2007 Suzuki Boulevard M109R Owner Complaints

SEVERE CLUTCH SHUDDER IN FIRST GEAR AND DROPS OUT OF SECOND FROM TIME TO TIME. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS

NHTSA ID

11180509

Incident

Feb 3, 2019

Mileage

10,200 mi

MY SUZUKI M109R 2007. 9K MILES START HAVING 2ND GEAR PROBLEM. LOUND CLUNKY SOUND AND MISSED SHIFTING 2ND GEARS. I'M SCARED TO END UP I'M THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD . I'M AT THE STOPLIGHT 1ST GEAR OK AND ONCE I HIT MY 2ND GEARS I SUDDENLY SLOW DOWN AND DOWN OR UP SHIFT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SPEED UP AGAIN WHILE CAR BEHIND ME HONKING AT ME LIKE CARZY

NHTSA ID

11124075

Incident

Sep 2, 2018

Mileage

5 mi

2ND GEAR TRANSMISSION ISSUE. AS I PULLED OFF FROM A GREEN LIGHT IN THE CITY I MOVED INTO 2ND GEAR AND THE BIKE LOST POWER LIKE IT WASN'T IN GEAR AND THEN IT LAUNCHED ITSELF AND I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I WENT TO 3RD AND 4TH GEAR EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL I HAD TO GO INTO 2ND GEAR IT WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR.

NHTSA ID

11081073

Incident

Mar 17, 2018

Mileage

5 mi

EXPERIENCED " INTERMITTENT " CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT SHUDDER IN 1ST GEAR DURING ENGINE WARM UP AND AFTER ENGINE IS WARM. SHUDDER IS SUDDEN AND OCCURS DURING THE MIDPOINT RANGE OF CLUTCH RELEASE. SHUDDER IS SOMETIMES VIOLENT. ISSUE COULD RESULT IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IF ROAD CONDITIONS ARE SLICK. WET OR SANDY. THIS ISSUE IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

NHTSA ID

10947933

Incident

Jan 27, 2017

Mileage

20 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI BOULEVARD M109R. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V148000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE MOTORCYCLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT JUMPED OFF THE VEHICLE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,800. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10926736

Incident

Apr 13, 2016

Mileage

7,800 mi

MOTORCYCLE LOST 2ND GEAR. WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND ALMOST GOT RAN OVER DUE TO THE ISSUE. AFTER DOING FURTHER RESEARCH I FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME BIKE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. AFTER TALKING TO SUZUKI CORPORATE THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD MANY CALLS ON THE ISSUE AND THAT THEY UPDATED THE PART NUMBER. WHEN I GOOGLE SEARCHED THE ISSUE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. TO FIX THE ISSUE IS COSTING THE OWNER 2000 TO 3000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS HAPPENING ANYWHERE FROM 8000 MILES AND UP. THERE EVEN APPEARS TO BE COURT CASES WHERE SUZUKI SETTLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10919865

Incident

Oct 10, 2016

Mileage

21,200 mi

WHEN SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR, THE BIKE FEELS AS IF IT IS IN 2ND. UPON ACCELERATION FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS, THE BIKE IMMEDIATELY DUMPS INTO NEUTRAL! IN ORDER TO RIDE, I HAVE TO LIFT THE GEAR SHIFTER WITH MY FOOT AND HOLD IT IN 2ND GEAR TO ENSURE I CAN GET ENOUGH SPEED TO SHIFT TO 3RD. SOMETIMES, I HAVE TO DOUBLE SHIFT INTO 3RD BECAUSE ONCE I REMOVE MY FOOT, THE BIKE SOMETIMES DUMPS ITSELF ONTO NEUTRAL AGAIN. AS LONG AS I BARELY (I MEAN BARELY) APPLY ANY ACCELERATION IN 2ND GEAR, THE BIKE WILL STAY IN GEAR A BIT LONGER - BUT IT WILL STILL DUMP ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL IF I DON'T SHIFT TO 3RD BEFORE IT HAPPENS! I'VE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED SO MANY TIMES, IT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY. TURNING A CORNER IN 2ND GEAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE, AS THE BIKE WILL LOSE POWER IN A TURN AND I HAVE TO HURRY AND DOUBLE CLICK INTO 3RD AND JUST RIDE AT A LOWER RPM UNTIL THE BIKE PICKS UP SPEED. FOR ABOUT A YEAR, I'VE BEEN HOLDING IT INTO 2ND WITH MY TOE LIFTING THE SHIFT LEVER (MORE THAN NOT) TO ENSURE I CAN MAKE ENOUGH SPEED TO EASE INTO A DECENT 3RD GEAR. I FEEL THE MORE I DO IT, THE MORE I'M ALLOWING DAMAGE TO OCCUR TO PARTS THAT I NEED TO HAVE FIXED BEFORE THIS BEAUTIFUL MACHINE BECOMES LAWN FURNITURE.

