2012 Yamaha XTZ12B/BC

Defect. YAMAHA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 XTZ12B/BC (SUPER TENERE) MOTORCYCLES, MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 01, 2011, THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2011. DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS, THE FUEL PUMP O]RING MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY IN ITS GROOVE. IF THE TABS LOCATED AROUND THE INNER CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE O]RING WERE NOT SEATED INTO THE GROOVE PROPERLY DURING PUMP INSTALLATION, THE O]RING SEALING LIP COULD BE PINCHED AND DAMAGED, PREVENTING PROPER SEALING.

Risk. THIS COULD ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK FROM AROUND THE FUEL PUMP MOUNTED UNDER THE FUEL TANK. LEAKING FUEL COULD RESULT IN A FIRE HAZARD.

Remedy. YAMAHA DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP O-RING FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 15, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT YAMAHA AT 1-800-962-7926.

BROKE SPOKE ON REAR WHEEL. *TR

LOSS OF HEADLAMP LIGHT DUE TO FAULTY/INFERIOR WIRING/CONNECTORS GOING TO THE MAIN BULBS IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. THE HEADLAMP HARNESS WAS GRAY IN COLOR FROM OVERHEATING AND THE CONNECTORS TO THE BULBS HAD MELTED. WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH THE SAME PART # AS THE ORIGINAL WIRING HARNESS. THIS REPRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD DAY OR NIGHT AS MOTORCYCLE HEADLAMPS ARE A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN DAYTIME VISIBILITY OF THE MOTORCYCLE, AND THE HAZARDS OF LOSING HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION DURING NIGHTTIME RIDING ARE OBVIOUS AND MANY. *TR

DEFECTIVE HEAD LIGHT HARNESS. MELTED WIRING TO LAMP CONNECTION CASING LOSS OF HEADLIGHT(JUST ONE THANK GOD) DURING NIGHT TIME DRIVING. APPEARS YAMAHA IS USING DEFECTIVE HEADLIGHT LAMP CONNECTORS THAT MELT EVENTUALLY CAUSING LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS. PLEASE SEE THE BELOW THREAD FOR FURTHER INFO: HTTP://WWW.YAMAHASUPERTENERE.COM/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=2707.600 CHECK YOUR CONNECTORS REGULARLY IF YOU HAVE THIS MODEL BIKE! *TR

SPOKES IN THE REAR WHEEL CONTINUOUSLY GETTING LOOSE TO THE POINT THE SPOKE NIPPLE FALLS OUT AND THE SPOKE IS SENT FLAPPING AGAINST THE SWINGARM OR COMPLETELY OUT OF THE WHEEL. I HAD THIS ISSUE FOR THE ENTIRE FIRST 14 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. MANY TIMES A SPOKE WAS LOOSE AFTER A SHORT PERIOD. THE MOST RECENT CHECK REVEALED 10 SPOKES LOOSE AT ONE TIME RENDERING THE WHEEL UN-TRUE. I HAD TO REMOVE THE WHEEL AND CARRY TO A WHEEL SPECIALIST TO GET THE WHEEL BACK TRUE. YAMAHA WAS NO HELP WHAT SO EVER. THE MOTORCYCLE IS OUT OF THE 12 MONTH WARRANTY. I KNOW OF AT LEAST 10 OTHER CASES ON A INTERNET FORUM(WWW.YAMAHASUPERTENERE.COM) WHERE THESE SPOKES WHEELS ARE GIVING PROBLEMS. OF COURSE YAMAHA SAYS THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM. THERE IS A BRIEF MENTION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL ABOUT SPOKE MAINTENANCE. YES I AM AWARE OF THAT SINCE I HAVE OWNED OFF ROAD MOTORCYCLES FOR MANY YEARS WHICH HAVE SPOKE TYPE WHEELS. THOSE OFF ROAD MOTORCYCLES RARELY EVER NEEDED A SPOKE TIGHTENED. THIS YAMAHA XT12 SEEMS TO HAVE IT'S REAR WHEEL SPOKES LOOKED AT BEFORE AND AFTER EVERY STREET RIDE. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. YAMAHA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS REAR WHEEL SPOKE ISSUE ON THIS MODEL. IMO THE WHEEL IS UNDER DESIGNED FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE MOTORCYCLE IT'S DESIGNED TO TOTE. *TR

TWO REAR WHEEL SPOKE NIPPLES FOUND TOTALLY LOOSE AND ABOUT TO FALL OFF. ONE SPOKE NIPPLE WAS SLIGHTLY LOOSE ON THE FRONT WHEEL. THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS MOSTLY STREET USE. *TR