Transport Canada announced a recall for the 2012 Triumph Daytona 675 and 675R because certain units may be missing a throttle cable guide.

Without the guide, the throttle cable may get stuck in the steering stop, preventing the throttle from opening or closing properly. Such a situation could result in a loss of propulsion or, if the throttle is stuck open, could make it difficult to slow or stop the motorcycle.

Triumph dealers will inspected recalled units and if necessary install a throttle cable guide. In some cases, the throttle cables themselves may also be replaced. Continue Reading »

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has levied a $125,000 fine against Southern Honda Powersports following an investigation into allegations the Chattanooga, Tenn., dealership sold unrepaired recalled models. Southern Honda Powersports bills itself as the “World’s largest Honda powersports dealer”.

Federal laws require dealers to stop selling models that are recalled until the defect or noncompliance issue has been remedied. A NHTSA investigation concluded Southern Honda Powersports had sold and delivered 329 recalled motorcycles between 2007 and 2012 without inspecting or repairing any defects.

Southern Honda Powersports denies the allegations, which were sparked allegations raised last October. The dealership reached a settlement with NHTSA to pay a sum of $125,000 to the U.S. Treasury in installments of $25,000 a year until 2017. Under the terms of the agreement, Southern Honda Powersports admits to no liability or culpability. Without this agreement, the dealership faced a potential fine of up to $6,000 per vehicle, which could have amounted to $1,974,000. Continue Reading »

Earlier this week, we wrote about a recall in Canada for unapproved wheel bearings for the 2011-2012 Triumph Daytona 675 sportbike and its naked sibling the Street Triple. As expected, a similar recall has now been announced for the U.S., adding the Thunderbird and Thunderbird Storm cruisers to the campaign. The recall also affects the 2011-2012 Triumph Street Triple R but the Daytona 675R is not included in the recall.

According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the wheel bearings on the affected models were provided by an unapproved supplier. The wheel supplier, Chinese company Jiangsu Zhonliang Aluminum Co., admitted to Triumph it used wheel bearings from a third party that was not the supplier Triumph intended. Continue Reading »

Transport Canada has announced a recall for the 2013 BMW R1200GS due to a potential risk of leaking transmission oil. As yet, no recall has been announced for the U.S. market by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but we expect one shortly.

According to Transport Canada, transmission oil pressure on certain BMW R1200GS units may get too high, resulting in a leak in the output shaft sealing ring. An oil leak directly in front of the rear tire could result in a loss of traction and stability, potentially leading to a crash. Continue Reading »

Triumph has issued a recall for the Canadian market for the 2011-2012 Daytona 675 and Street Triple because the wheel bearings were provided by an unapproved supplier. At the moment, the recall is only for Canada and no recall has been announced for the U.S. market. Triumph North America operates both in Canada and the U.S. however, so a similar recall for the U.S. should be announced shortly by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

According to Transport Canada, certain units of the Daytona 675 and Street Triple may have been installed with wheel bearings from an unapproved supplier. Triumph lacks sufficient information about the wheel bearing supplier and its quality control standards and as such, Triumph is not entirely confident the bearings meet the durability and performance specifications required for the two models. Continue Reading »

For years now, the motorcycle industry has had to design its motorcycles and their exhaust systems to stay below government-mandated sound levels, particularly with off-road motorcycles. The burgeoning electric vehicle industry may bring about the opposite now, with governments proposing minimum sound levels for the mostly silent-running electric cars and motorcycles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a which operates under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Transportation, is proposing new minimum sound standards for electric and hybrid-powered vehicles to provide an audio cue to warn pedestrians of approaching vehicles. The concern is primarily with electric vehicles traveling at slow speeds as they generate little noise. The proposal has been in the works for a while now, stemming from the bipartisan Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2010. NHTSA estimates the proposals would result in 2800 fewer pedestrian injuries over the life of each vehicle model year. Continue Reading »

Earlier this month, we reported a recall issued by Transport Canada for the 2012 and 2013 BMW S1000RR because of a problem with their side stands. That recall has now expanded to the U.S., affecting 2,385 units.

According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the side stand attachment bolts on the affect BMW S1000RR units can loosen because of a manufacturing fault. In certain situations, this may lead the side stand to separate from the frame, potentially causing the sportbike to fall over.

The recall affects units produced between September 2011 and December 2012. Customers who have already purchased and accepted their S1000RRs are not asked to stopped riding. The 2013 BMW HP4, which is based on the S1000RR, is not included in the recall. Continue Reading »

Bombardier Recreational Products has initiated two recalls in Canada on Can-Am Spyder Roadsters for a risk of fire due to a leaky gas cap. One recall covers certain units from model years 2008-2012, which covers all prior model years since the three-wheeler was first introduced in 2008. The second recall applies to model years 2008-2010.

According to the recall report released by Transport Canada, the fuel cap on certain 2008-2012 models may not properly seal on the fuel tank filler neck. As a result, fuel vapors may escape from the fuel tank and, upon contact with an ignition source, may catch fire. Models from years 2008-2010 may also have an incorrect fuel vapor canister vent hose installed which may allow fuel vapors to escape, creating another potential fire risk.

As of publication of this post, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not issued a recall for the U.S. A search of the NHTSA database however reveals several complaints of fuel odors and Spyders catching fire. Continue Reading »

BMW has initiated a recall on the 2012 and 2013 S1000RR because the side stands may not have been correctly installed.

According to Transport Canada, the side stand attachment bolts may loosen, causing an S1000RR to fall over while resting on the stand. At the moment, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has yet to announce a recall, but American members of Motorcycle.com‘s S1000RR Forum say U.S. BMW dealers have halted sales pending an upcoming recall.

A user reports the mounting point on the frame may not have been properly cleaned before the stand was attached. Continue Reading »

Harley-Davidson is issuing a recall on all Night Rod Special models from 2012 and some from 2013 because of a potentially loose license plate bracket.

According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the mounting screws connecting the VRSDCDX‘s license plate bracket to the tail may loosen, potentially causing the plate to rub against the rear tire. This may cause the plate bracket to rotate as well as damage rear brake lines.

Harley-Davidson received a report of disengaged license plate bracket interfering with the  rear wheel of a VRSCDX Night Rod Special in July from Europe. Cross-referencing with warranty data found 23 claims related to missing screws and disengaged license plate bracket assemblies. Another report of a loose license plate bracket damaging rear brake lines was made in Canada in early August. Continue Reading »