NHTSA Complaint #10264189 — 2004 HONDA CBR1000RR

ON JULY 25, 2007, A 16 YR. OLD DRIVER MAKES AN ILLEGAL LEFT-HAND TURN IN FRONT OF MY SON AND HIS GIRLFRIEND AS THEY WERE COMING THROUGH THE INTER-SECTION RIDING A HONDA CBR1000. THE 16 YR. PANICS AND HITS THE BRAKES BLOCKING MY SON'S LEFT LANE. MY SON BRAKES TO TRY AND AVOID THE COLLUSION BUT THE BIKE FAILS TO KEEP BOTH WHEELS ON THE GROUND. THE BIKE GOES UP ON THE FRONT WHEEL IN A VERTICAL POSITION. IN THAT INSTANCE MY SON IS NO LONGER ABLE TO CONTROL THE BIKE AND STEER CLEAR OF THE DURANGO BLOCKING HIS LANE. THE BIKE IS NOW IN CONTROL AS IT DRIVES HIM HEAD-ON INTO THE STATIONERY VEHICLE CRUSHING HIM INTO THE VEHICLE. STEVE WAS ONLY DOING 15 -20 MPH DURING THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE IMPACT THROWS HIS GIRLFRIEND OVER THE VEHICLE. SHE SURVIVES THE ACCIDENT SUSTAINING INJURES TO HER ANKLE. MY SON DIES AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. AFTER OVER A YEAR OF DOING MY OWN RESEARCH AND INVESTIGATION ON THIS ACCIDENT I DISCOVERED THAT THIS TYPE OF BIKE IS KNOWN TO DO WHAT IS CALLED A "REAR-WHEEL LEFT IN EXTREME BIKING SITUATIONS. HONDA HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS FOR SOME TIME BUT HAS FAILED TO DO ANY RECALLS OR WARN PEOPLE OF THIS HAZARD. THIS KNOWLEDGE WOULD HAVE SAVED MY SON'S LIFE. HE WOULD HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM WHICH CAN BE FIXED OR GOT RID OF THE BIKE. I AM NOW CONVINCED THAT THE CBR WAS THE CAUSE OF MY SON'S DEATH. HE WOULD HAVE SURVIVED IF THE BIKE WOULD HAVE MAINTAINED BOTH WHEELS ON THE GROUND WHICH WOULD HAVE ENABLED HIM TO STEER CLEAR OF THE VEHICLE AND AVOID A HEAD-ON COLLISION. THIS CLASS OF BIKE HAS THE MOST DEATHS AND ACCIDENT MORE THAN ANY OTHER BIKE ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES. BUT DUE TO THE BIKE'S REPUTATION AS A "STUNT" AND "RACING" BIKE THE RIDERS ARE BEING BLAMED FOR THESE ACCIDENTS FOR PEOPLE ARE UNAWARE OF THE BRAKING ISSUES. THE 2009 HONDA CBR ARE OFFERING A NEW BRAKING ELECTRONIC BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH APPLIES PRESSURE EVENLY ON THE WHEELS PREVENTING THIS "PITCHING" "REAR-WHEEL" LIFT BUT IT IS AN OPTION NOT MANDATORY. HOW WRONG! *TR