2001 Aprilia Rsv 1000 R

I HAVE AN APRILIA FALCO MOTORCYCLE. IN THE FUEL LINE IS A COLDER MADE PLASTIC DISCONNECT EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BEEN SPLITTING APART ON MANY OF THE OWNERS VEHICLES. THE FAILURE RELEASES ALL THE GAS FUEL ONTO THE RIDER, REAR TIRE AND ROAD. A RECALL SHOULD BE REQUIRED OF THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE REQUIRE A RECALL OF THE MANUFACTURER APRILIA. A RECALL FOR THE PART HAS BEEN MADE BY TRIUMPH AND OTHERS. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I HAVE A 2001 APRILIA FUTURA MOTORCYCLE. WHEN LIFTING UP THE TANK FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, THE QUICK DISCONNECT FUEL FITTING UNDER THE TANK BROKE, CAUSING THE ENTIRE TANK OF FUEL TO LEAK OUT ALL OVER THE FLOOR. I HAVE SEVERAL FRIENDS WHO HAVE THIS BIKE AND ALMOST ALL HAD HAD A SIMILAR FAILURE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF A FIRE HAD RESULTED. THE QUICK DISCONNECTED DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN STRESSED IN ANY WAY WHILE RAISING THE TANK. IT JUST CRACKED AS THE RUBBER FUEL LINE WAS SLIGHTLY MOVED. I AM CURRENTLY SEARCHING FOR METAL QUICK DISCONNECTS TO REPLACE THE BROKEN PLASTIC ONES. THE PLASTIC PART LOOKS VERY FLIMSY. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL.

I OWN A 2001 APRILIA FUTURA MOTORCYCLE. IT WAS PURCHASED IN 2003 AS A DEALER DEMO LEFTOVER. THE MOTORCYCLE CURRENTLY HAS 16,000 MILES. NO SIGN OF ANYTHING WRONG UNTIL LAST WEEK (JULY 29TH). WHILE RIDING MY BIKE UPHILL ON THE ROUTE 9 BRIDGE IN PERTH AMBOY, NJ, I HIT A POTHOLE. I IMMEDIATELY FELT MY LEFT LEG GETTING COOLED BY SOMETHING AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS FUEL SPILLING FROM UNDERNEATH THE TANK. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND LIFTED THE TANK. FUEL WAS SPILLING OUT FROM A "QUICK RELEASE" FITTING IN THE MAIN FUEL LINE. THE FITTINGS ON BOTH ENDS OF THE FUEL LINE IS MADE TO EASILY DISCONNECT THE TANK IF IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN THE FUEL COUPLER AND COULD NOT BE RESEALED. I HAD A FRIEND COME BY WITH VICE GRIPS TO CLAMP THE HOSE DOWN. WE THEN TOOK THE BIKE AND I CALLED THE NEAREST APRIIA DEALER. THEY ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR ME FOR NO CHARGE SINCE MY BIKE WAS UNDER WARRANTEE. I REPAIRED THE FAILED PARTS WITH OEM PLASTIC REPLACEMENTS BUT I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH THE FIX. I AM A MEMBER OF AN ONLINE OWNER'S FORUM AND HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF THIS FAILURE OCCURRING TO THESE MOTORCYCLES. I DO NOT HAVE MY OLD PARTS AVAILABLE, BUT MANY OF THE OTHER MEMBERS HAVE KEPT THEIRS. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE PARTS IS COLDER MANUFACTURING. THEY HAVE BRASS FITTINGS AVAILABLE IN THE SAME SIZE FOR OEM REPLACEMENT, BUT APRILIA SEEMS TO BE ONLY SHIPPING THE PLASTIC VERSIONS. OTHER OWNERS ARE OPTING TO PROACTIVELY REPLACE THEIR PLASTIC FITTINGS WITH THE BRASS VERSIONS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT MUST BE INVESTIGATED. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY FIRES OR OTHER RELATED ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF THESE FAILURES, BUT I AM SURE IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE.*AK