2006 Suzuki VZR1800 Owner Complaints

Popping out of second gear. Very dangerous! And can not get out of the way of on coming traffic! Sent Suzuki a email less than a year of purchase, and was told it would cost upwards to 2000.00. This should be a recall! And is a known problem with this bike!!! I complained the first time I drove it home about second gear scraping and hard to shift, and was told there’s nothing wrong with it just needs to be broken in, was less than a thousand miles on the bike and it started popping out of second, I called and went by many times complaining.

NHTSA ID

11429122

Incident

Aug 14, 2021

I HAVE A 2006 M109R WITH THE INFAMOUS 2ND GEAR SLIPPING OUT IN TO NEUTRAL ISSUE. THE BIKE HAS 12,000 MILES BUT THE SYMPTOMS STARTED AS EARLY AS 7,000 MILES. I HAVE THE BIKE IN THE SHOP WITH A $3600 BILL FOR FIXING THE TRANSMISSION. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS OF THIS NATURE WITH ANY OTHER MOTORCYCLES I'VE EVER OWNED. I OWN A 2016 DUCATI MONSTER 1200R THAT SHIFTS PERFECTLY. SUZUKI DROPPED THE BALL WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND SHOULD OWN UP TO IT.

NHTSA ID

11343955

Incident

Aug 7, 2020

THE 2006 VZR1800 SUZUKI MADE, AS WELL AS MODELS UP THOUGH 2010 HAVE SHIFTING FORKS IN THE TRANSMISSION THAT ARE TOO SOFT, THEY BEND AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SENT BACK INTO NEUTRAL. UNDER EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE RIDERS DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, >$3000+S&H [MYSELF INCLUDED], THE TRANSMISSION FULLY LOCKS UP, THE REAR WHEEL ALSO, AND THE MOTOR. CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OCCURS. RIDER INJURY IS HIGHLY LIKELY IN THIS EVENT. THE ABOVE MENTIONED EVENT HAPPENS WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS IN OPERATION WITH RIDER ENGAGED, ANYTIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

11321260

Incident

Aug 11, 2018

Mileage

22,500 mi

THE BIKE HAS A ROUTINE SLIP IN 2ND GEAR ONLY ABOVE 20 MPH AT A DEAD STOP. IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION, AS THE SLIP COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR RIDER INJURY. THE SLIPPING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR IS WORSE WHEN THERE'S A PASSENGER AND/OR HEAVIER LOADS. THIS ISSUE CAUSES YOU TO EITHER SKIP 2ND GEAR OR NOT RIDE THE BIKE AT ALL. THE REPAIR IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND TIMELY, IF YOU CAN EVEN GET ANYONE TO DO THE WORK. I'VE OWNED SEVERAL SUZUKI'S AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE, BUT THIS ONE IS VERY DISAPPOINTING. SUZUKI REFUSES TO ASSIST AT ALL, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL CASES OF THE EXACT SAME THING, ESPECIALLY WITH 2006 AND 2007 MODELS. MY BIKE ONLY HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT WITH LOTS OF CUSTOM ACCESSORIES. IT'LL ALL GO TO WASTE IF I TRADE OR SELL BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11241099

Incident

Jul 27, 2019

Mileage

16,823 mi

BOUGHT MY METZELER ME880 280/35 18 ON MAY 11TH. ON JUNE 18TH I NOTICED CRACKING ON THE OUTSIDE OF TIRE. WITH ONLY 1400 MIKES ON IT I CONTACTED ROCKY MOUNTAIN ATV ABOUT THE ISSUE. I ENDED UP SENDING IT BACK TO GET A REPLACEMENT. I RECEIVED MY NEWER TIRE ON JULY 7TH. AND INSPECTED THE TIRE NOTICED THE TIRE HAD THE MARKINGS OF WHERE THE FIRST TIRE CRACKED AT. SO NOW SENDING IT BACK FOR A REFUND VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS TIRE. AT THIS TIME

NHTSA ID

11004678

Incident

Jun 18, 2017

Mileage

23,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI VZR1800K6 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR BEFORE IT SEIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 0.

