This is a deeper and more serious look into the issue of motorcycle recalls.
Contrary to what some might have thought, I wasn’t picking on Triumph in the previous video. It was as simple as they were the first of 2025, but there have already been 3 others.
And the more I dig the more I realise what a huge can of worms I have opened by looking at this subject.
I will look at the individual recalls on different bikes. But also the overall trends.
So hopefully over time it reveals more answers to help your choices.
This video covers 2024 and the start of 2025.
I have to thank FEMA, the Federation of European Motorcyclist’s Association for the source of much of this information because it is not widely publicised in the traditional motorcycle press much of the time. Primarily because the press are so tied to the manufacturers who would rather you not know most of the time.
There may be differences in different countries too, so if you are one of my viewers from the States or Australia, let me know where I can find the lists from your country, and we can start to look at if there are any differences. I do expect most to be worldwide recalls, but you never know.
Products placed on the market in the EU are subject to general safety requirements. These requirements are included in the General Product Safety Directive which aims at ensuring that only safe consumer products are sold in the EU.
The European Commissions’ Rapid Alert System which has the dubious name which I will pronounce as RAPEX to avoid issues with Youtube, enables the quick exchange of information about dangerous non-food products posing a risk to health and safety of consumers, and FEMA publish the data of any recall reports that affect motorcyclists.
These are mainly motorcycle recalls, but they do affect tyres, clothing, helmets and other things too.
So over time it should give us a good pile of information to wade through, and for those of us who dredge the 2nd hand market for deals, it may give us knowledge we just wouldn’t have otherwise.
I am going to dive straight in today because it won’t be a short video either.
The First Recalls Of 2025
Other than the two Triumph recalls I have already covered in their own video, the first 2025 recall was actually in early January when Avon and Dunlop announced that on Several models of their tyres, a contamination located under the tread can lead to a lower tread adhesion and to tread separation.
This affected tyres made between 20 October 2024 and the 9 November 2024. So is a full 3 years after the issues with the Trailmax fitted to the Triumph Tiger.
So we have another problem with tyre delamination from yet another manufacturer. Or 2 depending if you want to count them independently.
Following closely on the heels of Triumph, in the first week of February 2025 we got a BMW recall.
This one was in respect of several of the BMW S1000 models including the S1000RR, HP4, HP4 Race, M1000RR, M1000R, M1000XR, S1000R, and S1000XR.
How many S1000 models do they need really?
Production dates affected were 31st August 2009 until 17th October 2024. so this is another one that took a while to be acknowledged or found.
The announcement reads
“ The product does not comply with the Regulation. The screw connection of the oil filter may become detached at engine speeds above 12,500 rpm, leading to an oil leak from the oil filter. This can result in oil deposits onto the road, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries”
So, on a high performance bike that is likely to be used on at least a few track days, doesn’t like being held at high revs?
And how many years have we been making oil filters that don’t unscrew themselves at high revs? Why is it things like this keep happening? What happened to the idea of progress?
I will leave the link to the FEMA list in the description in case you need to check vin numbers, but as with the Triumph tyre issue, I would hazard a guess that if the oil filter had never been changed on a 2009 bike it would be long dead now.
I have no idea if this affected many people or not to be honest, and that is sort of my point with all of this. There is a lack of transparency around recalls within an industry where rider safety is not always at the top of a manufacturers agenda.
Now that might sound mad coming from the guy who produced the Dangerous Bikes videos, but there is a difference between a bike being dangerous and a dangerous bike.
Knowing the bike you are riding is going to be mechanically sound whether you push it to its limits or not should be a basic necessity. Shouldn’t it?
Just announced at the end of February, CF Moto have just issued a recall on the 650MT and 700 CL-X Heritage, and I have to give them some credit here because they have an open recalls page on their website so that anyone can look at the recalls issued on all of their bikes going back to 2020, and that is something I haven’t seen anyone else doing.
The recall is a simple one and a simple fix too. The weld on the gear-change lever shaft has given way on enough bikes for them to issue a recall and replace the defective gear levers.
2024 Recalls
That’s 2025 up to date anyway, but I want to look at some of the recalls that happened in 2024 too.
