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 2017 Newsletter
2017 GoldwingDocs Gathering It's finally here! Seven months in the planning, the first ever GoldwingDocs Gathering is just a few weeks away! Scheduled for September 22-24 in Hocking Hills, Ohio, there are many GoldwingDocs members who will be meeting up, some for the first time. Will you be one of them? If you haven't booked your hotel, now is the time to do so, as rooms are almost sold out!. Some attendees are planning to camp, and campgrounds in the area are being recommended by users. If you are planning to attend, or want to see what there is to do and see while visiting the incredible riding roads in and around Hocking Hills, you should check out the main forum thread and add your thoughts and plans - as well as add your name to the list of attendees! Read on: GoldwingDocs Gathering Sep 22-24, 2017 Innovv C5 Motorcycle Camera Like a dashcam for your motorcycle - but one that records in spectacular HD video, the Innovv C5 is finally here. This camera has been generating a lot of buzz over the last few months, and we managed to get our hands on one to review. Specifically designed for motorcycles, this waterproof camera/DVR records video as you ride - but it can do much more. Someone bumps into your bike while it's parked? This camera will wake up and record the event. You want to view video from something that just happened? No problem, it's WiFi enabled, and comes with a smartphone app. They really went all out during the design phase of the camera system, taking the suggestions of motorcycle riders everywhere, implementing as many of those ideas as they could into this new camera. Innovv makes some of the best dashcams on the market today, and I'm thrilled that they have now created a motorcycle camera. We installed the camera on a GL1500, taking pictures of the install process. We then took it out for rides in everything form sunlight to pitch darkness. The result is our in-dept review, which includes an extensive video review, showing just what this camera can do. The last time we featured a camera review on the site was two years ago, and it became the most popular review ever. This new camera is so much better than that camera from two years ago, I'm sure everyone is going to want to check it out: Innovv C5 Motorcycle Camera Review Buying a Used Bike Fall is approaching, and if you're thinking about buying a new-to-you bike, now is the time. Prices are dropping, and people want to get rid of their old bike instead of storing it all winter. Going to a dealership to buy a used (or new) bike is stressful enough - but at least you know what to expect. What about when buying from a private party? There's a whole new set of rules that apply. Is it OK to expect a test ride? Who is liable if you crash the bike on the test ride? What about if you get your new-to-you bike home and discover a major mechanical problem? And for that matter, how do you get the bike home? When do you get plates? What about insurance? How do you transfer title? Most of these things are taken care of for you at the dealership, but when buying from a private party, anything goes. Of course, you'll likely pay much less for the bike because of this - no dealership overhead! For those who have not bought a motorcycle from a private party before (or any vehicle), these unknowns can be daunting. Never fear, the helpful users at GoldwingDocs are here with their suggestions, experiences, and advice. Read on: How to buy a Used Bike from an Owner Cleaning Your Windshield I'm a stickler about having my windshield clean. Forgetting to clean it before a ride puts me right off - I'll usually end up pulling over into a parking lot and pulling out the cleaning supplies I carry with me to get it spotless before I continue. Unlike cars, our bikes have windshields made of acrylic or polycarbonate. Both are susceptible to scratches, acrylic more so than polycarbonate. So it makes sense to use proper cleaning products and techniques when cleaning it. The filthy windshield cleaning water at the gas station and a squeegee will do little more than drag the debris from previous users across your screen, most likely scratching it. And paper towels (or paper-based towels, like those also found at gas stations) are right out - their fibers will leave microscopic scratches that turn into haze. One thing is for sure - never use any glass cleaner containing ammonia, which will do irreversible damage your windshield! So we know that we have to take special care of our windshields when cleaning them, and we know what NOT to do - but what exactly is the best - and easiest way to do it? Most of us have tried many different methods and products over the years, and have settled on one or two - I know I have. The product I use not only works on the windshield, you