2004 Honda VTX1300 complaints

RADIAL BALL BEARING FAILURE ON FINAL DRIVE HUB. FAILURE UNDER NORMAL WEAR ON 3 DIFFERENT MOTORCYCLES, ALL FAILURES HAPPENED UNDER 5000 MILES AND EVEN REPLACEMENT PARTS NEW FROM OEM HAD FAILED BEARINGS BEFORE INSTALL. PART NUMBER IS 91053-MN5-003 (BEARING) AND 42630-MCH-000 (DRIVE FLANGE). THIS PROBLEM IS BEING REPORTED BY DOZENS ON A HONDA VTX INTERNET BOARD. MANY ARE FINDING THAT EVEN NEW OEM PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE AS NEW PARTS BEFORE INSTALL. SOME HAVE LOOKED INTO WHY THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS AND IT IS BELIEVED THE TOLERANCE IN THE FLANGE IS INCORRECT, CAUSING THE BEARING TO DEFORM UPON BEING PRESS INTO THE FLANGE HUB. ALSO NOTE THAT THE MODEL IS NOT ON THE LIST FOR HONDA MOTORCYCLES ON THIS BOARD. I SELECTED HONDA VTX 1300 AS THIS IS THE MODEL FOR THIS COMPLAINT, BUT THE MOTOR SIZE SHOULD BE 1800.

THE FRONT WHEEL STARTED TO WOBBLE AND VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THIS CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE TO LOCK UP, GO STRAIGHT, AND END UP IN AN ACCIDENT AT 55 MPH. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IN 48 HOURS THAT THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. TAKEN TO DEALER FOR CHECKUP, BUT THEIR RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

AROUND 40 MILES AN HOUR THE FRONT END STARTS TO SHAKE AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO ON DECELERATION TO ABOUT 30. SINCE THIS IS ON A MOTORCYCLE AND THERE ARE ENOUGH DANGERS RIDING I FEEL THAT THIS PUTS ME IN THAT MUCH MORE DANGER. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE OF MOTORCYCLE AND THEY ALSO HAVE CONFIRMED THIS SAME PROBLEM. *JB

I HAVE VERIFIED THAT MY SPEEDOMETER IS OFF BY AT LEAST 10% BY USING RADAR AND A GPS. SINCE THIS IS ON A MOTORCYCLE AND THERE ARE ENOUGH DANGERS RIDING I FEEL THAT THIS PUTS ME IN THAT MUCH MORE DANGER DUE TO THE FACT THAT I HAVE TO LOOK DOWN AT THE SPEEDOMETER, THEN TAKE THAT NUMBER AND CALCULATE MY ACTUAL SPEED. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE OF MOTORCYCLE AND THEY ALSO HAVE CONFIRMED THIS SAME PROBLEM. *JB

STEERING PROBLEM - STEERING WHEEL/HANDLEBARS: FRONT HANDLEBARS WOBBLE TO THE POINT OF BEING UNCONTROLABLE AT BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. THIS HAPPENED RECENTLY WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND END UP GOING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. IT IS USUALLY NOT AS NOTICABLE WHEN YOU HOLD ON TO THE HANDLEBAR TIGHTLY WITH BOTH HANDS, BUT WHEN YOU HOLD IT WITH ONE HAND, OR IF YOU SHOULD HAVE AN OCCASION TO LET GO ALL-TOGETHER SUCH AS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, YOU MAY DEFINITELY HAVE AN ACCIDENT IF TRAVELING AT SPEED OF 35 TO 45 MILES PER HOUR, DUE TO THIS OBVIOUS AND COMMON DEFECT IN THIS POPULAR MOTORCYCLE. NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME FAILURE AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED, WITH AT LEAST ONE HAVING CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IN THE STANDARD STATE OF DENIAL. I HAVE TRIED AT THE SUGGESTION DIFFERENT AIR PRESSURES IN THE FRONT TIRES TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE ALSO RECENTLY BEEN ABLE TO NARROW THE SPEED DOWN TO MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR RIGHT AROUND 40 MPH.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS GOING AROUND A CORNER AT 45 MPH AND HAD AN ACCIDENT INTO A BARROW PIT. AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED IT STILL HAD PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ANOTHER MOTORCYLE THE SAME AS THE FIRST AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TC