Remember though, in some ways, recognising and recalling a bike isn’t always a bad thing. If a company recognises and fixes the fault they should be applauded for that.
When they don’t, as we know from the KTM saga, that is much worse. Doing it in a timely manner with a proper fix is key too, but anyway, here is what happened in 2024.
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Not surprisingly in some ways purely on a number of bikes produced basis, Honda were the top of the list. In 2024, they had 5 different recalls.
Honda Had The Most Recalls In 2024
Now I would say that regardless of numbers sold, that is a higher number than I would have expected. But as you will see as the list progresses, things might not be how you would think.
The first 2 Honda recalls were in week 9 so that would have been the end of February.
First was on the Transalp, but here there is something that confuses me a little and also concerns me to be honest.
The issue was with the mainstand spring hook on the stand end. The statement was that it lacked weld strength and could break, possibly causing the bike to fall, or the stand to drop when riding. Neither a nice surprise.
But what confuses me is that this is a country specific recall. Portugal were the country to first register the fault, and data collected and recalls have been issued in Bulgaria, Germany, France, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Sweden, Slovenia and Slovakia.
That seems a very random group of countries, and surely the stand was made the same way everywhere? Unless it was a specific production run?
Next was the Honda CBR600R in various forms. The fuel pump impeller may be faulty, which can prevent fuel from being delivered, making the engine die.
This affected bikes of various production runs and models mainly between 2016 and 2024, so again, this took quite a while to be recognised.
Next, half way through the year there were problems with 3 of the little CRF’s.
The Honda CRF50, CRF110, and CRF125 from the 21 June 2022 until 2023 and the CRF110F until 2024.
The problem? Insufficient bonded area of the left handlebar grip can cause the grip to loosen. So that is pretty minor, but good on Honda for recognising and fixing it.
Towards the end of the year we got news that the Honda GL1800 Goldwing had a mechanical issue. The primary drive gear tightening bolt is prone to fatigue and failure due to excessive stress from bending forces.
When this occurs, the pulse rotor becomes dislodged, leading the ignition circuit to fail, causing the engine to stall while driving or fail to start.
Could be dangerous this one if it happens at speed, and surely shouldn’t have happened on a range topping bike.
Last of the year was more electronic gremlins. This time on the Honda CRF1100 Africa Twin.
It affected bikes produced between the 8 July 2021 and the 15 October 2024 and I did talk about it in the bikes not to buy video linked at the end.
To quote Honda.
“Due to improper setting of the programme in the Electronic Control Module, the wheelie control function can malfunction. When the user operates the throttle to accelerate, the wheelie control function can activated. This can affect the throttle response and result in a lack of acceleration.”
So, you open the throttle and pull out to pass a truck and the bike cuts all power to the engine. Great stuff.
That one is a doozy.
After Honda with 5 recalls, the next place is a draw between Triumph and BMW. Both had 4 recalls during the year, and yes, that is in addition to the 2 Triumph had in January this year.
Triumph Recalls
I will do the Triumphs first.
In March 2024, as I also discussed in the recent video about bikes not to buy, Triumph announced that the Trident 660 & Tiger Sport 660 had incorrectly machined threads on the front fork caps.
The official verdict reads that they may strip and detach from the fork outer tube, which can result in a loss of vehicle handling and control, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. .
Then at the end of April, they went on to include the A2 licence 50hp restricted version, but with no explanation of why it wasn’t included in the original recall.
We also got another one the same week. The Triumph Speed Triple RS and Speed Triple RR. Triumph announced that “The engine could generate an excessive amount of heat, leading to a reduction in the radiator fan’s performance. Reduced cooling efficiency which can result in coolant leaking from the vehicle, which increases the risk of an injury.”
What the so called fix is or was i’m not sure. If they FIXED it by adjusting the tuning, doesn’t that indicate that the tuning was out in the first place?
Did they increase water pump pressure somehow?
Or replace the radiator with a bigger one?
I would be interested to hear from any owners as to what the fix actually was.
We had a lull then until November when Triumph announced that the Bonneville T100, Bonneville T120, Street Scrambler, Scrambler 900, Street Twin, and Speed Twin 900. also had an issue with running temperature, but this one was bad enough to melt the wiring.