NHTSA ID

10678554

Incident

Apr 14, 2006

BIKE WOULD BUCK, AS IF MAYBE BROKEN TEETH ON GEAR, POP OUT OF GEAR, AND ON OTHER OCCASIONS ACT NORMAL, TOOK BIKE IN UNDER WARRANTY TOLD ME IT WAS A CLUTCH PROBLEM, KEPT BIKE EXCESSIVE TIME SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED CLUTCH. PICKED UP THE BIKE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED, TOOK IT BACK, THEY TEST DROVE IT, DID NOT SEE A PROBLEM. SO I TOOK IT HOME AGAIN PROBLEM GOT WORSE AGAIN, DID NOT HAVE TIME TO GET IT BACK TO THEM, WHEN I FINALLY GOT TIME TO TAKE IT BACK, THEY SAID IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY ATTEMPTEDE ANOTHER REPAIR ANYWAY, RETURNED IT TO ME SAYING IT WAS REPAIRED. TURNED OUT STILL THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEN STREESED IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THE REPAIR WOULD COST APPROX. $2000 TO REPAIR. TOO MAKE A LONGER STORY SHORT I HAVE LIVED WITH IT BUT NOW IT CONSTANTLY POPS OUT OF SECOND GEAR. THE ONLY WAY TO RIDE IT IS TO BYPASS 2ND GEAR!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10573834

Incident

Nov 15, 2007

Mileage

6,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI VZR1800 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND FORCED THE CONTACT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURRED IN SECOND GEAR. THE CONTACT CALLED TO SPEAK WITH THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513023

Incident

May 18, 2013

Mileage

21,000 mi

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF 2006 & 2007 SUZUKI M109R MOTORCYCLES THAT HAVE DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEMS ON THEM. THE REAR ROTOR IS SEPARATING FROM THE MOUNTING PLATE. IT IS VIBRATING, RATTLING AND UNSAFE TO RIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10423892

Incident

Aug 10, 2011

Mileage

11,200 mi

I RECENTLY TOOK A RIDE ON MY 2006 SUZUKI M109R AND THE TRANSMISSION KEPT SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF 1ST-4TH GEARS WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING. IF I ACCELERATED VERY SLOWLY THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN SO I RODE HOME SLOWLY. LAST FRIDAY THE 20TH OF MAY 2011 I WAS CHANGING MY OIL ON MY MOTORCYCLE AND BEFORE LOWERING THE LIFT TO CLEAN UP I NOTICED THE REAR SWING ARM WAS CRACKED IN 2 PLACES. IT IS CRACKED NEAR THE MOUNTING FLANGE FOR THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. I WAS NOT RIDING WHEN IT BROKE. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SPEED LIMIT ON I-90 GOING TO STURGIS,SOUTH DAKOTA IS 75MPH AND I BELIEVE THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. THE SWING ARM ON A MOTORCYCLE WITH ONLY 4100 MILES ON IT SHOULD NOT BREAK. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS PROBABLY MESSED UP BECAUSE OF THE SWING ARM FAILURE. I PROBABLY GOIN TO SELL THIS MOTORCYCLE WHEN I GET IT REPAIRED BECAUSE IT SCARES ME TO DEATH THAT EVEN A NEW SWING ARM COULD BREAK ON ME AS WELL. WHY WOULDN'T IT THE FIRST ON DID AT ONLY 4100 MILES!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10402472

Incident

May 20, 2011

Mileage

4,100 mi

THIS IS A SECOND GEAR ISSUE. THE BIKE HAS ALWAYS HAD A BAD MESHING PROBLEM BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR AS DOES ALL OF THE SUZUKI M109R BIKES. MY BIKE REALLY STARTED GETTING WORSE AT TOWARDS THE END OF 2010 AND FINALLY STARTED JUMPING OUT OF SECOND GEAR AT THE END OF SEPT., 2010. IT IS A CONSISTENT ISSUE THAT HAPPENS ANYTIME A LOAD IS PUT ON THE ENGINE IN SECOND GEAR WHICH EFFECTS THE ACCELERATION OF THE BIKE. THE PROBLEM WILL CONTINUE TO GET WORSE IF THE BIKE IS CONTINUALLY RIDDEN WHICH AFFECTS MY TIME ON THE BIKE AND TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS GOING TO COST ANYWHERE BETWEEN $2500-$3000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10399082

