Recently, I took a trip with some other chapter members to the Smokies. Our group consisted of me on my brand new 2002 1800, our CD on his 2001 1800, and our ACD on his 1999 1500. While in the mountains, we ended up at Cade's Cove (I believe this is correct), a wildlife area that is accessed by a one-lane road. There were many vehicles on this road that were stopping to look at the wildlife. We were in stop and go traffic for over an hour.

During this time, we had to stopp at least three times due to the 1800s overheating. However, the 1500 never got much higher than halfway up the temperature guage.

Has any other 1800 owners experience this? Any feedback is appreciated.

Happy Motoring and God Bless America!

Tom Johnson

By G. Mann on Monday, September 24, 2001 - 06:15 am:

Look at the recent archives. There have been threads on this in the last three weeks.

G. Mann
'94 SE

By Stuart Oltman on Monday, September 24, 2001 - 06:52 am:

This has been a topic of discussion almost since the introduction of the GL1800. According to Honda, the bikes aren't actually overheating unless the gauge needle reads outside of the operating range. They claim that the temperature gauges are inaccurate and have introduced a sub-wiring harness with a device intended to correct that problem. Of course, if your 1800 ever boils coolant out onto the ground as some claim that theirs has, that would indeed be cause for concern regardless of the gauge reading.

Stu

By Jim Beaudin on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 12:06 pm:

Shift as per the owner's manual, will help keep the 1800 in the proper temperature range when in a constant slow speed situation.

By Jim Stephens on Thursday, September 27, 2001 - 04:04 am:

WRONG, in my case anyway. Got caught in a re-paving project out west and my temp continued to rise regardless of what gear l used. Only thing saved me was the traffic finally started moving a little faster (over 25mph).

By Jim Beaudin on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 07:18 am:

Okay, let's put it this way: I have driven in rush hour traffic several times on my 1800 where it took me an hour to go the 20 miles, I have been in Xborder lines where it took me an hour to go 1 mile (was with a fellow rider who also has an 1800 - no problems).

If, when traveling slowly, I shift as per the owners manual (3rd gear by around 20 mph), I don't have an overheating problem with the 1800. The gauge may go up - but never to the red zone and never any expulsion of rad fluid. Unlike the cars that I saw that were pulled over for overheating.

It acts similar to the 1500 that I had in similar traffic conditions.