2005 Bigdog RIDGEBACK: complaints, problems and recalls

THE TWO BOLTS HOLDING THE FRONT CALIPER ON MY 2005 BIGDOG RIDGEBACK BACKED OUT. I DISCOVERED IT AFTER RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE. THE TWO BOLTS HAD BACKED OUT TO WHERE THEY WERE BEING HELD BY A COUPLE OF THREADS. I THEN REMOVED THE BOLTS, AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO" LOCKTITE" APPLIED TO EITHER OF THE BOLTS. IF THE FRONT CALIPER FALLS OFF WHILE RIDING, IT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC. I PURCHASED SOME "LOCKTITE", AND APPLIED IT TO THE BOLT THREADS, AND REINSTALLED THE BOLTS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159108 at NHTSA ↗

IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING MY 2005 BIG DOG RIDGEBACK, MULTIPLE PROBLEMS BEGAN TO ARISE. THE BIKE WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON, ALSO IT HAD AN EVER INCREASING SQUEAL THAT EVENTUALLY BECAME LOUDER THAN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER THAT THE BIKE WAS PURCHASED FROM WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE ISSUES AND WAS DISHONEST ABOUT THE SERVICE THAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO. EVENTUALLY THAT DEALER REFUNDED THE MONEY FOR MY FIRST SERVICE AND PAID ME BACK FOR MOST OF THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE TO MY BIKE. OBVIOUSLY I NO LONGER WISH TO BRING MY BIKE TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 36 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186711 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-04-14 (April 14, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE PRIMARY DRIVE SPROCKET NUT MAY BACK OFF THE ENGINE MAIN SHAFT.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE PRIMARY DRIVE TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE A CRASH. THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DRIVE SPROCKET NUT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 316-267-9121.

Reported: 2005-09-28 (September 28, 2005)

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE REAR WHEEL HUB BOLTS COULD LOOSEN AND BACK OUT ALLOWING THE HUB AND BRAKE ROTOR TO DETACH FROM THE WHEEL WITH AN ASSOCIATED LOSS OF STOPPING POWER.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE, CLEAN AND REATTACH THE REAR HUB BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 1-312-267-9121.

Reported: 2006-01-25 (January 25, 2006)

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE KICKSTAND SPRING MAY STRETCH AND DETACH FROM THE MOUNTING BRACKET OR THE KICKSTAND.

Consequence: THIS WILL ALLOW THE KICKSTAND TO DEPLOY INTO THE EXTENDED POSITION AND CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW KICKSTAND SPRING FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 17, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 316-267-9121.

Reported: 2006-08-11 (August 11, 2006)

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE ELECTRONIC HARNESS CONTROL (EHC) MODULE CAN FAIL RESULTING IN A TOTAL SHUT DOWN OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC POWER.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD OCCUR WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EHC MODULES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 316-267-9121.

Reported: 2007-08-08 (August 8, 2007)

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, A WARPED BUS BAR WITHIN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR CAN CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence: THIS COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING CIRCUIT BREAKER LOCATED BETWEEN THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR POSITIVE BATTERY LEAD (B+ LEAD) AND THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL WITH AN ALTERNATIVE CIRCUIT PROTECTION DEVICE THAT WILL PREVENT A THERMAL EVENT IF THERE IS A SHORT TO GROUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 1, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG AT 1-316-219-9129 OR EMAIL TO CUSTOMER.SERVICE@BIGDOGMOTORCYCLES.COM.

Reported: 2009-05-01 (May 1, 2009)

BIG DOG IS RECALLING 1,257 MY 2005 RIDGEBACK MOTORCYCLES. THE REAR WHEEL MAY HAVE WEAK SPOTS IN THE DESIGN, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE WHEEL TO CRACK UNDER CERTAIN OPERATING CONDITIONS.

Consequence: IF UNDETECTED, THIS CONDITION MAY LEAD TO A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 1, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 1-316-267-9121.