NHTSA Complaint #10452031 — 2008 HONDA ST1300A

THIS BIKE HAS A 'LINKED BRAKE SYSTEM', SIMILAR TO THAT IN USE BY THE GOLDWING. (IN FACT, THE GOLDWING HAS AN ACTIVE RECALL BECAUSE OF THIS BRAKE SYSTEM.) THIS IS TO REPORT THAT THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER (SMC) HAD ACCUMULATED WATER AND CORRODED TO THE POINT THAT MY REAR BRAKES WOULDN'T RELEASE. IN 2008, HONDA RE-ENGINEERED SOME ASPECTS OF THIS SMC (ESSENTIALLY CREATED A DRAIN TROUGH), THOUGH IT DID NOT HELP. I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WHILE PERFORMING A ROUTINE BRAKE FLUID CHANGE AND TOOK MULTIPLE PICTURES. EVERY PERSON WHO HAS SEEN THESE PHOTOS HAVE BEEN HORRIFIED TO SEE THE CONDITION OF THE SMC AND THE PISTON THAT PORTS FLUID TO THE REAR BRAKES. THIS FAILURE UPSET THE HANDLING OF THE BIKE, AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL CRASHES (I INITIALLY DISMISSED THE NEAR CRASHES TO UNSEEN ROAD DEBRIS OR A TIRE PROBLEM). THESE BRAKES ARE NOT SAFE ON THE ROAD OR THE TRACK. MY BIKE IS BEING SERVICED UNDER WARRANTY BY HONDA. *TR