APRILIA Complaints

POSSIBLE CARBURETOR SLIDE BREAKING AND PIECE(S) GOING INTO ENGINE, CAUSING ENGINE LOCK UP, CAUSING REAR WHEEL LOCK UP, CAUSING CRASH. *JB

2001 APRILIA SCARABEO 150 CC MOTORSCOOTER, THE THROTTLE SLIDE WILL SUDDENLY BREAK LEAVING THE RIDER W/O ANY POWER TO EXTRACATE HIMSELF FROM TRAFFIC. THE RIDER IS SUDDENLY EXPOSED TO AUTOMOBILES TRAVILING AT MEDIUM SPEED WITH NO WAY TO GET OUT OF AUTOMOBILIST WAY. THIS CERTAINLY PLACES THE SCOOTER RIDER IN A MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE THROTTLE SLIDES.

THE COMPLAINT REVOLVES AROUND A 2001 APRILIA SCARABEO 150, WHICH SUFFERED INTERNAL DAMAGE DUE TO AN ABNORMAL FAILURE IN THE CARBURETOR. THE CYCLE HAS A 1 CYLINDER, 150CC ENGINE, AND IS CURRENTLY AT 15,000 MILES. 1) NORMAL 12.5 MILE DRIVE TO WORK. TEMPERATURE IN THE 70S, CLEAR. 2) WHEN POWERING DOWN TO MAKE TURN INTO WORKPLACE, THE ENGINE CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING. ATTEMPT TO RESTART ENGINE PRODUCES A LOCKED ENGINE SOUND (LIKE A NICE CLUNK SOUND - NO ROTATION). BECAUSE OF THE GEARING SYSTEM, THE BIKE IMMEDIATELY STARTED SLOWING DOWN DUE TO ENGINE ROTOR DRAG. 3) PROBLEM WAS THAT ONE OF THE CARBURETOR DIAPHRAM SLIDER GUIDES BROKE OFF ALONG A NON-STRESS LINE AND LODGED ITSELF IN THE FUEL LINE OR CYLINDER. FROM AN ONLINE RIDER'S GROUP, THIS TYPE OF CARBURETOR FAILURE IS COMMON (FOR A FAILURE THAT SHOULD NOT EVER HAPPEN). CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A NEW PART FOR SERVICING. UNKNOWN IF CYLINDER NEEDS REBORED, BUT THE CARBURETOR IS DEFINITELY OUT OF BUSINESS. REMAINS OF THE SLIDER IS STILL IN THE BIKE FOR DEALER INSPECTION. *JB

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

THE PLASTIC QUICK DISCONNECT ON MY FUEL LINE BROKE AND POURED GASOLINE ALL OVER MY HOT ENGINE. I WAS LUCKY TO GET OFF THE BIKE AND SHUT IT DOWN BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. MY BIKE IS A 2003 APRILIA RST1000 FUTURA. A FRIEND OF MINE OWNS A FUTURA AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN MY PRESENCE. WE WERE ATTENDING THE 2003 MID OHIO SUPER BIKE RACE. HIS FAILED ON HIM AT A RESTERAUNT ON A SUNDAY. HE WORKED FOR HOURS TRYING TO FIND PARTS WHILE I STOOD THERE WITH MY THUMB ON THE GAS LINE TO KEEP IT FROM POURING OUT ALL OVER THE GROUND. AS RARE AS THESE BIKES ARE THERE MUST BE MANY MORE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM.

THIS IS A PICTURE OF A FAILED FUEL FITTING ON MY APRILIA FUTURA. THIS FAILED IN NORMAL USE. I DO NOT RACE, HAVEN'T MODIFIED MY MOTORCYCLE IN ANY WAY, AND TREAT IT LIKE THE FINE MACHINE IT IS. I NOTICED A GAS SMELL ON MY WAY TO WORK ONE DAY AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE OLD CAR NEXT TO ME AT THE STOP SIGN. WHEN I GOT HOME LATER THAT DAY I REALIZED IT WAS MY BIKE. WHEN I PULLED THE TANK UP I SAW A VERY BAD LEAK COMING FROM THE PICTURED PLASTIC FITTING. I SINCE HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FITTING ON MY FORUM PAGE. THEY REFERED ME TO YOUR SITE.

DT: WHILE THE CONSUMERS MOTORCYCLE WAS AT DEALER HAVING IT'S OIL CHANGED, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REFUND THE PURCHASE PRICE IF THE CONSUMER SIGNED A NON-DISCLOSURE FORM.*AK

SUBJECT: 2002 APRILIA RST FUTURA: ACCESSING THE ENGINE FOR MAINTENANCE REQUIRES THE FUEL TANK TO BE LIFTED. DURING LIFTING OF THIS FUEL TANK IT IS SOMETIMES NECSEARRY TO DISCONNECT THE THE FUEL LINE. THIS CAN BE DONE WITH A QUICK DISCONNECT PROVIDED ON A STOCK MOTORCYCLE. HOWEVER THIS FITTING IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND IS NOT DURABLE, PARTICULARY WHEN SUBJECTED TO ENGINE HEAT. THIS FITTING SITS ALMOST ATOP OF THE CYLINDER. WHEN DISCONNECTING THIS FIITNG IT BREAKS CAUSING THE FUEL TO SPILL. THIS CAN OR WILL RESULT IN FIRES PARTICULARLY WHEN THIS HAPPENES DURING THE OPERATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS MATERIAL THAT CANNOT WITHSTAND THE HEAT, AND DESIGN OF LOCKING MECHANISM THAT PREVENT REPEATED USE. I HAD TO USE, A BRASS FITTING AS I WAS STRANDED ON THE ROAD. THOUGH, WHEN DISCONNECTED, THIS BRASS FITTING WILL NOT ALLOW THE FUEL TO STOP FROM FLOWING, BUT I COULD NOT FIND A SUBSTITIUTE, AS THE ORIGINAL IS ALWAYS ON BACK ORDER.

THE VEHICLE IS AN APRILIA FUTURA. I NOTICED SOMETHING DRIPPING FROM THE MOTORCYCLE AND AFTER INVESTIGATING FOUND IT TO BE THE QUICK DISCONNECT ON THE LINE FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE THROTTLE BODIES. I HAVE NOT MOVED THE TANK IN 3 MONTHS SO I DON'T SEE HOW IT COULD BE BROKEN FROM THAT. I HAVE ORDERED A METAL REPLACEMENT AS THE ORIGINAL WAS THIN PLASTIC.

DT: FUEL LINE QUICKLY DISCONNECTED ON 2004 APRILIA RST FUTURA. CALLER WAS TRYING TO DISCONNECT FUEL LINE. WHEN IT WAS TOUCHED IT FELL APART IN HANDS. BOUGHT NEW METAL, QUICKLY DISCONNECTED FUEL LINE THAT REPLACED THE ONE THAT BROKE.*AK