2003 HONDA VTX1800 Wheels Problems

NOTICED ODD TIRE WEAR ON THE REAR TIRE OF THE MOTORCYCLE WHILE AWAY FROM HOME. TIRE SEEMED TO HAVE WORN DOWN VERY QUICKLY. AFTER ANOTHER 100 MILES RIDDEN, NOTICED TREAD ON LEFT SIDE OF TIRE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE CORDS OF THE TIRE AND VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A BLOW OUT. REMOVED TIRE AND WHEEL TO REPLACE TIRE. DISCOVERED THAT THE BEARING IN THE FLANGE WAS DESTROYED, THIS BEARING WAS ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE TIRE THAT HAD WORN DOWN TO THE CORDS. BEARING HAD METAL PIECES LOOSE INSIDE AND BALL BEARINGS WERE LOOSE AND SCATTERED AROUND BEARING. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND HAVE FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUS FAILURE. *TR

THE REAR WHEEL FLANGE BEARINGS WERE FOUND DAMAGED AND MISSING. *TR

MAJOR FRONT END WOBBLE (ESPECIALLY IF NOT GRIPPING WITH BOTH HANDS) BETWEEN 35-50MPH. SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS ONLINE, BUT NOBODY HAS A 100% FIX. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DURING A TURN WITH THE WOBBLE. ALMOST FEELS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE CONTROL. BROUGHT IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ALSO BROUGHT IN THERE BIKES WITH THE SAME ISSUE, BUT NO KNOWN FIXES. *TR

I HEARD A NOISE WHEN TURNING OR CORNERIG BOTH DIRECTIONS. REMOVED REAR WHEEL AND FOUND DRIVE FLANGE BEARING HAD FAILED BREAKING APART INTO SMALL PIECES. *TR

THE REAR FLANGE BEARING ON MY 2003 HONDA VTX 1800C FAILED RESULTING IN A VERY SCARY DRIVING SITUATION FOR ME. IT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE THE INITIAL FAILURE ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 2 OF LAST YEAR, BUT THE REAR WHEEL IS STARTING TO TURN A LITTLE HARDER AGAIN RECENTLY AND I AM LOOKING INTO REPLACING THE BEARING SOON. THE DEALERSHIP (HONDA/YAHAMA OF SAVANNAH, GA) REPLACED THE BEARING AT MY COST AND TOLD ME THAT IT JUST HAPPENS AND IT'S A PART OF THE DESIGN. I WASN'T AWARE THAT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN ITEM SUBJECT TO WEAR AND TEAR REPLACEMENT. *TR

DRIVEN FLANGE BEARING SET FAILURE DISCOVERED WHEN REAR TIRE WAS REPLACED. *TR

FAILURE OF REAR BEARINGS ON MOTORCYCLE. DEALER FOUND AT TIME OF TIRE CHANGE.