NHTSA Complaint #10482554 — 2012 YAMAHA XTZ12B/BC

SPOKES IN THE REAR WHEEL CONTINUOUSLY GETTING LOOSE TO THE POINT THE SPOKE NIPPLE FALLS OUT AND THE SPOKE IS SENT FLAPPING AGAINST THE SWINGARM OR COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WHEEL. I HAD THIS ISSUE FOR THE ENTIRE FIRST 14 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. MANY TIMES A SPOKE WAS LOOSE AFTER A SHORT PERIOD. THE MOST RECENT CHECK REVEALED 10 SPOKES LOOSE AT ONE TIME RENDERING THE WHEEL UN-TRUE. I HAD TO REMOVE THE WHEEL AND CARRY TO A WHEEL SPECIALIST TO GET THE WHEEL BACK TRUE. YAMAHA WAS NO HELP WHAT SO EVER. THE MOTORCYCLE IS OUT OF THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY. I KNOW OF AT LEAST 10 OTHER CASES ON A INTERNET FORUM(WWW.YAMAHASUPERTENERE.COM) WHERE THESE SPOKES WHEELS ARE GIVING PROBLEMS. OF COURSE YAMAHA SAYS THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM. THERE IS A BRIEF MENTION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL ABOUT SPOKE MAINTENANCE. YES I AM AWARE OF THAT SINCE I HAVE OWNED OFF ROAD MOTORCYCLES FOR MANY YEARS WHICH HAVE SPOKE TYPE WHEELS. THOSE OFF ROAD MOTORCYCLES RARELY EVER NEEDED A SPOKE TIGHTENED. THIS YAMAHA XT12 SEEMS TO HAVE IT'S REAR WHEEL SPOKES LOOKED AT BEFORE AND AFTER EVERY STREET RIDE. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. YAMAHA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS REAR WHEEL SPOKE ISSUE ON THIS MODEL. IMO THE WHEEL IS UNDER DESIGNED FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE MOTORCYCLE IT'S DESIGNED TO TOTE. *TR