The official version read
“A combination of high ambient temperatures, high current loading and excessive lateral tension may cause the wiring between the alternator and the harness connector to form a bridge. If the connector’s blades form a bridge, a thermal threshold can be reached that exceeds the connector’s capacity and causes the connector to become deformed. This can result in a short circuit, increasing the risk of fire, and creating a risk of accident.”
I saw this and thought what do they mean by lateral tension, and the only thing I could rationalise is that the engine moves in the chassis enough to stretch the connector to the loom, or to put it a different way, THEY DIDNT LEAVE ENOUGH SLACK IN THE WIRING LOOM.
Again I would be interested to hear from owners what the fix was here?
BMW Recalls
Next we come to BMW, and first, those ubiquitous BMW Vario panniers and top box. But I covered them in the video linked at the end so im not saying too much more.
Just check they’ve been fixed if you have them and always test the locks twice.
Next, in April, BMW announced that the K 1600 B, K 1600 GT, K 1600 GTL, and R 1250 RT, had a suspension issue.
They said “The screw connection between the valve housing and the damper on both the front and rear of the spring legs may become detached. If the front spring leg is affected, driving stability may be impaired. This can cause the rider to lose control of the motorcycle, increasing the risk of accident and injuries.”
Maybe that one is an easier fix, but should things as basic as this be slipping through the R&D department?
Or should I say departments, because as you can see already, this isn’t about any one manufacturer, and it doesn’t include many of the faults that companies still refuse to acknowledge.
April wasn’t a good month for BMW though. The BMW R1300GS from 2023 to 2024 had a very basic electrical issue, another one that just shouldn’t have happened.
Due to defects in the injection moulding process OR mechanical damage to the starter relay housing, humidity may enter the starter relay.
This can lead to the corrosion of components/contacts inside the starter relay, causing functional failures. This corrosion can also cause electrical leaks making components overheat, creating a risk of fire.
A less likely fire, but still a potential fire risk, but a bigger risk of failure. It is over 50 years now since Honda put the first decent starter motor on a bike unless you count the massive car starter motor Laverda used on their 750’s. I have a pile of spare solenoids from various bikes that never shrinks, why? Because they break so rarely. It is old tech, so why do we get these problems now?
And yes there are several other BMW issues, including a final recognition of the shaft seal leak problems as far as I am aware, but these are the only official recalls for 2024 as far as I can find.
Maybe the shaft seal and un-openable fuel tank were earlier.
Next surprisingly for me we have Suzuki.
Suzuki Recalls
Their first issue was in March when the Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa. Was recalled due to a brake problem I discussed in the video linked at the end.
The bolts connecting the brake pipes to the anti-lock braking system weren’t tightened up properly, which on a Hayabusa is no joke.
Then, in October we got the recall of the Suzuki V-Strom 800DE or DL800 and DL800U. This was the self destructive Dunlop Trailmax fitted to the bike, and one of the tyre issues I touched on in the Urgent Triumph recalls video linked above and in the description.
The official version states that
“The rear tyre can have cracks or other deformations in the tyre tread. Parts of the tread can detach from the rest of the tyre. This can lead the tyres to lose their shape and result in a loss of vehicle control while driving, increasing the risk of accidents and injuries.
Dunlop were quick to add that this was not the same tyre available on the open market and was ONLY fitted to the Vstrom 800, so I guess cutting the carcass thinner to save a little on the final price didn’t work this time, but I’m sure the bean-counters didn’t loose their jobs.
As far as I am aware there has still not been a recall on the leaky seat issue, but that isn’t a safety issue I guess and again, is another story all of its own.
Then in December we got the second Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa brake recall. This time it was an oil additive in the membrane of the primary sleeve in the master cylinder that was to blame.
The membrane swells and can block the bore of the master cylinder. If this happens the brake fluid in the lower pipes can cool causing the pistons in the calipers to be drawn back into the caliper, so however hard you pull on the lever you are not going to stop.
Next we come to the bikes everyone loves to hate, because Harley issued three recalls too. Two of them on one bike.
Harley Davidson Recalls
In April, Harley-Davidson recalled the CVO Street Glide due to a defect affecting the overall ride-ability of the bike.
The statement reads;
“the motorcycle reacts more strongly than expected to road and environmental influences like uneven ground, at speeds above 160 km/h or 100 mph causing an increased risk of falling and injuries.
