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 2019 Newsletter
The GoldwingDocs Gathering is Here! The third annual GoldwingDocs Gathering is about to happen in just over a week, from September 11-15. This year's Gathering is based at the Maggie Valley Inn, in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Right now the 2019 GoldwingDocs Gathering looks like it will be the best one yet! The typical weather at this time of year is a pleasant, sunny upper 70's, and assuming Hurrican Dorian will have long since passed us by, we should be in for high barometric pressures and abundant sunshine! T-shirt orders are finalized, and the group is making the final preparations on the plans and rides. We will be riding through some of the spectacular Blue Ridge Mountains, and there are plans in place for some fun group rides throughout the area for riders of all skill levels. Downloadable ride files are being made available, and everything looks like a go! Even if you don't come out for the whole Gathering, try to come out and enjoy some of the spectacular riding roads! You can read more about this year's Gathering, some of the plans and ride maps, and offer your ideas for this year's event: Third Annual GoldwingDocs Gathering - Sep 11-15, 2019 Let's Talk Torque Wrench Motorcycles (and cars, for that matter) need to be light. In order for them to be light, parts that need high strength are typically made of steel. Parts that are necessarily large (i.e. engine, swingarm) tend to be made of aluminum. Aluminum is great! It's strong, light, and corrosion-resistant. However...tightening steel bolts into aluminum is an exercise fraught with peril. Too loose, and the fastener will back out. Too tight...and you strip out the delicate aluminum threads. That's why it's pretty much essential to use a torque wrench when working on our bikes, and to stick to the torque values specified in the service manuals. Some safety-critical items (brake calipers, axle nuts, etc) must be torqued to the correct value in order to keep the bike together on the road. So what kind of torque wrench do you need? Is a Harbor Freight cheapie OK? Or do you need the latest, greatest digital wrench? Member JohnUSA in Tacoma had this question, and our experts had the answers! Don't have a torque wrench? You should...and find out what our members say you should buy: Let's Talk Torque Wrench My Final Ride Long-time member rodee71 from beautiful Winchester, VA and his wife keep active in retirement by helping to run campgrounds for the National Forestry Service. While on the way to check out a campground in early June, he stopped to pull on another layer, as it was starting to cool off. When pulling out, he noticed that the headlight on his GL1200 had quit. Not wanting to ride in the dark without a headlight, he called for a trailer. Wouldn't you know it - while loading it on the trailer, the headlight started working again! He decided to ride slowly with the truck/trailer following him. Unfortunately, he encountered a combination of fog, gravel, and a switchback all at the same time, and the bike decided it was done riding. A helicopter ride later and thanks to the work of skilled surgeons, rodee71 is back on the road to wellness. Read through the details of his amazing story, and leave him some encouraging words as he continues to recover: My Final Ride 2018+ GL1800 Luggage Space Without question, the single most contentious "feature" of the newest Goldwing is the much-reduced luggage capacity. The original GL1800 reduced the cavernous storage of the GL1500, and the newest GL1800 reduced this even further. Aftermarket manufacturers are scrambling to come up with products to increase the luggage capacity of the newest Goldwing. Brand new member Eric_NB has bought a new 2019 Goldwing Tour, and while it has enough storage space for him, when he has a passenger, things are a bit tight. He's looking at options for his new bike: a Pakit Rak, a trunk bag, or perhaps even a trailer. In his very first post to GoldwingDocs, he's asking for help identifying which would be the best option for his bike. Our members of course have some advice and experiences to share - perhaps you do, too! Looking for ideas on how to expand your new GL1800's storage space? Or maybe you have an idea that works great for you! Check out: Luggage Capacity Question GL1000 Restoration Started Member Wirelic recently inherited a fairly nice 1978 GL1000 with a Windjammer fairing and in need of some serious TLC. The bike has been neglected and left to sit, so things like a rusted fuel tank and gummed up carburetors are guaranteed. The brakes all need to be rebuilt, hoses replaced, the rear shocks are done, and more. But it has relatively low mileage, with only 50,000 miles on the clock. As he ventures into his restoration project, he's posting pictures - but more importantly, he's asking for advice. Many of our members have performed amazing restoration on old Goldwings, and these die-hard bikes respond well to restoration and care. Want to have a look at his progress? Or perhaps answer some questions for him along the way? Check out: GL1000 Restoration Started And speaking of GL1000 restorations...member 70sbudget also just bought a 1978 GL1000 (for $250!) in similar shape. He's posting pictures and asking for advice as well. Check out his restoration as he progresses: Another $250 GL1000 Find Dropped Where the Sun Don't Shine GoldwingDocs Member tim.kyfl in Frankfort, KY was working on his GL1200 the other night. While installing