NHTSA Complaint #10268736 — 2005 YAMAHA XV1700

IN APRIL OF 2008 I INSTALLED A METZELER 880 MARATHON MOTORCYCLE TIRE ON MY BIKE. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED FROM RONAYERS, WHICH IS AN ONLINE MOTORCYCLE PARTS STORE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALLING THE TIRE I WENT FOR A RIDE AND NOTICED A CONSTANT SHAKING OF THE HANDLEBARS....ITS AS IF I'M RIDING ON A VERY VERY WINDY DAY. THE BIKE WILL NOT TRACK STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. THIS ONLY HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR HIGHER. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DISTRIBUTOR RONAYERS WHO TOLD ME TO CONTACT METZELER WHICH IS A DIVISION OF PIRELLI TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND LET THEM CHECK IT BY RIDING AND SEE WHAT THEY TELL ABOUT THE TIRE. BELLS SUZUKI IN LEXINGTON WAS NICE ENOUGH TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE AT NO CHARGE....THEY ALSO CHECKED THE BALANCING, ALL OF WHICH WERE IN SPECS. THE TECH SAID THAT HE COULD INDEED FEEL WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND I SHOULD AGAIN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE MANUFACTURER. WELL IT IS SPRING HERE IN KENTUCKY AND AFTER RIDING THE BIKE YESTERDAY AND FEELING HOW THIS BIKE HANDLES I HAVE BEEN INCLINED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. METZELER IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE BEST TIRE AVAILABLE FOR MOTORCYCLES, BUT THE BALD TIRE I TOOK OFF WAS BETTER THAN THIS TIRE. THE TIRE HAS LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON IT AND IS UNSAFE. I HAVE A METZELER 880 MARATHON TIRE ON THE REAR OF MY BIKE AND IT IS FINE BUT THE FRONT TIRE IS DEFINITELY BAD. I WANTED TO HAVE MY CASE DOCUMENTED BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. *TR