2004 HONDA VTX1300 Steering Problems

MY FRONT END WOBBLES BAD WHEN I'M SLOWING DOWN. IT HAPPENS ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.I REPLACED THE FRONT AND BACK TIRES AND HAD THEM BALANCED. NOTHING CHANGED. I'VE RESEARCHED IT AND IT'S APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1300 MODELS AND REPLACING THE UPPER AND LOWER STEERING BEARINGS WITH THE ONES USED IN THE 1800 MODELS FIXES IT. I'VE RESEARCHED HOW TO REPLACE THEM AND IT REQUIRES SPECIAL TOOLS AND THE RACE FOR EACH BEARING NEEDS TO BE PRESSED IN AT A SHOP. I NOTICED THAT ONLY 75 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED. I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THERE'S NOT A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ONLINE. I'VE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS AND IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TO GET THEM REPLACED SOON AND I'M SURE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE CHEAP AFTER READING ABOUT HOW TO DO IT. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 8,000

ON 2004 HONDA VTX1300C MOTORCYCLE, FRONT TIRE DEVELOPS A SEVERE SHIMMY WHEN DECELERATING FROM 40-50 MPH. HAVE REPORTED PROBLEM TO HONDA REPAIR CENTER AND TECH'S STATE THEY DO NOT KNOW CAUSE OF PROBLEM WHERE MANY FORUMS ONE STATED TO REPLACE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WITH VTX 1800 TAPERED BEARINGS.

Mileage: 18,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA VTX1300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HANDLE BAR WOBBLED EXCESSIVELY WHEN DRIVING 35 MPH AND ABOVE. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE STEERING STEM BEARINGS FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,200.

Mileage: 6,200

JUST PURCHASED THIS BIKE I'M 2ND OWNER, AND WHILE INSPECTING THIS BIKE I NOTICED THAT LEFT SIDE OF FRONT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY WORN BUT RIGHT SIDE HAD TREAD, SO I REPLACED WITH NEW DUNLOP TIRES FRONT AND REAR AND AFTER DRIVING HAVING ONLY 300 MILES ON BIKE ONE DAY I LET GO OF LEFT HAND GRIP AT 40 MPH TO SCRATCH MY NOSE AND THE BIKE FRONT WHEEL BEGAN TO WOBBLE ENOUGH TO REALLY SCARE ME. I CALLED HONDA THEY SAID WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER GETTING ON LINE WITH SEVERAL VTX OWNERS WEB-SITES AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VTX 1300. I HAVE NEW TIRES AND VTX WITH LESS THAN 8000 MILES ON BIKE, SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 7,781

THERE IS A FRONT FORK WOBBLE ON MY 2004 HONDA VTX MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS COUPLED WITH EXTREMELY FAST WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES. THE WOBBLE IS MOST NOTICEABLE BETWEEN 20 - 50 MPH, AND MORE PREVALENT WHEN COASTING TO A STOP. IT IS BAD ENOUGH AT TIME TO CAUSE A CONTROL ISSUE WHEN GOING AROUND TURNS. *TR

Mileage: 25

I HAVE A 2004 HONDA VTX 1300 AND WHILE DECELERATING, USUALLY BETWEEN 50 AND 30 MILES PER HOUR, THE HANDLE BARS AND FRONT END STARTS TO WOBBLE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE. *TR

Mileage: 18,000

2004 HONDA VTX 1300C. FRONT END SHAKE AND WOBBLE.THE WOBBLE IS BETWEEN 35-50 MPH. NEW TAPERED BEARINGS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 19,000

ON 2004 HONDA VTX1300C MOTORCYCLE, FRONT TIRE DEVELOPS A SEVERE SHIMMY WHEN DECELERATING FROM 40-50 MPH. HAVE REPORTED PROBLEM TO HONDA REPAIR CENTER AND TECH'S STATE THEY DO NOT KNOW CAUSE OF PROBLEM WHERE MANY FORUMS DISCUSS ISSUE IN DETAIL. *TR

Mileage: 7,000

MY 2004 HONDA VTX 1300C HAS A BAD VIBRATION WHEN DECELERATING FROM 50 TO 40 MPH. SEVERAL TIME THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DUE TO VIBRATION DURING A CURVE. ACCORDING TO MY REPAIR GUY THIS IS DUE TO A POOR DESIGN IN THE STEERING BEARING IN THE TRIPLE TREE ON THE 1300S. APPARENTLY THE BEARING USED IN THE TRIPLE TREE IS NOT THE SAME ONE USED ON THE VTX1800 MODEL WHICH HE SAYS IS A GOOD ONE. *TR

