NHTSA Complaint #10324792 — 2009 BUELL 1125R

MY 2009 BUELL 1125R MOTORCYCLE USES A HYDRAULICALLY ACTUATED CLUTCH. THE CLUTCH FLUID BEGAN TO LEAK OUT OF THE ENGINE COVER, EMANATING A DROP OF FLUID FOR EACH TIME THE CLUTCH WAS DISENGAGED. THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF CLUTCH FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR, AND THE LEAKAGE WILL EVENTUALLY DEPLETE THE RESERVOIR. WITHOUT FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR, THE RIDER'S ABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH IS ELIMINATED. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED NEW PARTS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE NEW PARTS DID NOT REPAIR THE LEAK. IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF CLUTCH CONTROL, THE FLUID ITSELF IS DOT4 BRAKE FLUID. WHILE RIDING, THE LEAKED FLUID SPRAYS BACK ONTO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FLUID IS VERY SLIPPERY, AND IF IT SPRAYS ONTO CERTAIN COMPONENTS IT MAY CAUSE THE REAR BRAKE TO FAIL TO OPERATE, OR THE REAR TIRE TO LOSE TRACTION. I DID NOT CRASH AS A RESULT OF THE CLUTCH FLUID LEAKAGE, BUT A LESS ATTENTIVE RIDER MAY NOT NOTICE THE LEAK UNTIL THEY LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE'S CLUTCH. *TR