2003 YAMAHA VSTAR1100 MOTORCYCLE TRAVELING APPROX 55 MPH WITH TWO RIDERS ON BOARD. LOUD SQUEALING NOISE BEGAN COMING FROM BOTTOM OF MOTORCYCLE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY LOUD CLANKING AND LOCKUP OF REAR WHEEL. VEHICLE SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD ONTO EMERGENCY STRIP ALMOST EJECTING PASSENGER. DRIVER SUFFERED BACK INJURY TRYING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FIRST AND ONLY OCCURRENCE OF THIS, NO PRIOR INDICATIONS, VEHICLE NOT DRIVABLE, TOWED TO OWNER?S RESIDENCE. VEHICLE STILL NOT REPAIRED. LATER EXAMINATION REVEALED THE END OF THE MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT SHEERED OFF AT THE INBOARD EDGE OF THE NUT THAT SECURES THE UNIVERSAL JOINT CONNECTING TO THE FINAL DRIVESHAFT. ESTIMATED DEALER REPAIR $2,000 - $3,000 ENGINE MUST BE REMOVED AND DISASSEMBLED TO REPLACE THE BROKEN SHAFT. *TR