can clean the entire bike with it - it's by far the best motorcycle cleaning product I've ever used. See what our users have to say on the topic, and benefit from their years of trial and error experience: Windshield Cleaning Failed GL1500 LCD Panels It's the kiss of death for your GL1500's LCD display. A dark circle gradually creeping in from the right side of the display over the course of several weeks or months. It indicates that the layers of glass and plastic that make up the LCD are irreparably separating - the display is failing. People have asked why the LCD couldn't just be repaired. If you're interested in the explanation as to why it can't be repaired, and want to find out possible ways of preventing this type of delamination, read Repair LCD Display. The LCD panels have never been available as a replacement part, meaning the "fix" was replacement of the entire center LCD cluster - circuit boards and all - to the tune of $750. That was back when Honda actually still had them in stock, but they ran out a couple of years ago. So your only option was searching on eBay in hopes of finding a used one at a reasonable price - and hoping that it wouldn't soon fail the same way! Until now. A small company called Tanin Auto Electronix has gone to the time and expense of recreating the GL1500 LCD panel and then getting them manufactured. They are now offering a repair service, where they will replace your failed LCD panel with a brand new one! They soon expect to have enough LCD panels in stock that they will sell the LCD panels themselves, for those who wish to do their own repairs. If your GL1500 LCD panel has stopped working or looks like the one in the picture above, you're going to want to read this: Repair Service for 1988-2000 GL1500 LCD Screen Goldwing Fork Servicing Most people don't really know how their forks work. I don't blame them - there's all kind of stuff in there - springs, seals, dampers, bushings, orifices, fork oil, not to mention our ubiqtous anti-dive systems. Then there's aftermarket fork parts, everything from Progressive springs to cartridge inserts. Forks require maintenance in order to keep working properly. Many bikes I've seen look as if they were only serviced when a seal finally failed - sometimes the fork oil looked like molasses or sludge. Once I serviced a set of forks that had absolutely no oil left in them whatsoever! So how do they work? When does the oil need to be replaced? What kind of oil is best? What's the best viscosity oil if you want a soft ride? How exactly do you change the oil, anyway? These and many more questions about the mysterious forks come up reasonably often, and I'm glad they do, because it gives the GoldwingDocs experts the opportunity to help educate people and assist them to get their bikes riding as well - and as safely - as possible. User sportsfreaked came right out and asked for help, and he got it: he wanted to know about fork oil viscosity. If you want to know about fork oil types and advantages of each, read on: Educate me on fork oil viscosity please If you're just looking for help with changing your fork oil, you can follow some of the helpful hints detailed here: Fork Oil Change And if your forks really need some TLC, there's our popular step-by-step DIY on rebuilding your worn forks to make them as good as new: How to rebuild your front forks How Much is Too Much? Yet another question that comes up fairly often on GoldwingDocs is one about the available passenger and cargo weight on our motorcycles. For those brave enough to mention it (I'm assuming their wives don't read the site) they will sometimes admit that their passenger is slightly larger than the average adult human. Sometimes they will admit to this themselves. In any case, this topic often comes up the same way a GoldwingDocs user posted it this month: he's concerned that his beautiful bride and himself far exceed the 408 pound weight capacity of their GL1500. He does however admit to providing the majority of that load - although he did post his wife's weight in a public forum. Brave man. I will have to admit, based on a lot of the two-up Goldwing riders you see around the USA, the vast majority of them are far beyond the weight capacity of their bikes. So is the rated weight capacity of our Goldwings just a suggestion dreamed up by lawyers? Or is it actually a critical safety issue that we ignore at our own peril? Read on: 1995 GL1500 Passenger Weight Pulling Trailers with your Goldwing Goldwings seem made for pulling trailers: lots of road-hugging weight, powerful, torquey engines, and lots of capacity. However, Honda repeatedly states in every manual that you should not pull trailers with your motorcycle. Whether they have a technical reason for this, or if it's just lawyers protecting the company, the fact is that Goldwing