NHTSA Complaint #10393674 — 2005 VICTORY VEGAS

WHILE PREPARING TO STOP I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH LEVER AND THE CLUTCH CABLE SEVERED AT THE CLUTCH LEVER. I LET THE BIKE STALL OUT AND GOT IT OFF THE ROAD. WITH 10,000 ORIGINAL MILES ON THE BIKE, THIS WAS THE 2ND. TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH CABLE AT THE SAME LOCATION (LEVER). THE FIRST TIME WAS WITH LESS THAN 5,000 MILES. BOTH TIMES NOW THE DEALER HAS TOLD ME THE ONLY THING THEY CAN DO IS REPLACE THE CABLE. I HAVE TALKED WITH 3 DIFFERENT VICTORY DEALERS IN MY AREA AND EACH ONE OF THEM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, ALL OF THEM TOLD ME THAT VICTORY/POLARIS WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT... THEY WERE ALL KIND ENOUGH TO OFFER AN UP-SALE TO AN HYDRALLIC CLUTCH SYSTEM THERE BY ELIMINATING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CABLE. I WAS TOLD BY ONE AUTHORIZED DEALERS MECHANIC THAT HE HAS REPLACED MORE THAN 50 CLUTCH CABLES ON VICTORY'S, MANY OF THEM TWICE! I HAVE ALSO BEEN TOLD THAT PERIODIC LUBRICATION OF THE CABLE AT THE POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE CLUTCH LEVER WOULD HELP WITH THE THE LONGIVITY OF THE CABLE. I WILL SAY THAT MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS ARE UP TO DATE AND COMPLETE. AND AFTER LOSING THE FIRST CABLE, I MADE SURE THAT THIS AREA WAS ALWAYS CLEAN AND WELL LUBRICATED ONLY TO FIND OUT THROUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT THE CLUTCH LEVER ITSELF COULD BE THE SUSPECT. WHY AND WHEN WILL VICTORY/POLARIS TAKE CARE OF THIS OBVIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE TWICE NOW WITH NO INCIDENT OTHER THAN TO MY WALLET. I FEEL AS IF MY LUCK IS RUNNING OUT!