NHTSA ID

10919739

Incident

Apr 15, 2015

Mileage

8,330 mi

MY 2007 SUZUKI BOULEVARD M109R IS A DEATH TRAP! IT WILL FALL OUT OF SECOND GEAR AT ACCELERATION. MY GIRLFRIEND AND I WERE RIDING AND I WAS ENTERING THE FREEWAY ,MY M109R FELL OUT OF SECOND GEAR INTO NEUTRAL,THAT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY DOUBLE CLUTCH AND JUMP IT INTO THIRD GEAR WITH A FULL THROTTLE IN ORDER NOT TO BE REAR ENDED BY ON COMING TRAFFIC. SUZUKI SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX WHAT THEY KNOW IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT BEFORE SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS. I PAID GOOD MONEY FOR MY MOTORCYCLE SUZUKI NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCTS THEY SELL AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE 100%SAFE BEFORE SELLING THEM TO THE PUBLIC. THEY SHOULD ALSO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND FIX THE DEFECT SO WE CAN ENJOY THE BIKE THE WAY WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO, WITH PEACE OF MIND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643210

Incident

Jul 4, 2014

Mileage

24,000 mi

I WAS WASHING MY MOTORCYCLE, HAD IT OFF THE GROUND ON A LIFT, AND WAS CLEANING THE REAR WHEEL AND I SPIN THE WHEEL AS I CLEAN IT. IN FORWARD SPIN IT SPUN FINE BUT WHEN I REVERSED THE SPIN IT WOULD DRAG AND BIND. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THAT WHEN I SPUN THE WHEEL IN REVERSE, I NOTICED THE INSIDE BRAKE PAD WOULD PROTRUDE OUT FROM BETWEEN THE BRAKE PAD HOUSING AND THE BRAKE ROTOR. I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE BRAKE PAD COMPLETELY FREE BY HAND FROM THE BRAKE HOUSING...IT HAD TOTALLY SEPARATED FROM THE BRAKE HOUSING. I CALLED THE RETAILER AND THEY COULD DO NOTHING WITHOUT A RECEIPT. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY SAID THEY WANTED ME TO SEND THE PARTS TO THEM AT MY COST AND THEY WOULD SEND ME NEW PADS. I SAID NO I WILL PAY NOTHING FOR YOUR PROBLEM AND THIS IS POTENTIALLY A LIFE OR DEATH MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS REAR BRAKE STOPPING POWER WOULD BE ZERO IF THAT PAD FALLS OUT WHILE BRAKING. MANUFACTURER: VOLAR MOTORSPORT 833 LAWSON STREET, CITY OF INDUSTRY, CA 91748 626.964.3399 [email protected] <[email protected]>; HERE IS MY INITIAL EMAIL TO VOLARMOTORSPORT.COM: ON 9-2-2014 REGARDING PROBLEM..................................... SUZUKI M109R, 2007 REAR BRAKE PADS VMFA231 LAST CHANGED BEFORE DEFECTIVE ONE DISCOVERED 11-27-2011 @ 27,032 MILES; CURRENT MILEAGE 38,652 INSIDE PAD TOTAL SEPARATION FROM HOUSING. WAS WASHING MY BIKE UP ON ITS STAND AND WAS SPINNING THE REAR WHEEL TO CLEAN IT AND WHEN I SPUN IT IN REVERSE IT WAS BINDING? I INVESTIGATED AND, WHILE WATCHING, WHEN I SPUN IT IN REVERSE, THE PAD WAS MOVING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE HOUSING AND BINDING THE WHEEL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL PAD THE REST OF THE WAY OUT PRETTY FREELY. LARGE SAFETY ISSUE IN MY OPINION AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10632021

Incident

Aug 27, 2014

Mileage

38,652 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI M109 BOULEVARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT DOWN TO SECOND GEAR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SHIFTING FORK WAS WORN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,020.