Incident

Sep 17, 2010

Mileage

28,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI VZR1800 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR FROM FIRST TO SECOND WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ONE OF THE NUTS ON THE CLUTCH WAS LOOSE AND THE SHIFTER WAS DEFECTIVE WHICH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000. UPDATED 06/07/11 *LJ UPDATED 09/01/11*JB

NHTSA ID

10398801

Incident

Apr 15, 2006

Mileage

1,600 mi

MY 2006 SUZUKI M109R, JUMPS OUT OF 2ND GEAR UNDER ACCELERATION. I HAVE TWO OF THESE BIKES AND THE SECOND BIKE EXPERIENCES THE SAME ISSUE FROM TIME TO TIME. THE FIRST BIKE I HAVE REPAIRED THE ISSUE ON MY OWN WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS AS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10398469

Incident

Mar 1, 2008

Mileage

22,000 mi

LEAVING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ACCELERATING THUR FIRST GEAR GOING TO SECOND GEAR, IT WILL POP OUT OF SECOND GEAR AND GO INTO NUETREL. AND NOW I HAVE TRAFFIC RUNNING OVER MY BACK. VERY SCARY.

NHTSA ID

10398972

Incident

Jun 15, 2009

Mileage

3,500 mi

MY 2006 M109R HAS SHIFTING PROBLEMS, IT SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND SOMETIMES MISSING SECOND GEAR. IM AFRAID THAT THIS COULD CAUSE ME TO WRECK OR BE IN AN ACCIDENT. SUZUKI SAYS THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH MY BIKE AND MANY MANY OTHERS SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR COSTLY REPAIRS THAT IS SUZUKI FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10398305

Incident

Aug 16, 2010

MOTORCYCLE "SLIPPED" OUT OF GEAR DURING ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10398212

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

10,000 mi

MY TRANSMISSION KEEP SLIPPING OUT OF SECOND GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10369179

Incident

Aug 1, 2010

Mileage

10,000 mi

FAULTY REAR BRAKE ROTOR. LOSE RIVETS CAUSING SEVER METAL NOISES AND POSES AS A SAFETY ISSUE IF RIVET EVER BREAK UNDER EMERGENCY BRAKING. SUZUKI HAS AN UPDATES PART NO. FOR THIS ROTOR AND SHOULD REPLACE ALL SUBSTANDARD ROTOR AS SAFETY ITEM. 2006 M109R WITH 6000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10331815

Incident

May 20, 2010

Mileage

5,500 mi

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. NOTICE IT WAS GETTING HARD TO PLACE INTO GEAR AND A MILE LATER THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT ENGAGE. CAN PUT IN NEUTRAL, BUT WHEN PUT IN FIRST GEAR IT WOULD JUMP WHILE HOLDING THE CLUTCH IN AND IT WOULD STALL AND NOT FUNCTION. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY THOUGHT THE CLUTCH PLATES NEEDED REPLACING AND THOUGHT THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PLATES WERE CHECKED AND IN GOOD CONDITION, AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WHICH COULD COST A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS. I WENT ON SEVERAL BIKE FORUMS AND THERE WERE MANY WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE BIKE IS ONLY THREE YEARS OLD AND HAS ONLY 18,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263805

