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 August 2018 Newsletter
Summertime is Trip Time As summer inevitably starts to wind down, and the unbearable heat starts to let up in the more southern regions, people start to plan more and more trips on their motorcycles. Road trips, day trips, long-distance trips, camping trips. For some, it is a regular ritual - and for others, it's their very first time a long ways from home, depending only on their Goldwing for transportation. Member Uptwobucks from Texas is planning a 3,000 mile trip and his wife on their GL1800. He believes his bike is in great shape, but wants to know what he might expect in the way of problems - and what parts or tools to bring with him in preparation for any potential problems. GoldwingDocs users did not disappoint, with some clever ideas on tiny tools, supplies and parts, based on years of motorcycling experience. This topic seems to come up every so often, and every time it does, I'm always surprised to learn of a new idea or product that might make my trip that much more safer or convenient. Check out our members' comments, or add your own suggestions: Long trip, what would you bring? Motorcycle Camping Camping on motorcycles has been around pretty much as long as people have been travelling on motorcycles. The ability to toss your tent, food, clothes and other necessities into your motorcycle and hit the road, knowing that wherever you stop - that's your home (for the night) is not only reassuring, but fun! Of course, some preparation is required. One of the biggest worries is whether or not you will be able to find a place to pitch your tent (or set up your camper). Member JoeHall is the new owner of a 2008 GL1800, and is looking forward to camping with his Goldwing. However, he wonders about camping in the modern age - are reservations required? Can you just show up? Are there actually still campsites available? Personally, I always like the state campgrounds - they often are bare-bones (showers, toilets, a firepit and not much else) but they are not as crowded, are typically beautiful, and most important, they're cheap! Our members responded with tremendous advice, including lots of pictures of beautiful campsites and tales of their experiences visiting them. Read on: Question about Modern Day Camping Breakdowns Far from Home Of course, the unexpected can happen when far from home, potentially leaving you stranded. This is where the list of parts and tools comes in handy. I can't remember how many times I've made emergency repairs with zip ties, either to my own bike or to someone else's, just enough to get home. Zip ties and duct tape will get you a long way! Member heholdem was on the home stretch heading home to Arkansas, and noticed that his GL1100, which had been running perfectly the whole trip, was now overheating - the temperature gauge was in the red. Assuming it was either a bad thermostat or a bad water pump, he was faced with trying to find parts for a 37-year-old motorcycle, far from home. With some good luck, friendly people, and a curbside repair, he was able to diagnose and fix the problem, and get on his way home. Read his story, and how our members helped - and what the problem ended up being after all! GL1100 Overheating Far from Home 2018 GoldwingDocs Gathering And speaking of trips and travel, the 2018 GoldwingDocs Gathering is coming up soon! From September 13-16, based at the Hampton Suites in Miner Wells, WV (just south of Parkersburg) we will be touring the fantastic riding roads in West Virginia and Southern Ohio by day, and visiting and telling stories by night. Special hotel rates are available for GoldwingDocs members. Information on the hotel can be seen here: 2018 GoldwingDocs Gathering Hotel Information A thread with all the information you need is here: 2018 GoldwingDocs Gathering Information The gathering is FREE, and it is informal - no workshops, no booths, just a bunch of friendly Goldwing owners who like to talk, ride, and see the sights. Come join us, even if only for a day or two, I promise you'll have a good time! We have had inquiries about campgrounds, but unlike last year, there has been no formal declaration of a single campground for the Gathering, for those who prefer camping to hotels. If you do wish to come, and are interested in camping, please post on the Information thread and we'll get it sorted. LED Headlight Comparison LED headlights have come a long way in a short time. When I put LED headlights on my Goldwing two years ago, the LEDs I used were state of the art, and put out an astounding amount of light. Two years is a long time in the world of technology, and especially in the rapidly-evolving world of LEDs. Today's products eclipse those of two years ago in terms of performance, and at a fraction of the price! Especially notable is the fact that the new LEDs more closely mimic the halogen filament bulbs for which our reflectors were designed, meaning the light pattern output from the light is more accurate, focused, and less likely to blind oncoming drivers. I