2007 Suzuki VZR1800: shudder or vibration when accelerating

Filed Feb 16, 2022 · Acceleration, Engine · CT

In late 2020 while in a turn on the interstate while in 2nd gear the motorcycle jolted like it slipped on ice. The second time it happened is when I attempted to accelerate to 3rd gear the bike shuddered like it was not getting gas. Not being able to provide gas caused the vehicles behind me to swerve into the other lane. After 8 months of the bike sitting at another Suzuki dealer because they said they had to rip out the engine I towed the bike to a dealer over 700 miles away. That dealer said it was the clutch plates. They replaced the entire clutch system at my cost and the problem remained immediately upon picking up the bike. The same dealer now says it’s the gears and they have to replace them which means approximately another month at the dealer. The bike had not been inspected by any other agency. There were no warning lights of any kind. The RPMs never changed when the issue occurred. I called USA Suzuki and they said they’ll call me back. They never did. I will now have to get an attorney because Suzuki has a failed mechanical part they claimed they fixed years prior but the same thing is happening with the new models.

Filed Apr 30, 2011 · Transmission · 6,000 miles · MO

I am the owner of a beautiful 2007 m109r suzuki motorcycle. The motorcycle's transmission has been a constant source of issues from the date I purchased the vehicle. I experience clutch "shudder" where the entire clutch basket skips and forces the motorcycle to shake violently until you re-engage the clutch. The shift from 1st to 2nd gear never goes smoothly, several times the motorcycle has shifted out of second upon acceleration, nearly causing a collision with a SUV while I was trying to merge into traffic just last week. The "tube nut" on the clutch hub came loose from the factory assembly on this motorcycle, causing the clutch to lock up and fully engage the motor. I am a former msf instructor, I've owned several motorcycles in the past 10 years with many many miles in the saddle. This a dangerous and unacceptable condition for any motorcyclist. Furthermore, these issues are not being caused by abuse of the motorcycle, this is exactly what suzuki claims is responsible for the issue, not the weak engineering behind the transmission.

Filed Jan 3, 2009 · Transmission · 10,000 miles · TN

I have a vzr 1800 2007 model suzuki and have had clutch problems starting at 10000mi had a mechanic check it and says it had oil trouble causing trouble such as shudder and grabbing I called a dealer about this problem and they said they have never heard it and was no recalls but I have heard of several complaints about this on m109riders forum (I mean lots).

Filed Dec 23, 2008 · Transmission · 2,117 miles · TX

Clutch shudders violently when engaging first gear causing loss of forward motion and endangering rider safety. This is a recurring problem.

Filed Jul 23, 2008 · Transmission · 4,200 miles · MD

Clutch shudder.

Filed Jul 15, 2008 · Transmission · 3,500 miles · TX

It's been two weeks since I took my bike to the dealer for the fuel rail recall and since then I've experienced the "clutch judder/rear wheel jump when releasing clutch" twice! And last night I'm at a stop light in 1st gear. I take off and try to shift into 2nd gear with no luck. The shifter was stuck in 1st gear! Luckily I was in the far right lane so I pulled over and hit the kill switch. I tried everything I could think of to get the bike into neutral, I rocked it back and forth and still couldn't get it out of 1st gear. So I pulled in the clutch and started the bike. With the clutch still pulled in the bike starts to move! So I hit the kill switch again. Finally, I decided to drive it in 1st gear and get off the side of the road. So I started the bike in 1st gear, eased off the clutch and rode about a block to a parking lot. While in the parking lot I was finally able to get the bike into neutral. Once that happened it seemed to be shifting fine. So I headed back home which was about 7-8 miles away. It shifted fine and drove fine all the way home. I pulled into my driveway and hit my garage door opener and pulled into the garage. Pulled in the clutch and tried to shift into neutral and it's stuck again! Well, it turns out my clutch hub nut backed off. The dealer said that the plates were not damaged and that they were waiting on a new nut and basket from suzuki. I asked him if this was something that I have to look forward to every 3500 miles and he said that he thinks the hub nuts were not tightened properly when originally assembled.