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 November 2019 Newsletter
The GoldwingDocs YouTube Channel Last month I mentioned the new GoldwingDocs YouTube channel. I encouraged everyone to subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube Channel so that you are automatically notified when new videos are posted. And boy, did you ever! In just two days, we hit the 1,000 subscriber mark! We've posted three more videos since then that you might want to check out: Checking your Oil: You're doing it wrong! - You wouldn't believe how many people don't know the correct way to check the oil level in your Goldwing. It's not what you think it would be. How To Use an Adjustable Crescent Wrench - Another video demonstrating the fact that most people don't know how to properly use this very common tool! JACO Digital Tire Inflator Video Review - I demonstrate why this simple tool is one of my absolute favorites Winding Down the GPS Input Back in early 2012, I wanted to hook up my TomTom GPS to my GL1500, so that I could hear the spoken instructions inside my helmet when riding. I couldn't find anything that would let me do this. So I built an interface myself. I mentioned this on the forum, and people started clamoring for me to start making and selling them. So I did. The first one sold on April 2, 2012. Since then, I have made (yes, I personally manufacture every one of them) literally thousands of them. Most have been sold through the GoldwingDocs web site, but quite a few motorcycle accessory retailers also sold them. Sales definitely plateaued some time ago, and it seems that most people that want one, already have one. With one of its critical electronics components have being discontinued by the manufacturer earlier this year, I bought out all of their remaining stock, and decided that once I ran out of those components, that would be the end of the GPS Input. That day is approaching - I just manufactured a new batch of them, my parts are dwindling, and we're getting closer to the day when the GPS Input is just a memory. If you have been waiting to buy one of these units, I urge you to not wait much longer. Once they are gone, they will be gone forever. Find out more about them, and purchase online: GoldwingDocs GPS Input Winterizing Your Goldwing Like it or not, the days are getting shorter, and the weather is getting cooler. Some of the riders in Canada and the US have already had wicked snow storms, abruptly ending the riding season. For others in southern climes, it's just now getting to the point where it's cool enough that you can actually enjoy going out for a ride. For those who have a need to put the bike away for the season, it's important to go through the correct preparation steps to make sure your bike is in the best shape for next year's riding season. Incorrect preparation can have dire (and expensive!) results. We have a comprehensive winterization guide on the forum, along with years of posts from owners who have their own suggestions and tips on the best way to put your bike to sleep for the winter. Treat your bike right: How to Winterize Your Motorcycle Just Announced Changes For the 2020 GoldWing At the Tokyo Motor Show in Japan last week, Honda brought out the new 2020 GL1800 Goldwing. The 2019 Goldwing did not bring much in the way of changes beyond some new paint colors. The same is not true for the 2020 model year. Yes, there are the obligatory new paint colors (Honda loves those paint colors - they trumpet them each year as if they are a Really Big Deal). But there are some significant changes. Transmission changes and availability. Fuel injection system changes. Trim line changes. And...it seems as if Honda has actually been listening to the owners, because one of the most complained-about "features" of the 2018/2019 Goldwing has been fixed. Read on and see what others think of the changes (and new paint colors): New Changes for 2020 Goldwing Funny Noise After GL1100 Carburetor Installation Member shevik finished rebuilding and bench syncing the carburetors from his 1982 GL1100. However, after he reinstalled them and started the bike up for the first time, it was making a strange noise - almost a pinging noise. He included a video demonstrating the noise. He was worried that perhaps something had fallen into the engine - a washer or worse - a nut. Other members wondered the same thing. He pulled the carbs off again, and looking down into the engine intake, he could see an intake valve, filthy, and submerged in a brownish liquid. Fortunately, he was able to figure out the problem, and fix it - at no cost! Wondering what went wrong, and what the problem turned out to be? Check out: Funny Noise After GL1100 Carburetor Installation How Long Does Your Riding Gear Last? Member C-dub is thinking about upgrading his riding gear, as some of it is starting to show some wear. I will admit, I am a big fan of functional clothing. My Olympia Ranger jacket is probably my absolute favorite piece of clothing. Second to that is My Olympia Airglide jacket, which I am wearing in this picture. He's looking for recommendations from others as to what kind of riding gear is a good deal, higher quality, and lasts - not to mention being comfortable and functional. Quite a few members have offered their opinions on what they have bought that worked well - and what didn't work so well. Think you could offer him some good advice? Or perhaps you are looking for some new gear yourself? Check out: How long does your riding gear last? The Most Common GL1500 Electrical Failure While out riding my GL1500 recently, it was starting to get dark. Normally, my headlights are set to high beam during the day, because that's what actuates my Kisan Pathfinder Headlight Modulator. The light sensor on the modulator had already shut the modulator off, as it is supposed to do once it starts getting dark. I was out on the highway, so I switched my headlight to low beams. To my surprise, I was suddenly riding in pitch dark! I quickly went back to my high beams! The GL1500 has two headlights, and the chances of both failing at the same time is slim. I tried the switch a few more tries, and I definitely realized that I had no low beams...until the last attempt, when I went over a bump in the road, and all of a sudden, my low beams came back to life! "Aha, I have a loose connection somewhere," I thought. "I'll have to fix that..." Just to be sure, one more flick of the switch, and I was once again in the dark. I rode home with my high beams on, annoying everyone around me. I pulled the front of the bike apart and removed the headlight and (what I assumed was) the offending modulator. But no...that wasn't the problem. There