THE HONDA GL1800 HAS EXHIBITED A BRAKING PROBLEM SINCE 2001. SOMETIME, WHEN USING THE REAR BRAKE, A SHUDDERING TAKES PLACE THAT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. IT IS ENOUGH TO SHAKE THE WINDSHIELD AND MIRRORS. IT CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL. IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN IN HOT WEATHER. THERE ARE FORUMS FOR THE GL1800 AND THEY ALL HAVE MANY POSTS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING IT ON DIFFERENT YEAR MODELS. MANY HAVE TAKEN THEIR MOTORCYCLES TO THE DEALERS WHILE UNDER WARRANTY (INCLUDING MYSELF). A WIDE VARIETY OF FIXES HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED WITH NOTHING REALLY FIXING THE PROBLEM. HONDA'S AREA SERVICE TECH SAID THE REAR BRAKE DISC ROTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT MY OWN EXPENSE. (ABOUT $800). HOWEVER, I HAVE ALREADY READ ON THESE FORUMS WHERE THE DISC ROTORS HAD BEEN REPLACED AND STILL DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. HONDA'S LATEST RESPONSE IS THAT 1. IT IS JUST A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND 2. USING MORE FRONT BRAKE WILL STOP THE PROBLEM. BOTH OF THOSE STATEMENTS ARE TRUE, HOWEVER, SOME OF THE GL1800'S NEVER EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, SOMETIMES IT IS BEST NOT TO USE TOO MUCH FRONT BRAKE UNDER CERTAIN RIDING CONDITIONS AND COULD BE DANGEROUS. THIS IS A 20K-24K DOLLAR MOTORCYCLE. THE BRAKES SHOULD WORK WITHOUT SHAKING THE MOTORCYCLE. REQUIRING THE FRONT BRAKE TO BE USED JUST TO STOP THIS VIBRATION IS JUST IGNORING THE REAL PROBLEM. A PROSPECTIVE BUYER MAY BE HESITANT TO BUY A MOTORCYCLE WITH THIS SYMPTOM, THUS LOWERING THE RESALE VALUE. HONDA'S MC WARRANTY MANAGER POLITELY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE HONDA WOULD DO. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HONDA FINALLY INVESTIGATE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH A RECALL. A CAR MANUFACTURER WOULD NEVER GET AWAY WITH THIS AND NEITHER SHOULD A MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURER. INCLUDED IS JUST ONE LINK TO A FORUM ON THIS PROBLEM. HTTP://GL1800RIDERS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?118643-REAR-BRAKE-SHUDDER. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10471172
- Incident
- Aug 1, 2011
- Mileage
- 20,000 mi