NHTSA Complaint #10153577 — 2000 KAWASAKI KLR650

I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS 2000 KAWASAKI KLR650 FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW AND HAD 8766 MILES AT THE TIME! I HAD READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THE IDLER SHAFT LEVER(KAWASAKI PART NO. 13168-1436) AND SPRING(KAWASAKI PART NO. 92144-1860) PUT IN EVERY KLR650 SINCE 1996 WERE PRONE TO FAILURE. DUE TO POOR QUALITY STEEL AND POOR MANUFACTURING! WHICH CAN CAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN TO SEIZE, WHICH RESULTS IN THE ENGINE SEIZING, AND IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE RIDING WOULD CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO SEIZE. WHICH WOULD CAUSE DAMAGE, INJURY, POSSIBLY AN ACCIDENT AND DEATH! SURE ENOUGH A FRIEND OF MINE WHO IS A MOTORCYCLE MECHANIC HELPED ME CHECK INTO THIS AND WE DID FIND THAT MY IDLER SHAFT LEVER WAS INDEED BROKEN, MY SPRING WAS MISSING AND MY TIMING CHAIN WAS BARELY HANGING ON!!! LIKE I SAID MINE ONLY HAD 8766 MILES BUT THE PART HAD FAILED WAY BEFORE THAT AND I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THEY HAVE FAILED WITH LESS THAN 2000 MILES. I AM STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO FIND THE SPRING AND OTHER PIECES OF THE IDLER SHAFT LEVER IN SIDE THE ENGINE! TO FIX THIS I REPLACED THE BROKEN IDLER SHAFT LEVER WITH A PROFESSIONALS MACHINED 1 PIECE OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL MADE BY WWW.EAGLE-M-E.COM AND REPLACED THE SPRING WITH A NEW ONE ALSO FROM WWW.EAGLE-M-E.COM. *JB