google search I discovered it is a common issue and when removing the speed sensor and locking inside you can clearly see the shaft is broken off at the nut
NHTSA complaint #11521904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2006 Yamaha XVS1100 Motorcycle. The contact stated that while riding approximately 60 MPH, there was a loud whining sound coming from the rear of the motorcycle. The contact stated that moments later the rear wheel locked up and the motorcycle became inoperable. The motorcycle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the mid driveshaft within the transmission had fractured and the engine needed to be replaced. The motorcycle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 24,000.
NHTSA complaint #11469289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING MY MOTORCYCLE I SUDDENLY NOTICED A HIGH PITCHED WHINING NOISE DURING DECELERATION. I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER. AFTER FURTHER REVIEW, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE MID DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AND THE NUT HOLDING THE U JOINT ON HAD BROKEN OFF. MY MOTORCYCLE HAS 27000 MILES ON IT. IT TURNS OUT THIS FAILURE IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VSTAR 1100 SHAFT DRIVES FOR MANY YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #11383283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY NEWLY BOUGHT (USED) MOTORCYCLE, BOUGHT IT FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. IT HAS ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON IT. DROVE IT HOME NO PROBLEM, BY THE END OF THE WEEK I WAS GOING UP A HILL AND HEARD A LOUD WHINING NOISE AS SOON AS I LET OFF THE THROTTLE. LOOK AT THE BIKE ONCE I GET HOME AND THE MID DRIVE SHAFT THAT TRANSMITS POWER FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE FINAL DRIVE HAD SNAPPED OFF AT THE END. THE BOLT HAD BROKE OFF. WHILE RESEARCHING FORUMS ON THE INTERNET THIS PROBLEM HAS COME UP MANY MANY TIMES WITH THIS YEAR OF MOTORCYCLE. THE HEAT TREAT ON THE PART MENTIONED IS VERY UNEVEN AND DEFINITELY NOT SAFE. I WAS DIRECTED TO THIS PAGE TO FILL OUT THIS FORM AS A COMPLAINT TO HAVE YAMAHA SOLVE THIS WITH A RECALL. IT'S GOING TO COST ME ALMOST $3,000 TO FIX WHEN I JUST PAID $2,000 FOR THE MOTORCYCLE. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS ON THE INTERNET SO I HOPE TO LEAD MORE HERE TO FILL OUT THIS FORM.
NHTSA complaint #11331828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS OUT RIDING MY 2002 YAMAHA V-STAR 1100 CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE THAT I OBTAINED FROM MY STEPDAD. WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55-60MPH ON A 2-LANE STATE HIGHWAY APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. UPON DECELERATION THE MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD WHINING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND I FELT THE REAR WHEEL START TO BIND UP. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND TOOK THE BIKE HOME ON A TRAILER. I LATER PUT IT IN MY SHOP TO INSPECT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS MYSELF. INSPECTION REVEALED A SNAPPED MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT WHERE THE YOKE/U-JOINT CONNECT WITH IT. THE U-JOINT IS HELD ON BY A NUT. THE END OF THE SHAFT WITH THE NUT STILL ON IT WAS LAYING INSIDE THE U-JOINT AND WAS FREE TO MOVE AROUND CAUSING IT TO BIND UP WITHIN THE JOINT. RESEARCHING ONLINE SHOWS MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE THAT LEAD TO A BROKEN SHAFT. THE MAIN CAUSE IS THE NUT DOES NOT HAVE AN EFFECTIVE "LOCKING" METHOD (SUCH AS A PIN) TO KEEP IT FROM LOOSENING UP OVER TIME. THIS THEN CAUSES THE U-JOINT TO MOVE ON THE SHAFT UNTIL THE ASSEMBLY SNAPS. SEEING AS THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE WITH ONLY TWO (2) WHEELS THIS HAD THE POTENTIAL TO SERIOUSLY INJURE OR KILL ME HAD THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP COMPLETELY WHILE TRAVELING AT THOSE HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I AM VERY LUCKY THE REAR WHEEL DID NOT LOCK UP COMPLETELY. I WILL BE CONTACTING YAMAHA CORP. ABOUT THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY AS I FEEL IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT IS BACKED BY A LOT OF ONLINE REPORTS AND HOPE IT WILL BE ADDRESSED BEFORE ANYONE CAN BE HURT OR KILLED BY IT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. THE NUT THAT IS KNOWN TO LOOSEN UP IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ITEM MEANING THIS ISSUE IS NOT CAUSED BY A LACK OF MAINTENANCE! THIS MOTORCYCLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW BY MY PARENTS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE YAMAHA DEALER FOR SERVICE SINCE IT WAS NEW. IMAGES ATTACHED SHOW THE BROKEN SHAFT AND DAMAGE TO THE NUT FROM GETTING CAUGHT IN THE U-JOINT AFTER BREAKING.
