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 October 2021 Newsletter
Holiday Product Spectacular (with video) We normally don't post our holiday gift guide this early. But 2021 is a bit different. Because of massive supply-chain problems, the likelihood is extremely high that the majority of the items we're covering in this year's guide will have extremely limited availability in a month or two. So we're brining the guide to you now, while the products we feature are still available. This year, in addition to a quick list of products and links to them, we also created a video, where I review each product, show & demonstrate it, and talk about why it's something you might want to think about purchasing. We've got quite a few new items on this year's list, from tools to alarms to camping equipment. I'd encourage you to check out our list of items this year, and add ideas of your own. Don't forget to check out the video as well! You can check out the product review post where we list all of this year's products, along with pictures and links, or go straight to the product review video and watch our review of each product.
I should also mention: It's only a relatively short time that we've had the GoldwingDocs YouTube Channel going, yet this month we surpassed 8,000 subscribers! Subscribers get an automatic notification when we post a new video, so if you haven't already subscribed, what are you waiting for? It's free! Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube Channel Motorcycles Break Your Phone! With the advent of amazingly capable cell phones that can act as music players, GPS navigators and much more, many of us have strapped our phones to our handlebars and use them to perform all of these functions as we ride. There's a problem with this, however: believe it or not, modern cellphones actually have moving parts inside them. When subjected to the continuous vibration from being mounted to a motorcycle, they can be permanently damaged! Read about the types of damage that can occur, and more importantly, how our members are making sure that their expensive cell phones are not getting damaged when mounted to our motorcycles: Phone damage when used while riding!
Speaking of mounting items, member purplemotoman wonders how best to mount accessories to the Goldwing. Wondering the same thing, or perhaps you have a suggestion? Check out: Mounting Accessories Riding Safely in Hot Weather On a recent long-distance five-day ride, the forecast for the entire trip was cool, pleasant weather. Five days later, on my return trip, the forecast was much different: 91 degrees F. Fine, that's not a problem...except the only gear that I brought with me, for space reasons, was my cold-weather gear, which I normally never wear above 75F! Riding for seven hours in 91F temperatures in my cold weather gear was not a fun experience, and I had to use some of my extreme hot-weather riding techniques in order to do it safely. I made a video about the various techniques you can utilize when the weather gets hot while still keeping your protective gear, to make sure you get home without getting ill...or worse: Beat the Heat GL1100 Meltdown Member ClinicallyInZane was replacing the starter solenoid on his 1980 GL1100. Unfortunately, he forgot the #1 Golden Rule when working on energized electrical systems on bikes and cars: before doing anything, disconnect the negative battery cable! You know where this is headed... While reinstalling the starter solenoid, his socket wrench accidentally touched the frame of the bike. A giant spark erupted, and now he has no dash lights and the bike will no longer start. He checked wires running from the dash to the fuse box as well as starter wires, and they all look good. He came to GoldwingDocs for help, and through a process of elimination found the culprit. Find out what the problem turned out to be, and how he fixed it: 1980 GL1100 No Power Off-Road Goldwing Member W109driver in England took his Goldwing out for some gentle off-roading recently. A lot of Goldwing owners absolutely refuse to leave the blacktop with their Wings, and I've seen unsteady Wing riders panic and drop their bikes as soon as they realize that they're riding on dirt or gravel. Of course, dirt bike experience really helps here, as you innately know the techniques to use to keep your bike upright - techniques that work the exact same way on a 150cc dirt bike as they do on a 1500cc Goldwing. Have you taken your Goldwing off-road? What were your experiences? Read what our members have to say about theirs: Off-roading my Goldwing GL1500 Valve Chatter Member vcdc from Ohio has a problem with his 1995 GL1500. When the engine is cold, he starts his GL1500 and it makes a loud valve pinging noise. He has to wait for the bike to fully warm up or the pinging noise never goes away. Knowing that the GL1500 has hydraulic valve lash adjusters, there is no adjustment to be made to fix loud valve chatter. So usually, this means there is a problem with the adjusters. Fortunately, the cause of the problem is usually simple, and can be fixed for only a few dollars and NO tools involved! vcdc tried our fix, and sure enough, problem solved! Do you have valve chatter on your GL1500 when it's cold? Check out the simple, cheap and easy fix: GL1500 Valve Chatter 2019 GL1800 Tour DCT Completely Dead Longtime member baumedagn has a 2019 Tour DCT Goldwing with 8,000 miles on it. It's been a great bike...up until now. He went to start the bike, the display flashed a couple times, then just died. As if the battery had completely died. The battery had been replaced, it was showing 13.2 volts. 