2015 Yamaha FJ-09

Defect. Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (Yamaha) is recalling certain 2015-2017 FJ-09, FZ-09, and XSR900 motorcycles. The lower handlebar holder may loosen due to a painting issue and the inadequate application of the thread-locking agent.

Risk. If the handlebars are not properly secured to the motorcycle, a loss of vehicle control may result, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Yamaha will notify owners, and dealers will replace the lower handlebar holder, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2017. Owners may contact Yamaha customer service at 1-800-962-7926. Yamaha's number for this recall is 990114.

Defect. Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (Yamaha) is recalling certain model year 2015 FJ-09 (FJ09F/FC), FZ-09 (FZ09F/FC), FZ6R (FZ6RF/FC), Super Tenere (XTZ12F/FC), Super Tenere ES (XTZ12EF/EFC), and R6 (YZF-R6) motorcycles manufactured September 1, 2014, to November 17, 2014. The affected motorcycles may have an incorrectly manufactured shift cam segment stopper, having a sharp edge on the inside of the bend instead of a smooth radius. As a result, the stopper can crack and possibly fracture at this sharp edge.

Risk. If the stopper fractures, the transmission may not shift properly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Yamaha will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shift shaft assembly with a new one, free of charge. The recall began on April 6, 2015. Owners may contact Yamaha customer service at 1-800-962-7926.

CLUTCH BASKET WENT BAD (MANY OF THIS ENGINE MOTORCYCLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM)

I JUST HAD TO PAY TO HAVE A SAFETY PROBLEM KNOWN TO YAMAHA REPAIRED. THE CLUTCH CABLE ON YAMAHA FJ-09S UP THROUGH 2017 IS KNOW TO BREAK BECAUSE OF IMPROPER DESIGN. YAMAHA HAS COME OUT WITH A REDESIGNED CLUTH CABLE TO FIX THIS PRO0BLEM. IF A RIDER HAD HIS CLUTCH CABLE BREAK IT WOULD RENDER THE MTOROCYCLE UNDRIVEABLE AND POTENTIALLY A MAJOR SAFETY FACTOR IS THE CLUTCH CABLE WAS TO BREAK IN TRAFFIC RENDERING THE MOTORCYCLE UNRIDEABLE. IT WOULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY7 PROBLEM FOR YOUNGER, LESS EXPERIENDED RIDER WHO ARE UNABLE TO SHIFT A MOTORCYCLE WITHOUT A CLUTCH.

WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT I FELT A POP IN MY LEFT HAND AND THE CLUTCH GAINED AN EXTRA HALF INCH OF SLACK. THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TRYING TO LURCH FORWARD FROM THE NOW SLIPPING CLUTCH. THE CLUTCH CABLE HAD BEGUN TO BREAK. I MANAGED TO WRESTLE THE BIKE OUT OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INJURING MYSELF BUT ALMOST DROPPED THE MOTORCYCLE NUMEROUS TIMES. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP THE MOTORCYCLE HOME AND INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE FURTHER. I HAD READ ONLINE OF MANY OTHERS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE CLUTCH CABLE BREAKING. I ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE CABLE BUT IT WOULD NOT COME INTO SPEC. I REALIZED I WOULD NEED A NEW CABLE SO I TOOK A RAZOR BLADE AND DISSECTED THE CLUTCH CABLE. UPON OPENING IT, 90% OF THE CABLE HAD TORN AND THERE WAS ONLY 2 STEEL STRANDS FROM A COMPLETE BREAK. THIS BIKE HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR ONLY 9 MONTHS AND HAS COMPLETED JUST OVER 10,000 MILES. UPON ORDERING A REPLACEMENT CABLE I NOTICED THAT YAMAHA HAS UPDATED THE PART NUMBER FROM 2PP-26335-01-00 TO 2PP-26335-02-00 INDICATING THE REVISION. THE ORIGINAL CABLE HAS A GUIDE TUBE WHICH IS TOO SHORT AND THAT CAUSES THE CABLE TO SLIGHTLY BIND AND RUB CAUSING THE FAILURE. SOME OTHER RIDERS REPORT ISSUES AS EARLY AS 3,000 MILES. OTHERS BRAG THAT THEIR CLUTCH CABLE MADE IT AN ASTONISHING 24,000 MILES BEFORE BREAKING. THE CLUTCH IS THE ONLY THING THAT SEPERATES THE MOTOR FROM THE DRIVE AND IS A CRITICAL PART IN MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. IF YOU ARE NO ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE MOTOR FROM THE DRIVE,

THE OIL PAN DRAIN PLUG IS PROTECTED BY A PROTRUDING FIN. IF THIS FIN HITS AN OBJECT IT WILL BE PUSHED INTO THE OIL PAN AND CAUSE IT TO RUPTURE/ FRACTURE AND RELEASE THE OIL. THIS RELEASE OF A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL MAY COVER THE BACK WHEEL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY DEATH. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO MY FJ 09, BUT IS DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET. I CALLED YAMAHA ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL. BUT ON THE 2016 MODEL, THEY MOVED THE DRAIN PLUG TO THE SIDE OF THE OIL PAN, INDICATING THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM.

A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT INCLUDING PICTURES AND WRITE-UP CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://FJ-09.ORG/THREAD/2911/12-STEP-REPLACE-OIL-PAN

FACTORY SPECIFICATION FOR FINAL DRIVE CHAIN TENSION ON THE FJ-09 IS UNUSUALLY TIGHT AT 5MM - 15MM. I HAVE OWNED MORE THAN 40 MOTORCYCLES AND NONE OF THEM SPECIFIED SUCH A TIGHT TENSION. MOST MFGRS, INCL. EVERY YAMAHA I'VE EVER OWNED, SPECIFY 25MM - 35MM "SLACK" IN THE CHAIN FROM FULL TIGHT AND WHEN MEASURED WITH BIKE ON CENTERSTAND. HAVING TOO LITTLE SLACK CAN RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE DRIVE CHAIN AND/OR THE REAR SPROCKET AND/OR THE FRONT SPROCKET. IF ANY OF THESE PARTS CATASTROPHICALLY FAIL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, INJURY, AND/OR DEATH. YAMAHA SHOULD REVISE THEIR SPECIFICATION AND OFFER FREE ADJUSTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP, A 10 MINUTE JOB

TRAVELING AT APPROX 45 MPH VEHICLE SHUT OFF. UPON RESTART SEVERAL MINUTES LATER IT WOULD ONLY IDLE FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE STALLING AGAIN. TOWED TO DEALER, UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. BIKE WAS RETURNED 2 DAYS LATER WITH ASSURANCES IT WAS RUNNING FINE. ON THE RIDE HOME, APPROX 5 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 60 MPH, IT SHUT OFF AGAIN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED AGAIN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY ECU. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A NARROW TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND NO WHERE TO EXIT THE PAVEMENT.

CAM CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED TO ADJUST CORRECTLY CAUSING CAM CHAIN TO OVER TIGHTEN WHICH LED TO CHAIN GUIDE DAMAGE. ENGINE OIL CONTAMINATED WITH METAL FILINGS

SUDDEN ONSET OF VERY LOUD CAM CHAIN/CAM CHAIN TENSIONER NOISE. METAL ON METAL CONTACT WHICH OVERTIME CAN BLOCK FILTER AND CEASE ENGINE DUE TO IMPROPER OIL DISTRIBUTION, RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. ISSUE LIKELY WITH CAM CHAIN TENSIONER. NO RECALL ISSUED AS OF YET, BUT MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING SAME, KNOWN ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 YAMAHA FJ-09. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN OF THE TENSIONER CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO FAIL. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.