At the bottom of the service campaign types is the Information notice. An example is mechanics' tips newsletters--Honda calls them "The Wrench" newsetter, Kawasaki calls theirs "K-Tech News". In many ways extensions of the factory manuals and heads up on new techniques, these are invaluable. Also included in this category are race bulletins, accessories bulletins, training news, parts bulletins, bulletins about media events, marketing, sales--these are all at the lowest, information level, a level that demands no action. Next up the scale is what Kawasaki calls the Factory Authorized Repair (FAR). The FAR asks for a response on the part of the dealer, but the response, while encouraged, is actually optional, not mandatory. And while there is sometimes warranty consideration, the eligibility guidelines and time window are pretty limited. Next in importance is Kawasaki's Factory Directed Modification, or FDM. The FDM is a little more serious, a little more important. It is always something done free to the customer, and the dealer is required to do it. But there is still a limited window of opportunity, time-wise. It's not open-ended. Then, finally, last, and highest up the service campaign heirarchy, is the Recall. Recalls are really unique. virtually always announced in collaboration with a government oversight agency such as the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Coast Guard, or Special Specialty Vehicle Institute (SVIA), who help the OEM set timelines for completion and other important parameters.

Again, this point cannot be overstressed -- recalls are exceptional. They are unique in many ways. Again, to start with, they are always safety-related. Honda once recalled a scooter that because one 6mm screw tended to loosen up, the rear fender could come loose and pivot until it slid under the wheel, turning the scooter into an asphalt sled! Another Honda had handlebars that would break off. Recalls are always about safety. They are always free to the customer. They are always accompanied by separate letters to the customer -- attempts are even made to find those customers who have relocated or sold their vehicle. Recalls are also the only service campaigns manufacturers still publish on paper. And, most significantly, unlike all other service campaigns, recalls never end. That's right, they never, ever, end. Never. No matter how many years later, they are still in effect. Info bulletins, FARs, and FDMs all have specifically described timelines. Recalls have no timeline. Legally and morally, for a bike that is 50 years old that appears in his dealership, a dealer is obligated to conduct the repair, unless the specialized parts are simply no longer available. Honda's 1970s fuel tank cap latches come to mind. These were still being done in Honda dealerships decades later. Much more common are 3-5 year old machines that have somehow escaped their recalls. These machines have to be serviced per the recall. The dealer is also legally and morally obligated to perform recall repairs to eligible vehicles he hasn't yet sold that are in his inventory, and can face serious consequences both from the manufacturer and from the government for failing to do so. He is also strongly encouraged to contact those customers to whom he has sold such vehicles and compel them to return for the recall service.

So the next time you hear the word "recall," know what it means. It is synonymous with personal safety. It is in fact the reason behind the NHTSA-originated Vehicle Identification (VIN) Number system. It is deadly serious, and not every adjustment or modification program a manufactuer embarks on is a "recall."

This is the service notice system the way the Big Four do it, specifically using Kawasaki's nomenclature. For insight into how thd Honda company uses the same breakdown but with different names, use this link.

VINS
Event data recorders