NHTSA Complaint #11163896 — 2008 YAMAHA XV1900

ON THIS 2008 YAMAHA STRATOLINER 1900CC MOTORCYCLE IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 3RD GEAR FAILURE. ACCORDING TO MECHANICS AND RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON ISSUE. IT WAS RECALLED IN 2007 ON OTHER YAMAHA MOTORCYCLES THAT USED THE SAME ENGINE/TRANSMISSION. 3RD PUSH ROD NOT BEING PROPERLY HEAT TREATED ARE SOME OF THE DIAGNOSES FOUND ONLINE. STATING THAT THIS FEAR FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE IT TO "LOCK UP" PREVENTING REAR WHEN FROM FREELY ROLLING WHICH COULD PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE. AS IT APPEARS IN MY RESEARCH FOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT NO RECALL WAS ISSUED BY YAMAHA. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DISCONTINUED AND IS NO LONGER IN PRODUCTION AND TO MY BELIEF IS DUE TO THE FAULTY PRODUCTION AND FAILURE OF 3RD GEAR. THE STRATOLINER AND RAIDER BOTH USING THE 1900CC MOTOR AND OTHER MODELS USING THIS SAME TRANSMISSION HAVE THE SAME COMMON ISSUE. ISSUE OCCURS ANY TIME MOTORCYCLE IS IN MOTION AND UTILIZING THE 3RD GEAR OF THIS MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE DEFECT CAUSES A WHINE AND A KNOCK/TICK SOUND. DOES NOT MATTER THE SPEED OR CONDITIONS OF TRAVEL, SIMPLY, ANY TIME IN 3RD GEAR AND IN MOTION. AT THIS TIME AND ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH IT DOES NOT EFFECT THE OTHER TRANSMISSION GEARS UNTIL THE GEAR COMPLETELY FAILS (WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY TO THE RIDER AND FURTHER DAMAGE TO MOTORCYCLE.) ONCE PURCHASED AND THIS PROBLEM PRESENTS ITSELF IT IS NOT SAFE TO SELL TO OTHER CONSUMERS AND TRADE IN VALUE IS NON EXISTENT DUE TO SAFETY AND MECHANICAL DEFECTS.