2005 SUZUKI VL1500T — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

The contact owns a 2005 Suzuki VL1500T Motorcycle. The contact stated that while riding at an undisclosed speed, a fuel odor was detected. The motorcycle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 10,560.

STATOR FAILED AT 70-75MPH IN INTERSTATE TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING!! JUST HEARD A LOUD POP! AND THEN NO POWER AT ALL! NO POWER TO THE BIKE WHAT SO EVER. HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER REPLACING STATOR. 500 MILES LATER! AGAIN NO WARNING, JUST A LOUD POP AND NO POWER WHATSOEVER. ONLY THIS TIME I WAS ON A BACK ROAD. THERE IS NO WAY THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE! THE RECTIFER/REGULATOR ON THIS MOTORCYCLE IS THE SAME PART# THAT IS UNDER A RECALL NOTICE BY SUZUKI. WHY THESE BIKES WEREN'T INCLUDED IS A MYSTERY TO ME?? THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS BEEN A WEAK LINK WITH THESE BIKES SINCE THEIR INCEPTION. BUT IN 05 WHEN THEY SWITCHED FROM CARBS TO FUEL INJECTION IT HAS BECAME A LOT WORSE. THERE ARE SOME WITH AS MANY AS 7 STATORS THAT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON ONE MOTORCYCLE. I PERSONALLY HAVE GONE THROUGH 4 MYSELF. HOPEFULLY IF ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE DANGER IF NOTHING ELSE. SOMETHING WILL BE DONE. *KB

I HAVE A 2005 SUZUKI VL1500T AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE STATOR REPLACE ON MY BIKE AFTER IT ONLY HAS 13,880 MILES. IN 2010 WHILE RIDING MY BIKE IT WENT DEAD AND I HAD TO COAST MY WAY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DURING TRAFFIC. AFTER REPLACING MY BATTERY THE BIKE WORKED PERFECTLY. THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER I ROAD MY BIKE TO WORK AND WENT TO LUNCH AROUND 1PM. WHEN I GOT READY TO GO HOME AROUND 4PM IT WOULD NOT START. AFTER GETTING THE BIKE HOME I PLACED IT ON MY BATTERY PLUS TENDER CHARGER AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I LEFT THE BIKE ON THE CHARGER TILL THE NEXT MORNING. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO GO TO WORK AND THE BIKE CRANKED RIGHT UP BUT WHEN I WENT TO GO TO LUNCH THE BIKE WOULD NOT START. AFTER HAVING A DEALER LOOK AT THE BIKE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STATOR WAS BAD. AFTER REMOVING THE COVER AND LOOKING AT THE STATOR WE COULD SEE THAT PART OF IT WAS VERY DARK IN COLOR COMPARED TO THE REST OF IT. THE DISCOLORATION WAS FROM THE 12 O'CLOCK HOUR TILL THE 3 O'CLOCK OF THE STATOR. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STATOR FOR THE SAME BIKE IN 2008 AND MY BIKE USES R/R PART RECTIFIER ASSY 32800-41F11 (REPLACES 32800-41F10) WHICH IS SUBJECT TO RECALL IN THE LISTED MODELS. NOTE THAT ONLY 2008 AND NEWER MODELS WERE RECALLED, BUT THE C90 WHICH USES THIS COMPONENT WAS LEFT OFF. WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS IDENTICAL FAILURE SINCE 2005 MODEL C90S WERE FIRST SOLD, AND FAILURES HAVE CONTINUED TO BE DOCUMENTED, INCLUDING 2008 AND LATER MODELS. I BELONG TO A FORUM DEDICATED TO TEH C90 BIKES LISTED AT WWW.DELPHIFORUMS.COM/RLCMC AND WE HAVE NUMEROUS MEMBERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR STATORS. I AM HOPING THAT YOU WILL TAKE A MOMENT AND LOOK INTO INCLUDING OUR MODEL BIKES INTO THE RECALL YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE FOR LATER MODELS. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME. *KB