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 April 2018 Newsletter
Time to Ride! Spring is here, and except for the occasional snowstorm here in Ohio, more and more bikes are appearing on the roads every day. Farther south, Goldwing riders have been on the road for ages already, getting in their rides before the scorching heat of the summer arrives. For me, it means I really need to finish up that winter maintenance! Judging by the huge increase in forum posts this month from people asking for help working on their bikes, I'm not the only one! More than ever, I see posts from GoldwingDocs members who are triumphing over their first maintenance or repair task, and crediting our extensive collection of How-To Articles as the motivation behind their success. Nothing makes me happier than seeing that this little web site that I created almost ten years ago has become such a huge repository of information, helpful people and success stories. Also good to see are the number of users with new 2018 Goldwings on the road. There have been a few reports of small issues with the new bike - always expected with a completely new version of the most complex motorcycle on the road in its first model year. But by and large, the comments in our new 2018 GL1800 Goldwing Forum from new owners have been overwhelmingly positive. Are you a new 2018 Goldwing owner? There are many users on the site who are sitting on the purchaser's fence, waiting to hear of others' experiences before committing. Share your impressions of the new bike and help them out! XM Satellite Radio Antenna on the Cheap Speaking of the 2018 Goldwing, it comes with the ability to receive XM Satellite Radio, built in! Except...Honda didn't see the need to include the satellite antenna, so if you actually want to listen to satellite radio on your new Goldwing, you have to lay out another $90 for a Honda Satellite antenna. Wait, what? $90 for a satellite antenna? What's so special about the Honda Goldwing satellite antenna that requires such a huge premium over the $15 that an XM Satellite antenna usually costs? The answer to that is: well, nothing, except Honda's price tag, and a mounting bracket. Or is it? Does it work any differently? Will it harm the radio on the bike? Check out member gradona's experience installing an aftermarket $15 satellite radio antenna on his brand new 2018 Goldwing, and the results he got with it: Cheap XM Radio Antenna for 2018 Goldwing The Growth of the Darkside With Goldwing owners getting their bikes out, tires are on their minds - as in replacing them. Acceptance of the "Darkside" - using automobile tires in place of motorcycle tires - seems to be growing. There have been more postings of users considering, or switching to "Darkside" tires this spring than in recent memory. There are plenty of topics on this on the GoldwingDocs site: If you have time to kill, you can browse through quite a few of them here: Darkside Forum Topics However, what really seems to have captured peoples interests this spring are GL1500 owners replacing their rear tire with the venerable Austone Taxi Tire - a 1970's era high-mileage utility tire intended for (you guessed it) taxis. It fits (just barely) on the rear of the GL1500, giving untold grip, tread life, rain adhesion, and braking capability. I am getting very near time for a new rear tire myself on my 2000 GL1500. I suspect I will give the Austone Taxi Tire a try - I ride through a lot of inclement weather, and right now I tend to go through a set of tires just about every other year. Having a tire that lasts 50,000 miles instead of 12,000 miles, while giving better performance in dry and wet conditions sure sounds attractive. Are there drawbacks? Of course - there's no free lunch. However those drawbacks differ depending on the tire, the bike and the riding style of the rider. If you're curious about Darksiding your GL1500, have a read through these topics: Strong Gasoline Smell On Shutdown You may have had this happen yourself. You're out on a pleasant ride, see some nice countryside, and head on home. You park your motorcycle in the garage and go inside. Ten minutes later, you come out to your garage to retrieve the cell phone you forgot in your Goldwing's trunk, and whoa!! Where did that gasoline smell come from? And why is it so strong?! Obviously it's coming from the bike, but why? You look for obvious gasoline leaks, even try to find a source of the smell, but find nothing. Opening the garage door, the smell dissipates, and then - mysteriously - the smell is gone. This happens the next couple of times you go out riding. Perplexed, you wonder if there is a serious problem with the fuel system on your bike. Then, as strangely as it began, it's gone - no more gasoline smell at all. "OK, it was just a fluke," you think...until it happens again a month later. What is going on? And why does it come and go? What causes it? Is it dangerous? And how can you stop it? GoldwingDocs member cardinal asked why his bike was stinking of gas when he parks it after a ride, and now he - and you - have the answer. Curious? Read on: Strong gas smell on shutdown Engine Won't Fire With Starter Engaged This is an issue