was no power getting TO the modulator. What then - a fuse? And then it hit me. Of course! Relay! The notorious, life-limited GL1500 G8MS-H30 relays, that control almost everything on the bike! The headlight relays on my bike are among the few remaining relays that came with the bike from the factory. I remember the first time I had one of these relays fail. I was astounded that Honda was charging $26 for a replacement. There are over ten relays in the GL1500, and they are a life-limited, mechanical device. They do wear out. I decided I would find a cheaper source for them, and offer them to the public at half the price Honda was charging. After many months of talking to manufacturers and negotiating prices for a large quantity buy, I bought my first batch of 1,000 relays. That was almost exactly 5 years ago today, and since then I've sold over 10,000 of these relays to GL1500 owners worldwide. If you're a GL1500 owner, chances are you have had a relay failure, or will in the future. You might want to have one or two spares on hand...just in case. As always, they are only $12.95, and ship anywhere: GoldwingDocs G8MS-H30 Relay A Funny Thing Happened the Other Day... My son and I were on my GL1500, riding to go see a classic car show. When we arrived, it was jammed with people and cars, there was nowhere to park. Fortunately, I found a small "Motorcycle Parking" sign, pointing to some prime real estate that quite a few motorcyclists had already taken advantage of. I pulled into the spot and parked. I had ridden eight hours in pouring rain a couple days previous, so my bike was absolutely filthy, covered in mud and grime, but I figured I would clean it up later. We enjoyed the show...but soon realized that we had made a critical mistake in parking there... I wrote this story on the site, and asked other members to also share their funny and/or embarrassing experiences on their Goldwings. And did we get responses! Find out what happened to my son and I...read some of the stories posted by other members, and then make sure to post a story (or two!) of your own! Read on: What's the funniest thing that ever happened to you with your Goldwing? Ceramic Coat Polish - As Good As They Say? Polish and cleaners for cars and motorcycles have evolved significantly since the days of carnuba wax and clay bricks. The newest technology involve nano-sized ceramic particles that bond semi-permanently to the surface of your paint, sealing it from impurities, dirt, and even water. If you believe every manufacturer of these products, they are a miracle sealant that is simple to apply and last for up to six months. But is this reality? Member pocketchange brought up the topic, and it definitely generated some conversation and opinions. Do you have experience with a Ceramic polish? Or maybe you're considering which one to use? Check out: Spray-On Ceramic Polish Restoring 2003 GL1800 With Cracked Frame Member Goldpower in Quebec has restored two GL1500's before. Now he's trying his hand with a 2003 GL1800 that he has bought. The GL1800 has a lightweight aluminum frame. Aluminum is strong, and lighter than steel for the same amount of strength, but it has its downsides. Whereas a steel frame subject to higher than design load will typically bend (and can often be bent back into place), aluminum subject to these loads will crack, as shown here. Cracking aluminum is a huge issue with airplanes, as well. While it is certainly possible to weld and fix aluminum failure like this, he's choosing to replace the frame from a donor bike. He's looking for advice and ideas on restoring his GL1800 from our members. He wants to know what kinds of wear items would GL1800 owners replace if given the chance when restoring their bike. Think you can help him out? Read on: GL1800 Restoration with Cracked Frame Hard Data to Support Headlight Modulators? People who have been reading GoldwingDocs for any amount of time know that I am a huge proponent of headlight modulators. I've had them on my motorcycles for many years. I think they work very well, and in this age of distracted drivers, we need every little edge we can get. The number one cause of motorcycle/car accidents is the "car driver did not see the motorcycle." It's to the point where once in a while I notice that the cars around me all seem to be driving a bit more distracted than usual - and then realize that I had accidentally forgotten to turn on the modulator. Member Bentrider in Michigan has had a modulator on his Goldwing for over ten years. He wonders if there is any hard data that supports the use of headlight modulators, or is it all just personal experiences? There are many, many testimonials from people such as myself who say the difference in attention given from other drivers is immediate and drastic when a modulator is installed on a motorcycle. My own experiences echo this. But are there statistics that show the number of car/motorcycle accidents in motorcycles with modulators vs those without? Read the discussion (and many personal testimonials and stories) and find out the answers for yourself: Headlight Modulators - Hard Data? Repairing ABS Plastic Goldwings have a lot of bodywork. Fortunately, Honda decided long ago to use ABS plastic for the bodywork. Why is this fortunate? Unlike many materials, ABS is easily repaired. Plastic welding, bonding, ABS slurry, heat, all can be employed to make repairs to cracked and broken ABS pieces. There are a few tricks to the trade, however. One of the best is creating an ABS slurry from ABS pellets that can be molded and bonded into the existing plastic. Member Corkster52 wondered if people had used ABS pellets and slurry to fix gouged out areas or cracks before, and how they did it. Quite a few of our members responded, myself included, as I've been doing this type of repair for many years. Interested in how people are repairing their ABS parts? See: Pellets for ABS Repairs 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.
Next month: Our annual Christmas gift guide! Don't forget to check out the GoldwingDocs YouTube Channel! |
||
Have you forgotten your User ID and/or Password? Click here to visit the password reset page, and then click Submit to reset your password. |
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 Novemberbe parts for your old bike, check us out first! |
|
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. |
||
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! |
||
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! |
||
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 |
|
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! |
This newsletter is sent on the first day of each month.