Monthly Newsletter
GoldwingDocs sends out a newsletter on the first day of each month to all of our members via email. This newsletter contains the announcement of the previous months' contest winner as well as details on the current month's contest. In addition, it includes news, reviews, information about new additions to the site, and other relevant information.
GoldwingDocs.com September 2015 Newsletter
Where Do You Get Help? You're riding along on the trip of a lifetime, over a year in the planning: and thousands of miles from home, your engine seizes - like happened to our user Wilcoy02 on his trip to Alaska last month. Or, you're pulling your camping trailer, forget to put your kickstand up, and end up in the ditch, like our very own RoadRogue did in the picture to the right. Perhaps you break a clutch cable, and are left without a way of shifting gears. What do you do? Some call on the GWRRA Gold Book, looking up helpful nearby Goldwing owners in hopes one might have a trailer or some tools. Some people pull out the tool kit and fix it themselves. Some hope a nearby dealer or bike shop can fix it. And some don't plan at all, just hoping things will go well. Bikes are more fragile than cars, and require far more maintenance. Despite being one of the most reliable makes available, bad things can happen to your Goldwing, as can accidents. There are lots of threads on the site on this topic: Has your wing ever left you stranded? This is one of the most popular topics since it was started last year. There are quite a few stories of people who were stranded - and what they did about it. What about preparing for the trip in advance? This is a very common topic. From What's in Your Saddle Bags, to a little more specific Tools For the Journey, where riders share their tool tips based on collective experience. And when it comes to what you will need for the trip beyond tools? Have a read through Packing For The Trip to find out what things are commonly needed, and which can be left behind. Satellite Tracker Comparison When riding in a remote area, outside cell phone coverage, you could find yourself stranded, broken down, or injured - with little or no hope of help. An accidental off-road excursion could leave you injured, potentially trapped under a massive motorcycle, and invisible from the road. This is when serious help is required - and is when the satellite tracker comes into its own. A tiny device that can be held in the palm of your hand, it sends a coded signal to orbiting satellites, reporting who you are, and your exact position on the planet. Emergency services will be dispatched immediately to your exact location, turning what could have been a tragedy into a story that you tell your grandchildren. Some trackers offer additional services such as a "check in" button that lets your friends and family know where you are, and that you are OK, even when there is no cell phone coverage. There are different systems, offered by different companies, that work in different ways. Some require a subscription fee, others are free. Read through our hands-on comparison to find if one might be right for you: ACR ResQLink+ PLB vs Spot Gen3 Tracker Wilcoy02's Alaska Trip If you've been following along on Wilcoy02's trip of a lifetime from Ohio to Alaska and back, you already know that he has returned home to Ohio safe and sound, with memories that will last him a lifetime. Sadly, he had to abandon his carefully prepared GL1100 after the engine seized in Alberta. Faced with abandoning his trip as well, he refused to give up, and instead bought a 1998 Valkyrie locally. After a day spent modifying the Valkyrie to take his GL1100's trunk and a hitch, he and his travelling companions were back on the road. Now having returned from his trip, he has spent some time organizing and uploading many, many pictures - with some impressive scenery, landmarks, motorcycles, and campgrounds. Read the original trip progress here: 30 hours and counting Read the summary, and look at the amazing pictures here: 10,530.7 mile trip to Alaska The Next Goldwing? Nothing is as consistent as the speculation as to what form the next version of the Goldwing will take. For several years, new features have been few and far between, with little more than different paint colors being offered each new model year. Many motorcycle magazines claim the Goldwing is long in the tooth and long overdue for a total remake. This image popped up in a patent filing recently, looking very much like a GL1800 Goldwing. However, there is one very important difference: This is a 100% electric motorcycle. That's right, no gasoline, no engine, just batteries and an electric motor. Is this the next Goldwing? Find out the story