The Month of Maintenance

It's the same each year: winter comes, Goldwing owners put their bikes away - there's lots of time for maintenance later, right?

A few months later, we suddenly start getting a few nice days here and there, and Goldwingers suddenly realize they had better get cracking on their winter maintenance tasks!

This year is no different, and as a result, the forum is filled with members asking for help with issues found during maintenance.

Member spingley is looking to make the GL1500 he bought two years ago as perfect and reliable as possible, as he and his wife are planning to ride out West this summer, putting thousands of miles on it. He wants advice from our members on what he should be doing to make his bike uber-reliable: Maintenance Question

DCT Clutch Failure Update

This post came in late this evening, long after I had finished getting this newsletter ready to send out, and normally I would never alter the newsletter at the very last minute like this, but I figured it was important.

Member dclinton has had a response from Honda Corporate regarding his DCT clutch failure caused by slow riding, and it's not good. They are refusing to cover the destroyed clutch in his three-week-old GL1800 DCT, leaving him with thousands of dollars in bills.

Read the update here: DCT Clutch Failure Update

First Ride of 2023!

For many members, riding season is already here, or is just now arriving. BobC1960 in New Mexico took his GL1800 out for the first ride of the 2023 riding season, and very kindly shared a video taken of his ride - for all of us still snowbound in the north!

Have you been out for your first ride of 2023 yet? Did you take any pictures or video that you would like to share? Or just want to mention where you went and what you saw?

Add your contribution to the conversation: First Ride of 2023 - Share your Thoughts, Pictures, Videos

7th Annual GoldwingDocs Gathering

The 7th Annual GoldwingDocs Gathering has been announced, and this year it is in beautiful Logan, West Virginia, from August 16 through August 20.

Set in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, Logan is a beautiful little town with many hundreds of miles of beautiful, mountainous roads. I have ridden this area before, and it is seriously some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever experienced.

This Gathering is not to be missed - if you've been on the fence about attending a previous GoldwingDocs Gathering, this year is the year to come!

More information on the official thread: 7th Annual GoldwingDocs Gathering, August 16 - 20, 2023, Logan, WV

COVID's Over - Buyer's Market?

Anyone who has been forced to buy a vehicle in the last couple of years knows how painful it has been: vehicles selling at list price, or dealer markups above list price, seller's premiums - and very few vehicles available to actually buy.

Apparently this is now changing. The supply chain is catching up, dealerships are filling up, and prices are coming down.

Member GoldWingrGreg recently visited a Honda dealer to pick up some parts, and found it packed with new bikes waiting for springtime buyers. If you're looking for a new bike, now might be the time! Check out: COVID's Over - Buyer's Market?

A Problem With Honda Spray Cleaner and Polish

Most Goldwing owners are well aware of Honda Spray Cleaner and Polish - the universal cleaner that can be used to clean everything: bodywork, wheels, tires, windshield, seat, it's a universal cleaner that removes bugs, grime and filth from your bike without water - and leaves behind a shiny, gleaming, rain-shedding protective finish. All you need is a can and a cotton towel in your saddlebag, and you're good to go. It's so good that most bike techs at other manufacturer dealerships rely on it as well - I wonder if they cover up the "Honda" on the label?

However, GoldwingDocs member The Drake has found a real problem with our beloved magic cleaning product. He details the problem - is it really a problem - here: Problem with Honda Spray Cleaner & Polish

Pulls Left and Vibrates While Leaning Right

Member lxpeery in Virginia has a problem with the 1990 GL1500 that he just bought. The bike runs great, but the bike wants to pull to the left, and when he leans to the right, he can feel an "amost audible vibration."

Of course the first thought is tires, but he checked the tires, and there is no visible cupping, and the date code on the tires is 2019 with only a few thousand miles.

He's looking for ideas and assistance on identifying his problem.

Think you might know what he should be looking for? Or maybe you have the same problem? Check out: Pulls Left and Vibrates While Leaning Right

Harsh Ride on Progressive Springs

Longtime member DenverWinger is usually the one answering questions for other people, but this month he's got a problem he needs some help with.

He's got a 1993 GL1500 with what he assumes are Progressive front springs. On the highway, the bike feels great. But in the city, he can feel every last crack in the pavement. He says that a recessed manhole cover will "jar your teeth out."

Any suggestions you might offer him? Check out: Harsh Ride on Progressive Springs

Coolant Tubes and O-Rings

Member magfo in Sweden is one of the originals: he joined GoldwingDocs in 2009 when the site was only six months old! Not one to rush into things, he decided that after 14 years of membership, it was time to make his first post to the forum!

He is hunting down a coolant leak in his GL1500 that occurs during the cold months. He's looking for assistance in how to properly install the new O-rings and insert them into the engine to prevent them from being pinched or damaged during installation.