unique to GL1500's. Some owners don't even know that it is a problem, they simply think that it is the way these bikes are supposed to work. But it actually indicates a problem - a potentially serious problem that could actually leave you stranded. The symptom is this: You switch your GL1500's ignition on, press the starter button, and the engine cranks. If all goes well, the engine should start almost instantly - within a second, or less. But this doesn't occur: instead, the engine just continues to crank and crank and crank, but does not fire. However...the instant you let go of the starter button...the engine fires right up, as if there is no problem at all! Sometimes this only happens if the engine is cold, or if the ambient temperature is cold. If it's really bad, you might even get a backfire out the exhaust, as all the unburned gasoline being pumped out the exhaust lights off. Like I said, some owners might not even recognize this behavior as a problem. You might want to go try your own GL1500 just to be sure it starts the way it is intended. So what causes it? Why is it specific to GL1500's? What is the fix? It's simpler than you thought, as member Sidcar discovered when he recently posted about the problem happening to his 1995 GL1500. Read about it here - along with the simple fix: GL1500 engine won't fire with starter engaged 3D Printed Replacement Parts The Honda Goldwing has been around now for 43 years. For the most part, our motorcycles are highly reliable machines. However, they do break from time to time. Despite what we might wish, Honda isn't really in the business of maintaining 30 and 40 year old motorcycles, nor is it in the business of stocking all of the parts for them forever. As a result, many of the parts to keep our bikes running are simply not available new anymore. This means crashed bikes and non-running bikes are often sold for parts, to keep the remaining bikes running. This is unsustainable - eventually we will run out of used replacement parts. A few aftermarket suppliers have sprung up to manufacture high-demand parts like GL1500 battery covers, which seem to jump off of bikes and fly away (a set of Rudy's Keepers would stop that from happening). However, when it comes to some parts, they are relatively fragile, wear out and break, and are very hard to find. The plastic GL1200 speedometer drive gear is a good example. It is plastic by design - it is designed to be the "weak link" in the system, so that if something like a speedometer cable binds up, instead of tearing up more expensive parts, it just shears the plastic teeth of the drive gear. This is of little comfort to the GL1200 owner who now has no functioning speedometer, odometer or auto-cancelling turn signals, and is faced with buying a horrendously-priced used drive gear on eBay. This is where I suspect 3D printing is going to come into its own. The 3D-printed GL1200 speedometer drive gear you see pictured here was designed by GoldwingDocs member RoTorIT, who needed one for his own bike. He has uploaded the design to a fabrication website, where anyone can select the design and have it manufactured expressly for them, brand-new, at a reasonable price. For the first time in almost twenty years, you can buy a brand-new GL1200 speedometer drive gear. I think the advent of 3D additive-manufacturing techniques such as this are going to be the lifeblood for our aging bikes, as replacement parts become harder and harder to obtain. Read more about this part, and if you're looking for the same speedometer gear, find the link to have one made for you: GL1200 3D Printed Aspencade Speedometer Gear Antenna Rips Through Cover You leave your bike parked, but rain is in the forecast, so you get out your nice new cover to cover up your pride and joy. Folding the antennas down, you pull the cover up and over the bike, snug and warm for the night. It was a stormy night. Rain poured all night, and the wind howled, but the morning breaks with sunshine. Another beautiful day of riding is ahead. You know that your bike will be dry and ready, thanks to the new cover you left snugged down around it all night. To your dismay, when you get to your bike, the back of your brand new cover is in tatters! Huge parallel rips extend from the back of it, your seat is soaking wet, and the cover is ruined. What happened? The problem is the Goldwing's signature fold-down antenna. When it is folded down, it exposes sharp corners on the hinges, and these sharp corners are just waiting to snag your cover when it is blown around, ripping it right open. What's the solution? It's simpler and cheaper than you think. Member handlebarjohn came up with a good fix for this, and other users shared their methods as well. Read on for solutions to problems you may not know you have...yet: Antenna tears in motorcycle cover Weight vs Horsepower It's no secret that the Goldwing is a heavy bike. With the powerful engine and robust frame, heavy duty suspension and massive storage, weight is inevitable. Honda has made some controversial choices with the brand new 2018 Goldwing in the name of shedding weight. Some of these choices seem to fly in the face of what the Goldwing is all