WHEEL AND HANDLE BAR MT 2005 HONDA VTX 1300S HAS A SERIOUS FRONT END WOBBLE THAT IMPEDES THE SAFE OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE AT SPEEDS 35 - 45
2005 Honda VTX1300 steering problems
severe 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700
Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Avg fix
$700
What owners are reporting 13 most recent
2005 1300 C HONDA MOTORCYCLE. HAS A FRONT END SHAKE THAT IS ALMOST UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THE BARS ALMOST SHAKE OUT OF MY HANDS. *JB
FRONT END WOBBLE. *TR
2005 HONDA VTX 1300 FRONT END WOBBLES AT SPEEDS FROM 20 - 40 MPH HONDA DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM, SAFETY CONCERN. *NM
WHEN DECELERATING, AT ABOUT 40 MILES AN HOUR THE FRONT END STARTS TO SHAKE/WOBBLE AND CONTINUES UNTIL REACHING ABOUT 30 MPH. AS THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE, IT IS NOT A VERY GOOD FEELING TO HAVE THE FRONT WHEEL/HANDLEBARS SHAKE WHEN IN MOTION AND COULD LEAD AT AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE/MODEL MOTORCYCLE AND THEY ALSO HAVE ADVISED OF SIMILAR WOBBLING. *JB
FRONT END WOBBLES AT SPEEDS AROUND 40 MPH. DEALER SAID IT ALL LOOKS FINE. STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH THE WOBBLE. *NM
I RECEIVED A 2005 HONDA 1300 VTX R IN JULY, 2013 AND SHORTLY AFTER TAKING IT FOR A RIDE I NOTICED THE FRONT END BEGAN TO WOBBLE OUT OF CONTROL AS I LOOSENED MY GRIPS FROM HANDLE BARS. I NEVER COMPLETELY LET GO OF HANDLE BARS, I WAS JUST RELAXING MY GRIP DUE TO STRESS ON HANDS. THE WOBBLE WAS SO EXTREME THAT BARS WERE WANTING TO GO LEFT AND RIGHT TO POINT OF JACK-KNIFING AND FLIPPING BIKE. THIS I…
THERE IS A STEERING DEFECT. AT APPROX 40-45 MPH THE FRONT END WOBBLES. IT APPEARS TO HAVE DEFECTIVE BEARINGS. PROBLEM STARTED AT APPROX 2,000 MILES. *NM
AT AROUND 7,000 MILES I DEVELOPED A WOBBLE IN THE STEERING AT 35-45 MPH, VERY NOTICEABLE UNDER DECELERATION. AND HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF OTHER RIDERS WITH THE SIMILAR MODEL OF MOTORCYCLE WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND COMPLAINTS. *NM
I EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS "WOBBLE" ON MY 2005 VTX1300S DURING DECELERATION BEGINNING AT ABOUT 45 - 50 MPH. I ALSO EXPERIENCE THIS FRONT END WOBBLE DURING CORNERING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *JB
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2005 Honda VTX1300?
It's a meaningful issue. 32 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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