NHTSA ID

10586622

Incident

May 3, 2014

Mileage

98,020 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50MPH AND TRIED TO CHANGE GEARS AND WAS NOT ABLE TO. MY CLUTCH CABLE WAS IN PERFECT ORDER BUT I COULD NOT ENGAGE THE CLUTCH. I ALMOST REAR ENDED A CAR BECAUSE I COULD NOT ENGAGE THE CLUTCH. I GOT THE BIKE INTO NEUTRAL FINALLY WHILE DODGING CARS ON A BUSY ROAD. I BELIEVE THE ONLY REASON I DID NOT CRASH OR GET KILLED IS BECAUSE OF MY 30 PLUS YEARS OF EXPERIENCE RIDING MOTORCYCLES. I GOT A FRIEND TO TOW ME HOME AND AFTER READING FORUMS SUCH AS WWW.M109RIDERS.COM I FOUND OUT THAT MY TUBULAR NUT BACKED OFF. THIS IS A NON SERVICEABLE PART ACCORDING TO SUZUKI. THERE IS A FIX FOR IT THAT IS DARN NEAR FREE JUST LOOK AT WWW.M109RIDERS.COM. I WILL BE DOING THIS FIX AS SOON AS MY NEW DRIVE PLATE AND WAVE WASHER GET DELIVERED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I URGE ANY M109 RIDER TO SEARCH THAT WEBSITE AND RESEARCH THE COMMON PROBLEMS ON THIS BIKE.. OH AND SHAME ON YOU SUZUKI! *JS

NHTSA ID

10545445

Incident

Sep 12, 2013

Mileage

29,000 mi

THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A SERIOUS SHUDDER ISSUE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOPPED POSITION. IT SHIFTS HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. IT FREQUENTLY SLIPS OUT OF 2ND GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL WHILE RIDING IN 2ND GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536752

Incident

Sep 5, 2012

Mileage

4,500 mi

ON STARTING OUT FROM STOP, VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY SPINNING THE REAR TIRE IN A RATCHETING MOTION EXCESSIVELY ON DIRT OR GRAVEL SURFACE AND MORE VIOLENTLY CHIRPING OF THE TIRE ON PAVED SURFACES. THE REAR SWING ARM ALSO SHAKES VIOLENTLY AND COULD SUSTAIN UNNOTICED DAMAGE TO THE REAR SUSPENSION AND DRIVETRAIN. CLUTCH PRODUCES A HIGH FREQUENCY WARBLING SOUND AND CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY, IF NOT DISENGAGED THIS CONDITION WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE CLUTCH MATCHES THE ENGINE OUTPUT SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10523564

Incident

Jun 20, 2009

Mileage

11,000 mi

I WAS COMING TO A RED STOP LIGHT PULLED IN MY CLUTCH TO STOP.WHEN I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH THE BIKE JUMPED AND KEPT GOING I HAD TO SHUT DOWN THE MOTOR TO STOP. THE CLUTCH LEVEL FEELS FINE BUT THE CLUTCH WILL NOT DISENGAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503374

Incident

Mar 16, 2013

Mileage

3,077 mi

CLUTCH SHUDDER WHEN GOING STARTING OUT IN FIRST.. ALSO SLIPS OUT OF SECOND AT TIMES. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE M109R. THIS IS POTENTIALLY A LIFE AND SAFETY ISSUE WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10490847

Incident

Dec 20, 2012

Mileage

17,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI BOULEVARD M109R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ENGAGING FIRST GEAR AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUTTER VIOLENTLY AND STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 11,100. UPDATED 01/29/13*LJUPDATED 1/30/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID

10487233

Incident

Mar 1, 2012

Mileage

9,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI BOULEVARD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,200.

