NHTSA Complaint #10147045 — 2000 VICTORY V92

I OWN A 2000 VICTORY V92C MOTORCYCLE [XXX] THAT IS BEGINNING TO DEVELOP TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. DURING A 90-MILE (RT) RIDE FROM MY HOME TO WORK ON 08/13/2005, I HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING OUT OF NEUTRAL AFTER SITTING AT INTERSECTIONS ALONG THE ROUTE. THIS OCCURRED DURING THE ENTIRE TRIP ON THAT DAY AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING WITH MORE FREQUENCY. THE MOTORCYCLE ONLY HAS 8,500 MILES ON IT, AND IS MAINTAINED CONSISTENTLY BY THE OWNER. OTHER VICTORY OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR TRANSMISSION SHIFTING PROBLEMS, BUT I AM NOT AWARE IF POLARIS HAS DILIGENTLY ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THEM. IN ADDITION TO THE OUT-OF-NEUTRAL SHIFTING PROBLEM, I HAVE BROKEN DOWN TWICE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT SHEARING THE SPLINE TEETH COMPLETELY OFF THE FRONT DRIVE SPROCKET. THIS IS DUE TO AN INCORRECT SHAFT THREADING ENGINEERING FLAW THAT ALSO NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THE DRIVE BELT IS LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE BELT ROTATION IS CLOCKWISE, AND THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT IS RIGHT HAND THREADED. THE LOCK NUT THAT HOLD THE FRONT SPROCKET STATIONARY ON THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT LOOSENS UP OVERTIME DUE TO THE JARRING OF THE DRIVE BELT UNDER LOAD. IF THE OUTPUT SHAFT WERE REPLACED (ALONG WITH A TRANSMISSION UPGRADE TO ADDRESS THE SHIFTING DIFFICULTY) WITH A LEFT HAND THREADED SHAFT THIS PROBLEM WOULD NEVER EXIST, THE RETAINING NUT WOULD CONTINUALLY SELF-TIGHTEN ITSELF ON THE SHAFT THREADS. THESE TWO DRIVE TRAIN PROBLEMS PRESENT A MAJOR DRIVING RISK AND RENDERS THE MOTORCYCLE LESS RELIABLE, IF NOT UNSAFE ALL TOGETHER. AS A CONSEQUENCE, OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, I HAVE RIDDEN IT LESS FREQUENTLY; WHEN MY INITIAL INTENT WAS TO RIDE IT 9-10 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR FOR COMMUTE REASONS. NOW IT SITS IN MY GARAGE COLLECTING DUST. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)