Incident

Mar 26, 2009

Mileage

18,250 mi

I HAVE 2006 SUZUKI M109R AND MY BIKE IS HAVING CLUTCH JUDDER/SHUDDER, OCCASIONAL REAR WHEEL JUMP WHEN RELEASING CLUTCH ALSO RATTLE AT IDLE IN CLUTCH/CLUTCH HUB AREA, CLUTCH SPRINGS RATTLE WHILE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING DRIVEN OR IN NEUTRAL/IDLE AND SOMETIMES HARSH VIBRATION ON ACCELERATION BETWEEN 2800-4000 RPMS. MOTORCYCLE HAS LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON THE ODO AND CLUTCH RATTLING STARTED AT AROUND 1500 MILES. SOMETIMES IT'S VERY HARD TO ENGAGE CLUTCH AND CLUTCH NEEDS TO BE PRIMED EVERY TIME I'M TRYING TO PLACE IT INTO 1ST GEAR (I.E. HAVE TO HOLD THE CLUTCH IN FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS TO GET GOOD ENGAGEMENT) AND UNLESS IT'S PRIMED FOR A WHILE WHEN 1ST GEAR IS ENGAGED MOTORCYCLE WILL MAKE LOUD THUNK/CLUNK NOISE AND IT'LL LURCH/JUMP FORWARD. ON OCCASION 2ND GEAR WILL REFUSE TO ENGAGE I HAVE TO ENGAGE/DISENGAGE CLUTCH COUPLE TIMES IN ORDER TO GET IT INTO 2ND GEAR WHICH POSES POTENTIAL DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHER TRAFFIC DUE TO MOTORCYCLE LOSING SPEED AT HIGH RATE. TALKED TO MY LOCAL SUZUKI DEALER AND I WAS TOLD RATTLING IN CLUTCH AREA IS NORMAL AS IS GEARS SLIPPING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238915

Incident

Aug 12, 2008

Mileage

1,500 mi

SUZUKI M109R REAR BRAKE ROTOR VERY LOOSE, RATTLES OVER BUMPS AND SCREECHES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10236469

Incident

Jul 9, 2008

Mileage

8,400 mi

I HAVE NOTICED THE OPERATION OF MY CLUTCH AND GEARING ON MY SUZUKI M109R IS DETERIORATING. I HAVE RODE MOTORCYCLES FOR OVER 215 YEARS AND NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF MALFUNCTION. DECIDED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT AFTER IT NEARLY CAUSED ME TO BE HIT BY A TRUCK THIS PAST WEEKEND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235230

Incident

Jul 18, 2008

Mileage

5,100 mi

I RIDE A 2006 SUZUKI M109 AND THE ROTOR IS EXTREMELY LOOSE. CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAY THAT IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE THAT WAY. MY CLUTCH SEEMS TO BE GIVING ME PROBLEMS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235198

Incident

Jun 17, 2008

Mileage

8,700 mi

REAR BRAKE ROTOR ON 2006 M109R SUZUKI MOTORCYCLE, WHAT IS SUPPOSE TO BE A SEMIFLOATING ROTOR HAS TURNED INTO A FULL FLOATING ROTOR (THE RIVETS THAT ATTACH THE OUTER RING TO THE INNER RING HAVE BECOME LOOSE, BOTH SIDE-TO-SIDE AND FRONT-TO-BACK). SUZUKI TOLD ME AT 9K MILES THIS WAS NORMAL, YET OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THEIRS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. I HAVE SINCE BOUGHT ANOTHER ROTOR BUT I STILL HAVE THE OLD ONE. ALSO THE BIKE IS DEVELOPING A VIOLENT SHUTTER (CLUTCH RELATED I THINK) WHEN STARTING OFF, DOESN'T DO IT EVERY TIME BUT WHEN IT DOES THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT IT IS TO PULL IN THE CLUTCH ALL THE WAY AND START OVER. THIS COULD BE QUITE HAZARDOUS IF YOU HAVE TRAFFIC BEHIND YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234764

Incident

Sep 20, 2007

Mileage

7,000 mi

I HAVE A ROTOR FAILURE AND ALSO A CLUTCH PROBLEM ON MY BIKE.*TR

NHTSA ID

10234701

Incident

Jul 17, 2008

Mileage

15,000 mi