NHTSA Complaint #10246673 — 2007 KAWASAKI EX250F7F

I MADE A RATHER ALARMING FIND TODAY WHILE INSPECTING MY 2007 KAWASAKI NINJA 250. THE LOWER ENGINE MOUNTING BOLT NUT HAD APPARENTLY LOOSENED FROM VIBRATION, AND AT SOME POINT ACTUALLY FELL OFF. THE NUT IS NOT SECURED (DOES NOT USE A COTTER KEY OR ANY OTHER METHOD TO PREVENT BACKING OFF). THE MOUNTING BOLT DID NOT APPEAR TO MOVE MORE THAN A FEW THOUSANDS OF AN INCH, AS IT CARRIES A PART OF THE TRANSFER LOAD TO THE FRAME. I WILL BE OBTAINING A REPLACEMENT NUT FROM THE DEALER PRIOR TO OPERATING. I AM MOST LIKELY GOING TO USE LOCTITE AFTER APPLYING THE PROPER TORQUE AS THERE IS NO OTHER METHOD AVAILABLE WITHOUT MODIFICATION TO SECURE THE BOLT, AND CHECK FOR SECURITY REGULARLY. RECOMMEND ADDRESSING THE ISSUE WITH KAWASAKI TO FIND A PERMANENT SOLUTION PRIOR TO ANY ACCIDENTS OR INCIDENTS CAUSED BY THIS DEFECT. I AM AWARE THAT THIS DEFECT IS KNOWN TO MEMBERS OF THE NINJA250.COM BOARD. I DO NOT THINK THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS PROBABLY NOT AWARE OF REPORTING PROCEDURES. *TR