NHTSA Complaint #10134621 — 2003 HONDA GL1800

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA GOLDWING. WHEN APPLYING THE BACK BRAKE THERE WAS BAD VIBRATION WHICH RESULTED IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. THE CONTACT STATED IF THE BRAKE WERE PRESSED HARDER, AT THAT POINT, THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD COME TO A STOP. THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED TO BLEED THE BRAKES, AND THIS SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP BLED THE BRAKES, BUT THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND SUGGESTED THEY COULD CHANGE THE BRAKE FLUID, BUT THAT WAS ABOUT ALL THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THE CONTACT HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES FOR APPROXIMATELY A YEAR, AND THE DEALERSHIP KEPT TELLING HIM THAT HE WAS OVERHEATING THE BRAKE FLUID. THEY DID SUGGEST READING THE OWNER'S MANUAL WHICH RECOMMENDED THE USE OF BOTH FRONT AND BACK BRAKES AT THE SAME TIME. THE CONTACT'S CONCERN WAS THAT IF THE MOTORCYCLE HAD A LINKED BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH ACTUATED THE BACK AND FRONT BRAKES THEN WHY WOULD ONE NEED TO USE BOTH BRAKES AT ONCE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED AFTER REPLACING THE FLUID, IF THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED, THE CONTACT WILL HAVE TO COVER THE COST, BUT IF IT DIDN'T REMEDY THE PROBLEM, HE WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT.*AK