the carburetors back onto the engine, he had to remove the carburetor bolts from the manifold, where they were stored. As he did, he heard "plink, plink" as a washer fell into the cylinder head opening and into the depths of the engine. There's nothing worse than dropping a nut or washer into the depths of a vehicle, knowing that you absolutely cannot leave it there. Actually, there is something worse: Dropping it into the depths of the vehicle and not knowing where it went. He's assuming that in this case it fell into the cylinder. Peering into the cylinder, he could not see the washer. He really didn't want to have to remove the cylinder head in order to retrieve it. That's when he turned to GoldwingDocs for help. Obviously just leaving it there, crossing your fingers and hoping everything will be OK is not an option. Are there other options for him? Find out what our members suggested for him, what he tried, and how it all turned out: Lost a Washer, OMG! GL1500 Flooded Carburetor OK, maybe we're talking about a different kind of flood! But hey, you try to come up with a picture representative of a flooded carburetor. :) Member CRAFFS in South Africa has a 1993 GL1500 that has been left sitting for three years. The needle valve is stuck in one of the carburetors. The needle valve is connected to the float, which is used to regulate the amount of fuel in the float bowl. If the needle valve sticks, fuel is continually pumped into the float bowl even when it is already full. To prevent dumping the fuel into the cylinder, potentially hydrolocking it (which can destroy an engine), carburetors have an overflow, which dumps the extra fuel out - meaning it starts dumping fuel through the overflow tube. He's looking for help on how to fix this problem - and of course, our members sprang into action. Have a similar problem? Or want to know how to fix it in case you do? Read on: GL1500 Carburetor Flooding GPS With Rosy Outlook Member Riot13 has a problem with the GPS screen on his 2012 GL1800. As you can see in the picture here, the green and blue pixels in his screen have gone on strike, and the only color being shown is red. This is great except that anything that is supposed to be displayed without a red tint is now invisible. Believe it or not, the LCD screen on a GL1800 is more of a computer monitor than an integrated digital display like you might find on a modern cellphone. A video signal is sent to it from the bike's computer, and that video signal consists of red, green and blue signals. Find out what can cause this kind of problem - and perhaps offer some advice on how he might fix it: GPS Screen Red and Only red Broken Down & Stranded Member Sharon2665 from Ohio and her husband have been on a trip across the northwestern states all month. Near the Coulee Dam, in Washington State, their 2004 GL1800 trike started making a whining noise, with a slight burning smell. They limped to a motorcycle shop, and diagnosed the problem as a failed starter, caused by stuck starter relays that caused the starter to run continuously. However, the shop mechanic, not being familiar with Goldwings, made a critical, and unfortunately common error in replacing the starter, causing enough damage so as to require an engine teardown to fix. This ended their trip, and they had to have the trike shipped home. Read the story of their trip, and find out more about this common mistake - and more importantly, how to avoid it: Help! Broken Down at Gran Couley Dam in Washington 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.
Sorry for the shorter newsletter this month - I'm writing it while on vacation! See you at the 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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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 Be heard, wirelessly with the LEXIN 2pcs LX-B4FM Motorcycle Bluetooth Intercom What's that? Another Oscilloscope? the DSO150 Digital Oscilloscope A great option for mounting your phone: the RAM Mount Quick Grip Handlebar Mount A unique idea for a phone mount: the RAM Mount GDS Dock Handlebar Mount A somewhat disappointing mount: the RAM X-Grip Handlebar Mount Clamp hoses and much more with the ClampTite Tool Shed some light: Braun Cordless Worklight Scope it out: DSO138 Oscilloscope A new windshield: the 12" MadStad installed on a GL1500 For your trike: GL-1500 EZ Steer 4 Degree Rake Kit Knock out noise with Fit-Ear Custom Molded Ear Plugs Everyone seems to love the MadStad GL1500 Windshield Great winter reading: Chronicles of a Motorcycle Gypsy: The 49 States Tour Keep the mice away this winter: Mouse and Rodent Blocker Measure and inflate effortlessly: JACO FlowPro Digital Tire Inflator Quality wireless audio: J&M Bluetooth Audio |
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 replace discontinued GL1000 Carb Intake Boots with GL1500 parts - How to use a Ford F-250 Starter Solenoid on a GL1200 - How to repair broken plastic tabs - GL1500 Forks/wheel/tire on a GL1200? YES you can! - Homemade Regulator/Rectifier for GL1000/GL1100/GL1200 - How to Access the GL1500 Relay Box with a Motor Trike Kit - How to replace throttle shaft seals on GL1000/1100 carbs - How to remove GL1500 shifter arm blocked by frame tube - Using ABS glue to repair GL1500 rear storage hinge pins - Radiator Plastic Grill Repair - Adjust fore/aft Older Corbin Backrests - 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 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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