NHTSA Complaint #10155107 — 2006 TRIUMPH ROCKET III CLASSIC

I PURCHASED A 2006 TRIUMPH ROCKET III CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. I HAD PROBLEMS SHIFTING INTO 1ST GEAR AND HAVING IT STAY IN 1ST GEAR. I REPORTED THIS ON 500 MILE DEALER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL, "THEY ALL HAVE PROBLEMS". WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT, I SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE WAITING FOR LIGHT TO CHANGE, WHEN THE BIKE IS SHIFTED INTO 1ST IT WILL ENGAGE ABOUT 75% OF THE TIME BUT AFTER ACCELERATING ABOUT 10 YARDS IT POPS BACK INTO NEUTRAL, CARS BEHIND THEN MUST FREQUENTLY STOP ABRUPTLY TO AVOID COLLISION. I HAVE NOT BEEN HIT YET BUT GETTING CLOSE. I DON'T KNOW OF OTHER MAKES OF MOTORCYCLES THAT DO THIS. THERE ISN'T REALLY AN INCIDENT DATE, IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE I BOUGHT THE BIKE IN FEB 2006. TO AVOID THE PROBLEM ONE MUST ALWAYS HOLD THE CLUTCH IN WHILE STANDING. NUMBER OF FAILURES REFERS TO NUMBER OF TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY BIKE. I AM REPORTING IT IN CASE OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND REPORT SIMILAR EVENTS. *JB