NHTSA Complaint #10507371 — 2006 YAMAHA XVS1100

I HAD JUST STARTED OUT FROM A STOP, SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR WHEN THE BIKE STARTED TO CLATTER. AS I HAD BEEN STOPPED AT THE LOCAL MOTORCYCLE REPAIR SHOP, I RETURNED THERE AND LEFT THE MOTORCYCLE. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED THE SHOP AND HAD THE MECHANIC CHECK THE BIKE OUT. HE TOLD ME THAT THE MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT HAD COME APART. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THE SHAFT HAD BROKEN BEHIND THE RETAING NUT FOR THE UNIVERSAL JOINT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON SEVERAL YEAR MODEL'S OF THIS MOTORCYCLE (YAMAHA V-STAR-1100) COMPLAINT'S TO NHTSA. SEVERAL REPORTS OF REAR WHEEL LOCKING UP WHEN THIS HAPPENS HAVE BEEN SUBMITED. THERE IS ONE REPORT ON 04/24/2006 OF A PERSON HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHERE THE REAR WHEEL HAD LOCKED UP PRIOR TO A CRASH IN WHICH SHE WAS REAR-ENDED AND KILLED. IT IS UNKNKWN IF THE REAR WHEEL LOCKING UP BECAUSE OF A BROKEN MIDDLE SHAFT CAUSED THIS ACCIDENT, BUT I WOULD BE SUSPECT OF THIS. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH YAMAHA, AND THEY HAV NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS BUT THEY HAVE CHANGED THE MANFACTURE OF THIS PART, WHICH WOULD INDICATE THAT THEY WERE AWARE FO A PROBLEM. AS THE COST OF REPAIR FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS IN THE RANGE OF $2500.00 TO $3500.00 AND THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH FROM THE PART FAILURE, THE COMPANY SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THIS ON ALL MODELS AFFECTED BY IT. *TR