recently upgraded from my two-year-old LEDs to the latest LED techology in my GL1500, and took some pictures to show what a difference two years makes. Have a look at my comparison pictures and judge for yourself: LED Headlight Comparison: SoCalMotoGear vs Electrical Connection SoCalMotoGear Position Light LEDs And speaking of replacing old LEDs with newer ones, I also recently replaced the position lights on my GL1500. I have had old-technology LEDs in there for many years, and while they didn't burn out, they definitely were not bright, and their bluish tint definitely did not match the color of my LED headlight. I decided it was time for a change. SoCalMotoGear makes a Pathfinder brand LED position light that is designed to fit into the GL1500 headlight, and it puts out a ton of light - the same as a 50 watt halogen. So instead of just a gentle glow like the original Honda position lights (which were for little more than just looks), they now actually put out a considerable amount of light. They aren't going to light your way down the road should your headlights fail, but there's no question that they increase your visibility to other drivers both during the day and at night, and that's always a good thing. As an added bonus, their color very closely matches that of a modern LED headlight, giving your motorcycle a uniform, consistent look. Check out my review: SoCalMotoGear Pathfinder GL1500 Position Light LEDs Taming the Wild 2018 Goldwing The Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) in the new 2018 Goldwing is a thing of wonder. It's one of a few the reasons that Rider Magazine just declared it the 2018 Motorcycle of the Year. But a lot of people are finding that the promised whisper-smooth shifts just aren't happening: they're experiencing weird, jerky downshifts, crazy shift points, sudden deceleration when closing the throttle, and more. It turns out that the transmission computer on the new 2018 Goldwing needs to learn how to shift. And it doesn't necessarily come from the factory with this knowledge. It's supposed to figure it out over time...but in some cases, this isn't happening. Fortunately, there is a simple clutch computer initialization sequence that can be performed by the owner to fix this problem. The best news: it's free, takes only a few minutes, and doesn't require any tools. GoldwingDocs member Springer posted a video of him demonstrating the procedure on his own 2018 Goldwing, and it couldn't be simpler. He reports the difference in the transmission afterwards was like night and day. If you have a 2018 Goldwing, you might want to give it a try: Taming the 2018 Wild Wing
Installing Accessories on the 2018 Goldwing Accessories are beginning to appear on the market for the 2018 Goldwing, both from Honda as well as from aftermarket manufacturers. GoldwingDocs member WingVetteGSXR (I like his choice of vehicles) recently spent a frustrating few hours installing some of these accessories on his new 2018 Tour DCT. Now Goldwings have never been the easiest bikes to work on - there's a lot of bodywork to remove, and there is a ton of wiring, modules, relays and computers stuffed in underneath all that bodywork. But the new GL1800 is something entirely different. He has some helpful tips on disassembling and reassembling the new bike - some of them learned the hard way (broken plastic tabs) - what to do, and what not to do. If you are considering taking your new bike apart to install any accessories, you should take a quick read through his thread: Tour DCT accessory installation tips And speaking of the 2018 Goldwing, longtime member and Goldwing owner Rednaxs60 recently took one out for a test ride. He has some unique views on the new bike, based on many years of riding everything from 1200's to 1800's. Read his thoughts on the bike: A ride review on the new 2018 Goldwing Yet More Ethanol in our Fuel Last year the EPA mandated yet more ethanol in our fuel - despite formal complaints from motorcycle and other powersports manufacturers that this mandated fuel was not compatible (and would cause damage to) motorcycles, boats, ATV's, and so on. Now the EPA has released its 2019 proposal for ethanol content, and they are doubling down on the previous mandate failures. Instead of recognizing and correcting what's already broken with the Renewable Fuel Standard, the EPA has decided to increase some of the mandate's biggest flaws. The end result: The 2019 Renewable Volume Obligations (how much ethanol and biofuels get forced into our gas supply) are the highest ever. We need your help. Take five minutes to fill out this short petition and help stop the EPA from implementing more standards that could damage your motorcycle. Click here to read about the mandate, and complete the petition: New EPA mandate for more Ethanol in 2019 A GL1000 Comes Home...Again In the late 1990s GoldwingDocs member insanemoondoggie bought a basket case 1976 GL1000 for $600 and spent the winter restoring it. He rode it for a year, but then bought a new bike, so he gave the GL1000 to a relative who wanted to