2005 Honda VTX1300 Steering Problems

DEATH WOBBLE FROM 30-65 ON MY MOTORCYCLE. IT WILL CAUSE A WRECK, BIKE WOBBLES OUT OF CONTROL BECAUSE OF FAULTY STEERING BEARINGS ON MY HONDA VTX 1300C.

NHTSA ID

11416278

Incident

May 12, 2021

Mileage

1 mi

WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR MT 2005 HONDA VTX 1300S HAS A SERIOUS FRONT END WOBBLE THAT IMPEDES THE SAFE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE AT SPEEDS 35 - 45

NHTSA ID

11051043

Incident

Apr 1, 2017

Mileage

16,200 mi

I RECEIVED A 2005 HONDA 1300 VTX R IN JULY, 2013 AND SHORTLY AFTER TAKING IT FOR A RIDE I NOTICED THE FRONT END BEGAN TO WOBBLE OUT OF CONTROL AS I LOOSENED MY GRIPS FROM HANDLE BARS. I NEVER COMPLETELY LET GO OF HANDLE BARS, I WAS JUST RELAXING MY GRIP DUE TO STRESS ON HANDS. THE WOBBLE WAS SO EXTREME THAT BARS WERE WANTING TO GO LEFT AND RIGHT TO POINT OF JACK-KNIFING AND FLIPPING BIKE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM EVEN AFTER I HAD REPLACED FRONT TIRE WITH NEW ONE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE TREAD HAS WORN DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY, ALMOST TO WEAR BARS IN ONLY 1800 MILES EVEN THOUGH I KEEP MY TIRE PRESSURE AT OWNER'S MANUAL RECOMMENDATIONS OF 33LBS., AND I CHECK IT WEEKLY. IT DOESN'T LOSE ANY PRESSURE OTHER THAN NORMAL VARIANCE GOING FROM HOT WEATHER TO COLD. AS OF TODAY, 10/27/13, I NOW HAVE 8800 MILES ON BIKE AND STEERING WOBBLE IS STILL EXTREME AND VERY DANGEROUS. I SPOKE WITH 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS JUST A FEW DAYS AGO WHO SAID THEY WEREN'T AWARE OF ANY WOBBLE ISSUES AND TOLD ME TO CHECK TIRE AIR PRESSURE, MAYBE FORK BEARINGS ARE WORN, ETC. I ALSO CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE WITH A [XXX] WHO WAS NOT HELPFUL AT ALL AND APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO PUT BURDEN OF PROOF ON CUSTOMER ONLY AS SPECULATION. I ASKED HIM IF I COULD SPEAK WITH AN ENGINEER TO DISCUSS MY CONCERNS AND SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS BUT HE INSISTED THAT I TAKE IT TO DEALER ONLY. DEALERS TOLD ME THAT IT COULD COST AS MUCH AS $500 OR MORE JUST TO INSPECT AND THAT THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I WENT ON SEVERAL FORUMS FOR HONDA VTX OWNERS AND THIS PROBLEM IS SO COMMON AMONG OWNERS I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HONDA WANTS TO IGNORE IT. I HOPE NHTSA WILL INVESTIGATE THESE SERIOUS STEERING ISSUES IN AN EFFORT TO ALLOW VTX OWNERS SOME RECOURSE IN BEING ABLE TO CONCLUDE AS TO WHAT CAUSES THIS PROBLEM AND DEFINING SPECIFIC CORRECTIVE MEASURES TO RESOLVE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10549710

Incident

Jul 27, 2013

Mileage

6,208 mi

I HAVE A 2005 HONDA VTX 1300C AND WHILE DECELERATING, USUALLY BETWEEN 45 AND 30 MILES PER HOUR, THE HANDLE BARS AND FRONT END VIOLENTLY START TO WOBBLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. IF I DO NOT APPLY STEADY PRESSURE ON THE HANDLE BARS, I COULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I BALANCED AND INSTALLED NEW TIRES, CHECKED WHEEL BEARINGS AND TIRE PRESSURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10459516

