2005 Yamaha XV1700 Owner Complaints

(11104769) WHILE RIDING ON A CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP ALONG WITH THE REAR WHEEL. THE BIKE STALLED AND SKIDDED TO A STOP IN THE INSIDE TRAFFIC LANE. I COULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL BUT THE REAR TIRE WAS LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ANOTHER BIKER AND MOTORIST STOPPED, AND WE WERE ABLE TO DRAG THE BIKE OUT OF THE TRAFFIC LANES. I RETURNED LATER AND LOOSENED THE BACK AXLE, SLIPPED THE DRIVE BELT AND ROLLED THE BIKE BACK TO MY HOUSE WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY A MILE AND A HALF AWAY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB, I TOOK THE DRIVE PULLEY COVER OFF TO INSPECT THE PULLEY. THERE WAS NO PULLEY RETAINING NUT OR LOCK WASHER. THE PULLEY HAD COME OFF THE SHAFT AND WEDGED ITSELF IN THE HOUSING CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP. THE METHOD FOR ATTACHING THE FRONT DRIVE PULLEY ( 22MM NUT AND A WASHER W/ BENDABLE TABS) APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY DESIGN, A SIMPLE SEARCH IN ONLINE FORUMS YIELDS SCORES OF COMPLAINTS WITH STORIES OF IMPROPER TORQUE, WASHER TABS NOT HOLDING, AND THE NUT COMING LOOSE. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS BIKE SINCE MARCH AND HAVE ONLY PUT ABOUT A THOUSAND MILES ON IT. IT HAD AROUND 10,977 WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM A DEALER ON EBAY. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO DO THE 12K SERVICE ON THE BIKE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A FLAW THAT CAN VERY WELL CAUSE SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER. I THANK GOD I WAS IN CITY TRAFFIC AT LOWER SPEEDS WHEN THIS OCCURRED. IF IT HAD HAPPENED JUST HOURS EARLIER WHEN I WAS DOING 70 MPH ON THE 405, I PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE WRITING THIS. THIS IS NOT A WALK AROUND VISUAL INSPECTION TYPE OF ITEM THAT AN EVERYDAY RIDER WOULD GO THROUGH. THERE ARE SIX (6) 8MM HEX HEAD BOLTS HOLDING THE COVER ON THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO INSPECT THE INTEGRITY OF PULLEY, NUT, AND WASHER. A SLOTTED NUT WITH A PIN WOULD WORK BETTER THAN THIS SETUP. I'M THANKFUL I WASN'T CARRYING A PASSENGER.

NHTSA ID

11105238

Incident

Jun 21, 2018

Mileage

12,001 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 YAMAHA XV1700. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE DRY PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,001.

NHTSA ID

11104769

Incident

Jun 29, 2018

Mileage

12,001 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 YAMAHA ROADSTAR 1700. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 TO 50 MPH WHEN HE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE MOTOR AND THE REAR WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT A BOLT DETACHED FROM THE DRIVE PULLEY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT IT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,100.

NHTSA ID

10459083

Incident

May 19, 2012

Mileage

19,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 YAMAHA XV1700. THE CONTACT STATED DURING WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS FUEL WOULD LEAK OUT OF THE CARBURETOR ONTO THE EXHAUST AND THE MOTOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MORE FREQUENT AFTER FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED SINCE THE FUEL LEAK WAS A MAJOR CONCERN, A FIRE HAZARD, AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ID

