2004 YAMAHA V STAR 1100 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

I WAS DRIVING ON I-70 NEAR AURORA, CO, AT APPROXIMATELY 55-60 MPH IN THE FAR LEFT LANE WHEN I STARTED LOSING SPEED. I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVE SHAFT WAS STILL SPINNING AND MY SPEEDOMETER WAS STILL SHOWING MY SPEED AND WOULD CHANGE WITH THE AMOUNT OF THROTTLE THAT I GAVE IT. LUCKILY, WHEN I TURNED ON MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL, I WAS ABLE TO COAST THROUGH TRAFFIC TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND GET OFF OF THE ROAD. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO DISASSEMBLE THE FINAL DRIVE, I FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH HUB, WHICH IS ATTACHED TO THE REAR WHEEL AND ENGAGES INTO THE FINAL DRIVE, HAD HAD ALL OF ITS TEETH SHEARED OFF. I TOOK THE PART TO THE LOCAL YAMAHA DEALER AND SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND WE BOTH AGREED THAT IT LOOKED AS THOUGH THIS DAMAGE HAD BEEN HAPPENING OVER SOME LENGTH OF TIME AND IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE FULL FAILURE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YAMAHA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE PART CONSIDERING THE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF MATERIAL USED (THE FINAL DRIVE GEAR TEETH ARE STEEL AND THE CLUTCH HUB IS ALUMINUM) AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF PART FAILURE. I NOTICED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO REPORT THIS FAILURE AND I AM SURE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS AS WELL. THERE IS EVEN THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE FINAL DRIVE/REAR WHEEL COULD LOCK UP ON SOMEONE, CAUSING THEM TO CRASH.

VEHICLE IS A YAMAHA MOTORCYCLE. AT ABOUT 45 MPH LOST DRIVE POWER. NONE OF THE GEARS WOULD WORK TO PROVIDE POWER TO REAR END. REPAIR WAS DONE AT A YAMAHA REPAIR SHOP. PART REPLACED WAS CALLED THE FINAL GEAR CLUTCH HUB. REPAIR SPOKESPERSON INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE AND THE MANNER OF FAILURE WAS UNCOMMON. ESSENTIALLY THE GEAR TEETH ON THIS HUB DISINTEGRATED AND WITHOUT PROPER EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE RIDE BY COASTING OUT OF THE OTHER LANE(S) OF TRAFFIC. IF THE PART FAILED BECAUSE OF POOR OR INFERIOR MATERIALS USED IN THIS PART, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THIS COULD HAPPEN TO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS SERIES OF MOTORCYCLE AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH DEPENDING ON WHERE THE RIDER HAPPENS TO BE AT TIME OF FAILURE. *TR

DT: THERE WAS JUST A RECALL ON THE PASSENGER SEAT BOLT BREAKING LOOSE AND COMING OFF, BUT THE MAIN DRIVER'S SEAT IS THE ONE THAT HAS THE PROBLEM. ALSO, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE CARBURETOR AND FUEL PUMP CAN EMIT SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE THROUGH A CARBURETOR VENT ONTO THE HOT ENGINE CYLINDER; POTENTIALLY CAUSING FIRE AND EXPLOSION.*AK

DT: THERE WAS JUST A RECALL ON THE PASSENGER SEAT BOLT BREAKING LOOSE AND COMING OFF, BUT THE MAIN DRIVER'S SEAT IS THE ONE THAT HAS THE PROBLEM. ALSO, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE CARBURETOR AND FUEL PUMP CAN EMIT SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE THROUGH A CARBURETOR VENT ONTO THE HOT ENGINE CYLINDER; POTENTIALLY CAUSING FIRE AND EXPLOSION.*AK

DT: THERE WAS JUST A RECALL ON THE PASSENGER SEAT BOLT BREAKING LOOSE AND COMING OFF, BUT THE MAIN DRIVER'S SEAT IS THE ONE THAT HAS THE PROBLEM. ALSO, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE CARBURETOR AND FUEL PUMP CAN EMIT SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE THROUGH A CARBURETOR VENT ONTO THE HOT ENGINE CYLINDER; POTENTIALLY CAUSING FIRE AND EXPLOSION.*AK