NHTSA Complaint #10543697 — 2007 HONDA GL1800

MY 2007 HONDA GL1800 (W/ABS) HAS EXHIBITED A BRAKING PROBLEM SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2010. WHEN APPLYING THE REAR BRAKE ALONE, A SHUDDERING OCCURS THAT FEELS LIKE I AM DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS. THIS IS QUITE DISCONCERTING BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE, YET HONDA POLITELY REFUSES TO FIX IT, CLAIMING THAT IT IS NOT A PROBLEM AS LONG AS THE RIDER USES THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES TOGETHER. IT IS TRUE THAT APPLYING THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER WILL PREVENT OR STOP THIS RUMBLING, BUT APPLYING BOTH BRAKES IS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST, SAFEST WAY TO APPLY BRAKING FORCE. COMPOUNDING THE TROUBLESHOOTING OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT ONLY OCCURS WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE 90 DEGREES F. IT APPEARS TO BE A FEEDBACK LOOP ISSUE SINCE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES ARE LINKED SYSTEMS. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF ENTRIES ON RIDER FORUMS, THIS IS NOT A UNIQUE SITUATION, BUT IT DOES NOT AFFECT ALL GOLDWING?S SO THERE MUST BE A SOLUTION. BRAKES SHOULD NOT SHAKE THE MOTORCYCLE, AND A MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT BE DICTATING BRAKE OPERATION TO SOLVE A DESIGN ISSUE. REQUIRING THE FRONT BRAKE TO BE APPLIED TO STOP THIS VIBRATION IS SIMPLY UNSAFE. *TR