10409252

Incident

Jun 7, 2011

Mileage

4,000 mi

MY 2005 YAMAHA ROADSTAR WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE CARBURETOR WHEN RESTARTING AFTER FUELING UP DURING A LONG ROADTRIP. THE HOT FUEL WAS POURING OUT OF THE CARB AND ONTO MY HOT MUFFLERS. AFRAID THE BIKE WOULD CATCH ON FIRE, I HAD TO WAIT FOR IT TO COOL DOWN TO RESTART WHICH IT DID. I TOOK THE BIKE TO HONDA/YAMAHA OF SAVANNAH WHERE THEY CLEANED THE CARB, REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER AND CLEANED OUT THE WHOLE GAS TANK. THE TECH STATED THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN DEBRIS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM LEAVING THE NEEDLE VALVE IN THE CARB UNSEATED AND ALLOWING FUEL TO PASS THROUGH AND LEAK OUT. THE TECH TOOK IT FOR A 5 MINUTE TEST RIDE AND THERE WAS NO LEAK AFTER RESTARTING. I DROVE ABOUT 200 HIGHWAY MILES AND REFUELED. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE BIKE, FUEL AGAIN POURED OUT OF THE CARB AND ONTO MY HOT EXHAUST. I LET THE BIKE COOL AND HAD A MECHANIC AT THE STATION LOOK AT THE FUEL FILTER AND CARB NO DEBRIS. I HELPED HIM PULL THE TANK AND WE CHECKED FOR DEBRIS. THERE WAS NO TRASH IN THE FUEL. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES ONLY DURING RESTARTING A HOT ENGINE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND WOULD LIKE YAMAHA TO LOOK INTO THIS AS THIS IS A COMMONLY REPORTED PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10342485

Incident

Jul 9, 2010

Mileage

11,900 mi

AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE AND MOTOR IS HOT, STOPPING FOR APPROX 15 MIN, THEN WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE CARB SPRAYS GAS OUT ALL OVER THE BASE OF HOT ENGINE AND EXHAUST PIPE. DOES IT EVERY TIME AFTER TRYING TO RESTART THE HOT(NOT OVERLY HOT, JUST HOT WEATHER) ENGINE. GAS IS BOILED AND VAPORIZED IMMEDIATELY. SEEMS TO BE AN OVERALL DESIGN PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275037

Incident

Jun 19, 2009

Mileage

14,000 mi

FUEL (GASOLINE) IS SPRAYED FROM REAR PORT OF CARBURETOR. AS MUCH AS 2 OZ. MAY BE EMITTED AND SPRAYED ON HOT EXHAUST PIPES AND ENGINE. THE FUEL IS IMMEDIATELY VAPORIZED. THIS ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT, THEN SHUT OFF AND ALLOWED TO SIT FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. IT DOES NOT SPRAY LIQUID GAS IF IMMEDIATELY STARTED OR IF ALLOWED TO COOL. MOTORCYCLE MAY CATCH FIRE IF THE OPERATOR TRIES TO START THE ENGINE AND IT HAPPENS TO COUGH OR BACKFIRE THROUGH THE INTAKE AT THE SAME INSTANT. PROBLEM IS FREQUENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10270115

Incident

May 26, 2009

Mileage

11,260 mi

IN APRIL OF 2008 I INSTALLED A METZELER 880 MARATHON MOTORCYCLE TIRE ON MY BIKE. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED FROM RONAYERS, WHICH IS AN ONLINE MOTORCYCLE PARTS STORE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALLING THE TIRE I WENT FOR A RIDE AND NOTICED A CONSTANT SHAKING OF THE HANDLEBARS....ITS AS IF I'M RIDING ON A VERY VERY WINDY DAY. THE BIKE WILL NOT TRACK STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. THIS ONLY HAPPENS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 50 MPH OR HIGHER. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DISTRIBUTOR RONAYERS WHO TOLD ME TO CONTACT METZELER WHICH IS A DIVISION OF PIRELLI TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER AND LET THEM CHECK IT BY RIDING AND SEE WHAT THEY TELL ABOUT THE TIRE. BELLS SUZUKI IN LEXINGTON WAS NICE ENOUGH TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE AT NO CHARGE....THEY ALSO CHECKED THE BALANCING, ALL OF WHICH WERE IN SPECS. THE TECH SAID THAT HE COULD INDEED FEEL WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT AND I SHOULD AGAIN GET IN TOUCH WITH THE MANUFACTURER. WELL IT IS SPRING HERE IN KENTUCKY AND AFTER RIDING THE BIKE YESTERDAY AND FEELING HOW THIS BIKE HANDLES I HAVE BEEN INCLINED TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. METZELER IS SUPPOSED TO BE THE BEST TIRE AVAILABLE FOR MOTORCYCLES, BUT THE BALD TIRE I TOOK OFF WAS BETTER THAN THIS TIRE. THE TIRE HAS LESS THAN 1000 MILES ON IT AND IS UNSAFE. I HAVE A METZELER 880 MARATHON TIRE ON THE REAR OF MY BIKE AND IT IS FINE BUT THE FRONT TIRE IS DEFINITELY BAD. I WANTED TO HAVE MY CASE DOCUMENTED BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268736

