NHTSA Complaint #10227695 — 1993 KAWASAKI EX500

THE FLYWHEEL (ROTOR/GENERATOR) OF A 1993 KAWASAKI EX500, , MANUFACTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE MAGNETS ON THE ROTOR ITSELF WILL BREAK APART. A LICENSED MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT IT COULD POSE A POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD CONCERNING THAT IF PART OF THE MAGNET WHERE TO BECOME JAMMED IT COULD SEIZE THE MOTOR OF THE MOTORCYCLE UP. THIS HAPPENED TO ME, I WAS ONLY PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY, BUT IMAGINE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ALL THE SUDDEN YOUR MOTORCYCLE ENGINE SEIZES UP. THIS POSES A SERIES SAFETY RISK NOT ONLY TO A MOTORCYCLE RIDER, BUT ALSO PEDESTRIANS OR OTHER MOTORIZED PEOPLE. THIS COULD RESULT IN DEATH! IN 1993 THE ROTOR WAS MANUFACTURED IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS THE MAGNETS TO COME APART DUE TO POOR/THOUGHTLESS DESIGN FLAWS. NOW I AM TOLD THAT A 1994 ? PRESENT, ROTOR HAS AN INNER LINER THAT HOLDS THE MAGNETS IN PLACE NOT ALLOWING THEM TO BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSE A POSSIBLE SEIZER. I SUPPOSE ABLY CAN ALSO PURCHASE A BRAND NEW ROTOR FOR MY MOTORCYCLE THAT HAS BEEN REDESIGNED TO THE NEW STANDARD WITH AN INNER LINER. I DO NOT FEEL THAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PURCHASE THIS REPLACEMENT PART. I HAVE A BROKEN ROTOR/FLYWHEEL AS WE SPEAK AND THEY TELL ME IT WILL COST BE OVER $400.00 FOR A NEW ONE?! I DO NOT THINK SO! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL OR A WARNING SENT OUT TO THE DEALERS. PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF A THREATENING SITUATION CAUSE BY POOR DESIGN BY KAWASAKI. I FEEL IT IS KAWASAKI?S RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE MY OFFICIAL KAWASAKI DEALER OR MYSELF WITH A REPLACEMENT PART AT NO CHARGE. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THIS WERE ONE OF THE BIG THREE AUTO MAKERS? THERE WAS A RECALL ON A COIL SPRING GUARD ON MY FORD TAURUS BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE COIL SPRING, IF BROKEN, COULD PUNCTURE A TIRE. THIS FLYWHEEL/ROTOR ISSUE IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAT ! PLEASE HELP ANYWAY YOU CAN, KAWASAKI IS NOT VERY HELPFUL! SINCERELY KEITH J FISHER *TR