NHTSA ID

10475865

Incident

Sep 11, 2012

Mileage

11,200 mi

WHEN RIDING AND CHANGING GEAR FROM 1ST TO SECOND GEAR, THE BIKE EITHER GOES IN TO NETURAL OR HAS A GRINDING NOISE BETWEEN GEARS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS COMMON FOR THE BIKE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE. I CHANGED THE OIL AND IT STILL HAPPENS. THIS IS A DEFECT AND THE GEAR TRANSISTION FROM 1-5 SHOULD BE SMOOTH AND SEAMLESS, IT TAKES EFFORT TO CHANGE FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. SUZUKI HAS A PROBLEM AND THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10465948

Incident

Jul 13, 2012

Mileage

5,400 mi

2ND GEAR EITHER FAILS OR CREATES THE BIKES TO LURCH WHEN YOU INCREASE THE RPM'S IN 2ND GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10465639

Incident

Jan 20, 2012

Mileage

17,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2007 M109 IN 2008 BRAND NEW. I CONSIDER MY RIDING STYLE TO BE AVERAGE. I DON'T SMOKE MY TIRES AND I DON'T RACE MY BIKE. I MOVED OUT OF A BOULEVARD C50 TO THIS BIKE. AT THE TWO YEAR MARK, MY BIKE STARTED TO SLIP OUT OF 2ND GEAR WITH 12K MILES. IT USUALLY HAPPENED ON THE THROTTLE UP TO THIRD GEAR. AT THIS POINT IT WOULD ONLY SLIP OUT AND BACK IN WHEN I THROTTLED BACK. I COULD NOT PIN POINT THE REASON IT CAN OUT SO I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK IT. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE BUT DID CHECK EVERYTHING ELSE. I MOVED TO ANOTHER STATE WHICH HAD BETTER WEATHER, SO I RODE MORE AND THE PROBLEM GOT WORST. I JUST PASSED 16K AND IT STARTED FALLING OUT COMPLETELY OF 2ND GEAR TO NEUTRAL. THE SPEED, DIRECTION OR THROTTLE POWERS WERE IMMATERIAL WHEN IT FELL OUT OF GEAR. I HAVE BEEN RIDING EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID OF THE DAY THAT IT WOULD COMPLETELY FALL OUT OF SECOND AND LEAVE ME IN NEUTRAL. THIS DEFECT PLACES ME IN DANGER SO I HAVE PARKED THE BIKE FOR THE LAST TWO MONTHS AS I LOOKED FOR A FIXED. THE TWO LOCAL DEALERS TELL ME THAT THEY HAVEN'T HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND QUOTE ME A LIST OF REPAIR ITEM WITH LABOR COST. I DON?T RIDE THE BIKE NOW BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10464471

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

14,000 mi

TURNING A CORNER IN SECOND GEAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT POPPED OUT INTO NEUTRAL. BECAUSE I WAS LEANING WITH THE BIKE IT DROPPED TO THE GROUND AND HIT THE EXHAUST. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STRAIGHTEN IT OUT BEFORE DROPPING IT. THIS BIKE HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE AND NOW I DON'T EVEN RIDE IT. SUZUKI DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS BIKE'S TRANSMISSION. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE. DO NOT BUY ONE. *TT

NHTSA ID

10462850

Incident

Jun 15, 2012

Mileage

13,000 mi

THE BIKE SLIPS OUT OF 2ND GEAR AND GOES TO N IF THE LOAD IS TO HIGH. IN FIRST GEAR IS DOES THE SAME BUT NOT AS MUCH...GOING BACK TO 2008 I WAS IN A ACCIDENT THAT I REMEMBER THE BIKE WENT INTO N AND I HIT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457420

Incident

Aug 28, 2008

Mileage

5,500 mi

WHEN SHIFTING TO 2ND GEAR IT IS JUMPING OUT AND NOT ALLOWING YOU TO ACCELERATE. I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TWICE IN A ROW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10456113

Incident

Apr 20, 2012

Mileage

25,341 mi

BIKE POPS OUT OF 2ND AS HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OTHER FOLKS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. SUZUKI WANT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM OR FIX. DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURED DEFAULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10455124

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI BOULEVARD M109R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, HE PULLED THE CLUTCH LEVER IN ORDER TO DISENGAGE THE MOTOR BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING SINCE THE CLUTCH HAD BECOME STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ID

10452300

Incident

Mar 18, 2012

Mileage

7,000 mi