High Severity Issue
This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.
This Problem Across All Years
I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE ON 11/05/16 FROM IMOTORSPORTS IN ELMHURST ILL. FROM DAY ONE IT HAD A VERY BAD WOBBLE IN THE STEERING AND IF I WAS NOT HOLDING STRONGLY ONTO THE BIKE IT WOULD DEFINITELY CRASH. AFTER ASKING FOR A REPAIR TO THIS WOBBLE IMOTORSPORTS MANAGER JASON SAID THEY WOULD INSTALL A NEW SET OF TIRES ON IT AND THIS SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE BIKE ONLY HAD 15,158 MILES ON IT SO I THOUGHT FOR SURE THIS WOULD BE THE ANSWER. JASON TOLD ME THAT AFTER THE BIKE GOT USED TO THE NEW TIRES THAT THE WOBBLE WOULD GO AWAY. THE WOBBLE WOULD OCCUR ANYTIME IT WAS IN MOTION FROM 15-45 MPH. THE WOBBLE NEVER GOT ANY BETTER AND BEING A BIT NAIVE TO PURCHASING A VEHICLE FROM A DEALER THE 30 DAY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WHEN I RETURNED ON 12/15/16 THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. NOW I HAVE A $13,000 MOTORCYCLE THAT I AM AFRAID TO RIDE. I RODE IT A FEW MILES IN APRIL AND MAY AND JUNE OF 2017 AND BECAUSE OF THE WOBBLE, THE PLASTIC SHROUD THAT IS SURROUNDING THE TIMING CHAIN CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES. I AM AT A STAND STILL NOW AND DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I ALSO DONT KNOW IF THE SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR YEAR GOLDWING HAVE BEEN ATTENDED TO. I FEEL SO BAD ABOUT THIS AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I SAVED EVERY PENNY I COULD FOR 6 YEARS TO PURCHASE THIS MOTORCYCLE AND NOW I CANT AND AM AFRAID TO RIDE IT.
I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE ON 11/05/16 FROM IMOTORSPORTS IN ELMHURST ILL. FROM DAY ONE IT HAD A VERY BAD WOBBLE IN THE STEERING AND IF I WAS NOT HOLDING STRONGLY ONTO THE BIKE IT WOULD DEFINITELY CRASH. AFTER ASKING FOR A REPAIR TO THIS WOBBLE IMOTORSPORTS MANAGER JASON SAID THEY WOULD INSTALL A NEW SET OF TIRES ON IT AND THIS SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE BIKE ONLY HAD 15,158 MILES ON IT SO I THOUGHT FOR SURE THIS WOULD BE THE ANSWER. JASON TOLD ME THAT AFTER THE BIKE GOT USED TO THE NEW TIRES THAT THE WOBBLE WOULD GO AWAY. THE WOBBLE WOULD OCCUR ANYTIME IT WAS IN MOTION FROM 15-45 MPH. THE WOBBLE NEVER GOT ANY BETTER AND BEING A BIT NAIVE TO PURCHASING A VEHICLE FROM A DEALER THE 30 DAY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WHEN I RETURNED ON 12/15/16 THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. NOW I HAVE A $13,000 MOTORCYCLE THAT I AM AFRAID TO RIDE. I RODE IT A FEW MILES IN APRIL AND MAY AND JUNE OF 2017 AND BECAUSE OF THE WOBBLE, THE PLASTIC SHROUD THAT IS SURROUNDING THE TIMING CHAIN CRACKED ON BOTH SIDES. I AM AT A STAND STILL NOW AND DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I ALSO DONT KNOW IF THE SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS PARTICULAR YEAR GOLDWING HAVE BEEN ATTENDED TO. I FEEL SO BAD ABOUT THIS AND I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I SAVED EVERY PENNY I COULD FOR 6 YEARS TO PURCHASE THIS MOTORCYCLE AND NOW I CANT AND AM AFRAID TO RIDE IT.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA GOLDWING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES VERY BADLY WHEN RIDING BETWEEN 30 AND 45 MPH. HONDA STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO OPERATE IN THAT MANNER. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSPECTED THE TIRES, HOWEVER, THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA GOLDWING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE SHAKES VERY BADLY WHEN RIDING BETWEEN 30 AND 45 MPH. HONDA STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO OPERATE IN THAT MANNER. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY INSPECTED THE TIRES, HOWEVER, THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5.