Incident

Apr 1, 2008

Mileage

19,000 mi

HAD A SMALL OIL LEAK FROM THE TRANSFER CASE, INSPECTION SHOWED THAT IT WAS THE OUTPUT SHAFT LEAKING NEXT TO THE FRONT DRIVE PULLEY. UPON INSPECTION DISCOVERED THAT THE NUT SECURING THE DRIVE PULLEY ON THE SHAFT WAS LOOSE, THE LOCK TAB WAS STILL IN PLACE. DISCOVERED THAT THE SPLINES ON THE FRONT DRIVE PULLEY WERE WORN AND THE PULLEY NOW FIT VERY LOOSE. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE LOCK TAKE TO WEAR FROM VIBRATION TO A POINT WHERE THE NUT COMES OFF, IF THAT HAPPENED THE PULLEY AND DRIVE BELT COULD COME OFF AND LOCK THE REAR TIRE. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE FOR THE PULLEY SPLINES TO WEAR TO A POINT WHERE THE PULLEY FAILS, AGAIN IF THE PULLEY FAILED THE REAR TIRE WOULD PROBABLY LOCK UP. THE ONLY WARNING WAS A SLIGHT LEAK NEAR THE SHAFT AND DRIVE PULLEY. I REPLACED THE SEAL, LOCK TAB AND PULLEY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214258

Incident

Dec 5, 2007

Mileage

20,137 mi

I HAVE A 2005 YAMAHA ROADSTAR MOTORCYCLE, WHICH LEAKS GAS AFTER RIDING, THEN STOPPING, THEN TRYING TO RESTART. IT LEAKS A LARGE AMOUNT OF GAS, EVEN WITH THE FUEL PETCOCK TURNED OFF. I HAVE BEEN TO 3 DEALERSHIPS, ONLY ONE WAS WILLING TO WORK ON IT, THE OTHERS SAID IT WAS NOT A PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF, AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT. THE ONE THAT DID WORK ON IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS FIRE HAZARD. ON THEORY IS POOR DESIGN, THAT THE GAS ACTUALLY "BOILS" BACK OUT OF THE CARB DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10198508

Incident

May 30, 2007

Mileage

7,280 mi

I HAVE A 2005 YAMAHA ROAD STAR. SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS BIKE I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH STICKING VALVES ON THE REAR CYLINDER. IT'S THE EXHAUST VALVE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT WAS A DANGEROUS RIDE. HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH NO WHERE TO GO. SEEMS YAMAHA IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION. IT'S DANGEROUS TO RIDE. POWER GOES TO NOTHING AND THE BIKE STALLS DURING SHIFTING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10197491

Incident

Jun 15, 2005

Mileage

1,200 mi

REAR CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVE STICKS CAUSING ENGINE TO LOSE POWER, BACK FIRE, CUT OUT & AT TIMES STALL. DEALER REJETTED CARBURETOR, CLEANED AIR FILTER, INSTALLED NEW SPARK PLUGS & SHOCK TREATED FUEL SYSTEM WITH RING FREE. NOTED ON REPAIR INVOICE THEY WOULD NOT BE LIABLE FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. CONDITION IS COMING BACK AFTER 2000 MILES. I NEED TO KEEP ADDING RING FREE TO MAKE BIKE RUN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10192875

Incident

Jul 4, 2006

Mileage

8,000 mi

MOTORCYCLE ENGINE WILL NOT RUN PROPERLY DUE TO VALVES STICKING. BACK FIRES AND DIES IN INTERSECTIONS. BACK FIRES AND SLOWS ON FREEWAY. WE BELIEVE IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MOTORCYCLE MAKER. THEY SAY IT WAS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE. ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE AS PER THE MANUAL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10191516

Incident

May 22, 2007

Mileage

6,000 mi

STICKING VALVES CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE TO RUN VERY POORLY IN TRAFFIC AND LOSS OF POWER, RESULTING IN NECESSARY STOPS ON HIGHWAYS. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY SPOKEN WITH YAMAHA DEALERS, AND THEY HAVE TRIED TO MAKE IT SEEM LIKE IT WAS MY FAULT. THEY SAID A VALVE JOB WOULD RUN AROUND $1000.00. THIS PROBLEM HAD BEEN OCCURRRING SINCE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS 1 MONTH OLD IN JANUARY 2005. *AK

