NHTSA Complaint #10265918 — 2006 YAMAHA CP250

2006 YAMAHA VIRAGO XV250, 70 MPH ON I96, NO BRAKING, SOLO RIDE, 16000 MILES, 21 MOS OLD, THE LEFT ARM OF THE REAR SWING ARM BUCKLED, CONTINUING TO YIELD UNTIL THE REAR TIRE MADE CONTACT WITH THE RIGHT INNER SWING ARM AND THE REAR BRAKE LINKAGE. THIS CONTACT STABILIZED THE LEFT SIDE SWING ARM YIELDING, HOWEVER THE RUBBING OF THE TIRE CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DECELERATION ABRUPTLY. THE COLLAPSING SWING ARM CAUSED DRIVE CHAIN SLACK AND THE CHAIN JUMPED ON THE SPROCKET. THE TIRE WAS SMOKING DUE TO THE RUB. LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTED. REAR TIRE FAILURE WAS EMINENT. I AM HIGHLY SKILLED, A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, AND HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BIKE MILES. I STOPPED QUICKLY USING THE FRONT DISC BRAKE AS I PULLED OFF THE EXPRESSWAY ONTO THE SHOULDER. I BOUGHT THIS BIKE BRAND NEW, AND USE IT TO COMMUTE TO WORK ON DETROIT FREEWAYS. IT HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD, NOR DO I CARRY A PASSENGER. IT HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. I AM A MASTER MECHANIC IN MICHIGAN. I AM FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHO OWNED AND MAINTAINED A CESSNA 152 FOR YEARS. BSEE FROM UOFM, MS FROM LAWRENCE TECH. I BABY THIS BIKE. I BOUGHT YES, YAMAHA EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT. YAMAHA HAS DENIED THE CLAIM. THE DEALER STATES IT IS UNSAFE TO RIDE. I WILL PURCHASE REQUIRED PARTS AND MAKE MY OWN REPAIRS. THIS FAILURE COULD EASILY HAVE KILLED THE DRIVER, AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. I WANT TO GET RID OF THE BIKE, AS, SIMPLY PUTTING ON A REPLACEMENT PART OF THE SAME DESIGN WILL NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE SWING ARM IS INADEQUATE. PLEASE NOTE, THE VEHICLE SELECTION IS CP250. VIRAGO XV250 IS NOT AVAILABLE IN YOUR DROP DOWN MENU. *TR