Mileage: 2,316

I HAVE A 2004 HONDA VTX 1300CC MOTORCYCLE, WHICH HAS DEVELOPED A LARGE PROBLEM IN THE STEERING (WOBBLE). THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED BY HUNDREDS OF OWNERS THAT I HAVE SEEN ON THE WEB. I AM REPLACING THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS AND THE STEERING STEM BEARINGS TO AVOID BEING KILLED. THAT FAILURE OF THE NHTSA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE WITH HONDA IS SICKENING. I GUESS PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE OUR WONDERFUL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WILL DO THEIR JOBS; MAYBE NOT EVEN THEN. *TR

Mileage: 8,000

HONDA VTX 1300C HAS A SERIOUS FRONT END WOBBLE THAT IMPEDES THE SAFE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF 40 MILES PER HOUR. I HAVE REPLACED TIRES AND REPLACED FORK SPRINGS/OIL. STILL FRONT END SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THIS STARTED AROUND 7,000 MILES .I'M CURRENTLY AT 20,000 AND WANTED TO REPLACE ALL PARTS BEFORE COMPLAINING. *TR

Mileage: 7,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA VTX1300. WHILE DRIVING 40-70, THE HANDLE BAR WOULD SHAKE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES CAUSED THE FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE TIRES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600. UPDATED 04/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 04/29/08 *TR

Mileage: 600

2004 HONDA VTX1300C FRONT END WOBBLE AT 50 MPH. *JB

Mileage: 4,420

FRONT END WOBBLE VTX 1300. *JB

Mileage: 50

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HANDLE BAR WOBBLED WHILE TRAVELING 47 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 5,300

I HAVE A COMPLAINT ON THE STEERING OF MY MOTORCYCLE 2004 VTX 1300 S. IT WOBBLES AT A 40-45 MPH SPEED. IT WASN'T NOTICEABLE BETWEEN MY FIRST 1,000 MILES. AFTER THAT IT HAS BEEN VERY NOTICEABLE AND DURING MY EVERY DAY COMMUTE LOTS OF LIGHTS, STOP AND GO, IT IS A CONSTANT ISSUE. I SIGNED UP ON A MOTORCYCLE FORUM IN THE INTERNET AND I WILL SAY THAT 85-90% OF THIS MOTORCYCLE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SAME WOBBLE. SOME HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE BEARINGS WITH THE HIGHER CC SISTER MOTORCYCLE FROM HONDA THE 1800CC. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE BECAUSE HONDA DOES NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. I GUESS WE NEED TO HAVE A FATALITY BEFORE THEY DO. *JB

THE HONDA VTX 1300 HAS A FRONT END STEERING WOBBLE UPON DECELERATION, 45-30 WHICH CAN BE FIXED WITH TAPERED BEARINGS THAT ARE USED IN THE VTX 1800. HONDA REFUSES TO ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM. MY FRONT END SHAKES A LOT BECAUSE OF THIS. I ONLY HAVE 7,000 MILES ON THE BIKE ,AND THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I DO NOT TAKE MY HANDS OFF OF THE BARS AND IT STILL SHAKES, AND IT IS GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW BY HONDA AND THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM....PLEASE. *JB

Mileage: 6,200

MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A VERY DANGEROUS WOBBLE ON DECELERATION FROM 45-35 MPH I HAD TO REPLACE WITH AFTER MARKET PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB

Mileage: 1,000

NO LEAD UP. A FRONT END DECELERATION WOBBLE DEVELOPED IN MY HONDA VTX 1300S AFTER ABOUT 5000 MILES. IT MAKES CORNERING DIFFICULT. I HAVE READ THAT A DIFFERENT STYLE OF STEERING HEAD BEARING SOLVES THE PROBLEM. *NM

THERE IS A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION ON DECELERATION FROM APPROX 45 MPH TO ABOUT 30 MPH. THE VIBRATION IS TO THE FRONT TIRE AND IS FELT THROUGH THE HANDLEBARS. THE VIBRATION HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS WITH VERY LITTLE SATISFACTION FROM HONDA. THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM THAT RAISES SAFETY CONCERNS SINCE IT IS CENTERED ON THE STEERING COMPONENT. *NM

2004 HONDA VTX 1300 MOTORCYCLE FRONT END WOBBLES BADLY . THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME . *NM

Mileage: 8,000

MY 2004 HONDA VTX 1300C MOTORCYCLE HAS A FRONT END WOBBLE WHEN CRUISING IN THE 35 MPH TO 45 MPH RANGE. *JB

MT 2004 HONDA VTX HAS A SERIOUS FRONT END WOBBLE THAT IMPEDES THE SAFE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE AT SPEEDS OF 45 MILES PER HOUR. *JB

Mileage: 29,000

I OWN A 2004 HONDA VTX1300R MOTORCYCLE. THERE IS A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION ON DECEL FROM AN INDICATED SPEED OF APPROX 45 MPH TO ABOUT 30 MPH. THE VIBRATION IS TO THE FRONT TIRE AND IS FELT THROUGH THE HANDLEBARS. THE VIBRATION HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS WITH VERY LITTLE SATISFACTION FROM HONDA. THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM THAT RAISES SAFETY CONCERNS SINCE IT IS CENTERED ON THE STEERING COMPONENT. *NM

Mileage: 1,500

I OWN A 2004 HONDA VTX1300C MOTORCYCLE AND IN JULY OF THIS YEAR IT DEVELOP A FRONT END WOBBLE. WHEN YOU LET OFF THE GAS AT AROUND 35 TO 45 MPH THE FRONT END WOBBLES TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. IF YOU DO NOT HANG ON, IT WILL COME OUT OF YOUR HANDS. I HAVE REPLACED FRONT TIRES TWICE AND REBALANCED TWICE. NO HELP.

FRONT END WOBBLE ON HONDA VTX 1300S 2004 MODEL. *NM

FRONT END WOBBLE ON MOTORCYCLE. 40-45 MPH WITH A RELAXED GRIP ON BARS THERE IS A "WOBBLE" IN THE STEERING. IF YOU REMOVE GRIP FROM BARS THERE IS A VERY VISIBLE WOBBLE GENERATED IN THE FRONT END OF THE BIKE. NEW HEAD BEARING WILL BE INSTALLED SHORTLY. *JB

2004 HONDA VTX 1300C FRONT END SHIMMY AND EXTREME LEFT SIDE FRONT TIRE WEAR

Mileage: 10

AROUND 40 MILES AN HOUR THE FRONT END STARTS TO SHAKE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO ON DECELERATION TO ABOUT 30. SINCE THIS IS ON A MOTORCYCLE AND THERE ARE ENOUGH DANGERS RIDING I FEEL THAT THIS PUTS ME IN THAT MUCH MORE DANGER. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE OF MOTORCYCLE AND THEY ALSO HAVE CONFIRMED THIS SAME PROBLEM. *JB

STEERING PROBLEM - STEERING WHEEL/HANDLEBARS: FRONT HANDLEBARS WOBBLE TO THE POINT OF BEING UNCONTROLABLE AT BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. THIS HAPPENED RECENTLY WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND END UP GOING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. IT IS USUALLY NOT AS NOTICABLE WHEN YOU HOLD ON TO THE HANDLEBAR TIGHTLY WITH BOTH HANDS, BUT WHEN YOU HOLD IT WITH ONE HAND, OR IF YOU SHOULD HAVE AN OCCASION TO LET GO ALL-TOGETHER SUCH AS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, YOU MAY DEFINITELY HAVE AN ACCIDENT IF TRAVELING AT SPEED OF 35 TO 45 MILES PER HOUR, DUE TO THIS OBVIOUS AND COMMON DEFECT IN THIS POPULAR MOTORCYCLE. NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME FAILURE AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED, WITH AT LEAST ONE HAVING CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IN THE STANDARD STATE OF DENIAL. I HAVE TRIED AT THE SUGGESTION DIFFERENT AIR PRESSURES IN THE FRONT TIRES TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE ALSO RECENTLY BEEN ABLE TO NARROW THE SPEED DOWN TO MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR RIGHT AROUND 40 MPH.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS GOING AROUND A CORNER AT 45 MPH AND HAD AN ACCIDENT INTO A BARROW PIT. AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED IT STILL HAD PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ANOTHER MOTORCYLE THE SAME AS THE FIRST AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TC

Mileage: 250

THE MOTORCYCLE'S HANDLE BARS WILL WOBBLE WHEN DECELERATING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH, CAUSING AN UNSTABLE FEELING EVEN WHEN HOLDING ON WITH BOTH HANDS. THE HONDA DEALER SUGGESTS THIS IS A TIRE PRESSURE ISSUE, HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURS WHEN THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES ARE INFLATED TO THE RECOMMENDED PRESSURES, 32 AND 35 PSI, RESPECTIVELY. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SUGGESTS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HONDA AND/OR DUNLOP (TIRE MANUFACTURER) HAVE NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED.*AK

Mileage: 3,150

FRONT END WOBBLE BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH. *JB

Mileage: 1

HANDLE BAR WOBBLED AT 40-45 MPH. *AK