behind this Goldwing - or not: The New Goldwing? Is a Goldwing Too Heavy for an Aging Rider? There's no question the Goldwing is a heavy beast compared to most motorcycles. Younger riders, once they get the hang of riding a motorcycle with the mass of a Goldwing, tend to have no problems. As we age however, strength and flexibility naturally declines. Does that mean that the Goldwing is not suitable for an aging rider? Of course there are options such as trikes and "landing wheels" - those can help someone stay in the saddle if they can no longer manage the weight of the Wing. A user on the site posed the question of how old is too old - and got a lot of interesting responses: Questions regarding "older" men and Goldwings Photo Tag Game! We've got a game of Photo Tag going on the forum. If you're not familiar with Photo Tag, it's an excuse to get out on your bike for a ride, and have a bit of fun in the process. One person comes up with an idea for a picture - for instance a mural. Participants find a mural, and take a picture of their Goldwing with a mural. The first person to post such a picture (like the one to the right) gets to pick the next tag. As I write this, the current challenge is to post a picture of your Goldwing along with a "World's Biggest..." or "World's Smallest..." item - or a sign advertising it. So head on out on your bike and take a picture of the World's Biggest rubber band ball, or whatever else you can find, and you then get to come up with the next tag. Participation is all in fun, and there is no prize (other than picking the next tag). There are only a few rules, one being that it has to be a new picture - no fair picking out a picture from your archive to post! Give it a try: Photo Tag GL1500 Trunk Jammed Shut The GL1500 trunk can be a tricky thing: If it is reassembled incorrectly after service, you can be left with no way to open it. Or...if you manage to lock your keys inside it, you could be forgiven for considering using a saw to open it. Fortunately, there is a simple way of opening a locked or jammed GL1500 trunk without the keys: How to unlock a GL1500 trunk without keys. However, when I arrived at work last week, I found my trunk securely latched shut, and nothing I tried would open it. I ended up leaving my lunch and work things locked securely in the trunk all day. At the end of the day I rode home, and spent the evening figuring out how to get into the trunk. I eventually did manage to get it open, and the cause of the jam surprised me. Your trunk may have the same problem! See how I managed to get my trunk open, and have a look at the pictures of what I found when I opened it up: GL1500 trunk jammed shut Omron 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 left stranded!) - and you'd like to take advantage of my quantity purchase, now is the time to buy them for less than half the retail price. Check out our GL1500 relay store page: Goldwing GL1500 Omron G8MS-H30 Relay Of course, we still have our other products as well: GL1000/GL1100/GL1200 7 volt regulators, and our ever-popular GL1500/GL1800 GPS Input Devices.
That's it for the September edition! Stay alert and keep the shiny side up... See you next month! |
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Looking to buy a new (to you) bike, or parts and accessories? We've optimized our Classified Ads page to streamline its operation, and ensure the results are fast and accurate. There are thousands of Goldwing and Goldwing-related ads, from all over the world. If you're looking for a new bike, or maybe parts for your old bike, check us out first! |
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Featured This Month on GoldwingDocs.com: | ||
ATGATT All the Time? ATGATT means "All The Gear, All The Time." It's a great concept, which means every time you go out on your bike, you suit up completely. It's a concept I personally subscribe to and practice - but it's tough, especially when doing test rides after maintenance, around the neighborhood. The temptation is great to just throw a helmet on and hop on the bike for a quick five minute spin to test out that new wheel bearing. User pgfireman has experienced, and admits to succumbing to that temptation. Until earlier this month, when he did a test ride after replacing a clutch lever - a minor maintenance item, but something that needed testing nonetheless. As you might guess by the state of his helmet in the picture, his test ride did not end well. Read his story, and hear what others have to say: ATTGATT for life, even on the short trips! |
