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Cruiser
Posts: 100
Hudson, Ohio | I know this has hit the forum before but it needs to stay out there as an issue until Victory does something about it. It happened to me today and it is infuriating to think that my wife or daughter could have been riding with me and it became a bigger issue than it did, I was lucky - it happened as I came to a stop in my neighborhood, the back of the front fender broke off and got wedged in the front fender resulting in my steering locking to the right. It took everything I could do from dumping this beast.
Fix the damn problem Victory before it kills someone!!!!! I reported it on the NHTSA Site as well. If it happened to you - report it please!!!
This is off my 2011 Vision with 24.5K miles.
Sorry - my files are not small enough for the forum...check it out on this thread
http://www.thevog.net/forum/thread/20731/rear-plastic-front-fender-...
Edited by Spiderman 2013-08-11 8:06 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 500
| Maybe after someone gets seriously hurt or killed Victory might investigate this issue which many riders have experienced...One would think that after several of these fenders breaking, and reports on the internet about such, that someone with some sense of well-being at Polaris/Victory would wake up and re-call all bikes with the fender issue...Maybe a re-design or one piece fender would work...Perhaps Victory would rather wait until a major law suit nails them for really "huge" bucks before they get off their asses and look at this issue....JMHO |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | Checking my fender has become one of the MAJOR checks - every time out.
- Oil leaks
- Tire Pressure - eyeball only (let the dealer do the hard work)
- Lights and signals
- Sobriety
- Helmet, Key, Gloves
and now - Eyeball the damn front fender. WILL IT EVER END ???????????????????????????
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 19
california | Just went to NHTSA and posted my bitches, moans, and groans will see what happens probably nothing.
Mine blew out few days before I left for the meet 2500 miles round trip had to fix that piece of shit with superglue and pieces of a credit card. Thank god that superglue is better than the shit thwy make that back fender out of. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1109
| opas ride - 2013-08-11 8:58 PM Maybe after someone gets seriously hurt or killed Victory might investigate this issue which many riders have experienced...One would think that after several of these fenders breaking, and reports on the internet about such, that someone with some sense of well-being at Polaris/Victory would wake up and re-call all bikes with the fender issue...Maybe a re-design or one piece fender would work...Perhaps Victory would rather wait until a major law suit nails them for really "huge" bucks before they get off their asses and look at this issue....JMHO This appears to be Victorys attitude. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | Works for Honda. Goldwings have had this same problem for the entire lifespan of the GL1800, since 2001. Honda has done nothing about it and neither has the NHTSA. It's up to the aftermarket or the owners to fix the problem themselves in Honda's case.
Yes, I know that doesn't help. I just don't think bitching to the Government is going to get you anywhere.
"Some" Honda dealers have gone to bat for "some" Goldwing owners who had extended warranties, but it's a crap shoot there too.
Ronnie |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | This is not like a cracked frame or faulty wiring. If the bike wrecks (single vehicle) and the front fender is broken (name a wreck where that could not happen), it would be impossible to prove that the fender didn't break first and cause the wreck. They would just say "Oh, the fender broke during the crash. It was operator error." Scary. |
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Tourer
Posts: 447
Cleveland, GA | The one on my '08 recently broke away from the side bolts as well. It is still secured at the top of the fender, but there is enough play in it that it occasionally hangs on the lip of the fairing behind it. I thought it was the head bearings jamming up the first time it did this, until I looked and saw the fender was jammed into the fairing. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| I had two of them crack on my '11 and just by coincidence I found that both sides of the fender's mounting flanges are completely cracked through on my '13. The dealer has ordered another fender. We're leaving on a 12K mile trip in a few weeks and I doubt if this POS would have even gotten close to making it! This is nuts! Somebody is gonna get hurt. Just a matter of time.
Marc |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 623
| My fender started cracking at 30k. I picked up 2 .5x4" metal brackets at hardware store. I added 2 bolts to fender as well as origional mounting point which I JB welded with a washer too boot on the inside covered with the JB weld. After painting the bolt heads you can't tell it's there. It's been over 40 k miles since this fix and not 1 new crack on either of the now 3 mounting bolts on either side. I know it's not the right answer. Certainly a design flaw, but doing the like should keep you safe while waiting for a solution from Vic. Good luck |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| You don't happen to have a picture of your repair do you?
Marc |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 623
| I don't, I'm out of town until Saturday. But I can snap some pics then |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | All of those fixes are fine for the short term but I wouldn't want them holding the fender on my bike permanently. The bottom line is that MaVic needs to do something about this NOW. They need to change materials and/or mounting. Not only do they need to do this on all new Visions but they need to recall this on ALL Visions. True what Marc said. If there's an accident, MaVics lawyers will claim that the broken fender was the result, not the cause. This is unethical. The almighty dollar should NOT rule. Sorry, but this is just pissing me off more every time I think about it. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2300
Georgia, west of Atlanta | Thanks for the warning, just checked mine..........Nothing yet. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| You have to look really close with the fender removed in order to see the starting of a crack. Its very faint at first. It starts near the screw head radiating out of the hole. You need good light to catch it. With the first fender I thought it was fine till I removed it and took it outside to inspect it and there it was on both holes.
BTW, its very easy to remove without disturbing the front half. A 5 mm allan wrench will do it. Just fish it in from the opposite side of the wheel from underneath the lip of the fender. Of course you have to pull the snap connections apart that connect the front to the rear. If you use a flat head screwdriver on one side and your fingernail on the other side they come right up.
Marc
Edited by marcparnes 2013-08-12 6:04 PM
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | I have 7500 miles on my '12. I plan to have an X bike fender on my Vision long before mine starts to crack. HOWEVER, this thread (and the other threads on various boards) must not die until MaVic recognizes the problem and fixes it. $5000 "starter" bikes from various other manufacturers don't have a problem with this. $25k luxury, top of the food chain bikes shouldn't, either. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 100
Hudson, Ohio | SongFan - 2013-08-12 11:37 AM
This is not like a cracked frame or?faulty?wiring.? If the bike wrecks (single vehicle) and the front?fender is broken (name a wreck where that could not happen), it would be impossible to prove that the fender didn't break first and cause the wreck.? They would just say "Oh, the fender broke during the crash.? It was operator error." Scary.
I disagree...there are too many complaints about this issue on the many forums and facebook groups out there. There is enough evidence to support a case of that should happen.
Regardless - it is up to us as riders of this beast to voice our concerns and keep it out there. I have now posted this issue on all the major forums and facebook pages. Including Victorys Facebook page.
I will update this forum with any developments from Victory. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 100
Hudson, Ohio | XRsteve - 2013-08-12 6:57 PM
Thanks for the warning, just checked mine..........Nothing yet.
It happens quick so keep an eye on it.... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| Just thinking "ahead"... has anyone ever ridden without it? It doesn't seem to be adding any support to the front one. Wondering if it was to break off can I leave it on the side of the road and continue.
Marc |
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Cruiser
Posts: 100
Hudson, Ohio | marcparnes - 2013-08-12 8:38 PM
Just thinking "ahead"... has anyone ever ridden without it? It doesn't seem to be adding any support to the front one. Wondering if it was to break off can I leave it on the side of the road and continue.
Marc
Its no problem to ride without it...you just have to be concerned with road debris damaging your fairing or engine...plus rain may come up through the hole in your dash....I took mine for a ride yesterday without the rear part on and it was fine, |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| Ok, cool! At least it won't stop me in the middle of nowhere.
Marc |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1066
Peru, IN | Marc --- I wouldn't leave it on the side of the road. Strap it to the back of the bike and take it home. Only way you MIGHT get a new one is to show them the old one. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 249
Phenix City AL. | so the front part of the fender is good ? so we just need the rear part done in fiberglass or metal ? looking at the pics and trying to remember the last time mine was off, one might be able to take a fender blank that has the same shape as the rear part of the fender, trace the plastic part onto the metal fender, cut and drill the holes and it should bolt right on. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 100
Hudson, Ohio | jb.hatch - 2013-08-13 7:40 AM
so the front part of the fender is good ? so we just need the rear part done in fiberglass or metal ? looking at the pics and trying to remember the last time mine was off, one might be able to take a fender blank that has the same shape as the rear part of the fender, trace the plastic part onto the metal fender, cut and drill the holes and it should bolt right on.
Honestly Hatch, I am no engineer but I think a full metal version is the right way to go. Although, you could probably make a rear one out of metal (aluminum or steel) and reinforce it at the screw holes to ensure it does not crack again.
I also think Victory needs to come up with a suitable replacement so we Vision riders dont have to fork out additional dollars on a bike that already cost us over $20K to begin with.
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Cruiser
Posts: 100
Hudson, Ohio | Hey all you Vision Riders...DO NOT LET THIS ISSUE DIE. Share this link or the ones on the VOG or VMC with other Vision Riders. Post it in the various Facebook groups that you belong to. Go to the Victory Facebook page and post up your concerns on the subject. Ma Vic needs to hear us loud and clear and come up with a suitable replacement item. Your life and that of your passengers could be at risk. |
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Front Fender - Major Design Flaw
