NHTSA Complaint #10261486 — 2008 YAMAHA FJR1300

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2008 YAMAHA YZF-R6 AND STARTED RIDING IT. WE IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THERE IS A RATHER LARGE AMOUNT OF HEAT GENERATED BY THE ENGINE AND THE DUCTING FROM THE RADIATOR DIRECTS THIS SUPERHEATED AIRFLOW RIGHT ONTO THE LOWER LEGS OF THE RIDER. THIS IS NOT MUCH OF AN ISSUE WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURES ARE BELOW 80 DEGREES F. ANYTHING HIGHER AND IT WILL CAUSE BURNS WITH BLISTERS EVEN THROUGH BLUE JEAN PANTS. MY WIFE HAS RIDDEN THIS BIKE ABOUT 10 TIMES AND EVERY TIME IT HAS BEEN HOT ENOUGH TO BURN HER CAUSING DISCOMFORT AND RED WELPS, THIS INDICATES A FIRST DEGREE BURN WHERE THE OUTER LAYER OF SKIN IS DAMAGED BUT STILL ABLE TO FUNCTION. 2 OF THOSE TIMES IT CAUSED ACTUAL BLISTERING FROM THE EXTREME HEAT DIRECTED ONTO THE LEGS. THIS IS INDICATIVE OF SECOND DEGREES BURNS WHERE THE OUTER LAYER OF SKIN IS DAMAGED AS WELL AS THE SECOND LAYER( THE DERMIS) THIS CAUSES THEM TO SEPARATE. THE SKIN IN THIS AREA CAN NO LONGER FUNCTION TO PROTECT THE BODY OR REGULATE TEMPERATURE. THIS CONDITION CAUSED BY THE MOTORCYCLE RESULTS IN A DANGEROUS PROPOSITION FOR THE RIDER AS IT CAUSES BODILY HARM EVERY TIME IT IS RIDDEN IN 80 DEGREE TEMPS OR ABOVE. THE BURNS CAN BECOME INFECTED AND RESULT IN LOSS OF LIMB OR LIFE IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF PROPERLY. WE HAVE TALKED TO THE SELLING DEALER AND WERE INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO REVISED PARTS OR ANY THING WE CAN DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM OTHER THAN TO TRADE IT IN ON ANOTHER MODEL. THIS MOTORCYCLE SHOULD HAVE THE FAIRINGS REDESIGNED TO DIRECT THE AIRFLOW AROUND THE LEGS AND AWAY FROM ANY OTHER BODY PARTS. THE TREATMENT WE HAVE RECEIVED REGARDING THIS ISSUE IS ALSO UNACCEPTABLE. NO REMEDY WAS EVER OFFERED TO US OTHER THAN TRADING THE BRAND NEW MOTORCYCLE IN ON ANOTHER MODEL (AND TAKING THE LOSS FROM THE TRADE IN VALUE). *TR