Kawasaki Motors USA is issuing a voluntary safety recall on certain 2024 Ninja 500 and Z500 models due to a clutch issue affecting a specific production range of these bikes. On the affected range of bikes, the clutch release shaft may not have been properly welded, which could cause it to break apart in operation. If this happens, the clutch could stay engaged when the rider does not mean it to, which would in turn disable the motorcycle. For obvious reasons, this could then increase the risk of a crash.
Approximately 3,742 motorcycles could be affected, which represents approximately one percent of the population according to Kawasaki's records. The affected bikes were manufactured between January 22, 2024 and February 6, 2024.
As for models affected, it's a wide range of 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 and Z500 variants. Here's the full list.
