Complaint 733706

Complaint Summary

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Owner Narrative

I OWN A 2006 HONDA ST1300 MOTORCYCLE WITH AN ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM AND LINKED BRAKES. WITH THE LINKED BRAKE SYSTEM THE FOOT BRAKE CONTROLS THE CENTER PISTON ON THE REAR BRAKE ROTOR AND THE CENTER PISTON ON EACH OF THE TWO FRONT ROTORS - FOR A TOTAL OF THREE PISTONS. THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER CONTROLS THE TWO OUTER PISTONS ON EACH OF THE TWO FRONT ROTORS AND THE TWO OUTER PISTONS ON THE REAR BRAKE ROTOR - FOR A TOTAL OF SIX PISTONS. THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER OPERATES THE REAR TWO PISTONS BY MEANS OF A SECONDARY MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE FRONT WHEEL FORK IN A POSITION WHICH IS QUITE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS. THERE IS, ON THE 06 MODEL A SMALL WEEP HOLE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO DRAIN AWAY WATER. ON MY BIKE , BECAUSE THIS WEEP HOLE BECAME CLOGGED, OR FOR OTHER REASONS, WATER MADE ITS WAY INTO THE CYLINDER AND CAUSED CORROSION WHICH RESULTED IN THE CYLINDER STICKING AND LOCKING UP THE REAR BRAKE. THIS HAPPENED TO ME ON A QUIET ROAD IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO SO NOTHING SERIOUS RESULTED BUT HAD IT HAPPENED ON I - 15 GOING INTO SAN BERNADINO I WOULD VERY LIKELY BEEN KILLED, ALONG WITH OTHERS, IN A MASSIVE PILEUP. HONDA FIXED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY AND I NOW MONITOR THE CONDITION OF THE SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER VERY CLOSELY. I DO NOT ANTICIPATE THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN AGAIN. HONDA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS IN FACT REDESIGNED THE PART - REPLACING THE WEEP HOLE WITH A SLOT. I HAVE PERSONALLY CONFIRMED THIS BY INSPECTING AN 08 -- WHICH EXPLAINS THE DELAY IN FILING THIS REPORT. THEY HAVE NOT RECALLED THE WEEP HOLE MODELS NOR HAVE THEY NOTIFIED OWNERS/DEALERS - TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE - TO WATCH FOR SIGNS OF A PROBLEM. MY SECONDARY MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED WITH ONE OF THE OLD DESIGN DESPITE THE NEW DESIGN BEING AVAILABLE IN 08. I THINK HONDA'S RESPONSE HAS BEEN DEFICIENT AND WOULD LIKE YOU TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER. *TR

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.