NHTSA Complaint #10453890 — 1999 VICTORY V92C

I WAS TRAVELING HOME AFTER PURCHASING THE BIKE FROM THE SECOND OWNER. A VICTORY V92C MADE IN AMERICA, ONLY 5,203 MILES WHEN I GOT IT. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED A VERY HARD HITTING, LOUD SOUNDING CLUNK WHEN I SHIFTED GEARS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE IT WAS JUST THE NORM FOR THIS BIKE. I FOUND OUT I WAS WRONG AND IT NEARLY COST ME MY LIFE. THE FIRST INDICATION THAT I MAYBE IN TROUBLE WAS THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT PROPERLY SHIFTING IN TO 2ND GEAR OR 3RD GEAR. WHEN I WOULD SHIFT INTO SECOND IT WOULD POP INTO NEUTRAL AND SOMETIMES WHEN SHIFTING INTO 3RD IT WOULD SEEM TO GO INTO 3RD FOR AN INSTANT AND THEN DROP INTO 2ND AGAIN. I AM NEW TO MOTORCYCLE RIDING AND THOUGHT THAT I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG AND TRIED TO BE MORE ATTENTIVE TO MY SHIFTS. ABOUT 80 MILES INTO MY TRIP HOME IT STARTED TO RAIN. I HIT EXIT 50 OFF OF I-71 IN OHIO AND INTENDED TO HEAD FOR COVER AT THE PILOT FUEL STATION THERE. AT THE TOP OF THE EXIT RAMP WAS A STOP SIGN. I STOPPED AND PROCEEDED WITH CAUTION. JUST AS I HIT THE APEX OF MY LEFT HAND TURN I SHIFTED FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, RELEASED THE CLUTCH, FELT THIRD GEAR ENGAGE AND WAS IMMEDIATELY THROWN THE ROAD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED BACK INTO SECOND GEAR. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDS TO THESE TRANSMISSIONS. LUCKILY MY INJURIES WERE MINOR. PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE THERE IS A DEATH IF NOT MULTIPLES. SINCERELY, NEW TO CYCLING IN GALLOWAY, OHIO. *TR