Incident

May 24, 2012

Mileage

19,800 mi

EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION FROM THE STEERING AS I ENTERED A CURVE ON A PAVED ROAD CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND LEAVE THE PAVEMENT AND CRASH. APPROXIMATELY $1500.00 DOLLARS DAMAGE TO THE MOTORCYCLE . I WAS EJECTED OVER THE HANDLEBARS CAUSING A SEVERE LACERATION TO MY CHIN AND THE LOSS OF THREE LOWER FRONT TEETH.

NHTSA ID

10446430

Incident

Nov 9, 2011

Mileage

31,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA VTX1300R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 20-25 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DEALER DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 10/21/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BIKE WAS HARD TO TURN IN A CURVE. THE CONSUMER WENT OFF THE ROAD, STRIKING SOME TREES. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES. THE BIKE WAS TAKEN TO A JUNK YARD. UPDATED 10/26/11

NHTSA ID

10421569

Incident

May 21, 2011

Mileage

20,000 mi

2005 HONDA VTX 1300R HAS STEERING WOBBLE AT ABOUT 40 MPH. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME DECELERATION BETWEEN 50 MPH AND 35 MPH. I HAD THE STEERING BEARING REPLACED AND HEAVIER SHOCKS PUT ON THE BIKE AND IT STILL WOBBLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10402190

Incident

Mar 9, 2009

Mileage

5,000 mi

HONDA VTX 1300, HANDLE BARS START TO WOBBLE AT AROUND 40 MPH. DEALER SAID IT WAS FINE !! *TR

NHTSA ID

10342355

Incident

Jun 6, 2010

Mileage

3,000 mi

FRONT END WOBBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290996

Incident

Oct 20, 2009

Mileage

9,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 HONDA VTX 1300S MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FRONT TIRE EXHIBITED EXCESSIVE WEAR AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO ENGAGE IN A PULLING MOTION. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT TIRE WAS LEANING TO ONE SIDE. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

NHTSA ID

10281099

Incident

Apr 29, 2006

Mileage

10 mi

WHEN SLOWING DOWN ON MY 2005 HONDA VTX1300 I HAVE A VERY BAD WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END AROUND 45MPH. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR DIES DUE TO THEIR NEGLECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10272426

Incident

Apr 16, 2009

Mileage

1 mi

FRONT FORK WOBBLE ON '05 HONDA VTX 1300R. ON GOING PROBLEM. FRONT END WOBBLES ON DECELERATION AT SPEEDS OF AROUND 45 MPH. MAKES CONTROLLING OF MOTORCYCLE HARD TO HANDLE ESPECIALLY ON CORNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10268850

Incident

May 14, 2009

Mileage

13,000 mi

I HAVE A 2005 HONDA VTX 1300R MOTORCYCLE. SINCE NEW I HAVE HAD A WOBBLE AT SPEEDS BELOW 45 MPH IN THE HANDLEBARS. DEALER DID NOT SEE IT AS A PROBLEM. AFTER RESEARCH ON OUR VTX WEBSITE I HAVE FOUND THE MANY OTHERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. MY PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I REPLACE SOME TYPE OF BEARING IN THE YOKE AND THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR AS LONG AS BOTH HANDS ARE ON THE HANDLE BARS. I DO NOT HAVE INFORMATION ON INJURIES AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10233367

Incident

Aug 25, 2005

Mileage

625 mi

I OWN A 2005 HONDA VTX 1300R MOTORCYCLE. WHEN I DECELERATE FROM 50MPH THE HANDLEBARS START TO PULSATE AND WOBBLE AS I PASS THROUGH 45 MPH. I ALSO EXPERIENCE WOBBLE WHEN I MAKE TURNS. MY MOTORCYCLE ONLY HAS 7000 MILES ON IT. I'M ON MY 2ND SET OF TIRES. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHER HONDA VTX 1300 OWNERS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229857

