NHTSA Complaint #10501326 — 2009 BUELL 1125CR

PRIOR TO THE FIRST INCIDENT THE MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT AN HOUR TRAVELING AT A CONSERVATIVE SPEED BEHIND A LEADER OF A PACK OF RIDERS. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT A LOCATION WHERE THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS ROUGHLY 45 DEGREES F FOR ABOUT 30-45 MINUTES. UPON ATTEMPTING TO START THE MOTORCYCLE, POWER WOULD SUCCESSFULLY CYCLE AND THE ELECTRIC STARTER SWITCH WOULD PRODUCE CRANKING WITH THE OPERATING SWITCH ENGAGED AND KEY TURNED TO ON, BUT THE VEHICLE HAD A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TROUBLE GETTING TO AN OPERATIONAL IDLE STATE. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM'S ABILITY CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE, RESULTING IN MORE DELAYED STARTS AND SEVERELY IMPACTED OPERATING INTEGRITY. DURING MOVING OPERATION, THE MOTORCYCLE'S LCD DISPLAY BACKLIGHT WOULD EXTINGUISH ALONG WITH THE HEADLIGHTS. THE RPM NEEDLE WOULD REGULARLY DROP TO 0 AND STAY THERE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR ME TO KEEP THE MOTORCYCLE AROUND 5000 RPMS (RECOMMENDED OPERATING RPM TO PRESERVE LIFE OF NOTORIOUSLY DEFECTIVE STATOR). THE VEHICLE PRESENTS A BUCKING AND JERKING MOTION WHILE OPERATING AT CONSERVATIVE SPEEDS (UNDER 6000 RPMS ACCELERATING VERY GRADUALLY), RESULTING IN SPORADIC ACCELERATIONS/DECELERATIONS AND REDUCTION OF OPERATOR CONTROL. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS COMPLETELY LOST POWER ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS, AND 7 TIMES WITH RELATIVELY SAFE SURROUNDINGS. THE MOTORCYCLE IS CURRENTLY IN A STATE OF SOLITARY NON-OPERATION (NEEDS EXTERNAL POWER SOURCE TO START) AND I DO NOT FEEL RESPONSIBLE RIDING IT. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THE MANUFACTURER'S BEHALF IN TERMS OF RECALLING THE STATOR ASSEMBLY AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT ARE WELL-KNOWN FOR THEIR FAILURE. BUELL FORUMS ONLINE CLEARLY REFLECT THIS, THEY CAN BE CITED UPON REQUEST. *TR