NHTSA Complaint #10135295 — 2004 YAMAHA YZF-R1

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2004 YAMAHA R1 MOTORCYCLE. WHILE I WAS RIDING HOME MID DAY ON APRIL 11 2005 I NOTICED THE BIKE IDLING VERY LOW EVERY TIME I STOPPED. SO I WENT IN TO A PARKING AREA AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WITH THE IGNITION KEY AND WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE. IT SEEMED TO WORK FINE SO I PRESSED ON HOME. BUT WHEN I WAS ON THE ROAD TAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AND I CAME TO THE APEX OF THE TURN THE BIKE SHUT OFF UPSETTING THE SUSPENSION AND CAUSING ME TO LOW SIDE (DROPPING THE BIKE ON THE SIDE THAT IT WAS LEANED AS I TURNED) I HAD NO MAJOR INJURIES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF KNEE SORENESS FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THE BIKE SUSTAINED THE FOLLOWING DAMAGE: BENT FORKS, BENT FRONT WHEEL, DENTED GAS TANK, BROKEN MIRRORS, BROKEN WINDSCREEN, BROKEN UPPER FAIRING, BROKEN REAR FAIRING, DAMAGED MID LEFT FAIRING AND LOWER FAIRING, AS WELL AS BENT LEFT CLUTCH LEVER. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ME AND NOT THE BIKE. I EXPLAINED OF THE CUTTING OFF WITH THE ENGINE AND THEY AGAIN SAID THAT IT WAS ME AND NOT THE BIKE. ONE OF THE ISSUES WITH THIS IS THAT YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, THAT CAN CATCH YOU OFF GUARD. I HAVE ALL THE OLD PARTS THAT I REPLACED. I CAN HAVE PICTURES AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. AND I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM. *JB