I can hear you all laughing now saying “what, a Harley that doesn’t handle over bumps? Never” but you know I can be a bit biased and I do still love my FXDX.
Then, in November, we got the second CVO Street Glide recall, and this affected the CVO Road Glide, CVO Road Glide ST, Street Glide, and Road Glide.
The regulator output wire isn’t routed properly and can rub against the crankcase, leading to insulation wear exposure of the conductor, blowing the fuses and a complete loss of power.
Were the wires in the loom cut too short?
Or was it simply a production issue?
Then at the beginning of December the Low Rider El Diablo and Low Rider ST were recalled because the brake lines hadn’t been installed properly.
In fact, it turned out that they simply hadn’t been bent to the correct angle and rubbed against the tank as the bike was running potentially rubbing through and causing a leak.
We could also include the S2 Del Mar from LiveWire.
With this one, repeated acceleration can cause the high voltage fuse to blow, resulting in a sudden unexpected loss of power with no possibility to restart.
Repeated acceleration is something I do pretty often on a motorbike so you would have thought they’d have checked that one.
Too Many Mistakes
I will be honest and say I have lost count now, and these are the ones that were actually issued by the manufacturers and this is just in Europe.
We know the Yamaha Tenere 700 exhaust mount is a stupid design and yes in some countries it can be fixed easily, but in others where the law dictates otherwise, it isn’t.
Triumph got away with a similar flaw on the Tiger 800 for years with piles of written off bikes that had rolled over onto the rear peg hangers that had been welded directly to the frame. They never did anything either.
Then as I said there is the Suzuki DE800 seat issue, where some of the seats just soak up water.
Along with the LC8C cam issue there are a whole host of problems that never ever get accepted by the manufacturers.
Other Recalls Of 2024
But anyway, we are down to the last few in this list. The manufacturers who only issued 1 recall in 2024.
First we have the mystery Yamaha brake recall. Then the passenger ejector seat on the Ducati Xdiavel. The defective rubber band holding the telematics box onto the CF Moto 450SR and 450SR S, and the overtake prevention unit on the Voge SR4 scooter.
I talked about all of these in the Worst bikes to buy video linked at the end. I still haven’t found anything out about which bike the Yamaha recall was on though.
Then we got one from Montesa of all people.
On all the Cota MRT250, MRT260, MRT301, and MST260 4-Ride trials bikes. The left side engine cover may be incorrectly drilled, causing an oil supply failure and interruption of lubrication of the engine, resulting in the seizure of cylinder and piston and engine failure.
What is the world coming to? How many years have they been making the Cota?
Big Problems With Motorcycle Tyres
Last European recall of 2024 was another tyre problem.
This time it was Pirelli and Metzeler with the Tourance Next and Tourance Next 2 tyres. The problem? That under certain usage conditions like low tyre pressure riding, extra loads, or certain specific road conditions, irregular tyre wear may develop, which, over time, may result in a tyre failure.
Add that to the Dunlop Trailmax problem on the V-Strom 800, the issue with the delamination on the Avon and Dunlops I mentioned earlier, and the failure of the Dunlop Trailmax on the Triumph Tiger 1200 and it looks like all the big tyre manufacturers have been making some very poor design decisions.
It means Pirelli, Metzeler, Avon and Dunlop have all had major problems with delamination issues announced over the past year, but covering mistakes going back over 4 years at least.
Cutting corners perhaps?
Optimising profit margins above product safety?
I will leave you to decide that one.
I guess I’m glad I turned to Mitas over the last few years.
Conclusions
This again is another example of how manufacturers have EITHER been making too many mistakes, or taking too many chances with our lives.
Yes mistakes happen.
But this many? Really?
I thought I had finished here and then I found a load of additional recalls done by everyone from Indian to Kawasaki and more.
Some from the USA and others from Australia. Some silly things but others major issues.
What I never knew was that every last Indian Scout ever made was apparently recalled, but that will have to be a story for another day.
Anyway, that’s it for now.
If there is enough support for this subject I may start looking deeper at longer term trends as working with FEMA will give me access to a big database of problems.
Let me know your thoughts below in the comments.
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