2004 HONDA GL1800 Complaints

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 40 MPH AND TAKING BOTH HANDS OFF OF THE HANDLE BARS, THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONSUMER ALSO NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON JULY 5, 2005. THE CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER FOR INSPECTING THE MOTORCYCLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR NOISE BEFORE THE PROBLEM OCCURRED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED EACH TIME THE CONSUMER DROVE THE MOTORCYCLE. *AK (12/08/05) *SC

WHILE RIDING MY HONDA GL1800 MOTORCYCLE, THE FRONT TIRE RAN OVER A FLAT PIECE OF METAL APPROX. 1" X 8". THE METAL STRIP FLIPPED UP AND PUNCTURED THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW TANK, CAUSING RADIATOR FLUID TO SPILL ONTO THE ROADWAY. THE TANK IS DIRECTLY INFRONT OF THE REAR TIRE. LUCKILY, THE PUNCTURE WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TANK, AND THE FLUID SPILLED ONTO THE ROADWAY APPROX. 2" TO THE RIGHT OF THE TIRE. HAD THE PUNCTURE BEEN 2" - 3" FURTHER LEFT, THE RESULT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS BODILY INJURY, OR DEATH. HONDA NEEDS TO PROTECT THE COOLANT OVERFLOW TANK WITH SOME TYPE OF SKIDPAN OR OTHER TYPE OF COVER. I PLAN ON INSTALLING AN AFTERMARKET "BELLY PAN" IN HOPES OF PREVENTING ANY SIMILAR INSTANCES IN THE FUTURE. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT, HOWEVER, HIS OIL FILTER WAS RUPTURED, AND HE HAD OIL SPILL ONTO THE ROADWAY. HONDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS POTENTIALLY DANGERIOUS SITUATION.

THE RADIATOR OVERFLOW TANK ON THE HONDA GL1800 IS UNDER THE BIKE AND IS LOWER THEN THE FRAME. THE FRONT TIRE CAN KICK UP ROAD DEBREE AND IT WILL KNOCK A HOLE IN THE TANK. THIS HAPPENED TO MY BROTHER-IN-LAW AND TO MY BIKE. WHEN THE TANK HAS A HOLE IN IT, THE ANTIFREEZE RUNS OUT ON TO THE GROUND AND UNDER THE REAR TIRE ON A TWO WHEEL BIKE. I ASKED THE DEALER WHAT HONDA IS DOING ABOUT THIS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT HONDA WILL NOT PAY TO FIX IT. I CAN PUT A NEW TANK ON THE BIKE, BUT THE NEXT TIME THE FRONT TIRE KICKS UP ANY THING I'LL HAVE ANOTHER HOLE IN THE TANK. I ONLY HAVE 4389 MILES ON THE BIKE. HONDA NEEDS TO REDESIGN THE TANK TO GET IT HIGHER THEN THE FRAME OR PUT A GUARD ON IT TO PROTECT IT.