NHTSA Complaint #10075415 — 2003 HONDA CB900F

WHILE RIDING THIS MOTORCYCLE, EXHAUST FUMES WILL PERMEATE THE BACK OF THE RIDERS CLOTHING, BACK PACKS AND PASSENGERS, LEAVING A NASUATING ODOR THAT IS UNBEARABLE TO BE AROUND. THIS OCCURS WITH RIDING TRIPS THAT ARE AS SHORT AS 15 MINUTES. PASSENGERS COMPLAIN THAT THEY CAN SMELL EXHAUST FUMES WHILE RIDING, CAUSING HEADACHES, NASUA AND DIZZINESS. SPOKE WITH THE DEALER ABOUT KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL, AND THEY KNEW OF NONE. CHECK OUT BIKE AND FOUND NO DEFECTS. SPOKE WITH "JARED" AT AMERICAN HONDA IN CA (866-784-1870), AND HE STATED THAT HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NO PLANS TO FIX BECAUSE THERE ARE NO DEFECTS WITH THE BIKE, THAT THIS IS CAUSED BY THE UNDERTAIL EXHAUST AND THAT IT IS THER NATURE OF THE BIKE. WHEN I INQUIRED IF ANY OTHER UNDERTAIL EXHAUST SYSTEM MOTORCYCLES PRODUCED BY HONDA HAD SIMILAIR PROBLEMS, HE SAID THEY DID NOT! THAT IT IS ONLY THE 919/HORNET 900. IF YOU GO TO ANY ONLINE OWNERS FORUM WORLDWIDE, YOU WILL FIND THAT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL SUFFERS FROM THIS PROBLEM IN THE US, EUROPE, AUSTRAILIA AND JAPEN. OWNERS SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING A SAFETY/HEALTH PROBLEM WITH A MOTORCYCLE THAT COMES FROM THE FACTORY WITH A DESIGN FLAW.*AK