NHTSA complaint: 2004 YAMAHA XVS11 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MY PARTNER DROVE A V STAR 1100 2004. SHE HAD COMPLAINED OF THE BACK TIRE LOCKING UP, BUT UPON SERVICE, NOTHING WAS FOUND. SHE HAD HAD A PROBLEM WITH METAL FLECKS IN THE OIL. ON SEPT 16, 2005, WHILE DRIVING NORTH BOUND ON I-15 NEAR HESPERIA, CA MOTORCYCLE WAS REAR ENDED CAUSING BACK TIRE TO LOCK UP AND THROW THE DRIVER OVER THE HANDLE BARS. DRIVER TOOK OFF AND HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. MY PARTNER WAS KILLED ALMOST INSTANTLY. MY CONCERN IS WHETHER HER BACK TIRE LOCKED UP BEFORE SHE WAS HIT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET A CLEAR ANSWER ON THIS. THE CHP WERE NOT ABLE TO GET AND EYE WITNESS TO THE WHOLE EVENT TO SAY WHICH HAPPENED FIRST. I HAVE PICTURE OF THE DAMAGED MOTORCYCLE THAT I TOOK AT THE SCRAP YARD. I DO KNOW THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD TO ROCK THE BIKE TO GET THE BACK TIRE LOOSE TO MOVE IT. I CAN'T BRING MY PARTNER BACK. BUT I CAN TRY TO MAKE SURE NOT ONE ELSE ENCOUNTERS THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR V STAR. THANKS FOR LISTENING. *NM
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation