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

NHTSA ID

11330658

Incident

Jun 6, 2015

Mileage

8,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10870485

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

18,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10427637

Incident

Jul 12, 2011

Mileage

6,200 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10423140

Incident

Sep 2, 2011

Mileage

7,781 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10414996

Incident

Jul 16, 2011

Mileage

25 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10403894

Incident

May 31, 2011

Mileage

18,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10335113

Incident

Jun 3, 2010

Mileage

19,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10290483

Incident

Oct 15, 2009

Mileage

7,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10243331

Incident

Sep 17, 2008

Mileage

2,316 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10235297

Incident

Jan 15, 2008

Mileage

8,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10223299

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

7,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10215140

Incident

Nov 6, 2005

Mileage

600 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10170240

Incident

Oct 7, 2006

Mileage

4,420 mi

FRONT END WOBBLE VTX 1300. *JB

NHTSA ID

10167746

Incident

Aug 24, 2006

Mileage

50 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10164359

Incident

Apr 6, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10164351

Incident

Aug 3, 2006

Mileage

5,300 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10164209

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

Mileage

6,200 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10163884

Incident

Oct 10, 2004

Mileage

1,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10163263

Incident

Jun 1, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10163207

Incident

Jul 23, 2006

Mileage

8,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10163196

Incident

Jul 22, 2006

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.

NHTSA ID

10141450

Incident

Jun 26, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10141444

Incident

Nov 1, 2005

Mileage

1,500 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10141361

Incident

Aug 7, 2005

Mileage

29,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10141360

Incident

Oct 31, 2005