Oct 27, 2021Suspension
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Gold Wing Motorcycle. The contact stated that while riding at various speeds, the motorcycle would pull to the right side. The suspension was replaced, and the failure was remedied. Also, the front tire had experienced uneven wear on both the right and left sides causing the motorcycle to become extremely unstable while riding on wet pavement. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,500.
NHTSA ODI 11438402
Apr 24, 2020Suspension
THIS IS A BRAND-NEW LEFTOVER 800 POUND MOTORCYCLE WITH ABSOLUTELY NO REBOUND IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION. IT RIDES WELL ON SMOOTH ROADS AND BECOMES EXTREMELY PUNISHING AND THREATENING ON NORMAL IMPERFECTIONS IN THE ROAD. I DISCOVERED THIS WITHIN MY FIRST TWENTY MINUTES OF OWNING THE BIKE AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET HELP EVER SINCE. THIS IS HONDA'S PREMIUM TOURING BIKE, ONE THAT THEY CLAIM IS THE SMOOTHEST, MOST SOPHISTICATED LONG-DISTANCE BIKE ON THE PLANET, YET IT CONSTANTLY BOTTOMS OUT AND FEELS QUITE DANGEROUS OVER LARGER POTHOLES OR COMMON ROUGH AREAS ON SO MANY OF OUR CALIFORNIA ROADS. THE MECHANIC HONDA SENT ME TO CLAIMED THAT THIS "STIFFNESS THAT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED OUT" WAS NORMAL FOR THE BASE GOLD WING AND THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX IT WAS TO REPLACE THE STOCK SHOCKS WITH VERY EXPENSIVE AFTER-MARKET SHOCKS. THOUSANDS OF WORDS OF HONDA ADVERTISING CLAIM THAT IS THE FINEST, MOST COMFORTABLE TOURING BIKE ON THE ROAD, YET THEIR MECHANIC SAYS I NEED NEW SHOCKS. I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS BIKE IS DANGEROUS, AND I WELCOME ANY INSPECTION BY QUALIFIED ENGINEERS OR TECHNICIANS (THOSE WHO DON'T OWE THEIR LIVELIHOOD TO HONDA) TO PROVE WHAT I SAY, AND I AM WILLING TO PAY FOR THOSE INSPECTIONS. HONDA GAVE ME A THREE-YEAR UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY AND THEN SIMPLY VOIDED IT BY HAVING ONE OF THEIR UNDERLINGS SAY THE BIKE IS NORMAL. THIS IS CORPORATE OBFUSCATION AT ITS WORST. HONDA HAS DEVELOPED A BRAND NEW FRONT END AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR 2018, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO OPEN PANDORA'S BOX AND ADMIT THAT SOME OF THESE BIKES ARE NOT SAFE TO RIDE. SHAMEFUL BEHAVIOR FOR A COMPANY I HAVE DONE BUSINESS WITH SINCE 1968. I KNOW AND CAN PROVE THAT MOST OF THESE BIKES, THE TRULY NORMAL ONES, RIDE VERY WELL, JUST AS I KNOW THAT MINE IS ABNORMAL AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
NHTSA ODI 11322126