2006 KAWASAKI VN750A6F — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 KAWASAKI VUCAN MOTORCYCLE IN 9/05. SINCE THE FIRST DAY, THE CLUTCH GRABS AND JERKS THE BIKE ON EVERY COLD STARTUP. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS. ONE OWNER INFORMED ME IT CAUSED HIM TO FALL AND BREAK A BONE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERS I HAVE CONTACTED INFORM ME THAT I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE BIKE IS PERFORMING TO DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS. IT IS CLEAR FROM MY RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT, AND THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERS INFORM ME THAT EVEN UNDER WARRANTY, I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR UNLESS AND UNTIL THE MANUFACTURER ISSUES A RECALL. JANUARY 4 I ALMOST FELL AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT. WHEN I LEAVE FROM WORK I HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY TURN INTO THE LANE OF TRAFFIC AS THE CLUTCH IS SLIPPING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I FOUND A SOLUTION POSTED ON THE INTERNET. ONE OWNER SHOWS A DIAGRAM WHERE A SERIES OF HOLES DRILLED INTO THE CLUTCH BASKET ALLOWS OIL TO SPREAD OVER THE CLUTCH FAST ENOUGH ON COLD STARTUP TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE THIS REPAIR, BUT THEY ARE NOT DOING SO. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE IN THE MORNING WITHOUT WARNING, THE CLUTCH GRABBED DUE TO A LACK OF LUBRICATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DECLARED THAT EVEN IF THERE WERE A DESIGN DEFECTS IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNLESS A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE WINTER WEATHER WOULD MAKE THE PROBLEM WORST. THE MOTORCYCLE MAKE WAS A 2006 KAWASAKI VN750A6F. *AK UPDATED 02-01-08. *KB