This article discusses a concerning issue related to rear wheel axle shafts on motorcycles. The rear wheel axle shaft is a crucial component that holds the rear wheel in place in the swingarm of a motorcycle. Ducati North America has issued a recall for over 10,000 Ducati Panigale V4 and Streetfighter motorcycles due to a potential fault in the rear wheel axle shaft on some units.
According to the recall report filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there have been 11 reported cases of rear wheel axle shaft failure worldwide, with none in the US market. As a precautionary measure, Ducati is recalling the affected bikes for rear wheel shaft replacement at no cost to the customers.
The defect description states that "The rear wheel shaft (axle) could lose its structural integrity and break," posing a risk of a crash and injury while riding. The affected motorcycles include various model years, production dates, and numbers.
The recall report mentions that the rear wheel shaft may not be robust enough under certain stressed conditions due to the installation layout on these specific models. Ducati advises owners to watch out for unusual noises or vibrations from the rear of the motorcycle as potential warning signs of a problem.
The affected components were sourced from two different suppliers, Russ Tiger Enterprise in Taiwan and Hero Motors Limited in India. Ducati North America plans to notify its dealer network and affected owners within specific timeframes. Owners can contact Ducati Customer Service or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline for more information regarding the recall.