NHTSA Complaint #10204453 — 2006 YAMAHA XV1700

2006 YAMAHA ROADSTAR CAST - I HAD 4,000 MILES ON THE BIKE. I WAS RIDING IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC ONE DAY AND BEING AN AIR COOLED MOTORCYCLE IT WAS RUNNING A LITTLE WARM. AFTER THE BIKE WAS SHUT DOWN FOR A FEW MINUTES IT FLOODED ON RESTART. I CHECKED THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND GASOLINE WAS POURING OUT OF THE AIRBOX ONTO THE STILL HOT ENGINE AND EXAUST. I TURNED THE PETCOCK OFF AND WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE BY HOLDING THE THROTTLE OPEN AND CRANKING THE ENGINE FOR A FEW SECONDS. I TURNED THE PECOCK BACK ON AND EVERYTHING SEEMED OK. THE NEXT DAY THE INCIDENT REPEATED AFTER AN EASY RIDE OF 60 MILES IN COOL MORNING AIR. YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER AN EASY RIDE AROUND TOWN IN 60 DEGREE TEMPERATURES. IN LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION I RAN ACROSS A WEB SITE CALLED ROADSTAR FORUM. IT SEEMS THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURANCE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. ESPECIALLY THOSE PRODUCED SINCE 2004. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IT IS CARBURATOR PERCOLATION AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. MY ARGUMENT IS THAT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR THE FIRST 4000K SO WHY IS IT HAPPENING NOW? THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR QUALITY ISSUE WITH THIS MACHINE THAT IS CAUSING THIS VERY DANGEROUS MALFUNCTION. SEVERAL OUNCES OF GASOLINE INSTANTLY VAPORIZED ON A HOT EXAUST SYSTEM COULD CAUSE AN EXPLOSION UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS NOT TO MENTION CATCHING THE BIKE OR IT'S PASSENGERS ON FIRE. IF THIS SITE IS FOR CARS ONLY PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH THE ADDRESS OF THE PROPER AGENCY TO FILE A COMPLAINT. BEST REGARDS, S. WARD *TR