[browndogg]

Hello.I am new to this forum and will be a future Goldwing owner.I test drove a new one but up here in Canada they are way more money.(Almost 10K more).I plan on selling my 03 Concours then will be shopping for an 01-04 Wing.They still run 13-17K up here.Are the 01s a good first year model or should I stick to the 03s or 04s?Any info would help.Thanks...Greg...

 

[Johnny R]

I don't have a problem buying used GoldWings, but one has to be selective. The last one I bought came from a long-time rider who, because of age, decided to stop "riding with the big boys". He still rides a 650cc to go for daily coffee. It was a very good purchase.
The 2001's have been around long enough that if there is a sytemic problem with them, it will be splashed on the internet and won't be hard to find. If you google on "goldwing history", you will also see what the changes are for each year. Good luck eh!

 

[joe in calif]

There are several recalls on 01 to 03, some on 04's give the VIN number to any Honda dealer and they can tell you if the recalls have been done, the big ones were frame re-weld, and EVM due to over heating, several others service bulletins on them but all in all they are great bikes. By 05 Honda had most of the bugs worked out and then again not all 01 to 04 were affected in the recalls.
Here are some
http://www.ownersite.com/RecallMain.cfm?action=years&make=HONDA&model=GL1800

 

[detdrbuzzard]

hello and welcome to GWOF browndogg

 

[Two Wheel Wing]

It's my understanding that the 01-04 models had frame and heating problems. I believe those issues were corrected by recalls. There are a lot of 01-04 Wings out there with 100k or more miles, so obviously they are dependable. As was previously stated, before buy any of those years make sure the recalls have been done. Good luck and ride safe.

 

[Roadie]

The 01 to late model 04 have a frame issue still ongoing today. The frame tubing behind the passange floorboard cracks. The nature of this frame issue is that all is fine today, but next week, next month, the frame could be cracked....so frame inspections prove nothing but that the frame isn't cracked yet. Trailer pulling is not the cause of these frame cracks. I have read about just as many failures from owners who don't pull trailers.

There is no recall from Honda on this issue...in fact Honda isn't saying a word to anybody about this problem and most dealers are clueless as well.

Honda changed the frame design in late 04 to correct this problem. There have been no frame problems of any kind that I have read about with the redesigned 05 and up frame.

I would not buy a 01 to 04 model unless the frame has been replaced by Honda with the newer spec frame from the 05 and up models...otherwise it's best to just buy a 05 and up model....not worth taking the risk with the affected models and having to deal with Honda over a cracked frame with a bike out of warranty...IMO

Honda has so far been replacing cracked frames out of warranty, but who knows how long Honda will continue to do this with the affected 01 to 04 model

Here is a picture of a 01 to 04 model with a cracked frame. This is a 03 model with 35K miles. This is on the right side of the frame behind the passanger floorboard looking up from under the bike.

Here is the same spot of the frame looking from the outside of the bike.....right side of the bike.

Here is a 05 frame after Honda redesigned the weak area of the frame.

 

[Roadie]

There are several recalls on 01 to 03, some on 04's give the VIN number to any Honda dealer and they can tell you if the recalls have been done, the big ones were frame re-weld, and EVM due to over heating, several others service bulletins on them but all in all they are great bikes. By 05 Honda had most of the bugs worked out and then again not all 01 to 04 were affected in the recalls.

Actually all the 01 to early 04 models were included is the lower crossmember weld recall.

The 01, 02, and early 04 models were to have the lower crossmember welds inspected using a weld gauge and if the lower crossmember welds didn't touch the weld gauge then the welds were to be rewelded.

All 03 models are to have the lower crossmember welds rewelded regardless....every 03 model is to be rewelded regardless of any weld inspections..... alot of dealers still get that wrong and think that a 03 model's lower crossmember welds can just be inspected and deemed OK....not the case with 03 models

Here is a picture of a 03 lower crossmember welds that were rewelded. The safety recall successfully fixed the lower crossmember weld issue and this frame issue is history.....unfortunately all the 01 to 04 models are still affected by cracks in the frame tubing in the rear triangle of the frame.

Here's a picture of a 08 frame