about - deleting features simply to save a couple pounds here and there. Is all that lost weight really worth it? Weight is the enemy of acceleration, braking, tire adhesion and fuel efficiency. The more weight you are hefting around, the poorer the vehicle will accelerate, decelerate, turn and handle, and the more fuel it will use doing so. So yes, it's in our best interest to reduce the weight - to improve performance and efficiency. What's the easiest way then to reduce the weight of our bikes? Not carrying around luggage compartments full of junk everywhere you go is a start. But there's actually a far, far simpler way to reduce the weight of our Goldwings by 10%, 20% or sometimes even more - without compromising performance, storage space or capacity. Yes, there is a way to lose in some cases 100 lbs - or more - from our bikes. Remember, you heard about it first on GoldwingDocs - find out more about this miracle that several of our members have already tried with tremendous success: Weight reduction vs Horsepower European Trip Insurance GoldwingDocs member Sadanorakman has a problem. He lives in Leiscester, UK, and has purchased a new GL1500 in Tenerife, Spain. He needs to get it back home to England. Having it couriered there is incredibly expensive - plus he would also have to pay duty and tax on the shipping cost and the price of the bike. That's prohibitively expensive. So the solution is to ride it back, which would cost him only around £500. His problem is that the bike is not registered in the UK yet - so none of the UK insurers will cover him. And he can't register it in the UK until he gets it to the UK. What he needs is some kind of ferry/travel insurance that will cover him for riding the bike from Tenerife to Leicester. Are you a UK or European member, who may have had this kind of experience before, and could offer some advice? Or perhaps you may know of the specialized type of insurance this might require. If you have some assistance you could offer, or you are thinking of doing something similar and want to find out what Sadanorakman ended up doing, check out: Insurance advice needed please, Europe 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.
Enjoy the warming weather! 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. Also check out our New and Used Goldwing Parts Store! If you're looking for a new bike, or Aprilbe parts for your old bike, check us out first! |
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Featured This Month on GoldwingDocs.com: | ||
Filter change with every oil change? The oil in our motorcycles tends to get changed far more often than it does in our cars. Does this mean that the oil filter isn't actually getting that dirty? Does it really need to be changed with every oil change? Some police departments change filters with every other oil change - and you won't find a vehicle that gets much tougher use than a police car. So what about your bikes? See what the experts have to say: Filter change with every oil change? |
GL1100 Stator preventative replacement? Member puttingitoff is planning to pull apart his GL1100 to do some restoration work, and wonders if it is worth replacing the stator preventatively, even though it is operating fine. There are some life-limited parts that do bear replacing on a time basis, particularly if they are hard to get to, and you're going to be in there anyway. Does the stator qualify? Read more: GL1100 Stator preventative replacement - worth it? |
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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 Honda should have thought of that! Goldwing Trunk Dividers Shine that bike: Top Coat F11 A new, strong lift: Big Blue Motorcycle Lift Mind-bending: The Windbender Windshield A clear view in tight spaces: Apeman Endoscopic Camera Loosen seized or damaged screws: Vessel JIS Impact Screwdriver Prevent and retrieve lost fasteners: Magnetic Finger Glove A cheap tool for your swingarm maintenance: FR-6 Swingarm Tool What every rider should read: Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well Give your feet a rest: Rivco Aero Pegs A glowing review for the inexpensive BT-S2 1000m Bluetooth Headset Keep them clean, easily: Motorcycle Wheel Cleaning Stand Protect your GL1800's soft underbelly with a Macgyver Belly Pan No more rat's nest wiring: Show Chrome's Universal Electronic Fuse Block |
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 11,700 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. - Changing the Cruise Control Set Points On 1988 to 1992 GL1500 - Home-made Pulley for GL1200 external Alternator - 1985 GL1200 Regulator/Rectifier Testing - GL1500 Radio cover Latch replacement/Repair - GL1500 In-Dash Voltmeter ver 2.0 - Installing an Electric Fuel Pump on a GL1000 - 1983 GL1100 Motor Removal - Video - 1985 GL1200 LTD PB Sensor Replacement - 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 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 hundreds of thousands of messages posted by tens of 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 11,700 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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