NHTSA Complaint #10282595 — 2007 BUELL XB12X

I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE (2007 BUELL XB12X) ON AUGUST/15/2009 AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH DOWN THE FLORIDA'S TURNPIKE EXIT 11 AT ABOUT 8:00PM, WHEN ALL AT THE SUDDEN THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TAIL SHAKING VIOLENTLY. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL THE BIKE AND GET IT OUT OF THE HIGHWAY AND FELT VERY LUCKY I DID NOT HAVE A SERIOUS CRASH. I HAVE BEEN RIDING A NUMBER OF MOTORCYCLES SINCE I WAS 18 YR OF AGE WITHOUT EVER EXPERIENCING ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I LEFT THE BIKE AT A GAS STATION AND PICKED IT UP THE NEXT DAY. AT DAYLIGHT I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVE BELT WAS ALMOST OFF THE WHEEL SPROCKET AND AFTER A MORE CAREFUL LOOK I REALIZED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE REAR WHEEL BEARING HAD BUSTED SUDDENLY, LEAVING THE REAR WHEEL, THE SWINGARM, SPACER AND THE AXLE SEVERELY DAMAGED. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE MY CONCLUSIONS WERE CONFIRMED AS PER THE WRITTEN ESTIMATE THAT WAS MADE. I HAVE A DEGREE ON MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS. THE BIKE HAS 3008 MILES AND ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THE WARRANTY EXPIRED LAST APRIL/2009. I'M STILL IN SHOCK WITH THE FACT THAT SUCH FAILURE COULD OCCUR ON A MOTORCYCLE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE, BEING THE BEARING A PART SUPPOSED TO LAST MUCH LONGER, WITHOUT ANY SPECIAL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. I'M NOW LEFT WITH A $1,174.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE AND A FEAR OF EVER RIDING THIS MOTORCYCLE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE BUT I WOULD LIKE N.H.T.S.A. TO HAVE IT FURTHER INVESTIGATED FOR A POSSIBLE RECALL SO IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN TO ANYONE ELSE. I STILL HAVE THE BIKE AT THE DEALERSHIP SHOP UNREPAIRED. I'LL KEEP THE DAMAGED PARTS OR I COULD PROVIDE YOU WITH THE NAME AND ADDRESS OF THE DEALER IN CASE IT COULD HELP N.H.T.S.A. FURTHER INVESTIGATE IT. AGAIN, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY SERIOUS INCIDENT WITH HIGH POSSIBILITY OF LOSS OF MULTIPLE LIVES. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION. *TR HERNANDES SPINOLA