NHTSA Complaint #11329482 — 2002 YAMAHA XVS1100

I WAS OUT RIDING MY 2002 YAMAHA V-STAR 1100 CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE THAT I OBTAINED FROM MY STEPDAD. WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55-60MPH ON A 2-LANE STATE HIGHWAY APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. UPON DECELERATION THE MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD WHINING NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND I FELT THE REAR WHEEL START TO BIND UP. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND TOOK THE BIKE HOME ON A TRAILER. I LATER PUT IT IN MY SHOP TO INSPECT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS MYSELF. INSPECTION REVEALED A SNAPPED MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT WHERE THE YOKE/U-JOINT CONNECT WITH IT. THE U-JOINT IS HELD ON BY A NUT. THE END OF THE SHAFT WITH THE NUT STILL ON IT WAS LAYING INSIDE THE U-JOINT AND WAS FREE TO MOVE AROUND CAUSING IT TO BIND UP WITHIN THE JOINT. RESEARCHING ONLINE SHOWS MANY PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE THAT LEAD TO A BROKEN SHAFT. THE MAIN CAUSE IS THE NUT DOES NOT HAVE AN EFFECTIVE "LOCKING" METHOD (SUCH AS A PIN) TO KEEP IT FROM LOOSENING UP OVER TIME. THIS THEN CAUSES THE U-JOINT TO MOVE ON THE SHAFT UNTIL THE ASSEMBLY SNAPS. SEEING AS THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE WITH ONLY TWO (2) WHEELS THIS HAD THE POTENTIAL TO SERIOUSLY INJURE OR KILL ME HAD THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP COMPLETELY WHILE TRAVELING AT THOSE HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I AM VERY LUCKY THE REAR WHEEL DID NOT LOCK UP COMPLETELY. I WILL BE CONTACTING YAMAHA CORP. ABOUT THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY AS I FEEL IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT IS BACKED BY A LOT OF ONLINE REPORTS AND HOPE IT WILL BE ADDRESSED BEFORE ANYONE CAN BE HURT OR KILLED BY IT IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. THE NUT THAT IS KNOWN TO LOOSEN UP IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ITEM MEANING THIS ISSUE IS NOT CAUSED BY A LACK OF MAINTENANCE! THIS MOTORCYCLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW BY MY PARENTS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE YAMAHA DEALER FOR SERVICE SINCE IT WAS NEW. IMAGES ATTACHED SHOW THE BROKEN SHAFT AND DAMAGE TO THE NUT FROM GETTING CAUGHT IN THE U-JOINT AFTER BREAKING. *TR