2005 Yamaha XVS1100

Owner complaints

What owners report most

1. Power train8
2. Electrical system1
3. Engine1
4. Unknown or other1

Latest complaints

• May 14, 2023CA
  Power train

  Mid shaft broke at the nut that hold the yoke on the mid shaft. This can cause the rear wheel to lock up and cause loss of control. The issue has not been inspected by the manufacturer or police but after Google search I discovered it is a common issue and when removing the speed sensor and locking inside you can clearly see the shaft is broken off at the nut

• Jun 30, 2020GA30,645 mi
  Power train
  I was driving my newly bought (used) motorcycle, bought it from the previous owner. It has about 30,000 miles on it. Drove it home no problem, by the end of the week I was going up a hill and heard a loud whining noise as soon as I let off the throttle. Look at the bike once I get home and the mid…

  I was driving my newly bought (used) motorcycle, bought it from the previous owner. It has about 30,000 miles on it. Drove it home no problem, by the end of the week I was going up a hill and heard a loud whining noise as soon as I let off the throttle. Look at the bike once I get home and the mid drive shaft that transmits power from the transmission to the final drive had snapped off at the end. The bolt had broke off. While researching forums on the internet this problem has come up many many times with this year of motorcycle. The heat treat on the part mentioned IS very uneven and definitely not safe. I was directed to this page to fill out this form as a complaint to have yamaha solve this with a recall. It's going to cost me almost $3,000 to fix when I just paid $2,000 for the motorcycle. There have been multiple people complain about this on the internet so I hope to lead more here to fill out this form. *tr

• Sep 4, 2016TN40,000 mi
  Unknown or other

  Mid shaft broke. If this would of jammed up against the drive shaft it would have put the motorcycle in an uncontrolable skid.

• Jun 17, 2015CA12,000 mi
  Power train
  I have the same complaint as many others about this particular motorcycle. The head of the bolt that holds together the mid gear broke off. Now the motorcycle IS making a loud whiny noise on deceleration which IS unbearable. After replacing the final drive and the problem persisting my mechanic…

  I have the same complaint as many others about this particular motorcycle. The head of the bolt that holds together the mid gear broke off. Now the motorcycle IS making a loud whiny noise on deceleration which IS unbearable. After replacing the final drive and the problem persisting my mechanic finally took the motorcycle apart to inspect the mid gear and saw the part broken off. I'm really disappointed in yamaha although they pride themselves in claiming to make quality motorcycle they refuse to accept that this IS a manufacturing defect and issue a recall on this. My mechanic boldly said this part should not break that easily regardless of how old the bike may be. Now I'm stuck with the tough decision of fixing it which the repair cost IS estimated between $2500-$3000. I'D rather put that amount of money on a new bike, definitely not a yamasucks, then to risk fixing it and then having the same problem occur in another couple of years. I really wish yamaha would do the right thing for it's customers and issues a recall on this, whatever happened to the customer comes first or 100% customer satisfaction guaranteed.

• Jul 8, 2014IA39,700 mi
  Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel · Power train
  Driving 45mph on a flat black top. Speedo started to bounce heard a noise that sounded like grinding when applying the clutch while letting off of the throttle. A few moments later the speedo failed. I was able to drive my bike home. While investigating the speedo failure and the source of the…

  Driving 45mph on a flat black top. Speedo started to bounce heard a noise that sounded like grinding when applying the clutch while letting off of the throttle. A few moments later the speedo failed. I was able to drive my bike home. While investigating the speedo failure and the source of the noise I discovered that the middle drive gear shaft sheared off. The shaft sheared off on the threaded portion at the retaining nut location. In researching the cause of the failure, I found that this IS a common failure on these motorcycles that I feel needs to be addressed by yamaha. *js

• Jun 24, 2014FL
  Power train
  Sorry if I seem to be alarmed. But I own a 2005 yamaha 1100 classic. Why im filling this report out IS that I found a lot of problems posted about the mid shaft retaining bolt has been reported often of failure by either shearing off or even braking the shaft on this certain bike. It has not…