HONDA GOLDWINGS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A DECELERATION FRONT END WOBBLE. AS YOU DECELERATE FROM AROUND 35 MPH WITH YOUR HANDS LIGHTLY RESTING ON THE HANDLE BARS, THE FRONT END GOES INTO A VIOLENT WOBBLE. HONDA OF AMERICA CLAIMS IT IS JUST A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE 1800 GOLDWING, HOWEVER IT POSES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THERE ARE SEVERAL BLOGS ON THE INTERNET OF PEOPLE EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN OF THIS PROBLEM...APPARENTLY THERE IS A FIX BY REPLACING THE BEARING IN THE FRONT WHEEL WITH A TAPERED BEARING, HOWEVER THIS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER...THOUSANDS OF HONDA GOLDWING 1800CC BIKES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *JB
HONDA GOLDWINGS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH A DECELERATION FRONT END WOBBLE. AS YOU DECELERATE FROM AROUND 35 MPH WITH YOUR HANDS LIGHTLY RESTING ON THE HANDLE BARS, THE FRONT END GOES INTO A VIOLENT WOBBLE. HONDA OF AMERICA CLAIMS IT IS JUST A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE 1800 GOLDWING, HOWEVER IT POSES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THERE ARE SEVERAL BLOGS ON THE INTERNET OF PEOPLE EXPRESSING THEIR CONCERN OF THIS PROBLEM...APPARENTLY THERE IS A FIX BY REPLACING THE BEARING IN THE FRONT WHEEL WITH A TAPERED BEARING, HOWEVER THIS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER...THOUSANDS OF HONDA GOLDWING 1800CC BIKES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *JB
FRONT FORK WOBBLE/SHAKE. *NM
AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH AND WITH HANDS OFF OR LOOSELY GRIPPING THE HANDLEBAR, THE FRONT WHEEL OF MY HONDA GL 1800 GOLDWING DEVELOPS A SEVERE WOBBLE. I HAVE ADDED A SUPERBRACE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT THIS DID NOT ELIMINATE OR REDUCE THE WOBBLE. *NM
FRONT END WOBBLE ON A 2003 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. *JB
FRONT FORK WOBBLE/SHAKE. *NM
AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH AND WITH HANDS OFF OR LOOSELY GRIPPING THE HANDLEBAR, THE FRONT WHEEL OF MY HONDA GL 1800 GOLDWING DEVELOPS A SEVERE WOBBLE. I HAVE ADDED A SUPERBRACE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT THIS DID NOT ELIMINATE OR REDUCE THE WOBBLE. *NM
FRONT END WOBBLE ON A 2003 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. *JB
I OWN A 2003 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW LATE IN MAY OF 2003, VIN#[XXX]. IT IS STILL, AT THIS TIME, WITHIN THE FACTORY WARRANTY PERIOD. SINCE IT WAS NEW, THE FRONT FORK AND HANDLEBARS HAVE HAD A STRONG WOBBLE AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH-45 MPH. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL HONDA MOTORCYCLE DEALERS AND AM TOLD THAT MANY GOLDWINGS DO THIS AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. AT MY OWN EXPENSE, I HAVE HAD THE FRONT TIRES RE-BALANCED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, REPLACED THE FRONT TIRE AND REAR TIRE. HAD THE STEERING HEAD BEARINGS READJUSTED TO FACTORY SPECS, AND HAVE ADDED A FORK BRACE, ALL TO NO EFFECT. I HAVE CALLED HONDA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN CALIFORNIA THREE TIMES ABOUT THIS SITUATION, AND EACH TIME I AM TOLD "IT IS A TRAIT OF THE MOTORCYCLE, HONDA WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, AND THAT I SHOULD KEEP BOTH HANDS FIRMLY ON THE GRIPS AT ALL TIMES TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECT". THIS IS NOT A SOLUTION AT ALL, SINCE EVEN