1998 YAMAHA FZR600 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

CONSUMER PLACED KEY IN THE IGNITION OF MOTORCYCLE TO START IT. WHEN CONSUMER REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION MOTORCYCLE WOULD STILL BE RUNNING. CONSUMER DROVE THE MOTORCYCLE TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT MOTORCYCLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. *AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON MY 1998 ROYAL STAR WILL CUT OUT AT INTERMITTENT TIMES CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT 8 OR 9 TIMES NOW SINCE THE 1ST OCCURANCES (5) ON 9/15/2001. THE MOTORCYCLE IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTEE AND A REPLACEMENT IGNITION SWITCH IS ON ORDER BUT I FEEL THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN A MOTORCYCLE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING AT SPEED THERE IS A SUDDEN DECELERATION THAT COULD CAUSE A RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. IF THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURS WHILE ATTEMPTING A PASSING MANEUVER IT COULD RAPIDLY RESULT IN A SERIOUS SITUATION WHERE THE CYCLIST HAS NO POWER TO MANUVER AND IS FACED WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS (ALMOST) IN THIS TYPE OF SITUATION WHILE TOURING THE GREEN MOUNTIANS IN VERMONT ON 9/15/2001. I LOST ENGINE POWER 5 SEPARATE TIMES DURING THAT TRIP, TWICE WHILE ON MOUNTAIN ROADS WITH NO SHOULDER TO COAST ONTO AND TRAFFIC RIGHT ON MY REAR FENDER. THE ONLY WAY TO RESTART THE ENGINE IS TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, TURN THE INGITION KEY OFF/ON AND THEN PRESS THE STARTER BUTTON. TRYING TO DO THIS WHILE SUDDENLY LOOSING POWER IN FULL TRAFFIC IS TRICKY EVEN FOR AN EXPERIENCED CYCLIST. COMPOUNDING IT WITH THE LOCATION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH (LOW FRONT LEFT FORK) REQUIRING THE RIDER TO REACH DOWN AROUND THE FUEL TANK MAKES FOR A VERY HAIRY SITUATION. IN MY RESEARCH ON THIS COMPONENT I HAVE FOUND THAT YAMAHA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS REDESIGNED THE IGNITION SWICH ASSEMBLY. BUT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT UNTIL AN OWNER ACTIVELY REQUESTS THAT IT BE DONE AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY WILL REPLACE THE SWITCH IF THE MOTORCYCLE IS OUT OF WARRANTEE. SINCE THE ROYAL STAR LINE OF MOTORCYCLES STARTED IN MODEL YEAR 1996 AND CAME WITH A 5 YEAR WARRANTEE THE ISSUE OF OUT OF WARRANTEE REPLACEMENT MAY START TO COME TO A HEAD. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE A RECALL AND NOT LEFT UP TO THE FATE OF THE CYCLISTS. I WAS FORTUNATE, OTHERS MAY NOT BE....