NHTSA Complaint #10083047 — 1999 TRIUMPH SPRINT ST

99 TRIUMPH SPRINT ST MOTORCYCLE 8500 MILES CAREFULLY MAINTAINED AND STORED IN HEATED GARAGE. WHILE RIDING AT 50 MPH REAR WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED. SKIDDED AND FISHTAILED AND FORTUNEATELY DIDN'T CRASH. THE REAR WHEEL NEEDLE ROLLER BEARING HAD FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. I FOUND A RECALL 02V242000 ON CERTAIN 2001 MODELS ON THE REAR WHEEL BEARING AND CONTACTED TRIUMPH USA. THEY SAID THERE HAD NEVER BEEN A REPORT OF AN ACTUAL INCIDENT WHERE THE REAR WHEEL HAD LOCKED AND THAT SINCE THE RECALL WAS NOT FOR MY MODEL YEAR, WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. THEY SINCE HAVE AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PART BUT NOT LABOR. MY CONCERN IS MORE FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE WITH POSSIBLY SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT IT HASN'T HAPPENED BEFORE.*AK