owners pull trailers all the time. In fact, on long-distance trips on freeways in the US, you'll likely see more Goldwings with trailers than without! Knowing the size and weight of a Goldwing, what is a reasonable size of trailer that can be safely towed behind it? The question has a lot of variables. Some depends on the bike itself, some depends on the skill and experience of the rider. What about trailer brakes? Should trailers towed by motorcycles have their own brakes? User fred1diver is thinking about buying a trailer, and asked exactly this: What size trailer is safe? Once you've got that trailer hooked up, what do you need to know? How do you have to alter your riding style in order to safely pull your trailer? User B-2 is planning to pull a trailer with his bike, perhaps after it has been triked, and wanted to know just that, so of course the GoldwingDocs users jumped in with lots of advice: Pulling a Trailer Questions from a Newbie This is one of my favorite kind of posts on the site. New user Ranger Danger just joined the site a couple of weeks ago, having purchased a 1989 GL1500 to replace his VTX1300C. He and his wife wanted a bike on which they could take longer trips. He had a few questions about his bike - there were some issues with the exhaust, compressor, side bags and more. So many people jumped in to help answer his questions, that this topic quickly swelled in the past two weeks to over 80 posts. Honestly, if you have questions about your Goldwing, don't be embarrassed, just step up and ask! We love helping people out, and nothing makes me happier than to see a new Goldwing owner with a problem thrilled because what they worried might be something expensive and serious turned out to be easily fixed - and they were able to do the repair themselves! Read Ranger Danger's post and all the subsequent helpful replies: New Owner of an '89 GL1500 A Brighter GL1100 Headlight The GL1100's headlight might have been substantial back in 1982, with its newfangled halogen bulb, but by today's standard, it's rather anemic. Added to this is the fact that the parabolic reflector in the headlight housing of the GL1100 is almost forty years old, yellowed and flaking, and does not project anywhere near as much light out the front of the housing as it did when new. Fortunately, using modern technology, there are replacement headlights for the GL1100 (and GL1000!) that easily mount in place of the original headlight, and put out many times as much light. As an added bonus, they draw less power while doing so, which is great for a bike with a stator that is just barely capable of running everything as it is. Some years ago this technology was not entirely legal - things like HID bulbs put out a huge amount of light, but without a projector housing designed specifically for them, and for the vehicle application, they can cause you to end up with a hefty ticket - or worse. Today's modern headlight replacements are not only far superior, they're also DOT certified, so they are legal to install in place of your old, dim headlight. User tylers883 wanted to know what his options were when it came to replacing his GL1100's headlight - and our users supplied him with many! If you're thinking of upgrading your headlight, read on: How to upgrade my headlight? GL1500 Relays Back in Stock! At the beginning of the year, my supply of G8MS-H30 relays dried up - every distributor went out of stock at once. Contacting the relay manufacturer, I found out that they were no longer selling the relays outside of the OEM channel. I started hunting for a quality replacement, talking to factories around the world. Twice I ordered samples from a factory, and when I put the samples through a battery of tests, they failed miserably. Finally, I found a manufacturer that made a quality relay. Rated at 40 amps (the original OEM Omron was rated at only 20 amps), it passed every test I threw at it with flying colors. The internals of these heavy-duty relays are solid copper, vibration resistant, and have a rated capacity of twice the original Honda relay. These relays should last for many, many years. I ordered a large quantity of these new relays, which have now arrived and are available in the GoldwingDocs Store. Hundreds of Goldwing Parts for Sale The huge number of used (mostly GL1500 and GL1800) parts that I bought a couple of years ago continue to be added to the site for sale. I split my time between photographing and adding new products, and filling the orders that people place. There are still literally hundreds (probably thousands - I haven't even opened all of the boxes yet) more parts that have yet to be added to the site, and I'm working my way through them as I can. So if you are looking for some parts for your Goldwing, check back regularly to see what's been added. You can see the store here: GoldwingDocs New and Used Goldwing Parts 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 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! See you at the GoldwingDocs Gathering! |