NHTSA ID

10191400

Incident

May 20, 2007

Mileage

500 mi

ONE CYLINDER IN THE BIKE SEEMED TO GO DEAD AND WHILE TURNING THE MOTORCYCLE WILL BOG AND STALL....HAVE TO TAKE REALLY BIG CHANCES WHEN TURNING INTO TRAFFIC OR LANES ON HIGHWAY. HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN HIT 6 TIMES BY OTHER TRAFFIC....JUST BEFORE STALLING THERE IS WAS LOUD TAPPING NOISE AND THE MOTORCYCLE POWER VERY QUICKLY WHEN TRYING TO GIVE IT THE THROTTLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10191293

Incident

May 12, 2007

Mileage

4,201 mi

I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE OUT OF ASPEN COLORADO WHEN I STOPPED TO GET GAS. I FILLED THE TANK ON MY MOTORCYCLE. I THEN WENT INSIDE AND TOOK A 15 MIN BREAK. I THEN GOT BACK ON MY BIKE, STARTED IT AND TOLD MY WIFE TO GET ON. AS SHE WAS GETTING ON THE BIKE STALLED. UNKNOWN TO ME THE CARBURETOR STARTED OVERFLOWING, DUMPING FUEL ON THE HOT PIPES AND MY RIGHT BOOT. I HIT THE STARTER TO RESTART THE BIKE AND THE BIKE BACKFIRED SETTING THE VAPORIZED FUEL ON FIRE. WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THERE WAS SOME DAMAGE TO THE BIKE AND THE BIKE HAD TO BE TRAILERED BACK TO OHIO. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS INJURED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10186621

Incident

Jul 27, 2006

Mileage

16,000 mi

I HAVE A 2005 YAMAHA ROADSTAR 1700 MOTORCYCLE. WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS RESTARTED, AFTER IT IS HOT,GAS OVERFLOWS FROM THE CARBURETOR ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES , AND IT HAPPENED TO TWO FRIENDS WITH THE SAME MOTORCYCLE. I CALLED THE DEALER , AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WERE CONTACTING YAMAHA TO FIND OUT WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THEY HAD SEVERAL CALLS ABOUT THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO OTHERS. YAMAHA CLAIMED IT WAS CAUSED BY WINTER GAS. THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY IN A FEW WEEKS WHEN THE GAS COMPANIES CHANGE TO THEIR SUMMER FORMULA. AT LEAST 1 OUNCE OF GAS IS SHOT ONTO A HOT ENGINE AND EXHAUST. THIS IS A MAJOR FIRE HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10186480

Incident

Mar 24, 2007

Mileage

6,800 mi

I WAS RIDING MY 2005 YAMAHA ROADSTAR WARRIOR MOTORCYCLE FROM MY HOME IN THE DFW AREA TO HILL COUNTRY. APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES INTO THE TRIP MY BIKE WOULD CUTOUT EVERY NOW AND AGAIN, ALMOST LIKE SOMEONE WAS PUSHING THE KILL SWITCH ON THE MOTORCYCLE. IF I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH THE BIKE WOULD COME BACK TO AN IDLE AND IT WOULD BE FINE, I COULD CONTINUE ON RIDING. IT PROCEEDED TO DO THIS THE ENTIRE WEEKEND UNTIL I COULD GET HOME AND REPAIR IT. ONCE I GOT HOME I FOUND OUT THAT BOTH THE TABS THAT HOLD ON MY CPS (CRANK POSITION SENSOR) HAD BROKEN OFF. JUST AS THEY HAVE DONE ON MANY, MANY OTHER WARRIOR OWNERS THAT I HAVE TALKED TO. I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT SENSOR AND AS SOON AS IT GETS SHIPPED TO ME, I WILL BE REPLACING IT AND HOPING THAT IT DOES NOT FAIL AGAIN. YES, THE OLD PART WILL BE AVAILABLE IF NEED BE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10173818

Incident

Oct 29, 2006

Mileage

36,500 mi