NHTSA Complaint #10073216 — 1997 KAWASAKI VULCAN CLASSIC

I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE A 1997 KAWASAKI VULCAN CLASSIC AT APPROXIMATELY 35 -40 MPH WHEN IT STARTED TO MAKE A TAPPING NOISE. I PULL OVER AS SOON AS I HEARD THE NOISE. THE BIKE WAS PURCHASE USED FROM RUA MOTORCYCLES INDIAN TRAIL NC. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS RETURNED TO RUA CYCLES FOR REPAIRS THAT SAME DAY FEB 21 2004. AFTER RUA CYCLES WAS ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR WAS NOT GETTING THE OIL NEEDED TO MAINTAIN IT PROPERLY. WHILE RUA WAS PREPARING TO REPAIR THE MOTOR IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT KAWASAKI HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR FOR SOME TIME. KAWASAKI HAS BEEN DOING REPAIRS TO MOTORS THAT HAVE HAD DAMAGE FORM THE OIL PUMP GEAR FAILURE FOR SOME TIME IN THE USA AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS. KAWASAKI HAS FAILED TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THE OWNERS OF THE VOLCANO'S WITH THE PLASTIC OIL PUMP GEAR AND HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO CONTINUE WITH THIS DAMAGE. KAWASAKI HAS ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR THAT COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO THE PUBLIC. IF THE MOTOR ON THE MOTOR CYCLE WAS TO HAVE A OIL PUMP FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE MOTOR COULD LOCKUP AND CAUSE THE RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL, RESULTING IN INJURY OR EVEN DEATH ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC AT RUA CYCLES. KAWASAKI HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE MOTOR AND HAS SET A PRESIDENT OF REPAIRING THE MOTORS IN THE PAST. AT THIS TIME I HAVE NOT HAD THE REPAIR COMPLETED, AS KAWASAKI STATES THAT THE DAMAGE IS NOT CAUSED BY THE OIL PUMP GEAR. BUT IF YOU READ THE STATEMENT ABOUT THIS GEAR FAILURE AT WWW.VROC.ORG IN THE FAQ SECTION YOU WILL SEE THAT THE MOTOR DID JUST AS THE FAILURE IS DESCRIBED ON THIS WEB SITE. THIS MOTORCYCLE WAS PURCHASED AT 31829 MILE AND DAMAGE HAPPENED AT 32126 AND THE VEHICLE WAS OWNED FOR ONLY 4 MONTHS. *NM