NHTSA complaint #11329482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MISHAFT SNAPPED, CAUSING THE NUT TO POTENTIALLY LOCKUP THE DRIVE SHAFT AND REAR WHEEL, POTENTIALLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASH. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS ON THE MOTORCYCLE FORUMS FOR THE VSTAR 1100 SERIES. SHAFT SNAPS UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND CAN BE DISTINGUISHED BY A HIGH PITCH WHINE DURING DECELERATION AS THE BROKEN-OFF SHAFT NUT GRINDS AGAINST THE DRIVE SHAFT.
NHTSA complaint #10995373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2006 VSTAR WITH 15,750 MILES. WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT APPX 45 MPH, METALLIC WHINING FROM TRANSMISSION STARTED. HAD NEVER HEARD THIS NOISE BEFORE. AFTER INITIAL INCIDENT, ANY TIME I DECELERATED OR DOWNSHIFTED, SAME NOISE WAS MADE. AS LONG AS I WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR, SEEMED RUN FINE. AS SOON AS I LET OFF THE GAS, GRINDING/WHINING STARTED. SPOKE WITH A DEALER, HAD NO CLUE WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING. SHOWED THEM A PAGE FROM THIS WEBSITE, SUDDENLY "HAD HEARD OF" BUT WERE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. DECIDED THEY WOULD NEED TO TEAR DOWN TRANS TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. WANTED $1,100 JUST TO DIAGNOSE. SAID IT MAY BE A $100 FIX OR $3K. SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO MIDDLE GEAR SHAFT NUT THAT HAS LOOSENED, BUT NOT BROKEN OFF YET.
NHTSA complaint #10992059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2006 YAMAHA V STAR STARTED MAKING NOISE ON DECELERATION. IT APPEARS TO BE THE MIDDLE SHAFT DRIVE NUT HAS COME LOOSE OR SHEARED OFF. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, HAD JUST EXITED THE CREEPY.
NHTSA complaint #10882237 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 YAMAHA XVS1100. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED A FEW PARTS WITHIN THE DRIVESHAFT WITH NEW DESIGN PARTS; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT THE DID NOT HAVE THE NAME OF THE NEW DESIGN PARTS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
NHTSA complaint #10862046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
YAMAHA V-STAR 1100 MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT ENGINEERING DEFECT LAST SEPTEMBER, I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP TO A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 5MPH. I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK, AND LOST ALL POWER TO MY REAR WHEEL. I PUSHED MY BIKE TO A NEARBY REPAIR SHOP, WHO REPORTED THAT THE MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT NUT HAD BECOME LOOSE , WHICH CAUSED THE SHAFT TO SHEAR COMPLETELY OFF, IN TURN CAUSING IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE GEAR AND THE MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE, THE ENGINE CASE WOULD HAVE TO BE SPLIT TO GET TO THE BROKEN ITEM AND REPLACE IT. AFTER SOME AMOUNT OF RESEARCH I FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT. AFTER GETTING THE REPAIRS APPRAISED AT APPROXIMATELY $2200, I CONTACTED YAMAHA AFTER FILING AN EARLIER REPORT WITH THE NHTSA AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT A REPORTED PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD NOT ISSUE A RECALL OR FIX THE DEFECT. IF THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND LIKELY BEEN INJURED OR KILLED AS A RESULT.