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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. Also check out our New and Used Goldwing Parts Store! If you're looking for a new bike, or Septemberbe parts for your old bike, check us out first! |
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Featured This Month on GoldwingDocs.com: | ||
Stubborn Oil Filter Many people torque their oil filters on far too tight, worried about an oil leak. This makes it almost impossible to remove them at oil change time. User TwoTone Trike bought a 1999 Goldwing and is having difficulty getting the oil filter off, thanks to a zealous previous owner. Find out the best way to remove an oil filter that you can't seem to get off any other way: Stubborn Oil Filter |
Broken Clutch Cable GoldwingDocs user halcombrick was out riding, pulled his clutch lever in, and his lever snapped to the grip with no resistance. He was now stuck with a broken clutch cable, and no idea what to do. Well, he knew the next best thing to do: Ask GoldwingDocs users for advice! And that's just what he got. Read on: Clutch cable broke, Lever won't move |
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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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Replacement Goldwing GL1500 G8MS-H30 Relay The Goldwing GL1500 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. We have these high-quality relays in stock, at less than half the price that you can buy the equivalent OEM relay from Honda! |
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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 The long-awaited Innovv C5 Motorcycle Camera - with video review! No more carb syncs: GL1000 Single Carb Conversion Fix that faded vinyl: GL1200 Passenger Backrest Cover Replacement An inexpensive audio option: Tork Xpro Helmet Speakers A Pre-Review: The Perfect Ride Handguards A key safety accessory: Brake Light Flasher Simple and effective: The Motion Pro Tire Bead Breaker & Lever Quick-Glo Chrome Cleaner and Rust Remover works like magic! I absolutely love the new Rev'It Sand 3 Summer Gloves I'm very impressed with the updated features on the new Arai Signet-X helmet And you of course need a headset for the new helmet. We go over the installation of the J&M Elite 787 Headset The MotoBatt MBTX24U Motorcycle Battery for GL1500 starts out life with a positive review Some cheap and easy Hand Wings from eBay work well Some good words for the Pittsburgh 1500 pound Motorcycle Lift Lots of options for Warm Winter Gloves are given. The Dr. Long Spark Plug Socket gets a positive review. An overwhelmingly positive review for Pro Honda Spray Cleaner and Polish. A good review for some CD Changer to MP3 Converters for GL1800's. |
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 11,200 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. - GL1200 Aftermarket Voltmeter Install - 1985 LTD Fuel Pump Replacement - How to strip and rebuild your air compressor - Homemade iPhone controlled garage door opener - J&M Elite 787 Headset Review - and Installation How To - How to replace your GL1500 Battery - How to rebuild your GL1500 front fork anti-dive unit - How to make your own fork cap spring removal tool - How to make your own steering yoke bottom bearing pulling tool - How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool - Wes's GL1100 Alternator or Poor Boy Conversion - Wes's GL1100 Rear Shock Seal Replacement Video - How to rebuild your GL1500 Petcock - GL1500 In-Dash Voltmeter Installation - How to build your own Hippo Hands standoffs - How to replace the battery in a Cardo Scala Q2 Intercom - How to repair your GL1200's Fuel light and Travel Navigator/computer - GL1200 LTD LED Headlight Install - How to bleed the front right & left rear calipers on GL1200 - Operating your GL1800 GPS without stopping! - Installing LED Eyebrows/Halo Lighting on a GL1800 - Installing Mirror Bucket Lighting on a GL1800 - How to remove the rear tire and replace the rear brake pads on a GL1000 - How to replace the rear brake pads on a GL1000 - Clutch removal on the GL1100 - 1986 GL1200 SEi compressor removal procedure - How to change your GL1800 final drive oil (video) - How to install a backup starter switch 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! And don't forget to check the GoldwingDocs New and Used Goldwing Parts Store, where you will find hundreds of parts and accessories for your bike! 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 11,200 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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