  Sorry if I seem to be alarmed. But I own a 2005 yamaha 1100 classic. Why im filling this report out IS that I found a lot of problems posted about the mid shaft retaining bolt has been reported often of failure by either shearing off or even braking the shaft on this certain bike. It has not happened to the bike I own yet, but reading these reports and some of the web spaces I found, tells me that it could happen. This makes me scared to ride my bike anymore. Yes by reading and looking up the details this problem could cause multiple damage or harm and even death to me. Please can we get yamaha to fix this problem for the owners of these bikes. Before some one does get hurt or killed. Or has to spend money we don't have. This shouldn't be happening. I talked to a yamaha dealer about the bike. They told me they totally quit making the 1100 type of bike with the shaft for some reason. "What's up with that" do they know something we don't!!!! There should be a recall on this major operating part to make it safer for rider's. I enjoy my bike but don't need this to happen to me. Can I request the recall to get it replaced and do something to make it safe for me and others. My bike has right at 25'000 miles on it. I think this retaining nut and shaft should last the duration of the bike. "My thought's"!!!! "yamaha why not have a reverse retaining support nut or a locking setup like a pin or allen screw on this drive shaft. That way the nut won't loosen. A motorcycle IS only made to run one direction anyway. You get by drift? please make this a recall. This bike IS my only transportation. Needing to save money on gas, not spend it on parts that shouldn't brake. Even outstanding medical bill's or a nother bike right now me along with others do not have this to give up or spend. Along with our lives. A bike should be safer than this.after reading all that I've read. Thank you. *tr

• Dec 6, 2013CA11,310 mi
  Power train
  The bike started shuttering so bad, the mirrors shook loose and I thought I was going to crash. I was able to safely stop the bike and had it towed back home. A mechanic looked at it and said the center driveline may possibly be coming loose. The bike shakes when any torque IS applied to the motor…

  The bike started shuttering so bad, the mirrors shook loose and I thought I was going to crash. I was able to safely stop the bike and had it towed back home. A mechanic looked at it and said the center driveline may possibly be coming loose. The bike shakes when any torque IS applied to the motor, and it's coming from under the rider seat. Exactly where the driveline IS housed. yamaha must recall and fix this issue before the rear tire locks up while riding. *Tr

• Oct 2, 2013OK16,500 mi
  Power train
  Yamaha used forged steel to make middle drive gear that was heat treated and the casting was not strong enough for its intended use. Yamaha IS aware of this as they have changed the part out with a part that IS much stronger. They should be required to pay for repairs on this particular part. Had I…

  Yamaha used forged steel to make middle drive gear that was heat treated and the casting was not strong enough for its intended use. Yamaha IS aware of this as they have changed the part out with a part that IS much stronger. They should be required to pay for repairs on this particular part. Had I not heard the rattling of the broken nut there IS a major chance that the lose defected part could have gotten caught in the u-joint causing the back tire to lock up at highway speeds causing major injury or death. The replacement part along with labor runs between 2500 and 3000 dollars. *tr

• Sep 21, 2012NJ31,000 mi
  Engine
  TL* the contact owns a 2005 yamaha xvs1100 motorcycle. While driving approximately 25 mph, a loud whining noise emitted upon release of the throttle. The vehicle was taken to an independent auto shop for diagnosis. The technician stated that the drive shaft bolt dislodged into the engine, which…

  TL* the contact owns a 2005 yamaha xvs1100 motorcycle. While driving approximately 25 mph, a loud whining noise emitted upon release of the throttle. The vehicle was taken to an independent auto shop for diagnosis. The technician stated that the drive shaft bolt dislodged into the engine, which caused substantial damage and the engine required replacement. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 31,000.

• Jun 6, 2012NY22,000 mi
  Power train

  Motorcycle started making noise when slowing down and then when shifting. Took it to a motorcycle shop and found out the middle drive shaft had gone bad. Have since found out this IS a real problem with this bike. Can't afford to get it fixed now. *tr

Every Yamaha XVS1100 model year

Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.