NHTSA complaint #10823100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE MIDDLE GEAR (CONNECTS TRANSMISSION TO DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY) NUT BROKE AND WEDGED IN THE DRIVE COUPLER AND LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEEL AT 45 MPH GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. AFTER FINDING THE PROBLEM AND DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS. THE REPAIR IS OVER $3295 WHICH CAN NOT BE GUARANTEED NOT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10806764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT AS MANY OTHERS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MOTORCYCLE. THE HEAD OF THE BOLT THAT HOLDS TOGETHER THE MID GEAR BROKE OFF. NOW THE MOTORCYCLE IS MAKING A LOUD WHINY NOISE ON DECELERATION WHICH IS UNBEARABLE. AFTER REPLACING THE FINAL DRIVE AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTING MY MECHANIC FINALLY TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE APART TO INSPECT THE MID GEAR AND SAW THE PART BROKEN OFF. I'M REALLY DISAPPOINTED IN YAMAHA ALTHOUGH THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES IN CLAIMING TO MAKE QUALITY MOTORCYCLE THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS. MY MECHANIC BOLDLY SAID THIS PART SHOULD NOT BREAK THAT EASILY REGARDLESS OF HOW OLD THE BIKE MAY BE. NOW I'M STUCK WITH THE TOUGH DECISION OF FIXING IT WHICH THE REPAIR COST IS ESTIMATED BETWEEN $2500-$3000. I'D RATHER PUT THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON A NEW BIKE, DEFINITELY NOT A YAMASUCKS, THEN TO RISK FIXING IT AND THEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OCCUR IN ANOTHER COUPLE OF YEARS. I REALLY WISH YAMAHA WOULD DO THE RIGHT THING FOR IT'S CUSTOMERS AND ISSUES A RECALL ON THIS, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE CUSTOMER COMES FIRST OR 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.
NHTSA complaint #10725859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE RIDING AT ABOUT 60 MPH, GOING UP A MOUNTAIN ROAD, MY MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY MADE A HORRIBLE SOUND LIKE METAL PARTS GRINDING AND FLYING AROUND INSIDE MY ENGINE. I PULLED OVER AS FAST AS I COULD AND THE BACK TIRE LOCKED UP ON ME AS I DID SO - EVEN WHEN I APPLIED THE CLUTCH. I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL AS THE TRAFFIC THERE TRAVELS FAST AND THE ROAD IS A BIT TRECHEROUS. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A SHOP.ONCE THEY HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE PROBLEM THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE NUT ON THE MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT WHERE THE U-JOINT ATTACHES HAD SHEARED OFF RUINING MY TRANSMISSION, SHAFT, ETC... I HAVE BEEN QUOTED AN ESTIMATE OF $3000 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM - WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT COULD JUST HAPPEN AGAIN ON THIS MODEL. WHEN I CALLED YAMAHA ABOUT IT, THEY SAID THERE WERE NO REPORTED ISSUES LIKE THIS ON THAT MODEL. THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM. WHEN I INFORMED HER IN THAT IN 5 MINUTES OF LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND LITERALLY DOZENS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS EXACT PROBLEM SHE SAID, 'PLEASE HOLD.' I WAITED OVER 20 MINUTES AND SHE NEVER RETURNED. WHEN I CALLED BACK THEY JUST SAID, "SORRY, NO RECALLS ON THIS MODEL AND WOULD NOT HELP FURTHER."
NHTSA complaint #10643386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FINAL DRIVE SYSTEM, MID SHAFT THAT HOLDS U-JOINT TO DRIVESHAFT BROKE OFF AT 2ND THREAD POINT AND NUT WITH BROKEN SHAFT FRAGMENT WAS BEING THROWN AROUND BETWEEN THE UJOINT AND DAMAGING BEARINGS AND YOKE.