5 hours later...the bike was working normally as if nothing had ever gone wrong. Then a couple weeks later, it happened again. Completely dead. A few hours later, back as if nothing was ever wrong. He's really frustrated, and the dealer has been of no help, so he's looking for ideas and suggestions from our members: 2019 Tour DCT Totally Dead More Alternator Woes Last month we talked about GoldwingDocs member Lebouc, and his long list of failed alternators. One after another - new alternators, rebuilt alternators, they would work for a short while and then just fail. This month, longtime member offcenter is fighting the alternator wars. He's been through three alternators in the past 40,000 miles. He thought he saw the problem: oil getting past the engine seal and soaking the alternator windings. But according to his alternator shop, the oil had nothing to do with the premature death of the alternator: it was a winding failure! So is there a systemic problem with Goldwing alternators, or perhaps a problem with the manufacture of new alternators? Read up on his frustrations, and see how he's dealing with the problem: ANOTHER alternator failed! Winter is Coming... Now that October is here, the days are getting shorter, the air is getting colder, and in some parts of the world, we're not far away from the first snowflakes appearing. As such, there are quite a few motorcycle owners who are thinking about putting their motorcycles away for their winter slumber, while we dream of the owners in the south who ride all year long! It really pays dividends to properly prepare your motorcycle for storage. Just a little bit of preparation will make a big difference to the longevity and condition of your motorcycle. There are also some very important guidelines as to just what to do over the winter to keep your bike in top shape for the spring to come. We cover all of this and more in one of our most popular tutorials: How to winterize your motorcycle What's This Part? I always love when we get posts that go something like this: "I took apart my bike last year and now I put it back together, but I have this part left over and I can't identify it. Here's a picture, can anybody tell me what it is and where it goes?" Sometimes it's more like "I found this little switch on my bike, does anyone know what it's for?" That's what this month's post is: Member Quarteg recently upgraded from a GL1200 to a GL1500, and found a little knob that he can't identify: What is this part? And just for fun: Bonus points if anyone can identify the Goldwing part shown here in this picture! Carb Sync Jumpy Needles Having synchronized carburetors is essential for a smooth-running engine. As an added bonus, it also increases power and improves fuel efficiency. Member gdhubert was synchronizing the carburetors on his GL1100 as described in our How To Synchronize Your Carburetors how-to article. He had a problem however: the needles on the dials were jumping around so much, he couldn't get an accurate reading. Read about the critical step he forgot, how he figured out the solution, plus a better, faster and easier way of synchronizing your carbs than using a set of vacuum gauges: Carb Sync Jumping Needles? Trailer Towing Geometry When you tow a trailer with your car, you don't need to worry about a lot - basically make sure the weight is within limits and positioned correctly, and you're good to go. On motorcycles, where you have a single wheel track plus minimal contact patches, there's a lot more to think about: Length of the trailer tongue is critical, as is the angle of attack of that tongue. Member Andy Cote wrote an excellent primer on how to properly set up your trailer drawbar to increase stability and safety when pulling your trailer - and when forced into emergency maneuvers. If you pull a trailer with your bike, this one is definitely worth a read: Motorcycle Cargo Trailer Drawbar Angle of Attack Resurrecting Faded Lenses Member dancbx recently picked up a 1996 GL1500 that had aftermarket tail and brake lights that looked terrible. Upon taking them off, he saw that the red pigment used to tin them had faded significantly from sun damage. Red is the least stable pigment color, and sun exposure can do this type of damage easily - that's why you often see dull, red cars that have been left out in the sun too much. These aftermarket lenses are long discontinued, so his only option was to try to restore them himself. He came up with a method that worked amazingly well. Read about his method, and see pictures of the finished version: Sun Faded Taillights Goldwing Electrical Gremlins Member Shadowwalker has a 2002 Goldwing, in which the turn signals stopped working - but the hazards still worked. He got another controller, but that didn't fix