2001 HONDA GL1800 Complaints

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ENGINE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY AND IT COASTED BEFORE COMING TO A STOP, DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED MOTORCYCLE FOR THIS PROBLEM, THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED MOTORCYCLE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT FOR AN OVER-SENSITIVE "ENGINE STOP SWITCH."*AK. *SLC

WHILE THIS FAILURE NEVER CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP COMPLETELY, HONDA DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE OVERHEATING AS A PROBLEM. THIS HAS OCCURRED TO ME AND MANY OTHER GL1800 OWNERS. IT IS A PROBLEM IN THE BASIC DESIGN WHICH CREATES A TERRIBLE CONDITION WHEN IT OCCURS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. HONDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS IT BEFORE IT CAUSES INJURY OR DEATH, NOT AFTER. IT MAY NOT SEEM TO BE THE BIGGEST PROBLEM, BUT IT DOES EXISTS AND SHOULD BE RESOLVED BY HONDA.*AK

WHILE WAITING AT A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT SPEEDOMETER WOULD BECOME STUCK AT A CERTAIN SPEED, EVEN IF MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT MOVING OR DOING THAT PARTICULAR SPEED. WOULD SUDDENLY JUMP BACK TO NORMAL SPEED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED PARTS FOR SPEEDOMETER WERE ON BACK ORDER. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT MANUFACTURER WAS TRYING TO FIX SPEEDOMETER.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE SPEEDOMETER HAS BEEN REPLACED, HOWEVER HAD BEEN LIMITED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS FROM HONDA. *SLC

THE FRONT TIRE CUPS SEVERELY BY 3500 TO 4000MILES.MY AIR PRESSURE IS CHECKED VERY OFTEN AND IS KEPT BETWEEN 38 & 40 LBS COLD. IF YOU CHECK GL1800 WEB SITES YOU WILL FIND LOTS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THE FRONT END WOBBLE THIS CAUSES. HONDA DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SAYS 4000 MILES IS ACCEPTABLE MILEAGE.THE TIRES WILL WEAR LONGER THAN 4000 MILES BUT ARE UNSTABLE. I HAVE REPLACED MY TIRES 3 TIMES AND THEY ALL HAVE SEVERE CUPPING BY 3500 MILES. LOOKING AT OTHER 2001 GOLDWINGS I HAVE YET TO SEE ONE THAT DID NOT HAVE A CUPPED FRONT TIRE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 130/70 R18)

THE FRONT TIRE CUPS SEVERELY BY 3500 TO 4000MILES.MY AIR PRESSURE IS CHECKED VERY OFTEN AND IS KEPT BETWEEN 38 & 40 LBS COLD. IF YOU CHECK GL1800 WEB SITES YOU WILL FIND LOTS OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THE FRONT END WOBBLE THIS CAUSES. HONDA DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM AND SAYS 4000 MILES IS ACCEPTABLE MILEAGE.THE TIRES WILL WEAR LONGER THAN 4000 MILES BUT ARE UNSTABLE. I HAVE REPLACED MY TIRES 3 TIMES AND THEY ALL HAVE SEVERE CUPPING BY 3500 MILES. LOOKING AT OTHER 2001 GOLDWINGS I HAVE YET TO SEE ONE THAT DID NOT HAVE A CUPPED FRONT TIRE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 130/70 R18)

SPEEDOMETER STICKS AND DOES NOT REGISTER SPEED OF VEHICLE, THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE SUN IS ON THE SPEEDOMETER. IT WILL STICK AT ANY SPEED OR STAY ON ZERO.*AK

TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL CLIMB IF DROVE AT SPEED'S 10 TO 15 MPH IF IN A TRAFFIC JAM COOLING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY ENGINE WILL HEATUP WITH POSSIBLE OVER HEATING IF RODE SLOW FOR VERY LONG. *AK

DESIGN OF COOLING SYSTEM IS THAT FANS PULL AIR THROUGH RADIATORS. FANS DESIGNED TO TURN OF AT SPEEDS OVER 15 MPH. WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AT SPEEDS ABOVE 15 BUT LESS THAN 25, MOTORCYCLE WILL OVERHEAT. WHEN I DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE DEALER & MANUFACTURER I WAS TOLD THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE JUST DON'T DRIVE IN THOSE CONDIDTIONS. I WAS ALSO ASKED IF IT GOT HOT ENOUGH TO SPIT OUT ANTU-FREEZE. I STATED NO, I DIDN'T WANT TO DAMAGE THE ENGINE AND BECAUE OF THEIR DESIGN IF IT DID SPILL OUT ANTI-FREEZE IT COMES OUT IN FRONT OF THE REAR TIRE WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. NOT TOO SAFE. THE FIX IS TO REVERSE THE DIRRECTION OF THE FANS AND CHANGE THE OPERATION TO WHERE THE FANS COME ON AND STAY ON AT A CERTAIN TEMPATURE UNTIL THE ENGINE FALLS BELOW THAT TEMPATURER. SO FAR THE MANUFACTURE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

DURING SLOW SPEED OPERATION THE MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATS THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN REPORTED TO MY PURCHASING DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND NO REMEDY HAS BEEN PROVIDED.*AK

MANY HONDA GOLDWING GL 1800 OWNERS HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THEIR MOTORCYLES OVERHEATING WHILE INCHING ALONG IN TRAFFIC AND/OR BEING IN SITUATIONS WHERE LOW SPEEDS ARE NECESSARY, SUCH AS PARADES. IT APPEARS THAT THE ENGINE COOLING FANS/SYSTEM IS NOT DESIGNED TO RIDE THIS BIKE IN ALL DRIVING SITUATIONS SAFELY WITHOUT THE POSSIBLILITY OF OVERHEATING AND CAUSING INJURY.*AK