NHTSA complaint #10640057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS RIDING ALONG ON US 380 IN MCKINNEY, TX AND AS I APPROACHED A SIGNAL LIGHT, I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND THAT'S WHEN I HEARD A MYSTERIOUS WINING SOUND. THE SIGNAL TURNED GREEN AND AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, THE WINING PROGRESSED TO A LOUD CLANKING AND GRINDING SOUND SO I STOPPED TO CHECK THE DRIVE SHAFT, IT WAS FINE. I CALLED FOR A TRAILER AND TRANSPORTATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO MY HOMETOWN OF DENISON, TX, 52 MILES ONE WAY. UPON RETURNING HOME, I DISMANTLED THE MOTORCYCLE AND FOUND THAT THE NUT ON THE OF POWER SHAFT (MIDDLE DRIVE GEAR) HAD BROKEN OFF. IN, DOING SO IT DESTROYED A FEW OTHER PARTS INSIDE THE GEARBOX AS WELL. I WAS QUOTED $3000.00 AT MY LOCAL YAMAHA DEALERSHIP. IF I PURCHASE THE PARTS AND DO IT MYSELF I'M LOOKING AT ABOUT $1500.00 TO FIX IT. EITHER WAY, I DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCES AT THE TIME TO FIX IT, THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL PEOPLE IN PERSON AND THROUGH YAMAHA FORUMS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! YAMAHA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO MAKE IT RIGHT BY THEIR CUSTOMERS.
NHTSA complaint #10617783 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING 45MPH ON A FLAT BLACK TOP. SPEEDO STARTED TO BOUNCE HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE GRINDING WHEN APPLYING THE CLUTCH WHILE LETTING OFF OF THE THROTTLE. A FEW MOMENTS LATER THE SPEEDO FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE MY BIKE HOME. WHILE INVESTIGATING THE SPEEDO FAILURE AND THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE I DISCOVERED THAT THE MIDDLE DRIVE GEAR SHAFT SHEARED OFF. THE SHAFT SHEARED OFF ON THE THREADED PORTION AT THE RETAINING NUT LOCATION. IN RESEARCHING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON THESE MOTORCYCLES THAT I FEEL NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY YAMAHA.
NHTSA complaint #10609027 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SORRY IF I SEEM TO BE ALARMED. BUT I OWN A 2005 YAMAHA 1100 CLASSIC. WHY IM FILLING THIS REPORT OUT IS THAT I FOUND A LOT OF PROBLEMS POSTED ABOUT THE MID SHAFT RETAINING BOLT HAS BEEN REPORTED OFTEN OF FAILURE BY EITHER SHEARING OFF OR EVEN BRAKING THE SHAFT ON THIS CERTAIN BIKE. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED TO THE BIKE I OWN YET, BUT READING THESE REPORTS AND SOME OF THE WEB SPACES I FOUND, TELLS ME THAT IT COULD HAPPEN. THIS MAKES ME SCARED TO RIDE MY BIKE ANYMORE. YES BY READING AND LOOKING UP THE DETAILS THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE MULTIPLE DAMAGE OR HARM AND EVEN DEATH TO ME. PLEASE CAN WE GET YAMAHA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR THE OWNERS OF THESE BIKES. BEFORE SOME ONE DOES GET HURT OR KILLED. OR HAS TO SPEND MONEY WE DON'T HAVE. THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING. I TALKED TO A YAMAHA DEALER ABOUT THE BIKE. THEY TOLD ME THEY TOTALLY QUIT MAKING THE 1100 TYPE OF BIKE WITH THE SHAFT FOR SOME REASON. "WHAT'S UP WITH THAT" DO THEY KNOW SOMETHING WE DON'T!!!! THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS MAJOR OPERATING PART TO MAKE IT SAFER FOR RIDER'S. I ENJOY MY BIKE BUT DON'T NEED THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME. CAN I REQUEST THE RECALL TO GET IT REPLACED AND DO SOMETHING TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR ME AND OTHERS. MY BIKE HAS RIGHT AT 25'000 MILES ON IT. I THINK THIS RETAINING NUT AND SHAFT SHOULD LAST THE DURATION OF THE BIKE. "MY THOUGHT'S"!!!! "YAMAHA WHY NOT HAVE A REVERSE RETAINING SUPPORT NUT OR A LOCKING SETUP LIKE A PIN OR ALLEN SCREW ON THIS DRIVE SHAFT. THAT WAY THE NUT WON'T LOOSEN. A MOTORCYCLE IS ONLY MADE TO RUN ONE DIRECTION ANYWAY. YOU GET BY DRIFT? PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL. THIS BIKE IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. NEEDING TO SAVE MONEY ON GAS, NOT SPEND IT ON PARTS THAT SHOULDN'T BRAKE. EVEN OUTSTANDING MEDICAL BILL'S OR A NOTHER BIKE RIGHT NOW ME ALONG WITH OTHERS DO NOT HAVE THIS TO GIVE UP OR SPEND. ALONG WITH OUR LIVES. A BIKE SHOULD BE SAFER THAN THIS.AFTER READING ALL THAT I'VE READ. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10605476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE ACCELERATING, THE REAR TIRE LOCKED UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED, BOTH AT LOW SPEEDS. WHAT IS THE FIX FOR THIS BEHAVIOR?