it. He then took it to a local shop and the shop owner went over the bike. All the connections checked out OK - and afterwards, the radio volumen and channel control stopped working! He replaced the whole switch housing, thinking the turn signal was bad...and now the bike won't start at all! It just cranks over! Fortunately our experts were able to figure out at least one main problem - why it was no longer starting, and the bike is now running again. Check out the progress of the bike: Goldwing Gremlins Freshening Up a 1990 GL1500 Member kerravon in Sydney, Australia bought a 1990 Goldwing with just a hair over 100,000 miles on it. Everything seemed OK except for a slight oscillation of the handlebars when he took his hands off (which pretty much EVERY Goldwing does) and some hot-smelling brakes. He decided to pull the bike apart and go over it from front to back, to make sure it was in the best condition possible. He posted a list of everything he's done so far, and wants to know if our members have any other suggestions for him to look at while the bike is in a million pieces. Looking to refurbish an older bike? kerravon's list is a really great place to start: Freshening Up a 1990 GL1500 - What Else Should I Do? Intermittent Charging Member bcarnold in Los Angeles has a 1992 GL1500 Aspencade with 145,000 miles on the clock, which is, as he says, "almost broken in." He started having a problem with the bike charging. He started the bike up, rode for a mile or so, stopped and shut the bike off. When he tried to start it again, it refused. His voltmeter showed only 8.8 volts - but after 45 minutes or so, the battery had recovered just enough to get the bike started again, and he was able to get home. Since then he's had the problem happen several times where the bike will start and stop charging on its own. He was a bit confused, figuring that if the problem was the alternator, that it would either work or it wouldn't. Our experts were able to identify the problem almost immediately, and gave him the answer that got him back on the road. Are you having intermittent charging issues? Want to know what to do if you start experiencing them? Check out: Intermittent Charging 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 product as well: GL1000/GL1100/GL1200 7 volt regulators. We are now sold out of our discontinued GPS Inputs, however there are a few still available from other vendors.
Stay warm, see you out there! Don't forget to check out the GoldwingDocs YouTube Channel! 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 Octoberbe parts for your old bike, check us out first! |
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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 A boost on the road: Portable Rechargeable Air Compressor Be Prepared with a MyMedic First Aid Kit A super wide-angle review mirror! The Handy Motorcycle Lift Table SAM 1200 works great! Fabulous Resolution: The new Innovv K2 Dual Camera System Review Hook up your trailer: Trailer Wiring Harness and Adapter Start it up: Hulkman Alpha A85S Jump Starter Unboxing and In-Depth Review (VIDEO) Back it up: Reverse Lights for your Wing Shine on: Cerakote and Vapor Blasting Replacement fuel hose: 5mm Cloth Braided Fuel Hose Strap your cargo - a video review of Rokstraps Stay visible: a review of the Feniex T3 Flasher A video on: Rivco Air Horns Shine on: The Last Coat Ceramic Coating Tool Porn: Knipex Adjustable Wrench Our very own GoldwingDocs 7-Volt Regulator gets a review! Tie down your bike with Canyon Dancer Handlebar Cup Tiedowns Adventure with Tiffani with her fantastic new motorcycle book Get rid of bungee cords forever: ROK Straps Move your bike around with Center Stand Dollies? |
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 renew the vacuum lines on the auto cruise valve to the accumulator - How to Remove, Rebuild and Reinstall your Clutch Slave Cylinder (VIDEO) - How to make your gloves work with touchscreens (VIDEO) - How to Quickly Clear Clogged Carburetor Jet Nozzles - How to mount a GPS RAM mount to your GL1500 - Installing GL1500 Braided Front Brake Lines - How to Add LEDs to a GL1800 Radio and Handlegrips - How to Add LEDs to a GL1800 Navigation Panel - GL1500 Rear Brake Master Cylinder Out in 30 Minutes, Easy - How to Open a GL1500 Trunk with a Jammed Latch - GL1200 MPH to KM/H Quick Fix - How To Install an Electric Solenoid Fuel Shutoff Valve - How To Install a Fused Power Distribution Block - How to Fasten Cargo to your Bike (with VIDEO) - GL1000 Custom 3D Printed Cockpit - Torque Wrenches: How to use them, when, and why! (with VIDEO) - How to remove the GL1500 lenses from light housing - How to Restore old hard rubber parts - Cleaning up GL1500 Turn Switches - How to Make Your Own GL1500 Digital Gear Indicator - Adding Aftermarket CB Radio to GL1200 - How to Replace GL1500 Relays (with VIDEO) - How to Solve your Intermittent Engine Not Starting - How to fix broken plastic bodywork (with VIDEO) - Installing 4 Inch Replacement Front Speakers in GL1500 - How to replace discontinued GL1000 Carb Intake Boots with GL1500 parts 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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