NHTSA Complaint #10205117 — 1999 HONDA VALKYRIE

FAILURE OF LEFT REAR WHEEL BEARING. BEARING INITIALLY FAILED AND REPLACED 2 YRS AGO AT 50K MILES. FAILED AGAIN THIS YEAR AT 70K MILES WHILE 600 MI FROM HOME. NO AREA DEALER HAD REQUIRED PART(S). HAD TO TRANSPORT MOTORCYCLE HOME VIA TRUCK RENTAL. BIKE EVENTUALLY FIXED AT MY OWN LOCAL DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY. HONDA REFUSES TO DISCUSS MY OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES OR ACKNOWLEDGE THERE MAY BE AN ISSUE WITH THIS PART FAILING PREMATURELY. AN INFORMAL POLL OF 52 OTHER OWNERS SHOWED 22 EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE, 5 OF US TWICE, AND SOME FAILURES OCCURRED IN AS LITTLE AS 12K MILES. TOTAL FAILURE OF THIS PART HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE THE OPERATOR TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT AND/OR SERIOUS INJURY. *JB