start riding. Instead, the relative sold the bike, and it was never seen again. Or so he thought. In 2015, he found the same bike, stripped down in a basement, with some of the parts still with it. He got the bike for free (all he had to do was remove it from the basement). When he was handed the title, he realized it was still in his name! It had never been transferred, 15 years later! He's spent the time since completely rebuilding the bike, and is happy to share the process with GoldwingDocs members. He's written up a lot of the restoration process, and posted a LOT of pictures right from the bike stripped down to the frame, and as he gradually puts it back together. Check out the progress, offer some words of encouragement, or just enjoy the pictures of his hard work: 1976 GL1000 Second Time Around More 3D Printed Parts Back in April's newsletter, I talked about the 3D-printed speedometer gear available for the GL1200. This is a part that is no longer available new anywhere, so resourceful owners are now printing replacement parts themselves on 3D printers. After breaking one of the handlebar covers on my GL1500 last month, I was somewhat dismayed to find that one of these four-inch pieces of plastic, worth maybe 50 cents, was available from Honda for the princely sum of $38. EACH! I mentioned this on the site, and our own member Virgilmobile mentioned that he had made up a set for himself on his 3D printer, and he would be happy to print me up a set. Total cost, maybe a couple dollars in plastic fiber. Pictured here are the covers that he printed out for me, and which will shortly be installed on my bike. Thanks, Virgil! I really do think that the age of 3D printing and on-demand additive manufacturing is just beginning. Instead of Honda spending millions warehousing every possible part for years and years, they instead just store computer files, and print up parts on demand when required. Read about my experience with these covers, and see the other cool Goldwing invention that Virgil created on his 3D printer: Time for a 3D Printer? A Solution for our Skinny Kickstands Sometimes I look at Harleys in envy. I don't envy their huge exhaust pipes, not their heaving, coughing V-twins, no, what I envy is their kickstand. Big, wide things that never sink into the ground. We Wing owners end up carrying all sorts of plates, discs and other gadgets to shove under our kickstands, because Honda saw fit to put a tiny, skinny little kickstand on our thousand-pound bikes. I almost always remember to put my little plate under my kickstand when parking on grass or hot asphalt...but not last month. It was a crazy hot day, I had been riding through most of it, and just wanted to get out of the heat. So when I arrived at my brother's house, I shut the bike off, went inside into the cool A/C, and doffed my gear. A few hours later, when I went outside getting ready to leave, I noticed my bike was leaning at an odd angle. I looked in horror at the huge divot my kickstand had created in my brother's driveway as the kickstand had slowly sunk into the asphalt. Ugh! Never again. I've just installed and reviewed a product that does away with all the discs and gadgets, and will keep my kickstand from ever sinking into the ground again. And it works! Read my review, and check it out for yourself: Rivco Sidestand Pad 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.
Get ready for the GoldwingDocs Gathering 2018! 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 Augustbe parts for your old bike, check us out first! |
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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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Brand New 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 Never have your kickstand sink in the ground again: Rivco Sidestand Pad LEDs for your GL1500: SoCalMotoGear Pathfinder GL1500 Position Light LEDs Which wins out? Dyna Beads vs Counteract Balancing Beads Goodbye sunglasses! Pinlock Sun-Reactive Sunshield Perfect to carry with you: Wingstuff Half Cover Keep those drinks cold: Mini-Fridge A great tiny little backpack: Nelson-Rigg Backpack The new Goldwing: 2018 GL1800 Ride Report A fantastic history book: "Gold Wing - The first 20 years" book 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 |
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 11,900 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. - How to Make Replacement GL1500 Saddlebag Screw Covers - A new method of demounting and remounting tires on rims - Welding Plastic for ABS Repairs - Converting GL1200 cornering lights to high-output LED for only $22 - How to convert GL1500 side marker lights to LED strips - How to Remove the GL1800 (2001-2017) fairing - Installing a New Starter on a 1975 GL1000 - Beating the 80 MPH Limit of the GL1500's Cruise Control - 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 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 11,900 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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