Incident

Jun 3, 2008

Mileage

7,000 mi

DURING DECELERATION ON MY 2005 HONDA VTX 1300C MOTORCYCLE I NOTICED THAT MY HANDLEBAR WOBBLES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT QUITE RAPIDLY. IT IS THE WORST AT AROUND 40-50 MPH. IT HAS DONE THIS FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219809

Incident

Feb 20, 2008

2005 HONDA VTX 1300 FRONT END WOBBLES AT SPEEDS FROM 20 - 40 MPH HONDA DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM, SAFETY CONCERN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10172439

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

1,000 mi

THERE IS A STEERING DEFECT. AT APPROX 40-45 MPH THE FRONT END WOBBLES. IT APPEARS TO HAVE DEFECTIVE BEARINGS. PROBLEM STARTED AT APPROX 2,000 MILES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10167748

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

Mileage

2,000 mi

I NOTICE A "WOBBLE" IN MY STEERING AT DECELERATION FROM ABOUT 50 MPH DOWN TO 30 MPH. VERY NOTICEABLE. VEHICLE IS A HONDA MOTORCYCLE, MODEL VTX 1300 C. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM TO BE CAUSED BY INADEQUATE STEERING BEARINGS. I AM LOOKING INTO GETTING REPLACEMENT BEARINGS INSTALLED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10167473

Incident

Aug 26, 2006

Mileage

7,000 mi

FRONT END HANDLE BAR SHAKES ON DECELERATION FROM 50 MPH TO 35 MPH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10167472

Incident

Sep 5, 2006

I EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS "WOBBLE" ON MY 2005 VTX1300S DURING DECELERATION BEGINNING AT ABOUT 45 - 50 MPH. I ALSO EXPERIENCE THIS FRONT END WOBBLE DURING CORNERING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10167469

Incident

Sep 6, 2006

Mileage

10 mi

I HAVE A FRONT END WOBBLE IN MY MOTORCYCLE THE SAME PROBLEM THAT MANY, MANY OWNERS HAVE, THIS IS ON A 2005 HONDA VTX 2005. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT TIRE AND "TRUED" THE FRONT WHEEL AFTER ONLY 600 MILES, I HAVE 2000 MILES ON THE BIKE AND STILL HAVE A WOBBLE, NOT NEARLY AS BAD AS BEFORE THE NEW TIRE THOUGH... *NM

NHTSA ID

10167463

Incident

Sep 6, 2006

AT AROUND 7,000 MILES I DEVELOPED A WOBBLE IN THE STEERING AT 35-45 MPH, VERY NOTICEABLE UNDER DECELERATION. AND HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF OTHER RIDERS WITH THE SIMILAR MODEL OF MOTORCYCLE WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND COMPLAINTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10167456

Incident

Aug 6, 2006

Mileage

7,000 mi

WHILE GOING THROUGH A TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE FRONT OF THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN VIOLENTLY SHAKING WHICH REQUIRED RAPID SLOWING TO GET THE BIKE UNDER CONTROL. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND A REAR END COLLISION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10164100

Incident

Jun 16, 2006

Mileage

19,000 mi

STEERING HEAD BEARING CAUSES THE HANDLE BARS TO WOBBLE AT ALL TIMES AND SPEED WHEN RIDING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10163326

Incident

Jul 20, 2006

Mileage

5,500 mi

WHEN BIKE IS RIDDEN AT SPEEDS OF AROUND 50 MPH, THE HANDLEBARS/FRONT-END WILL WOBBLE BETWEEN AROUND 55 AND 45 MPH. FRONT WHEEL REPLACEMENT HAS NOT HELPED, DEALER CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG. MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME BIKE HAVE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, WITH SIMILAR RESULTS (DEALER CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG). THIS EVENT IS EASILY REPRODUCED ON COMMAND. *NM

NHTSA ID

10163298

Incident

Jul 19, 2006