Beautiful 1975 GL1000 Restoration User rudolphwolven is rightly proud of completing the restoration of his 1975 GL1000 K1. With 11,000 miles since new, this bike is so clean you could eat off of it - it's literally better than new. Having purchased it in 1978 as the second owner, it ended up sitting for 31 years - so he decided it need to be disassembled and rebuilt before riding it again. And why not restore it at the same time? The beautiful paint is actually original! The entire restoration took about 800 hours of work, plus another 400 hours research. Have a look at the many pictures he has posted of his beautiful bike: My Restored GL1000 K1 |
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Goldwing GPS Input Device The Goldwing GPS Audio Input Device continues to be far and away the most popular product we have ever offered, and the tons of positive feedback we continue to receive really makes us happy that we're making something that people really like - and use. What is the GPS Audio Input Device? It's an American-made plug-and-play device that lets you hear the audio output of your GPS, cell phone or radar detector over your GL1500 or GL1800 (including F6B) intercom - so that you can hear the spoken instructions from your GPS or cell phone in your headset. It's a simple plug-and-play device that can be installed in minutes, and does not permanently modify any bike wiring. It's been receiving rave reviews - check it out today! Do you already have one of our GPS Input Devices? We've had quite a few people who want to buy a GPS with audio output that they know will work with the GPS Input Device. Take a couple minutes to help out your fellow Goldwingers by posting your GPS make and model on this forum thread. GPS manufacturers don't commonly specify audio output jacks as features, so it can be hard to decide which model of GPS to buy, unless you know beforehand what you're looking for. |
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Goldwing GL1500 Omron G8MS-H30 Relay The Goldwing GL1500 Omron G8MS-H30 Relay is a relay used for quite a few different functions in the GL1500. The GL1500 is filled with relays - there is a box full of them, next to the fuse box! These relays are mechanical devices, and have a limited life. When they do fail, critical systems can be affected, leaving you stranded! It's always a good idea to carry one or two spare relays with you. Honda sells replacement relays, Honda part number 38380-MN5-003, for over $25 each! These are the exact same relays, brand new, from the original manufacturer. Thanks to a quantity buy from the original manufacturer, we are able to offer them at a much reduced price. Stock up now and make sure you never end up stranded because of a failed relay! |
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7 Volt Regulator for Four Cylinder Wings If you have a GL1000, GL1100 or GL1200 Standard Goldwing with mechanical (not electronic LCD) temperature and fuel gauges, you've had this problem. Or...you will. It's only a matter of time. You'll start noticing thkat your temperature and fuel gauges are reading off the scale - the temperature is in the red, and the fuel shows full. The only thing is, the bike isn't overheating, and you know you've only got a quarter tank left. Or...even worse: your bike is operating normally, and suddenly your temperature and fuel gauges just turn off, and look like the picture to the right. How much fuel have you got left? You'll have to guess! What's causing it? A faulty, worn-out 7 volt voltage regulator. Behind the fuel and temperature gauges is a special voltage regulator that turns your motorcycle's normal 12 volts into the 7 volts on which these two gauges run. When it starts to fail, it typically starts doing so intermittently. Left in a failed state, it can cause damage - allowing a full 12 volts into your temperature and fuel gauges, destroying the delicate coils inside! That gets expensive, requiring the replacement of the entire center gauge cluster! What's the solution? For almost five years, we've been manufacturing a modern, solid-state 7 volt regulator to fix this problem once and for all. Hundreds and hundreds of Goldwing owners all over the world now have operating fuel and temperature gauges thanks to our 7 volt regulator. If you've got this problem - or you know someone who does - check out our 7 Volt Regulator and get it fixed! |
