Search:
StoriesVideos
Home News 

Story

Man Claims Motorcycle Broke In Half

Friday, June 2, 2006 – updated: 6:27 pm EDT June 2, 2006

Nick Jerard claims his motorcycle broke in half while he was riding it – sending him to intensive care. He also says that several other riders report similar ordeals – but the manufacturer won’t do anything about it. Channel 2 found a number of complaints on the internet about frames on that 2005 model Suzuki breaking in half under seemingly normal conditions.

Suzuki officials did not return our calls.

Jerard, who bought the model during its first year of production, says his snapped while he drove it at about 25 miles per hour.

It takes two people to wrestle what remains of his prized motorcycle out of the garage.

This time last year, the 21-year-old and his dad bought a Suzuki GSXR 1000 – touted then as the fastest production bike on the road.

The aluminum alloy frames made it light, and the Jerard’s say, more susceptible to frame problems.

Two months into ownership – Nick landed in intensive care.

“I was moving my brother’s stuff, I pulled out of the driveway, it fell apart on me from there,” Nick says.

Less than 100 yards from his house, you can see the trenches carved, Nick says by the muffler after the frame below him snapped in two, and sent him flying.

After several weeks of recovery, and $7,000 in medical bills, Nick says he and his dad started inspecting the bike. They spotted a hole drilled into the frame for his horn.

When they tried to get the bike repaired, they say initially, Suzuki seemed cooperative. Jerard says after he raised that question, Suzuki officials refused to repair his bike.

More Headlines

2 Investigates

Check Investigation
The chairman of the Carroll County Commission takes pride in what he says is the transparency of his local government. Every check written by the county is supposed to be posted on the county's website. But, it turns out, everything was not there. Full Story ››


The agency which certifies police officers and jailers is calling for a change after a Channel 2 Investigation found nearly 1400 certified officers with criminal records. In some cases, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Council, or POST, didn't know about the arrests until we told them. Full Story ››


A Channel 2 viewer called us about his red light camera ticket trouble and the nine month fight to clear his name. He says the picture on the ticket proves it wasn't him. He's tried to get the mistake fixed and we did too -- but hit roadblock after roadblock. Channel 2's John Bachman has the investigation. Full Story ››


Local Deals