If you are the owner of a 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 or YZF-R1M, your motorcycle might be part of an upcoming “stop sale” recall that affects the bike’s gearbox.

The soon-to-be-announced recall affects only a limited number of units, but centers around the gearbox on some R1’s having components of inadequate strength, which could cause the transmission to seize under extreme shifting, and thus result in a crash.

According to our sources, the recall focuses on the second-gear wheel and pinions, which might break under extremely high stress and/or improper shifting. This is due to inadequate component strength and stress concentration at the bottom land for the gear teeth.

In addition to second-gear wheel issue, the third and fourth-gear wheels may also be deformed or break, again as a result of hard usage, and again due to inadequate component strength.

To correct this defect, Yamaha is initiating what it calls a “Factory Modification Campaign” for the affected R1 superbikes. This campaign will see the affected R1/R1M units have their transmission assemblies replaced with ones that include gears of a different design.

Yamaha is expected to formally announce this recall some time this week, and clarify which VINs are affected. The recall is expected to take place in mid-December.

In the past, other manufacturers have had factory technicians rebuild defective motors, while others have simply swapped affected motors with new ones. The latter seems the more likely solution, as it has fewer legal consequences.

Source: Bothan Spies