Yamaha to recall 53,814 bikes

Japan's Yamaha Motor Co said today it will recall 53,814 motorcycles to replace a defect in rear-wheel shock absorbers that caused slight injuries to one rider.

The TW200E models were manufactured between 1987 and 2001 and all sold in Japan, the motorcycle firm said in a statement.

The recall followed six reports of problems with the joint part due to a lack of tenacity, the statement said. The problem could result in a breakdown of the part and a loss of stability.

One rider was slightly injured when a TW200E motorcycle with the defect scraped a guardrail, a Yamaha spokesman said.