2002 Yamaha XVS1100 problems

Filed Jun 17, 2020 · Transmission · 65,213 miles · WI

I was out riding my 2002 yamaha v-star 1100 classic motorcycle that I obtained from my stepdad. While traveling at approximately 55-60mph on a 2-lane state highway approaching a stop light I began to slow down. Upon deceleration the motorcycle suddenly made a loud whining noise from the transmission and I felt the rear wheel start to bind up. I immediately pulled over and took the bike home on a trailer. I later put it in my shop to inspect what the problem was myself. Inspection revealed a snapped middle drive shaft where the yoke/u-joint connect with it. The u-joint is held on by a nut. The end of the shaft with the nut still on it was laying inside the u-joint and was free to move around causing it to bind up within the joint. Researching online shows many people experienced the same issue that lead to a broken shaft. The main cause is the nut does not have an effective "locking" method (such as a pin) to keep it from loosening up over time. This then causes the u-joint to move on the shaft until the assembly snaps. Seeing as this is a motorcycle with only two (2) wheels this had the potential to seriously injure or kill me had the rear wheel locked up completely while traveling at those highway speeds. I am very lucky the rear wheel did not lock up completely. I will be contacting yamaha corp. About this issue immediately as I feel it is a manufacturer defect that is backed by a lot of online reports and hope it will be addressed before anyone can be hurt or killed by it if it has not already happened. The nut that is known to loosen up is not a maintenance item meaning this issue is not caused by a lack of maintenance! This motorcycle was purchased brand new by my parents and has always been brought to the yamaha dealer for service since it was new. Images attached show the broken shaft and damage to the nut from getting caught in the u-joint after breaking.

Filed Jul 30, 2014 · Transmission · 37,000 miles · TX

I was riding along on us 380 in mckinney, tx and as I approached a signal light, I began to slow down and that's when I heard a mysterious wining sound. The signal turned green and as I began to accelerate, the wining progressed to a loud clanking and grinding sound so I stopped to check the drive shaft, it was fine. I called for a trailer and transportation of the motorcycle back to my hometown of denison, tx, 52 miles one way. Upon returning home, I dismantled the motorcycle and found that the nut on the of power shaft (middle drive gear) had broken off. In, doing so it destroyed a few other parts inside the gearbox as well. I was quoted $3000.00 at my local yamaha dealership. If I purchase the parts and do it myself I'm looking at about $1500.00 to fix it. Either way, I do not have the finances at the time to fix it, this is my only transportation. I have talked to several people in person and through yamaha forums that have had the same problem. Something needs to be done! Yamaha is aware of this problem and refuses to make it right by their customers.

Filed Jul 29, 2013 · Transmission · 16,000 miles · ME

Yamaha v-star middle shaft engineering defect... There is many cases of this failing all over the net time and time again... Defect that yamaha has with the middle shaft on their shaft drive v star motorcycles...