2008 Suzuki Boulevard M109R

2008 SUZUKI M109R (AKA VZR1800) BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE LOUD RATTLE IN CLUTCH BASKET WITH BIKE IN NEUTRAL AT APPROXIMATELY 6000 MILES. THE RATTLE GET NOTICEABLY LOUDER UNDER ACCELERATION. I TOOK BIKE TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING DEFECTIVE IN THE CLUTCH, AND THAT THE RATTLING WAS DUE TO TORSION SPRINGS IN THE CLUTCH HUB VIBRATING WITH THE ENGINE, AND THAT THIS WAS 'NORMAL'. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF THIS IS TRULY 'NORMAL' OPERATION, THAT THE NOISE WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENT FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE. HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL NOISES COMING FROM THE CLUTCH UNTIL AFTER 6000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. INVESTIGATING AN ONLINE FORUM, I FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER RIDERS WHOSE BIKES EXHIBITED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. MANY OF THEM HAVE ALSO BEEN HANDED THE 'ITS NORMAL' ANSWER FROM THEIR DEALERS. IF IT WERE 'NORMAL' OPERATION, ALL M109RS WOULD HAVE THE SAME SYMPTOMS, YET OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT THE CASE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI BOULEVARD M109R. WHILE RIDING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CLUTCH FAILED AND THE F1 LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS WORN OUT AND THEY COULD MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS FOR FREE. WHILE RIDING AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT OFF. WHILE EN ROUTE TO THE DEALER FOR A SECOND REPAIR, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD TEARING SOUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANK BEARING SCARRED, AS WELL AS THE CAM BEARING. THE CAM HEAD WAS ALSO CRACKED, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT PINPOINT THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO LUBRICATION FOR THE BEARINGS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 550.