Motorcycle Recall Notices for April 2008
If your motorcycle has been recalled and you are not sure what to do, check out What To Do If Your Motorcycle Is Recalled.
Big Dog is recalling 38 rear passenger foot rest assemblies, Part No. 163-000040-01, sold as an accessory for MY 2008 Ridgeback motorcycles that were built between July 16, 2007 and February 28, 2008. The subject passenger peg assemblies may resonate and cause disproportionate and/or inappropriate loading on the mounting bolts. Over time, this could cause the bolts that retain the passenger peg assembly to break and allow the passenger peg assembly to detach from the motorcycle. This condition could occur without warning and could result in injury and/or a crash. Big Dog will notify owners and replace the defective pegs with a revised design. The recall is expected to begin on or before April 15, 2008. Owners may contact Big Dog at 1-316-219-6504. 08E-022
EBL Enterprises is recalling an undetermined quantity of 100 series motorcycle helmets for failing to conform to the impact attenuation, penetration, and labeling requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218, “Motorcycle Helmets.” In the event of a crash, the helmet wearer may become seriously injured without adequate protection. The manufacturer has not yet provided the agency with a remedy or a notification schedule. This recall was the subject of an investigation, OA-218-070822, conducted by the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance. 08E-024
Piaggio is recalling 128 aftermarket top cases sold as an accessory for MY 2007-2008 Moto Guzzi Norge motorcycles. The locating tab on the top case mounting bracket can break possibly allowing the top case to fall off the motorcycle. A vehicle crash could occur should the top case fall from the motorcycle, while the vehicle is in motion. The manufacturer has not yet provided the agency with a remedy or a notification schedule. This recall only pertains to aftermarket accessory top cases and has no relation to any original equipment installed on Moto Guzzi motorcycles. 08E-025
BMW is recalling 1,391 MY 2007 G650X Challenge, Country, and Moto motorcycles. The fuel lines may have been damaged during production and could develop a leak. The leak could occur either through the fabric inlay at the end of the line, or through a crack in the actual line. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire. Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel lines. The recall is expected to begin during April 2008. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117. 08V-106
BMW is recalling 744 MY 2007 G650X Challenger and Country motorcycles. The motorcycles may have had the wrong circular clip installed on the left hand side of the rear wheel bearing guide. This circlip can rub against a spacer bushing, creating metal shavings which may enter the wheel bearing, causing it to fail and the antilock brake system (ABS) may malfunction. This would be indicated by illumination of the ABS warning lamp. If this happened, the brakes would remain fully available to slow and stop the motorcycle. Depending on traffic and road conditions as well as a rider's reactions, this could increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will check and install a correct circlip, along with a new spacer bushing, wheel bearings, and shaft sealing rings. The recall is expected to begin during April 2008. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117. 08V-111
Kawasaki is recalling 31,789 Vulcan 900 Classic, Custom and Classic LT models, MY 2006 VN900B6F, VN900B6FL, VN900D6F, VN900D6FL, MY 2007 VN900B7F, VN900B7FL, VN900C7F, VN900C7FL, VN900D7F, VN900D7FL, MY 2008 VN900B8F, VN900B8FL, VN900C8F, VN900D8F and VN900D8FL motorcycles. The fuel hose may not be properly connected to the fuel injector delivery pipe. Continued use of the motorcycle can result in the fuel hose coming off, increasing the possibility of a fuel leak which could result in a fire or explosion. Dealers will inspect the fuel hose connection at the fuel injector and fuel pump and will replace the fuel hose if the joint lock is found to be damaged. The recall is expected to begin during April 2008. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381. 08V-114
Kawasaki is recalling 1,526 MY 2008 EX250J8F and EX250J8FL motorcycles. The front brake hose may be damaged over a long period of use. The brake hose tends to deflect forward during suspension travel. This allows the brake hose to contact the edge of the front fork outer tube. Over time, this contact could damage the brake hose causing the brake fluid to leak and resulting in a lack of front brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the front brake hose bracket. The recall is expected to begin during April 2008. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381. 08V-115
Triumph is recalling 265 MY 2008 Street Triple motorcycles. The rear suspension unit (RSU) damping performance is controlled by a mixture of gas and oil contained within the unit. This mixture is kept inside the unit by control oil/gas seals. If the seals become damaged, the mixture will escape. Once the mixture has escaped the RSU, the rear suspension will lose it damping ability. The rear suspension will be controlled only by the action of the coil spring also attached to the RSU. Dealers will replace the RSU on affected motorcycles. The recall is expected to begin during April 2008. Owners may contact Triumph at 1-678-854-2010. 08V-116
Big Bear Choppers is recalling 351 MY 2004-2005 Venom and Devil's Advocates Choppers and MY 2005 Sled Choppers motorcycles. Some motorcycles may have inadequate weld penetration between the neck, backbone, and down tubes of the frame. High loads created when riding on rough road surfaces, structural modification made to the frame by owners, and/or failure to maintain the specified torque setting of the top motor mount may cause the affected welds to crack. The welded area could break without warning resulting in neck separation and front-end collapse. This could result in a crash. Dealers will inspect and maintain the proper torque of the top motor mount or modify the frame as necessary. The recall began on March 26, 2008. Owners may contact Big Bear Choppers at 1-909-878-4340. Big Bear Choppers Recall No. 1B9/631. 08V-129
Polaris is recalling 1,585 MY 2008 Victory Vision motorcycles. The electrical contact plate on the ignition switch base may not be properly secured to the ignition switch body, which can cause an unexpected loss of electrical power to the vehicle. A loss of electrical power could cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a loss of control and a vehicle crash. Dealers will fully secure the ignition switch base to the switch body. The recall is expected to begin during April 2008. Owners may contact Polaris/Victory at 1-888-704-5290. Polaris/Victory Recall No. V-08-01. 08V-131
Honda is recalling 38,934 MY 2006-2007 VT600 and MY 2007-2008 VT750 and VTX1300 motorcycles. The motorcycles may have an improperly manufactured fuel control valve diaphragm and the fuel valve may drip fuel. In the presence of an ignition source, dripping fuel poses the risk of fire. Dealers will replace the fuel control valve diaphragm assembly,. The recall is expected to begin on or about April 10, 2008. Owners may contact Honda at 1-866-784-1870. 08V-141
Triumph is recalling 356 MY 2008 rocket III touring motorcycles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 120, "Tire Selection and Rims for Motor Vehicles other than Passenger Cars," and Part 567, "Certification." The certification label, located on the left front frame tube, includes incorrect information regarding tire sizes and pressures, as well as an incorrect gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). An owner may under-inflate the front tire if using the incorrect information. Under-inflation may cause a tire to slip or come off the rim causing a loss of control which could result in a crash. Dealers will install a new certification label. The recall is expected to begin on or about April 4, 2008. Owners may contact Triumph at 1-678-539-8782. 08V-145
Piaggio is recalling 10 MY 2008 Aprilia Tuono 1000 R motorcycles. A leak can occur in the front brake hydraulic line. This can cause a loss of brake pressure at the front brakes, increasing the risk of a crash. The front brake line will be replaced on all affected motorcycles. All motorcycles are still in transit to the United States. These motorcycles will be corrected at the warehouse before being sold to consumers. 08V-148
John Davis is a rider and writer. His current ride is Victoria, a candy red Honda VTX1800 Retro. John writes for several web sites and blogs in addition to his own site, NorthwestCycleReport.