WITH BOTH HANDS FIRMLY ON THE GRIPS, THE FORK STILL WOBBLES STRONG ENOUGH TO NUMB MY WRISTS. AS AN AUTOMOTIVE PROFESSIONAL, I KNOW THAT THIS WOBBLE CAN NOT GO ON AND NOT EFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE RELATED PARTS SUCH AS THE FORK TUBES, FRONT AXLE BEARINGS, STEERING HEAD BEARINGS, FRONT TIRE AND THE REST OF THE MOTORCYCLE FOR THAT MATTER. BY RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE AT GL1800RIDERS.COM, I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD GREAT RESULTS WITH REPLACING THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT STEERING HEAD BALL TYPE BEARINGS WITH AFTERMARKET PRODUCED TAPERED ROLLER TYPE BEARINGS. I, MYSELF, AM HAVING THIS CHANGE MADE AT MY LOCAL DEALER, AGAIN, AT MY OWN EXPENSE, AS I TYPE THIS REPORT. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND THE FACT THAT HONDA WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT LOOK INTO THE SITUATION TO SEE IF ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN BY HONDA. I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMEONE HURT OR KILLED BECAUSE THIS WENT UNRESOLVED. *JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(
I OWN A 2003 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE WHICH I PURCHASED NEW LATE IN MAY OF 2003, VIN#[XXX]. IT IS STILL, AT THIS TIME, WITHIN THE FACTORY WARRANTY PERIOD. SINCE IT WAS NEW, THE FRONT FORK AND HANDLEBARS HAVE HAD A STRONG WOBBLE AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH-45 MPH. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL HONDA MOTORCYCLE DEALERS AND AM TOLD THAT MANY GOLDWINGS DO THIS AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. AT MY OWN EXPENSE, I HAVE HAD THE FRONT TIRES RE-BALANCED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, REPLACED THE FRONT TIRE AND REAR TIRE. HAD THE STEERING HEAD BEARINGS READJUSTED TO FACTORY SPECS, AND HAVE ADDED A FORK BRACE, ALL TO NO EFFECT. I HAVE CALLED HONDA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN CALIFORNIA THREE TIMES ABOUT THIS SITUATION, AND EACH TIME I AM TOLD "IT IS A TRAIT OF THE MOTORCYCLE, HONDA WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, AND THAT I SHOULD KEEP BOTH HANDS FIRMLY ON THE GRIPS AT ALL TIMES TO MINIMIZE THE EFFECT". THIS IS NOT A SOLUTION AT ALL, SINCE EVEN WITH BOTH HANDS FIRMLY ON THE GRIPS, THE FORK STILL WOBBLES STRONG ENOUGH TO NUMB MY WRISTS. AS AN AUTOMOTIVE PROFESSIONAL, I KNOW THAT THIS WOBBLE CAN NOT GO ON AND NOT EFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE RELATED PARTS SUCH AS THE FORK TUBES, FRONT AXLE BEARINGS, STEERING HEAD BEARINGS, FRONT TIRE AND THE REST OF THE MOTORCYCLE FOR THAT MATTER. BY RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE AT GL1800RIDERS.COM, I HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD GREAT RESULTS WITH REPLACING THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT STEERING HEAD BALL TYPE BEARINGS WITH AFTERMARKET PRODUCED TAPERED ROLLER TYPE BEARINGS. I, MYSELF, AM HAVING THIS CHANGE MADE AT MY LOCAL DEALER, AGAIN, AT MY OWN EXPENSE, AS I TYPE THIS REPORT. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND THE FACT THAT HONDA WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT, I WOULD RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT LOOK INTO THE SITUATION TO SEE IF ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN BY HONDA. I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMEONE HURT OR KILLED BECAUSE THIS WENT UNRESOLVED. *JB UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(
