2005 Honda GL1800

1)- STEERING SHAKES AND EVENTUALLY (PROGRESSIVELY) WOBBLES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 35 AND 45 MPH ON A 2005 HONDA GOLDWING GL1800 MOTORCYCLE. THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO KNOWN PROCEDURES TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. I HAPPENS EVERY TIME. AS IT GETS WORSE, IT CAN LEAD TO POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL LEADING TO INJURY OR DEATH. THIS ISSUE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE. 2)- BRAKES 'CHATTER' OR RATTLE AT TIMES WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO STOP. *NM

THE 2005 GOLD WING HAS A FRONT END WOBBLE WHICH IS EXPERIENCED ON DECELERATION AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED, STEERING HEAD BEARINGS HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED. THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THIS YEAR OF BIKE. HONDA AMERICA ALSO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT TAKEN ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION. THIS WOBBLE NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON MAY 11, 2006 WHEN THE BIKE AND RIDER WERE STRUCK BY AN UNEXPECTED CROSSWIND ON JELLICO MOUNTAIN. UPON RAPID DECELERATION THE BIKE WOBBLED AND NEARLY CRASHED. HONDA AMERICA'S RESPONSE IS TO INSURE THAT BOTH HANDS ARE ON THE HANDLEBARS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE BIKE VIBRATES BADLY, SHAKING THE HANDLE BARS WHICH INTERFERES WITH THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE BIKE. THE VIBRATION HAS BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE THE BIKE WAS PURCHASED. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THE VIBRATION WAS COMMON AND REPLACING THE TIRES COULD HELP. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED HOWEVER THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. ANOTHER DEALER STATED THE FRONT HANDLE BARS NEEDED TO BE TORQUED DOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE ALERTED.

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2005 HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLE PURCHASED NEW IN MAY OF 2005. THE PROBLEM I HAVE EXPERIENCED IS WITH REGARD TO UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR (CUPPING) AROUND THE 8000 MILE POINT. IN ADDITION TO THE ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR IS A LOW SPEED WOBBLING (SHIMMY). I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS UNWILLING TO RECONCILE. IT INVOLVES BEARINGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY INSTALLED OEM. THE CORRECTION CAN BE FIXED FOR APPROXIMATELY $270, LABOR AND PARTS, BUT THE COST MUST BE BORN BY THE OWNER. I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. I REPLACED THE TIRES AND INSTALLED A PRODUCT CALLED THE "SUPER BRACE" AND HAVE ARRANGED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BEARINGS WHICH WILL BE TAPERED. THESE NEW BEARING CAN BE TORQUED TO TIGHTEN AND PREVENT ANY FUTURE SHIMMY EFFECT. *NM

ALL HONDA GOLDWING MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED SINCE 2001 (NEW MODEL - GL1800) HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH DEFECTIVE STEERING HEAD BEARINGS THAT RESULT IN A PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING LOW SPEED (40 MPH AND BELOW) FRONT WHEEL WOBBLE UNDER DECELERATION. THE PROBLEM CAN BE, AND IS CURRENTLY BEING, REPAIRED WITH ALTERNATE TAPERED BEARINGS, AT A COST TO OWNERS OF ABOUT $225.00, PARTS AND LABOR. HONDA REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY. THE WOBBLE PROBLEM IS ENDEMIC, AND IS ROUTINELY DISCUSSED IN THE GOLDWING ROAD RIDERS ASSOCIATION (GWRRA) MONTHLY MAGAZINE AND ELSEWHERE. *NM

THE HONDA GOLDWING 1800GL, HAS A LOW SPEED WOBBLE IN THE STEERING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY MANY OWNERS THE SAME THING. THE WOBBLE IS AT SPEEDS OF 35-45 MPH. ALL OF THE DEALERS SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM, BUT THERE ARE TWO MANY OF US COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING. MOST US BELIEVE THAT THE HOME OFFICE IS TELLING ALL OF THEM TO DENY. WITH THIS PROBLEM, YOU MUST HOLD THE BARS TIGHT, OF COURSE SOME ARE WORST THAN OTHERS. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. ONE THING FOR SURE ITS NEEDS SOME LOOKING INTO. I HAVE COMMUNICATED WITH FOLKS FROM CA TO NY, ALL SAY THE SAME THING. WOBBLE. *JB