NHTSA Complaint #10209388 — 2006 KAWASAKI VN900B6F

PREMATURE HEADLIGHT FAILURE OCCURRED---LESS THAN 12 MONTHS FROM ORIGINAL (NEW) PURCHASE. THE PHYSICALLY LARGE HEADLIGHT HOUSING IS ATTACHED TO THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME IN ONLY TWO LOCATIONS, BOTH ON THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUSING. THIS ALLOWS THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING TO VIBRATE SIGNIFICANTLY FROM NORMAL ROAD VIBRATION. THIS VIBRATION IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE DURING NIGHTTIME OPERATION, SO MUCH SO THAT THE SHAKING OF THE HEADLIGHT BEAM ITSELF IS VERY DISTRACTING TO THE RIDER AND COULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD. SINCE THE LAMP WITHIN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING ALSO VIBRATES, THIS CAUSES VERY EARLY FAILURE OF THE LAMP FILAMENT. ALSO, SINCE THE HEADLIGHT IS USED IN A "DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT" FASHION, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHICH MAY NOT BE QUICKLY DETECTED BY THE OWNER, ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE UNUSUALLY SHORT LIFETIME OF THE HEADLAMP. AND OF COURSE, A HEADLIGHT FAILURE DURING NIGHTTIME OPERATION DUE THIS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS TO THE OPERATOR. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE DESIGNED WITH ADDITIONAL STRUCTURAL SUPPORT ATTACHMENT TO THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME, SO THAT THE ASSEMBLY WILL NOT VIBRATE AND CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE LAMP FILAMENT. *TR