NHTSA Complaint #10557000 — 2014 YAMAHA FZ09

DRIVING ACROSS THE INTERSTATE10 SALT RIVER BRIDGE IN PHOENIX AZ, THERE IS A DIP AT ONE OF THE BRIDGE EXPANSION JOINTS. IT IS NOT A VERY SEVERE DIP BUT THE REAR SUSPENSION ON THIS NEW MOTORCYCLE BOUNCED VIOLENTLY 5 TIMES AFTER THIS DIP. THERE IS AN ADJUSTMENT SCREW TO INCREASE THE DAMPING AND I TURNED IT TO THE MAXIMUM VALUE, BOTH FRONT AND REAR, THIS REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF POST BUMP BOUNCING TO AROUND 2 TIMES. THIS IS INADEQUATE SUSPENSION DAMPING AND I BELIEVE IT COULD BE A HAZARD, ESPECIALLY IF IT HAPPENS IN A TURN, WITH AN INEXPERIENCED RIDER. I AM BUYING A DIFFERENT REAR SHOCK FOR THIS MOTORCYCLE, BUT NOT EVERYBODY HAS THAT ABILITY AND A NEW REAR SHOCK IS NOT CHEAP OR EASY TO INSTALL. I AM ALSO CHANGING THE FRONT FORK OIL TO A HIGHER VISCOSITY, TO STOP THE FRONT END FROM OVER RE-BOUNDING. AT THE VERY MINIMUM, I RECOMMEND THAT ALL NEW MOTORCYCLES SHOULD LEAVE THE DEALERSHIPS WITH THE SUSPENSION ADJUSTERS SET TO MAXIMUM VALUE, FRONT AND REAR TO REDUCE THIS PROBLEM. *TR