NHTSA Complaint #10162023 — 2005 YAMAHA WARRIOR

THE VEHICLE BEING DESCRIBED IS A 2005 YAMAHA ROAD STAR WARRIOR (MOTORCYCLE) (1) I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE ON I-90 W THROUGH SOUTH DAKOTA. ABOUT 20 MILES WEST OF SIOUX FALLS THE BIKE BEGAN TO BACKFIRE AND JERK VIOLENTLY AT 2500 RPM. I EASED UP ON THE THROTTLE AND SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 60 MPH (THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 70 MPH). THE BIKE ACTED FINE AS LONG AS I KEPT GOING SLOW, SO I DECIDED TO TRY AND MAKE IT TO THE YAMAHA SHOP IN RAPID CITY. (2) FORTY MILES EAST OF RAPID CITY, THE BIKE ENGINE CUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER IN THE REAR WHEEL, WHICH CAUSED A DRASTIC DECREASE IN SPEED. THIS INERTIA CAUSED ME TO BE JOLTED FORWARD ON THE BIKE. I WAS ABLE TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF A FREEWAY. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE "CRANK POSITION SENSOR" WIRE LEADS HAD COME LOOSE, AS THEY ARE NOT STURDY ENOUGH FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS GOING STRAIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF. IF I HAD BEEN BANKED IN A CURVE, COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURY. (3) THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO BLACKHILLS POWERSPORTS IN RAPID CITY (605-342-5500) WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND EXPLAINED THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO ME THAT YAMAHA HAD INSTALLED THE SENSOR WITH INFERIOR WIRES THAT OFTEN FAIL UNDER NORMAL RIDING CONDITIONS. WHEN THE WIRES COME UNHOOKED, THE MOTORCYCLE'S COMPUTER CUTS OFF THE ENGINE. THE YAMAHA CERTIFIED MECHANIC RE-SOLDERED THE CONNECTION AND REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. I THEN RODE IT HOME TO GREAT FALLS, MT WHERE IT GAVE OUT AGAIN ALONG THE WAY. I AM NOW PREPARING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR A SECOND TIME IN A FEW DAYS TIME. *NM