INTERNAL YAMAHA DOCUMENTS HAVE SURFACED WHICH DETAIL A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN ALL 2015 R1/R1M MOTORCYCLES, RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE 2ND GEAR, AND DEFORMATION/BREAKAGE OF THE 3D AND 4TH GEARS. THE FAILURE MODE CAUSES THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP WITHOUT WARNING.THEY STATE THAT RIDERS SHOULD CEASE RIDING IMMEDIATELY. YAMAHA HAS STATED THAT NO WARRANTY EXTENSION WILL BE GRANTED. THE 2015 R1/R1M IS A HIGH PERFORMANCE MOTORCYCLE WITH 200HP AT THE CRANKSHAFT, AND APPROXIMATELY 185HP TRANSFERRED TO THE REAR WHEEL. THE ENGINE HAS A 14,000 RPM REDLINE. IT IS CAPABLE OF REACHING 200 MPH IN STOCK FORM. I NOT ONLY COMMUTE DAILY ON MY R1 , BUT ALSO PARTICIPATE IN TRACK DAY EVENTS. MY R1 WILL ROUTINELY ENDURE SPEEDS WELL UPWARDS OF 150+MPH, AND WILL SPEND SIGNIFICANT TIME AT REDLINE. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT MY 6 MONTH OLD, $23,000 MOTORCYCLE, WHICH WAS BUILT IN A CLEAN ROOM BY FACTORY CALIBRATED TORQUE MACHINES AND FACTORY TRAINED TECHNICIANS, WILL BE OPENED UP BY LOCAL DEALERSHIP MECHANICS WHO LACK THE SAME RESOURCESAND SKILLS. AN EXTENSIVE AND INTRUSIVE REPAIR SUCH AS THIS GREATLY DIMINISHES THE SAFETY AND VALUE OF THE MOTORCYCLE, I BELIEVE THAT YAMAHA SHOULD REPLACE THE AFFECTED ENGINES WITH NEW FACTORY ASSEMBLED, FACTORY SEALED UNITS.YAMAHA IS OFFERING NO RECOURSE BEYOND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, NO OTHER FORM OF COMPENSATION. I BELIEVE THAT THE R1/R1M RECALL SHOULD BE HANDLED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE APRILIA RSV4 RECALL ,OR THE BMW R1200. THE INTERNAL DOCUMENTS SURFACED ON THE 21ST OF NOVEMBER, AND DEALERSHIPS ARE INFORMING OWNERS WHO INQUIRE THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WILL NOT ARRIVE UNTIL SOMETIME IN JANUARY. I BELIEVE THAT YAMAHA IS INTENTIONALLY STALLING IN ORDER TO AVOID LEMON LAW STATUTES, AND WILLFULLY PUTTING R1 OWNERS AT RISK OF SEVERE BODILY INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE AS A CALCULATED FINANCIAL DECISION.
- NHTSA ID
- 10811070
- Incident
- Dec 4, 2015