2004 Suzuki AN650 Burgman

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 (NA) SUZUKI AN650 BURGMAN. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BOAT PRIMARY SHAFT BECAME LOOSE, WHICH WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 27,000.

I OWN A 2003 SUZUKI BURGMAN SCOOTER MODEL AN650 PURCHASED IN AUGUST, 2003. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, AT AROUND 5,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE BEGAN EXHIBITING A "RATTLING" NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION AREA DURING IDLE. THE SOUND WOULD DISAPPEAR ONLY AFTER SOME LOAD WAS PLACED ON THE ENGINE. SINCE IT WAS NOT THAT UNUSUAL, I DECIDED TO CHANGE THE OIL AT THE NEXT AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITY. THE NOISE DID NOT IMPROVE. IT THEN BECAME PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER. IN THE MEANTIME, I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM SUZUKI USA ON A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE AN IGNITION SWITCH DEFECT MAY CAUSE THE MACHINE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, POTENTIALLY CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE SUZUKI DEALER FOR THIS RECALL FIX AND TO HAVE THE NOISE SITUATION ASSESSED. THE DEALER PERFORMED THE IGNITION SWITCH FIX AT NO CHARGE TO ME AND DIAGNOSED THE NOISE AS A DEFECTIVE "TENSIONER ADJUSTING ASSEMBLY", A CRITICAL PART INSIDE THE ENGINE. AS TO THE CAUSE OF THIS EARLY FAILURE OF SUCH A CRITICAL ENGINE PART THE DEALER COULD ONLY ASCERTAIN IT AS A FACTORY DEFECT. THE TECHNICIAN ASCERTAINED THAT THE "DIESELING" NOISE (NOISE SIMILAR TO A DIESEL ENGINE) WAS THE SYMPTOM OF THE DEFECTIVE PART AND UPON FAILURE, THE ENGINE WILL SUFFER A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND PRETTY MUCH DISINTEGRATE, FAILING WITHOUT WARNING. HE STATED THAT THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IS IMMINENT, BUT CANNOT ASCERTAIN AS TO WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. THE MACHINE IS HIGHWAY LEGAL AND EASILY CRUISES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IF THE MACHINE WERE TO FAIL AT THOSE SPEEDS ON A BUSY FREEWAY, I COULD SUFFER EXTREME INJURIES AND/OR DEATH. SINCE THIS IS MY PRIMARY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, I CANNOT JUST STOP USING IT COMPLETELY, BUT I AM USING IT ON A VERY LIMITED BASIS. IT IS WHY I BELIEVE THAT YOUR AGENCY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT SUZUKI USA AND HAVE THEM ISSUE A FACTORY RECALL ON MY MACHINE, FIX IT PROMPTLY, AND REMOVE THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *NM