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Newest Product Reviews GPS Tracking Device comparison: ACR ResQLink+ PLB vs Spot Gen3 Tracker A great accessory: Fire Creek Ignition bridge, power ports, volt meter & GPS mount Goldwings and the low-cost Harbor Freight 1000lb Motorcycle Lift Platform The amazing results after installing the Blackwing Fork Brace A review on car tires on bikes: Darkside Review How well does the Harbor Freight 1000lb Lift Platform work with Goldwings? A review on the Goldwing itself from a new owner: 2014 Goldwing Many members talk about their personal preferences: Rain Gear Suggestions Hartco? Corbin? Russell Day Long? Which seat is best? Owners weigh in: Seats The Dynaplugs Mini Pro Inflator is tiny, easy to use and works great! Not all reviews are good, as demonstrated by this Valve Release Tool. The Bubba Keg holds an immense amount of beverage, and holds it conveniently at hand for you. When using fasteners into blocks of dissimilar metals, NAPA Bolt Anti-Seize ensures that the fastener will come out again years down the line. Two different kinds of Hyper-Lites installed on a GL1800 create an effective visual alert to inattentive drivers (video included) The Nolan N-Com B5 Bluetooth communication system for the N44 helmet is a little fiddly to install (and came with instructions written in German) but performs well. |
Pictures? We Love Pictures! Do you have pictures of your bike you want to share? Of course you do! And we want to see them! We have one of the largest collection of Goldwing-themed images on the Internet, with over 9,200 images, and it grows every day. Visit the Member Picture Gallery, view some of the great pictures, and add yours to the collection! The newest pictures uploaded each day are compiled into a single page, and if you like, you can have these pictures sent to your inbox waiting to greet you every morning. Check it out: Image Update Email |
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Regular GoldwingDocs.com Features: | ||
How To Articles Want to do some of your own maintenance but scared to take your bike apart? You're going to like this: We have tons of world-reknowned How-To Articles articles - the largest collection of Goldwing How-To Articles on the Internet! Even if you think you might not be capable of working on your bike yourself, our illustrated, step-by-step instructions make it easy - even for the beginner. Check them out today! We've added lots of new ones, and more are being added all the time. - A few "hacks" for your GL1100 - GL1200 Speed Sensor failures & repair - Main Fuse Mod for Hondas with Dogbone Fuse - How to install brake light flasher on your GL1800 - DIY Cheap Common Negative Ground/Hot Blocks - Adding a Kickstand Indicator Light - How to fix GL1500 Cruise Control Lag - Timing belt tensioner pulley bearing replacement - How to lubricate the GL1800 reverse switch - How to replace the spring on GL1100 factory rear shocks - How to remove seized pistons from brake calipers - How to remove center stand or side stand springs - 75 GL1000 Intake Manifold Conversion - How to remove and reinstall your (GL1200) headlight - Antitheft alarm installation with trunk release (GL1500) - How to winterize your motorcycle - Installing a 2006+ heated seat in a pre-2006 GL1800 - How to Predict Catastrophic GL1200 Stator Failure - Retrofitting LED Brake, tail and turn signals to GL1500 GoldwingDocs Classifieds Looking for a deal on a Goldwing, parts or accessories? Have you checked out our Goldwing Classifieds section? We have literally thousands of Goldwings and Goldwing-related accessories listed, primarily by private sellers from around the world, updated twice a day. If you're looking for a new-to-you bike, or something to add to your existing Goldwing, you should check us out first! GoldwingDocs Message Forum If you haven't visited our Goldwing Message Forum lately, you owe it to yourself to check it out. With tens of thousands of messages posted by thousands of helpful and friendly people, you can just about guarantee that you will find the information you're looking for, or find an interesting topic to chat about. Stop by and just say hello, we'd love to hear from you! GoldwingDocs Vendor Database The GoldwingDocs Vendor Database is a great place to search for sellers of Goldwings, parts and accessories. Not only do we have a huge, user-maintained database of vendors, but each of those vendors is rated in several categories, with written reviews from other Goldwing owners. Both traditional bricks-and-mortar vendors and Internet vendors are represented. If you want to check up on the reputation of an online vendor, or simply look for a Goldwing-friendly shop nearby, the GoldwingDocs Vendor Database has got what you need! GoldwingDocs Member Pictures The GoldwingDocs Member Picture Area has over 9,200 pictures, all uploaded by GoldwingDocs members. There's nothing that Goldwing owners love more than to show off their bikes - so take a few minutes and upload a few pictures of your pride and joy, to share with the world! You can search through all of the existing pictures, or just browse to your heart's content! |
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