2003 YAMAHA XVS65 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

REAR DIFFERENTIAL PINION GEAR IS NOT LUBRICATED WITH GREASE DURING INITIAL ASSEMBLY. LUBRICATION OF THIS GEAR IS A COMMON PRACTICE IN THE MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY. THIS OVERSIGHT CAUSES THE GEAR TO SLOWLY WEAR AWAY OVER TIME CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE DRIVETRAIN. IF THIS OCCURS IN A BUSY INTERSECTION SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH MAY OCCUR. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM TO YAMAHA, YET THE COMPANY HAS FAILED TO CORRECT THIS DEFICIENCY OR MAKE A REPLACEMENT PART AVAILABLE. AT THE TIME WHEN MY PINION GEAR FAILED, I WAS IN MOTION AND THE SUDDEN LOSS OF FORWARD MOMENTUM PLACED ME IN THE PATH OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE WHICH, FORTUNATELY, WAS ABLE TO SWERVE AND AVOID A COLLISION. THE ATTACHED PICTURE SHOWS THE DEFECTIVE PART, WHICH IS THE RUSTED PIECE IN THE CENTER OF THE GRAY COLORED HOUSING.

AS I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE WORK AND HEAD BACK TO MY HOTEL, MY MOTORCYCLE STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO LOAD IT ONTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SENT BACK HOME TO BE INSPECTED. UPON INSPECTION MY MECHANIC HAD FOUND A GEAR IN MY FINAL DRIVE HAD CRACKED AND BROKEN. THE PART HAS MADE MY MOTORCYCLE INOPERABLE. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED ON A LONG RIDE HOME, THE DAMAGE COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE. *TR

YAMAHA XVS 650 DRIVE SHAFT COUPLER FAILS. COULD CAUSE RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL. FACTORY DOES NOT LUBRICATE PART AT DURING ASSEMBLY AND DOES NOT INFORM OWNER TO LUBRICATE. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TO MANY OWNERS. THIS HAPPENED TO ME, WITHOUT A MAJOR INCIDENT. YAMAHA DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I PURCHASED A USED V-STAR MOTORCYCLE AND, AFTER ONLY A FEW MONTHS OF RIDING IT, THE PIECE THAT WAS USED TO SECURE MY PEDAL SHIFTER BROKE OFF. I WAS ON A BACK ROAD UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND HAD TO PUSH MY BIKE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR SAFETY. AFTER I FOUND THE PROBLEM I REALIZED THAT THIS VERY IMPORTANT PIECE IS WELDED AND NOT BOLTED ON. I HAD TO RIDE IT HOME IN SECOND GEAR AFTER ANOTHER BIKER HELPED ME POP IT IN GEAR. I TALKED WITH A YAMAHA REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY IS UP SO THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THE ISSUE. I BELIEVE THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DESIGN FLAW THAT MAKES THIS MODEL VERY UNSAFE TO RIDE. *TR

A NON MAINTENANCE PART ON THE DRIVE TRAIN OF MY 2003 YAMAHA 650 MOTORCYCLE WENT OUT CAUSING THE BIKE TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED DEATH--NO WARNING.THE MECHANIC SAID THE PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN GREASED AT THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WITH THE RUST ,THERE WAS NO SIGN OF GREASE EVER PRESENT.I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVING OR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN--AND I FOUND OUT THAT YAMAHA RELEASED A LETTER IN 2005 THAT THE DRIVE TRAIN SHOULD BE INSPECTED AT EVERY TIRE CHANGE- THIS SHOWS YAMAHA IDENTIFIED A PROBLEM BUT THAT WAS ALL THEY WERE WILLING TO DO---I WOULD LIKE A RECALL ON THESE BIKES 2003 650 VSTAR--- TO SAVE LIVES BECAUSE OF THE HIDDEN PROBLEM OF THE DRIVE TRAIN--- TO REPAIR THIS BIKE THE ENTIRE DRIVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $775.00 AND THANKFULLY THAT WAS ALL-- CONSIDERING MY 15 YEAR OLD WAS ON THE BIKE WITH ME AT TIME OF FAILURE. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER-THE LIFE YOU SAVE MAYBE SOMEONE YOU KNOW.