I HAVE A HONDA GL1800 GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. ALL THESE BIKES HAVE AN ISSUE WITH FRONT END WOBBLE WHILE DECELERATING BETWEEN 35-45 MPH. MY HONDA DEALER SAYS HONDA KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT HAVEN'T RECALLED IT YET BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY OTHER RECALLS CURRENTLY ACTIVE. A REVIEW OF A WEB SITE OF OWNERS CALLED GL1800.ORG HAS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HOW TO FIX IT. MY HONDA DEALER SAYS THE BEARING IN THE STEERING COLUMN ISN'T SUFFICIENT AND IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $300 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. MY BIKE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HONDA WON'T REPAIR IT. HERE'S THE REAL PROBLEM. LAST NIGHT DURING A LIGHT RAIN I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK. AS I WAS DECELERATING AROUND A DOWNHILL CORNER, AROUND 40 MPH, THE WOBBLE BECAME SO BAD MY FRONT WHEEL LITERALLY SLIPPED OUT FROM UNDERNEATH ME CAUSING ME TO GO DOWN ON THE RIGHT CRASH BAR FOR A MOMENT. APPARENTLY IT WASN'T MY TIME TO GO BECAUSE AS QUICKLY AS I WENT DOWN I CAME BACK UP AND MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE BIKE. I'M STILL PUZZLED HOW THIS HAPPENED AND HOW I RECOVERED FROM IT. BUT I KNOW THE CAUSE OF IT. IT'S THE FRONT END WOBBLE DUE TO SUB STANDARD BEARINGS BEING USED. THESE DISCUSSIONS ON WEBSITES AND WITH HONDA HAVE BEEN ONGOING FOR WELL OVER TWO YEARS. DOES HONDA HAVE TO HAVE DOCUMENTED DEATHS BEFORE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE? I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SUCH A SAFETY ISSUE CAN CONTINUE TO GO ON AND ON WITH NO ACTION BY SUCH A REPUTABLE COMPANY. PLEASE HELP TO FIX THIS SAFETY PROBLEM BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.
I HAVE A HONDA GL1800 GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE. ALL THESE BIKES HAVE AN ISSUE WITH FRONT END WOBBLE WHILE DECELERATING BETWEEN 35-45 MPH. MY HONDA DEALER SAYS HONDA KNOWS ABOUT IT BUT HAVEN'T RECALLED IT YET BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MANY OTHER RECALLS CURRENTLY ACTIVE. A REVIEW OF A WEB SITE OF OWNERS CALLED GL1800.ORG HAS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HOW TO FIX IT. MY HONDA DEALER SAYS THE BEARING IN THE STEERING COLUMN ISN'T SUFFICIENT AND IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $300 TO HAVE IT REPLACED. MY BIKE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. HONDA WON'T REPAIR IT. HERE'S THE REAL PROBLEM. LAST NIGHT DURING A LIGHT RAIN I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK. AS I WAS DECELERATING AROUND A DOWNHILL CORNER, AROUND 40 MPH, THE WOBBLE BECAME SO BAD MY FRONT WHEEL LITERALLY SLIPPED OUT FROM UNDERNEATH ME CAUSING ME TO GO DOWN ON THE RIGHT CRASH BAR FOR A MOMENT. APPARENTLY IT WASN'T MY TIME TO GO BECAUSE AS QUICKLY AS I WENT DOWN I CAME BACK UP AND MAINTAINED CONTROL OF THE BIKE. I'M STILL PUZZLED HOW THIS HAPPENED AND HOW I RECOVERED FROM IT. BUT I KNOW THE CAUSE OF IT. IT'S THE FRONT END WOBBLE DUE TO SUB STANDARD BEARINGS BEING USED. THESE DISCUSSIONS ON WEBSITES AND WITH HONDA HAVE BEEN ONGOING FOR WELL OVER TWO YEARS. DOES HONDA HAVE TO HAVE DOCUMENTED DEATHS BEFORE SOMETHING CAN BE DONE? I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW SUCH A SAFETY ISSUE CAN CONTINUE TO GO ON AND ON WITH NO ACTION BY SUCH A REPUTABLE COMPANY. PLEASE HELP TO FIX THIS SAFETY PROBLEM BEFORE LIVES ARE LOST. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM.