2001 Honda GL1800 Problems

OVERHEAT/SPEWING OF COOLANT ON REAR BRAKES AND REAR TIRE OF MY GL 1800/A HONDA MOTORCYCLE. SITUATION WAS ON THE WASHINGTON DC BELTWAY, NO SHOULDER TO PULL OVER ONTO, STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. MOTORCYCLE WAS SPEWING COOLANT ON THE THE BRAKES AND REAR WHEEL, CAUSING A VERY HOT STEAM TO RISE ON OUR LEGS AND LOWER TORSO, ALSO CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL & BRAKES TO BECOME EXTREMELY SLIPPERY, AS WELL AS UNCONTROLLABLE UNDER EXISTING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. HONDA HAS NOT FULLFILLED IT'S PROMIS TO REPAIR THESE MOTORCYCLES AS OF YET!*AK

HONDA GOLD WING OVERHEATED AT LOW SPEEDS.*JB

METZELER ME880 MARATHON, 180/60R16, FOR HONDA GL1800 REAR TIRE OUT OF ROUND CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO SHIMMY. TIRE WAS INSTALLED SUMMER OF 2009. SHIMMY BEGAN AFTER TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 5,000. THERE WAS NO DETECTABLE DEFLECTION IN TIRE, BUT PROBLEM STEADILY GOT WORSE. TIRE WAS CHECKED FREQUENTLY, PRESSURE CHECKED DAILY (KEPT AT 42PSI). AT ABOUT 9500 MILES ON TIRE, SHIMMY GOT WORSE, AND TIRE FOUND TO HAVE OVER 1/2 IN. RADIAL AND AXIAL RUNOUT. THIS IS THIRD METZELER ON MY GL1800. 1ST ONE, SUMMER OF 2006, HAD SLIGHT SHIMMY FROM START, LASTED ONLY 925 MILES - BLOWOUT FROM ROAD DEBRIS. HAD THAT TIRE REPLACED BY HONDA DEALER IN FERGUS FALLS, MINNESOTA. REPLACEMENT TIRE HAD NO SHIMMY UNTIL ABOUT 800 MILES. SHIMMY WORLENED UNTIL DANGEROUS CONDITION AND TIRE REPLACED WITH DIFFERENT BRAND. E-MAIL SENT TO METZELER WITH NO RESPONSE. *TR

THERE IS A NOTICEABLE WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END OF MY 2001 HONDA GL1800 AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. IT WASN'T THERE WITH THE FIRST TIRE I HAD, DUNLOP. IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS THE FRONT TIRE AGES. THIS IS SUBMITTED IN SUPPORT OF ODI#10135765. *NM

On 06/26/2021, Approx 4pm. Traffic heavy. Speed 20 mph or less. This caused consistent brake use. Rear brakes locked up. I was very close to the right edge of the road and bike stopped. I quickly activated emergency flashers and avoided any incident. This bike has ABS. There was a service recall performed about 4 yrs ago- at Barneys MC shop, St Petersburg- related to brakes. I was able to shut off the bike twice. Pumped/tapped FR/R brakes twice and the brakes finally released. No further incident. Will have bike inspected tomorrow. No warning lamps. This bike has very low mileage at 21,000.

I BOUGHT A 1800 HONDA GOLDWING TOURING BIKE 2-3 YEARS AGO HAD A BRAKE RECALL AND STILL DO? MINE WAS WORKED ON TWICE? AFTER I BOUGHT I DROVE IT 54 MILES THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP PULLING ME IN THE DITCH? FLIPPING THE BIKE AND SENDING IT END OVER END TOTAL? THAT WAS ALL DON,T BEFORE I GOT OUT OF THE ER AND HOSPITOL....UPDATED 06/21/17 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND SOLD. UPDATED 08/04/2017*JS

MOTORCYCLE, HONDA GOLDWING, 2001 LEFT FRAME CRACK: THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF FRAMES BEING CRACKED AND UPON INSPECTION OF MY MOTORCYCLE FRAME I NOTICED THAT I HAVE THE IDENTICAL CRACK IN MY FRAME. THE CRACK IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE LEFT PASSENGER FOOTREST AND IS VISIBLE BY REMOVING THE REAR TIRE AND VIEWING IT FROM UNDER THE BIKE. THE CRACK EXTENDS DOWN FROM A WELD THAT ATTACHES THE LOWER LEFT REAR SUPPORT TUBE TO THE CENTER SECTION OF THE FRAME. *TR

THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 HONDA GL1800 MOTORCYCLE WITH 56300 MILES. VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR POSSIBLE WELD DEFECTS IN THE FRAME SEVERAL YEARS AGO. VEHICLE PASSED INSPECTION. NO WELD DEFECTS OR CRACKS WERE FOUND AT THAT TIME. UPON DOING CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE OVER THE PAST 10 DAYS I DISCOVERED A CRACK IN A FRAME WELD. THE CRACK IS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF A WELD AND EXTENDS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 INCHES. THE CRACK IS AT THE JUNCTION OF A TUBULAR PROTRUBANCE OFF THE MAIN FRAME AND TUBULAR SUPPORT FOR THE MOTORCYCLE SEAT. THE ALUMINUM TUBULAR SUPPORT IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE NOTIFIED AMERICAN HONDA IN CALIFORNIA. THE MOTORCYCLE IS AT THE FOX VALLEY HONDA DEALERSHIP IN AURORA, ILLINOIS. FOX VALLEY HONDA IS NOTIFYING THE DISTRICT MANAGER WHO WILL EVALUATE THE FRAME PROBLEM. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2001 GOLDWING 1800 USED FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN PLAINFIELD, CT. THE GOLDWING WAS SOLD TO ME WITH THE STEREO SYSTEM INSTALLED WHICH INCLUDED THE 5 DISC CD CHANGER UNDER THE REAR TRUNK. FROM DAY 1 I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CD CHANGER NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, BECOMING JAMMED UP WITH ALL 5 DISCS IN ONE SLOT, ETC. I HAD TAKEN OUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE DEALERSHIP BUT ALL THEY EVER TOLD ME WAS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. THEY DID PROVIDE ME WITH A PRINT OUT OF ALL OF THE WORK DONE FOR THE PREVIOUS OWNER WHICH ALSO SHOWED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CD CHANGER BUT THEY REPLACED IT TWICE FOR HIM YET NOTHING WAS EVER DONE TO HELP WITH MY PROBLEM EXCEPT " WE ARE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM." SINCE THEN THE DEALERSHIP HAS FOLDED AND A NEW OWNER IS RUNNING THE PLACE AND OF COURSE THEY ARE NOT BACKING ANYTHING THAT THE OLD DEALERSHIP DID OR SAID ( CAN NOT BLAME THEM THERE THOUGH!) I WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF A RECALL ON THE CD CHANGER WHICH IS MADE BY PIONEER, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO GET THIS FIXED, REPAIRED, REPLACED, ANYTHING?? *TR

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE BIKE OVERHEATS BEYOND RED LINE & LOSS OF COOLANT OCCURES WHEN THE BIKE IS OPERATED B/T 15& 25 MPH FOR A PERIOD OF 5 MIN. OR MORE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR OTHER REASON. THE LOSS OF COOLANT OCCURS AT THE FRONT OF BIKE WHICH MEANS THE WHEEL WILL LIKELY PASS THRU WHICH IS UNSAFE. ALSO IT IS POTENTIALLY DAMAGING TO THE ENGINE. HAVE DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH MY SERVICING DEALER AND THEY STATE THAT HONDA DOESN'T ADMIT THE PROBLEM EXISTS.THE APPARENT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE COOLING FANS ARE DESIGNED TO GO OFF AT 15 MPH REGARDLESS OF ENGINE TEMP. & THE BIKE IS NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH TO COOL BY NATURAL AIR FLOW. THE PROBLEM IS BIG ENOUGH THAT A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS BEING STARTED. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN BRING FORTH. GORDON DT

CONSUMER STATES MOTORCYCLE WOBBLES AND VIBRATES BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 40-50 MPH. DEALER ALIGNED HANDLEBARS, REPLACED AND BALANCED TIRES, ALIGNED FRONT FORKS AND REPLACED STEERING HEAD BEARINGS, BUT VIBRATIONS STILL EXIST. BIKE UNDER WARRANTY. *TT

WHILE WAITING AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT SPEEDOMETER WOULD BECOME STUCK AT A CERTAIN SPEED, EVEN IF MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT MOVING OR DOING THAT PARTICULAR SPEED. WOULD SUDDENLY JUMP BACK TO NORMAL SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED PARTS FOR SPEEDOMETER WERE ON BACK ORDER. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT MANUFACTURER WAS TRYING TO FIX SPEEDOMETER.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER HAD BEEN LIMITED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS FROM HONDA. *SLC

CHAMPION SIDE CAR TRIKE KIT FRAME FAILURE ON A GL1800 WITH ONLY 28.K MILES AND NO ACCIDENTS.

THERE IS A NOTICEABLE WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END OF MY 2001 HONDA GL1800 AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. IT WASN'T THERE WITH THE FIRST TIRE I HAD, DUNLOP. IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS THE FRONT TIRE AGES. THIS IS SUBMITTED IN SUPPORT OF ODI#10135765. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FUEL INJECTOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL PUMP TO SHUT DOWN AUTOMATICALLY. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT AN FI LIGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE MOTORCYCLE PRIOR TO FAILURE OF THE FUEL INJECTOR; HOWEVER THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE A LIGHT ILLUMINATED.

CONSUMER STATES MOTORCYCLE WOBBLES AND VIBRATES BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 40-50 MPH. DEALER ALIGNED HANDLEBARS, REPLACED AND BALANCED TIRES, ALIGNED FRONT FORKS AND REPLACED STEERING HEAD BEARINGS, BUT VIBRATIONS STILL EXIST. BIKE UNDER WARRANTY. *TT

ENGINE STOP SWITCH IS OVERLY SENSITIVE. IF MOTORCYCLE HITS A BUMP THE ENGINE MAY SHUT OFF. IF SWITCH IS TOUCHED IT WILL STOP ENGINE.

I PURCHASED MY 2001 GOLDWING 1800 USED FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN PLAINFIELD, CT. THE GOLDWING WAS SOLD TO ME WITH THE STEREO SYSTEM INSTALLED WHICH INCLUDED THE 5 DISC CD CHANGER UNDER THE REAR TRUNK. FROM DAY 1 I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS CD CHANGER NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, BECOMING JAMMED UP WITH ALL 5 DISCS IN ONE SLOT, ETC. I HAD TAKEN OUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE DEALERSHIP BUT ALL THEY EVER TOLD ME WAS THAT THEY WERE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM. THEY DID PROVIDE ME WITH A PRINT OUT OF ALL OF THE WORK DONE FOR THE PREVIOUS OWNER WHICH ALSO SHOWED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE CD CHANGER BUT THEY REPLACED IT TWICE FOR HIM YET NOTHING WAS EVER DONE TO HELP WITH MY PROBLEM EXCEPT " WE ARE LOOKING INTO THE PROBLEM." SINCE THEN THE DEALERSHIP HAS FOLDED AND A NEW OWNER IS RUNNING THE PLACE AND OF COURSE THEY ARE NOT BACKING ANYTHING THAT THE OLD DEALERSHIP DID OR SAID ( CAN NOT BLAME THEM THERE THOUGH!) I WAS TOLD BY SOMEONE THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF A RECALL ON THE CD CHANGER WHICH IS MADE BY PIONEER, CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME HOW TO GET THIS FIXED, REPAIRED, REPLACED, ANYTHING?? *TR