SPEEDOMETER READS APPROXIMATELY 10% HIGH. HONDA SAYS IT'S NORMAL.*AK

10% DIFFRENCE IN SPEEDOMETOR. I FEEL WHIL IT IS WRONG I WOULD BE INJURED BY LOOK AT IT WHILE RIDING AND TRYING TO CALCULATE THE DIFFRENCE IN SPEED...AM I GOING TO FAST FASTER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT ALLOWS...WILL IT RESULT IN A CRASH AS I TRY TO GIGURE THE DIFFRENCE OF SPEED ... THE DEALER IS UNWILLING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM... I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT ON SEVERAL OCASSIONS ONE MOST RECENT. *AK

SPEEDOMETER NOT READING CORRECTLY. I AN DRIVING 30 MPH AND SPEEDOMETER READS 35 MPH. DANGER TO SAFELY MERGE WITH TRAFFIC AND MAINTIAN SAFE LEGAL SPEED.*AK

WHEN SLOWING DOWN BETWEEN 40-45 MPH THE FRONT END WOBBLES, HAVE TAKEN IT TO A DEALER AND THEY DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM AND NOTED IT, BUT COULD NOT FIND ANY THING OUT OF TOLERANCE. I BELIEVE THIS CONSTITUTES A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL ,RESULTING IN INJURY AND/OR DEATH.*AK

SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE BIKE, THE SPEEDOMETER HAS READ HIGH BY ABOUT 10% (CHECKED BY GPS). IF THE SPEEDOMETER READS 60MPH, I AM ACTUALLY GOING ABOUT 54MPH. DOING THE CALCULATIONS IN MY HEAD TO GET AN ACCURATE SPEED READING ARE A DISTRACTION AND TAKE MY CONCENTRATION OFF THE ROAD. WHEN I FIRST GOT THE BIKE, THAT SPEEDOMETER PUT ME IN A BAD SPOT WITH CARS PASSING ME AT THIER NORMAL TO HIGHER SPEEDS WHILE I WAS UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT. A BAD AND DANGEOUS COMBINATION THAT COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITH INJURIES OR FATALITIES. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. LETTERS TO HONDA HAVE BEEN INEFFECTIVE.*AK

FRONT END WOBBLED ON MT 2004 VTX1300. I HAVE TALKED TO HONDA CORP AND THEY DENY ANY ISSUES. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP TWICE AND THEY ONLY CAME BACK TO SAY IT IS THE TIRES WHICH IT IS NOT. THERE IS SOMETHING THAT IS CAUSING THE TIRES TI WEAR THE WAY THEY ARE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTY ISSUE AND THESE BIKES SHOULD BE RECALLED.*AK

THE CONSUMER NOTICED BOTH PASSENGER FOOT RESTS WERE BROKE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIP WERE NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK THREE WEEKS TO ANSWER THE CONSUMERS COMPLAINT. THE CONSUMER REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND PICTURES. *JB RACKETS WELDED TO MOTORCYCLE FRAME. THE CONSUMER NOTICED RIGHT PASSENGER FOOT BORAD WAS MISSING DUE TO COMPLETE BREAK OF STOCK FOOTPEG MOUNTING BRACKET AT IS BEND. *TC

FRONT END WOBBLE ON 2004 HONDA VTX 1300 MOTORCYCLE . *AK

THE MOTORCYCLE'S HANDLE BARS WILL WOBBLE WHEN DECELERATING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH, CAUSING AN UNSTABLE FEELING EVEN WHEN HOLDING ON WITH BOTH HANDS. THE HONDA DEALER SUGGESTS THIS IS A TIRE PRESSURE ISSUE, HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURS WHEN THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES ARE INFLATED TO THE RECOMMENDED PRESSURES, 32 AND 35 PSI, RESPECTIVELY. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SUGGESTS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HONDA AND/OR DUNLOP (TIRE MANUFACTURER) HAVE NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH MOTORCYCLE VIBRATED HEAVILY. CONSUMER TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