NHTSA complaint #10583725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2004 VSTAR 1100 CUSTOM (XVS11000) WITH 52,000 MILES. I STARTED HEARING A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN I WOULD DOWN SHIFT (SIMILAR SOUND YOU HEAR WHEN BACKING UP IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR). SOON AFTER THE NOISE STARTED THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. JUST AS I WAS GETTING READING TO PULL INTO THE GAS STATION UP AHEAD (ABOUT .5 MILES) TO CHECK ON IT I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE LOOSE BALL BEARINGS JUST RUNNING AROUND IN THE TRANSMISSION. NEEDLESS TO SAY I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. TOOK THE BIKE DOWN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP/SERVICE SHOP AND WAS GIVEN A QUOTE FOR $5200. WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING IS THE NUT ON THE END OF THE MIDDLE GEAR SHAFT HAD SHEARED OFF THE END OF THE SHAFT AND BOUNCED AROUND IN THE U-JOINT. THAT'S WHAT HAD MADE THE TERRIBLE NOISE. IN THE SAME PROCESS IT DESTROYED THE SPEED SENSOR AND WARPED THE CYLINDER (PART OF THE SWING-ARM) THAT HOUSES THE U-JOINT. LUCKILY THE NUT DID NOT LODGE ITSELF INSIDE U-JOINT AND CAUSE THE BIKE TO LOCK-UP. THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM THAT YAMAHA KNOWS ABOUT, BECAUSE THE NEW MIDDLE SHAFT THEY HAVE AS A REPLACEMENT PART IS MADE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AND IS MUCH STRONGER. YET THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT IT TO US STRANDED BIKERS THAT ARE HAVING TO COME OUT OF POCKET THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. IT CLEARLY HAS HAPPENED TO BIKES WITH ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES ALL THE WAY ON UP. THIS COULD VERY EASILY CAUSE FATALITIES IF THE RIDER IS DOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TRANSMISSION SEIZES.
NHTSA complaint #10583615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THROUGH CURVES AND HILLS, WITH VARIOUS LEVELS OF LOAD ON THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN, A LOUD BUZZING/WHINING NOISE WAS BEING PRODUCED FROM THE ENGINE AREA ACCOMPANIED WITH SPEEDOMETER FAILURE WHEN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE PUT UNDER LOAD. WHEN ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN WERE UNDER NO LOAD (COASTING), THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. INSPECTION OF ENGINE/TRANSMISSION AND FINAL DRIVE FLUIDS REVEALED EVERYTHING TO BE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AGAIN, THERE WAS NO NOISE PRODUCED AND APPEARED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THREE MONTHS LATER THE SAME ISSUE PRESENTED ITSELF WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS, BUT WENT AWAY AFTER INSPECTING THE MOTORCYCLE. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE NUT HOLDING THE YOKE TO THE MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT/PINION GEAR HAD LOOSENED APPROXIMATELY THREE THREADS.
NHTSA complaint #10565904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.