2001 HONDA GL1800 Complaints

ENGINE OVERHEATS AT LOW SPEED IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR, CAUSING OPERATOR TO HAVE TO DISRUPT TRAFFIC AND PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. ALSO COOLANT IS DISPERSED FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM OVERFLOW.*AK

MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATS IN SLOW TRAFFIC CONDITIONS CAUSED BY A DESIGN FLAW. POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZZARD FROM COOLANT BEING EXPELLED IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE.*AK

THE MOTORCYCLE DEVELOPED A KNOCKING IN THE DRIVE. THE DEALER , AFTER CONTACTING HONDA, SAID IT WAS THE REAR BRAKE ROTOR AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I CHECKED IT MYSELF AND FOUND ALL OF THE LUG NUTS LOOSE ON THE REAR WHEEL. FROM THE DIFFERENCE IN HANDLING, AND THE FACT THE REAR WHEEL HAS NEVER BEEN OFF THE MOTORCYCLE, I'D GUESS IT'S BEEN LOOSE SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW.*AK

CONSUMER STATES MOTORCYCLE WOBBLES AND VIBRATES BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 40-50 MPH. DEALER ALIGNED HANDLEBARS, REPLACED AND BALANCED TIRES, ALIGNED FRONT FORKS AND REPLACED STEERING HEAD BEARINGS, BUT VIBRATIONS STILL EXIST. BIKE UNDER WARRANTY. *TT

FRONT TIRE ON MOTORCYCLE DEVELOPED CUPPING CONDITION AT 3000MILES. OPERATING PRESSURES ALWAYS MAINTAINED AT 40PSI. HONDA'S REPLY (WITHOUT CHECKING THE TIRE) WAS "NOTHING DEFECTIVE WITH TIRE--NO REPLACEMENT IS AUTHORIZED". CUPPING ON A MOTORCYCLE CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS HANDLING CONDITION RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. HONDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CORRECTION OF (DESIGN) PROBLEM. OTHER RIDERS CONTACTED REPORTED SIMILAIR PROBLEM WITH SAME MODEL MOTORCYCLE AND TIRE.*AK

THE SPEEDOMETER QUITS WORKING RANDOMLY AND AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS FAILED TO REPAIR IT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED WHEN YOU CAN'T ACCURATELY TELL HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING.I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THEM TO FIX IT FOR OVER TEN MONTHS AND AM STILL WAITING. I'D REALLY HATE TO GET A SPEEDING TICKET BECAUSE OF A FAULTY SPEEDOMETER.*AK

THIS BIKE DOES NOT SEEM TO PASS EMMISSIONS AS STATED BY THE HONDA OF AMERICA. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO HAVE IT CHECKED, OR SERVICED.

INITIAL ENCOUNTER OF PROBLEM WHEN FOR FIRST TIME PLACED IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON 8/16/2001. HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED APPROX 10 TIMES SINCE. HONDA HAS BEEN GIVEN THREE ATTEMPTS TO FIX WITH NO POSITIVE RESULTS. ENGINE HAS STALLED ON NUMEROUS EVENTS. REAR WHEEL SEIZING ONCE WHILE MOVING AT ABOUT 22 MPH. BOILOVER OF COOLANT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ALSO, COOLANT DUMPS RIGHT IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL CREATING A POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL. KNOWN "TECH FACT" AS PER HONDA FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL, COOLING FANS WILL NEVER EVER COME ON ABOVE 15 MPH REGARDLESS OF TEMP.SEEKING LEGAL RECOURSE UNDER MAGNUSON MOSS WARRANTY ACT.

VEHICLE OVERHEATED, IN SLOW TRAFFIC, DOING DAMAGE TO O2 SENSORS, RESULTING IN REDUCED GAS MILEAGE OF 26 - 32 MPG, WHICH IS 10 - 12 MPG BELOW ORIGINAL MILEAGE AND OTHER GL1800'S I RIDE WITH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER BOTH KNOW OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT REPLACE THE O2 SENSORS UNLESS THE FI LIGHT ON THE DASH COMES ON. FUEL MILEAGE SHOULD BE A CONCERN TO MOTORCYCLE MFRS. JUST AS IT IS WITH CARS. NOW I GET MILEAGE THAT IS NEAR WHAT MY 3200 LB., V6, 200HP SEDAN DOES AND HONDA THINKS THIS IS OK?

THE TIRE HAS SEVERE WEAR (CUPPING). THIS WEAR IS OCCURRING AFTER ONLY 5000 MILES. AFTER I REPORTED THE PROBLEM IN DECEMBER, HONDA HAS MADE A POLICY OF NOT REPLACING TIRES FOR PREMATURE WEAR. THIS CONDITION CAUSES POOR HANDLING.*AK