2000 YAMAHA YZFR1L — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

17TH MARCH 2002 JASON SCOTT TABOR ON ACTIVE DUTY WITH US ARMY STATIONED IN GERMANY WHILE RIDING A YAMAHA YZFR1 MOTOR CYCLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DUE TO HIS BEING LISTED IN VERY CRITICAL CONDITION I FLEW TO GERMANY. I WAS PRESENT SEVERAL DAYS LATER WHEN THE US ARMY SAFETY OFFICER INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT STATED THAT PER HIS INVESTIGATION AND EYE WITNESS ACCOUNTS THAT HE HAD PASSED A CAR AND THAT IN THE PROCESS OF CHANGING GEARS ( FOOT SHIFT) HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE FOOT REST AND KNOCKED DOWN THE KICK STAND. DUE TO HIS MANEUVERING AROUND THE VEHICLE THE BIKE WAS LEANING OVER AND THE KICK STAND HIT THE ROAD SURFACE PER EYE WITNESS ACCOUNTS. HE ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL AND WAS TRYING TO HOLD ONTO THE MOTORCYCLE WHICH WAS TRYING TO THROW HIM OFF AS IT PIVOTED ON THE KICK STAND. THE BIKE ACCELERATED AND IT CRASHED INTO A ROAD SIDE POLE. HE INDICATED THE THE ENGINE SHOULD HAVE TURNED OFF ONCE THE KICKSTAND WAS MOVED WHILE THE BIKE WAS IN MOTION. SKID MARKS FROM THE KICKSTAND WERE VISIBLE ON THE ROAD SURFACE WHEN WE VISITED THE CRASH SITE. I WAS PRESENT SEVERAL DAYS LATER WHEN THE SAFETY OFFICER ACCOMPANINED BY A GROUP OF OTHER MILITARY OFFICERS INSPECTED THE MOTORCYCLE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE KICK STAND KILL SWITCH WAS INOPERATIVE. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS BECAUSE THE SCREWS THAT MOUNT THE SWITCH IN PLACE WAS MISSING. THEY FURTHER FOUND THE BIKE WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL WHICH CAME OUT MARCH 2000. I FOUND THAT ODD AS I HAD RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE AT MY ADDRESS IN SOUTH CAROLINA SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT BEFORE DEPARTING FOR GERMANY. THE MILITARY HAD A SEARCH MADE OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION RECORDS AND A LIKE YAMAHA WAS FOUND IN WURZBURG GERMANY AND THAT OWNER LIKE MY SON WAS THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER AND HE HAD NEVER BEEN INFORMED OF THE REQUIRED SAFETY RECALL. MY SON PASSED AWAY ON 19-MAY-1002 FROM THE INJURIES RECEIVED IN THE INCIDENT. *NLM

WHILE RIDING ALL GAUGES SWEEP, BATTERY SLOWLY DIES CAUSING THE BIKE TO STALL AND NOT TO RESTART. THE DEALER FOUND THE FAILED AND MELTED PLUG TO VOLTAGE REGULATOR AND BURNT WIRING. FIRST, THE DEALER REPLACED AT THE COST OF $150.00. THE PARTS WORKED FOR ABOUT 6 MOS/500 MILES. SECOND, THE PREVIOUSLY MELTED PLUG WIRING COMPLETELY FRIED. YAMAHA MADE A REPAIR KIT THAT DOES NOT FIT OR WORK PROPERLY, TABS ON CLIPS DO NOT HOLD IN HOUSING. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE PART(S) RECALLED BY YAMAHA WITH NO SUCCESS. YAMAHA SAID THAT THIS IS A WARRANTY ISSUE NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE ARE 3 (THREE), TO MY KNOWLEDGE, IN MY TOWN THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THESE SAME ISSUES. *LA

YAMAHA MODEL #YZFR1M-L; WHEN RIDING TACHOMETER/SPEEDOMETER GO OUT, WHEN THIS HAPPENS MOTORCYCLE DIES. BUT SINCE IT'S ROLLING, ITJUMPS/ STARTS BY ITSELF. IF THIS KEEPS HAPPENING, IT WILL DAMAGE THE BACK WHEEL. IT'S A REOCCURRING PROBLEM BECAUSE, MOTORCYCLE BEEN TO THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A FLY-WHEEL IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH WAS NOT SCREWED TIGHTLY. WHEN THE FLY-WHEELSPINS, IT CHANGES THE BATTERY. WHEN THE FLY-WHEEL DOES NOT SPIN, THE MOTORCYCLE LOSES ELECTRIC POWER KILLINGS THE MOTOR. *YH

TWO MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES RECEIVED CONCERNING KICKSTAND AND BRAKE PADS. TAKEN TO A DEALER , AND HE REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALLS BECAUSE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT BOUGHT THROUGH THEM. ASKING NHTSA FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

TWO MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES RECEIVED CONCERNING KICKSTAND AND BRAKE PADS. TAKEN TO A DEALER , AND HE REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALLS BECAUSE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT BOUGHT THROUGH THEM. ASKING NHTSA FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK