Dear Friends,
How many more Road Star owners will be injured or killed before Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA will respond to the transmission locking up between 6,000 21,000 miles?
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA has been notified repeatedly of their Road Star motorcycles experiencing transmission failures (engaging 4th gear at speeds of 35 mph on up); therefore, Yamaha is guilty of "gross negligence".
I now have 13 documented riders who have experienced transmission failures out of 126 riders who volunteered their information in a Road Star Riders forum member's survey. These riders are being seriously injured! That's over 10% on just this forum alone. There are 100 active motorcycle forums.
My Road Star, purchased 14 months ago on May 7, is now at that crucial mileage marker and neither Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, in Cypress, California, nor our local Yamaha dealer where I purchased my Road Star, have responded to my letter, a plea for help, on May 2. This was over two very long months ago.
An additional reported problem, which may or may not be related, is the knock coming from my Road Stars engine, just three months after purchase. Yamaha has not responded to this problem either. As odd as it may sound, I really love riding my Road Star motorcycle more than any of the other 31 different bikes I have owned/driven for an extended period of time.
I am the sole support of my family. Needless to say, if anything happens to me, it also happens to my family.in addition, ever since I purchased my Road Star, I have been inventing new products for motorcycles.
My ideas were so unique that I decided to open a business on October 9. I have placed every penny I had, borrowed ten times that amount, to start this business. I need a reliable motorcycle to promote my inventions at the various bike shows across the United States.
The thought of my possible demise every time I shift to engage fourth gear is extremely unnerving for me; not to mention, how my family worries if I will make it back in one piece or at all. My income revolves around my being able to ride my bike and create new products needed.
I purchased a $9,800 Road Star and have added $3,700 in modifications. To sell my Road Star one piece at a time is not an option. I can not sell the Road Star, I can not afford to purchase a safe motorcycle, so I am at an impasse.
Selling the bike is not an option, as who, in their right mind, would purchase my Road Star knowing that the transmission may or may not lock up on them while riding. I would not be able to live with myself if someone else was hurt or killed as a result of my Road Star being sold.
If they drive the bike and hear the knock it will be a no sale even if the dealer says it does not exist. Negligence, failure to disclose and possible voluntary manslaughter are just a few of the charges which could be pursued. This should be of the utmost concern for those who are planning to sell their Road Star motorcycle.
In other words, as a complete bike, the Road Star has a resale value of ZERO; however, this is in addition to the possibility of forcing the closure of our business, overnight, if I am maimed or killed.
I am notifying our insurance company (Progressive) that they might be paying for a "rider no-fault" injury or death claim, and a totaled motorcycle, which could have been avoided if Yamaha Motor Corp. USA had responded to our complaints.
If a deadly accident occurs, they should impound the bike and have it inspected by an independent mechanic for the cause; possibly a transmission lock up.
When Honda, Kawasaki and BMW had difficulties with their motorcycle transmissions, they sent trucks to the customers homes to pick up the motorcycles, to be assured that no one would be hurt in the process of their recalls.
What is Yamaha doing? I have spoken to Yamaha Dealers, in and out of our area, who have stated that the transmission locking up and the engine knock is just a phantom internet fabrication and does not really exist. Therefore, Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA is doing nothing and denying the reality and seriousness of these issues!
What Yamaha should/could do:
1.initiate an immediate recall of suspected faulty Road Star motorcycle models.
2. Offer to repair or replace, in a reasonable and agreed upon amount of time, the transmission and engine knock in suspected Road Star motorcycle models.
3. Buy back Road Star motorcycles at purchase price, including any verifiable improvements, with no deduction for mileage or depreciation.
4. Offer a trade-in for full value of purchase price and any verifiable improvements on a newer model, not in the affected production dates.
5. Submit, in writing, that Johns motorcycle is free from all engine/transmission defects with unlimited mileage.
At this point, I have requested detailed statements from fellow Road Star riders who have encountered their bike's transmission locking up and/or an engine knock. I will use these statements as evidence that there is an existing problem with the reported transmissions locking up and the engine knocks.
If you have any helpful comments or suggestions to further this effort, please let me know. The above has been posted on several internet forums and sent to 34 contacts to date. I have encouraged Road Star Rider Forum members to send their concerns or complaints, or copy this one, to their local dealers and others I have listed on their website, including:
Ms. Lisa Ibarra, Customer Relations, Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, 6555 Katella Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630
I would like to thank, in advance, those of you who will be providing information, your time and your effort to see that these issues are no longer ignored by Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA.
Riders are being seriously injured. "Mr. Biker" (real name, address, phone and email withheld due to pending litigation) had no warning at all when his Road Star motorcycle's transmission froze/locked up.
His bike immediately shut off, pulling in the clutch did not release the frozen back tire; rubber burning, lots of smoke and he flew off his bike and sustained the following injuries:
A fractured skull,
A concussion
Nine (9) broken left ribs
A broken left shoulder
A collapsed lung and
An injured spleen, they almost had to remove, but it was spared.
Lori, my wife, personally spoke with "Mr. Biker" by telephone, July 5 (yesterday) and he is still in very bad shape. After two months healing time, four (4) ribs are still not mended; he will most likely have migraine headaches for six months; the use of his left side is limited due to the broken shoulder; he had good vision before this accident and told me, "I could see a Woodchuck at 500 yards", but now his vision is blurred.
Mr. Biker was only traveling 35 mph... I engage 4th gear on the freeway at 75 mph (it's the speed limit out here). A transmission failure would be deadly at that legal speed.
Please help me as this needs to be brought to the public's attention. It could save a life.
Thank you for your time,
John
Collbran, Colorado
U.S.A.
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