2006 Kawasaki ZX1000D6F

Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE BOLT THAT ATTACHES THE STEERING DAMPER BODY TO THE FRAME BRACKET MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED SUFFICIENTLY DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.

Risk. IF THE BOLT LOOSENS AND BACKS OUT COMPLETELY, THE STEERING DAMPER COULD INHIBIT FREE MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING ASSEMBLY CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING DAMPER BOLT TO THE PROPER TORQUE AND INSPECT THE DAMPER MOVEMENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KAWASAKI ZX1000D6F. WHILE DECONSTRUCTING THE BIKE TO MAKE OTHER REPAIRS, THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE FRAME WAS FRACTURED ALONG THE FACTORY WELDING UNDERNEATH THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT, AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE BIKE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE BIKE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.

ON THURSDAY, NOV 2, 2006 AROUND 11 PM IN CORONADO ISLAND, CA, I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY FROM THE SHOULDER WHERE I HAD JUST ASSISTED ANOTHER MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT. AS I WAS ENTERING ONTO THE 4-LANE HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATING, I ALSO CHANGED INTO THE LEFT LANE AT THE SAME TIME I BEGAN TO INITIATED GEAR CHANGE INTO SECOND GEAR. I LEANED THE BIKE TO THE LEFT, PULLED IN THE CLUTCH, BEGAN THE LEAN AND DIP AND MADE IT INTO THE LEFT LANE. AS I BEGAN TO STRAIGHTEN UP THE BIKE AND RELEASE THE CLUTCH, THE LEFT FOOT PEG SNAPPED COMPLETELY OFF, I AM STILL LEANING TO THE LEFT WITH ALL OF MY WEIGHT ON THE LEFT FOOT PEG AT THAT TIME. I LOST MY BALANCE TO THE LEFT, THE BIKE BEGAN DIPPING HARD TO THE LEFT, AND NATURAL INSTINCT WAS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. FORTUNATELY, NATURAL INSTINCT TELLS YOU TO PULL YOURSELF UP WITH THE PART OF THE BODY THAT HAS POSITIVE CONTROL, UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME IT WAS MY RIGHT ARM AND RIGHT LEG. AS MY RIGHT ARM BEGAN PULLING MYSELF UP IT ALSO BEGAN TWISTING THE THROTTLE, THE MORE I LOST MY BALANCE TO THE LEFT THE MORE I PULLED ON MY ARM AND THE MORE THE THROTTLE TWISTED AT THE SAME TIME MY LEG IS TRYING TO PUSH DOWN ON THE RIGHT PEG TO COUNTER-REACT THE LEFT SIDE FALLING. THE MORE I FELL, THE MORE I TRIED TO PULL UP, THE MORE I TRIED TO PULL UP, THE MORE I FELL AND THE BIKE IS ACCELERATING QUICKLY. WITH THAT SAID, FINALLY THE TWISTING OF THE THROTTLE WHILE I WAS FALLING BECAME TOO MUCH AND THE LACK OF BALANCE BECAME TO EXTREME THAT THE BIKE CAME UP ON ONE WHEEL AND TILTED