HONDA VTX 1300 S (RETRO). FRONT TIRE WOBBLE WHEN SLOWING DOWN. HAPPENS IN CURVES ALSO. THE WHOLE FRONT OF MY MOTORCYCLE WILL SHAKE.*AK

FRONT END WOBBLE BETWEEN 40 AND 45 MPH. *JB

HANDLE BAR WOBBLED AT 40-45 MPH. *AK

FRONT END HAS A WOBBLE/ HOP BETWEEN 30-45 MPH. *AK

THE INACCURATE SPEEDOMETER ON MY BRAND NEW 2004 HONDA VTX 1300 CAUSES TRAFFIC PROBLEMS. I DON'T KNOW MY TRUE SPEED WHICH EITHER CAUSES PEOPLE TO TAILGATE ME, PASS UNSAFELY OR JUST PLAIN PISS THEM OFF. SO I GO FASTER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT ACCORDING TO MY SPEEDOMETER WHICH PISSES OFF MY WIFE, AND MY KIDS WHO RIDE WITH ME ALOT SEE THIS AND GET THE WRONG IDEA. YOU CAN NOT EXPLAIN SPEEDOMETER ERROR TO A CHILD THEY SEE SPEED LIMIT SIGNS OF 55 AND THEN SEE DADDY GOING 65-70. WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE IS THAT. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT ALL BIKES ARE OFF 5-8 PERCENT. EVERY CAR I OWN IS ACCURATE, WHY SHOULD THIS BIKE BE?*AK

1-PROBLEM EXISTED SINCE DAY ONE 2-SPEEDOMETER OVER STATES SPEED BY 8%, RESULTING IN DRIVERS FOLLOWING TAILGATING, FLASHING HIGH BEAMS, AND INDUCING ROAD RAGE 3-PURCHASED GPS WHICH REPORTS SPEED ACCURATELY FOR $400. *AK

BIKE HAS A SERVERE WOBBLE/ VIRBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK

2004 HONDA ST 1300 MOTORCYLE. AT HIGHER SPEEDS, BIKE HAS A UNCONTROLLABLE WABBLE. MULTIPLE REPORTS TO HONDA GO UNANSWERED. SIMILIAR RECALL UNDERWAY IN EUROPE FOR SAME PROBLEM. *MR

MY NEW HONDA SHADOW SABRE MOTORCYCLE SPEEDOMETER READS 10% HIGHER THAN ACTUAL SPEED OF VEHICLE. *LA

AFTER STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE, AND DRIVING FOR 5 MINUTES MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATED. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

2004 HONDA CRF-50 DIRT BIKE, RIGHT FRONT FORK SHAFT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SAFELY SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE BIKE DUEING NORMAL OPERATION. THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT SUCH AS FALLING OVER WHILE MOVING AT SPEEDS FOUND AT LESS THAN FULL THRODDLE IN FIRST GEAR, SUCH AS A BEGINNER WOULD USE, WILL CAUSE THE FRONT FORK SHAFTS TO BEND RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POTENTIAL HARMFUL CONDITION.

I AM EXPERIENCING A WOBBLE WITH MY HONDO VTX 1300. BETWEEN 45 AND 40MPH ON DECELERATION THE BIKE HAS A SIGNIFICANT WOBBLE I FEEL IS UNSAFE. I KNOW MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME MODEL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A HANDLING SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

THE FRONT END HAS NO SUSPENSION. WHILE DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE PASSENGER WAS ALMOST THROWN OFF. THE DEALER STATED ON 7/28/2003 THERE WAS NO PROBLEM (HONDA VTX1300S 2004). *PH *PH *NLM