If you have a suggestion, or are looking to do the same thing, check out: Coolant Tubes and O-Rings

Beginner Shifting Question

Brand new member hicklifeoutdoors is learning about riding his 1985 GL1200 and has a question common to new Goldwing riders, particularly those riding the four-cylinder Wings for the first time.

When shifting, he says he's usually shifting gears at around 3000 to 3500 RPM - but sometimes the bike "chugs." He's wondering if he's doing something wrong, and how he can shift better.

Our members of course help him out, and they can help you out too: Beginner Shifting Question

Timing Belt - Squealing Noise?

GoldwingDocs member StanDarsh has a 1987 GL1200 Aspencade on which he recently replaced the timing belts.

Once he got it buttoned back up and running, he could hear a squealing grinding noise which seemed to be coming from the front of the engine. He posted a video which demonstrates the noise.

He was hoping it would quiet down, but after an hour of running, it was still making a lot of noise.

This is actually a fairly common issue that occurs after timing belts have been changed. Wondering what it could be caused by? Check out: Timing Belt Pulley Noise?

GL1000 Fuel Injection Project

I love projects like this! Member Dmerc in Albuquerque has a project where he is designing and retrofitting a fuel injection system into his 1977 GL1000. The injectors mounted into the runners are visible in this picture, and he is building the ECU from a Speeduino kit, which is a challenge in of itself!

He's hoping to have it running this summer, but in the meantime he has shared quite a few pictures and information about his project. He sees it as just a fun winter project, but I think it's amazing to see this kind of ingenuity at work!

Check out his pictures and progress: 1977 GL1000 Fuel Injection Project

1976 GL1000 Restoration Project

Another winter project, this one taken on by member alan-s in Belgium, who has taken posession of a 1976 GL1000 in need of some restoration. He picked up this beautiful bike in the Netherlands, and the first thing he did once he got it home was to start going over the bike from head to toe. You never know what maintenance was performed by the previous owner, so it's best to start with a fresh slate.

He's shared tons of great pictures of the process with us, and has asked a few questions along the way.

Share in his winter project: 1976 GL1000 Restoration Project

Broken Throttle Return Spring

Member CnCbuss in Montreal was having problems with a stuck throttle on his GL100 during the last ride of the season last year. During his winter maintenance, he found the reason why: a broken throttle return spring!

This is the spring that gives you resistance when you open the throttle, and "snaps" it closed when you let go. Fortunately, there is also a "pull" cable as a backup that allows you to pull the throttle closed with the twist grip in case of this type of failure.

However, the job is now to find a replacement spring, which is not going to be an easy task: they have not been made in years, and are no longer available.

Find out what our members suggest he do: Broken Throttle Return Spring

Oil Filter and Tennis Ball Mods

Member Tim 1956 in Florida thought he wouldn't mind a larger oil filter on his GL1500. He took his filter to NAPA and found a larger one that fit and seems to work properly - while giving less resistance to oil flow.

While he was in the "mod" mood, he decided to come up with an alternative to tennis ball antenna protectors, which he seemed to wear out too quickly.

Not familiar with the tennis ball trick? If you have a Goldwing with folding antennas, you need to check it out.

Or perhaps you're curious as to what the alternative to tennis balls is that Tim came up with? Check out: Oil Filter and Tennis Ball Mods

Replacement G8MS-H30 Relays for GL1500's

Goldwings, particularly GL1500's and GL1800's, are filled to the brim with relays. These electromagnetically-actuated switches are used to switch all kinds of circuits, from headlights to radios to even the starter. However, they are a mechanical device, and after some time they will fail.

If one of the many relays in your GL1500 has failed, or if you'd like to have a few on hand to carry around just in case one does (to avoid being stranded!) - and you'd like to take advantage of our quantity purchase, now is the time to buy them for less than half the retail price you'll pay from Honda. Check out our GL1500 relay store page: G8MS-H30 Relays

Of course, we still have our other product as well: GL1000/GL1100/GL1200 7 volt regulators. We are now sold out of our discontinued GPS Inputs, however there are a few still available from other vendors.

Spring is just around the corner! Don't forget to check out the GoldwingDocs YouTube Channel! See you next month...

Contest winner for February

Congratulations go out to our GoldwingDocs.com user MaineStreet who is the February 2022 contest winner! They win a copy of Proficient Motorcycling, just for entering the contest and posting messages in the forum.

The March contest prize is a Counteract Balancing Bead Kit. To be eligible for the March contest, just visit the GoldwingDocs.com Contest Page and click to register for the contest. As always, it's free to register! Once you're registered, every message you post in the forum during the month of March gains you another contest entry! Good luck!