2003 HONDA GL1800 Complaints

MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATS IF RIDDEN AT SLOW SPEEDS 100% OF THE TIME - COULD CAUSE COOLANT OVERFLOW WHICH WOULD GET ON REAR WHEEL CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION*AK

HONDA COMPLETELY REDESIGNED THE GOLD WING MOTORCYCLE, INCLUDING AN ENTIRELY NEW ENGINE, BEGINNING WITH THE 2001 MODEL. OVERHEATING HAS BEEN A STUBBORN PROBLEM WITH THE 2001, 2002, AND NOW THE 2003. HONDA DENIES THE PROBLEM AND HAS TOLD US TO CONTINUE USING THE MOTORCYCLE REGARDLESS OF READING OF THE GAUGE. MINE HAS GONE BEYOND THE REDLINE, ON OCCASION. I STOPPED AND CALLED DEALER. DEALER SAYS HONDA SAYS NOT TO WORRY, IGNORE THE GAUGE. MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED COOLANT LOSS WHEN THIS OCCURS. SOME HAVE HAD RADIATOR TEMPS MEASURED WITH IR EQUIPMENT DURING THESE CONDITIONS AND FOUND TO BE WELL ABOVE 240 DEG. WHILE NO IMMEDIATE DAMAGE HAS BEEN APPARENT TO ME, I AM CONCERNED OF LONG TERM EFFECT AND UNREVEALED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. FURTHER, THE COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK IS LOCATED UNDER AND BEHIND THE ENGINE, JUST IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE. IF COOLANT LEAKS, AS SOME HAVE EXPERIENCED, IT PLACES A SLICK SUBSTANCE ON THE ROAD JUST AHEAD OF THE REAR TIRE LEAVING A HIGH RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL TO THE DRIVER AND OTHERS WHO PASS OVER THE SPOT.*AK

ENGINE OVERHEATS AT LOW SPEEDS, COOLANT SPEWS ONTO ROADWAY AND REAR TIRE SLIPS IN THE COOLANT. MUST PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD TO AVOID ENGINE DAMAGE, VERY HAZARDOUS. RADIATOR FANS ARE RUNNING AS DESIGNED DURING OVERHEATING SITUATIONS, OCCURS AT LOW SPEEDS FROM 15 TO 25 MPH.*AK

THE DESIGN OF THE HONDA GOLDWING COOLING SYSTEM FAILS MISERABLY IN HEAVY, SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS FOUND AT CONSTRUCTION SITES, METRO AREAS, PARADES, ETC. IN MY CASES AS THE ENGINE TEMP ROSE TO THE UPPER LIMITS I WAS HEMMED IN BY TRAFFIC AND UNABLE TO PULL OVER TO ALLOW THE ENGINE TO COOL. SERIOUS PERSONAL HAZARDS ARE PRESENTED BY THIS DESIGN FLAW: 1) BEING STRUCK BY OTHER VEHICLES WHILE SITTING ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. 2) MANY SIDE ROAD SURFACES NOT SUITABLE FOR PULLING OFF ONTO. 3) MANY ROADS NOT HAVING A SHOULDER. 4) COOLANT VENTED BY BIKE FALLS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL CREATING AN EXTREMELY SLIPPERY SURFACE AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL OF SERIOUS HARM AND EVEN DEATH TO RIDER AND PASSENGER.*AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATS AT LOW SPEED OPERATION, CONCERN OF BOILING OVER, ENGINE FAILURE WHICH WHILE MANUEVERING ON A MOTORCYCLE COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *AK