MOTORCYCLE HAS GONE INTO THE "RED ZONE" ON THE GAUGE NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE FIRST TIME THAT I EXPEREINCED IT LAST SUMMER. IT DEFINITELY IS GETTING HOT, AS THE HEAT IS NOTICEABLE AND THE MOTORCYC WILL ALSO "MISS SHIFTS" WHILE RUNNING HOT. ORIGINALLY IT ONLY OCCURED WHEN I WOULD GET TRAPPED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS UNABLE TO EITHER STOP OR GO FAST ENOUGH TO COOL DOWN THE MOTORCYCLE. IT HAS PROGRESSED AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED IT UNDER OTHER CONDITIONS, SUCH AS CLIMBING THE HILL TO CAVE OF THE WINDS IN COLORADO SPRINGS AND ON A GRADE AT 40 - 50 MPH SUSTAINED SPEED IN UTAH. ONCE MOTORCYCLE HAS COOLED DOWN THE SHIFTING RETURNS TO NORMAL, BUT THE MISSED SHIFTING SEEMS TO BE GETTING MORE AND MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN HOT. (OR MAYBE THE BIKE IS GETTING HOTTER.) I ASKED MY DEALER ABOUT THIS SITUATION LAST SUMMER AND AT THAT TIME THEY SAID THEY HAD NO PREVIOUS REPORTS OF THIS OCCURING. I HAVE NOT "PUKED COOLANT" THAT I KNOW OF, BUT SINCE THE BIKE DOES HAVE AN OVERFLOW RESERVOIR I AM NOT SURE THAT IT HAS NOT OCCURED. I ALSO HAVE NOT STOPPED OR WATCHED THE HIGHWAY BEHIND ME AS THIS WAS OCCURING. I WAS ABLE TO GET A PICTURE OF THE BIKE NEAR THE RED ZONE AT ABOUT 45 MPH, BUT I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ANY AT THE RED ZONE AT THAT SPEED BECAUSE THE DAY THAT I TRIED WAS ALSO ONE OF THE DAYS THAT MY SPEEDOMETER WAS STICKING. SINCE THE BIKE WAS SHOWING 50 MPH WHILE STOPPPED - ACCORDING TO THE SPEEDO - IT SEEMED POINTLESS TO TRY TO TAKE A PICTURE. I HAVE NEVER TRIED TO GET THE BIKE TO OH, A MY DESIRE IS (WAS?) TO OWN THIS BIKE FOR MANY YEARS AND MANY MILES. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT HONDA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEGDE THE PROBLEM. THE SURVEY ASKED ME IF I CONTACTED HONDA AND I ANSWERED YES. THE REALITY IS THAT I TRIED LAST SUMMER AND GOT TIRED OF WAITING ON THE PHONE - SO I DID CONTACT HONDA, BUT NEVER ACTUALLY SPOKE TO A HUMAN BEING. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THIS OCCURING TO OTHER OWNERS, SO I HAVE NOT TRIED AGAIN. I DID FILL OUT A REPORT ON THIS SITE LAST SUMMER, BUT I DO NOT SEE IT POSTED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH SOMETHING LET GO IN ENGINE, CAUSING REAR WHEEL AND BRAKES TO MALFUNCTION. DEALER WAS INSPECTING VEHICLE. *AK ALSO, THE CLUTCH PLATE CLIP AND RING SEAL FAILED CAUSING SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPES. *YH

THE FACTORY SET IDLE SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 700 RPM IS TOO SLOW RESULTING IN THE MOTORCYCLE SLOWING DOWN WHEN THE CLUTCH IS LET OUT INSTEAD OF MAINTAINING OR INCREASING SPEED, THIS CONDITION HAS RESULTED IN THE DRIVER SEVERELY PULLING SHOULDER MUSCLES WHILE TRYING TO HOLD THE BIKE UP. NLM

THE SPEEDOMETER QUITS WORKING RANDOMLY AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS FAILED TO REPAIR IT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED WHEN YOU CAN'T ACCURATELY TELL HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING.I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THEM TO FIX IT FOR OVER TEN MONTHS AND AM STILL WAITING. I'D REALLY HATE TO GET A SPEEDING TICKET BECAUSE OF A FAULTY SPEEDOMETER.*AK