Boy, your post sounds like it could have been written by me!
I ride my '99 all the time. My '76 still needs a few things and I hardly ever ride it.
I've thought about selling it and getting something small like a Honda PC-150 scooter to replace it.

My first thought is that the noise could be from a hydraulic valve lifter that is sticking.
I have had this happen occasionally at start-up, but once the oil pressure builds, the
lifter pumps up and the noise goes away.

Me too. Never heard of the "Blue Ride" mountains.

There are a 11 shown on the Pure Gas site, 3 or 4 appear to be airport related and the others maybe marine related. But to pick up a couple of 5 gallon cans to use for winter stowage it might be worthwhile. This this one appears to be pretty close to you. Morris County Marine 745 Rt 46, Kenvil, NJ;...

My 1500 is by far the quietest and most comfortable bike I've ever owned.
I'll keep this one running as long as I can.

Time to replace my bearings. I see that Cyclemax is selling the "All Balls" brand bearings. I've heard rumors that these are not as good as some others. Anyone know of any that are better than the ones that Cyclemax carries? I don't want to be doing this job again any time soon. Also, how long do st...

Good luck on that in New Jersey.
As far as I know, non-ethanol gas is illegal in Jersey.
If you want alky free gas here, you have to go to the
airport and buy leaded aviation fuel.

Thanks. Powder coating sounds like a great idea.
But having to remove the car tire, the brake rotors and the wheel bearings doesn't sound so great! LOL!!
I was hoping for something I could do right in my shop.
Any other suggestions?

The aluminum wheels on my 1500 always look like hell and are difficult to get shiny again.
Has anyone tried clear coating the wheels?
If so, what product did you use?
How well has it held up over time?

I opened the handlebar cluster today. Everything inside looks fine.
The choke cable is definitely being pulled back from the other end, wherever that is.

On a bike, it would be more fun going UP it.
But I believe it's one way going down.

Thanks guys!
Thanks for the photos and the advice.
Ya know, I have been lubing those push buttons, though not recently.
When I open it, I'll take a look at that ball bearing.
And I'll post back here about what I find, if anything.

Bump.
Any one ever seen this happen before?

LOL!! Leave it to me to come up with a problem that no one has ever heard of before.
I hope someone here can shed some light on it. It's annoying.
It's like someone put a return spring on the choke.

On my '99 1500 SE....
The handlebar mounted choke lever used to stay wherever I put it while the bike warmed up.
But lately the choke lever springs back to the "choke off" position. I have to sit with my
thumb on the choke 'til the bike warms up.
Is there some sort of friction lock that came loose?

I love my TWO Goldwings!
I was born in 1950 and I'm 29.
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

Wow! That is awfully low mileage for that age.
First thing....
CHANGE THE TIMING BELTS!!!!

Aussie81Interstate wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 12, 2019 5:52 pm

Thank you - they look interesting...

I might look into a pair - now I have to find out where to mount them.

Don't look into them. You'll go blind! LOL!!!!

just from looking at your picture, I'd move the axle back a bit, or move the
body forward on the frame.

Have you ever changed the timing belts?
My first guess is a bearing going bad in a belt tension pulley.
If your Val is like other Goldwings, the alternator is on
the left rear of the engine.

Ask and you shall receive! LOL!!! Here is the link to those lights on Ebay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-4-5-42W-CREE-LED-WORK-LIGHT-BAR-DRIVING-SPOT-BEAM-SUV-ATV-UTE-JEEP-TRUCK/172848412105?epid=18024323929&hash=item283e9175c9:g:Ew8AAOSw9DVZqeso:sc:USPSPriorityFlatRateEnvelope!07885!US!-1:rk:33:pf:0

They certainly do! I spent the last 50 years riding bikes with pitiful headlights, making night riding a real adventure. Now they have LEDs! I converted the entire front of that bike to LEDs, and it is BRIGHT! I like riding the back roads, and in Jersey we have DEER, LOTS OF DEER! Finally, after all...

I've never liked the look of the light bar that I bought for the Goldwing. The driving lights stuck out too far and looked like a pair of bug eyes sticking out on those long stalks away from the fairing. So yesterday I decided to do something about it. After a good deal of thought and some VERY CARE...

Nice. Looks fairly well cared for. Not sure if I like the repaint or not. That is the first green one that I've seen. Good luck with bringing it back to life. I also have a '76. Mine was originally red, but some owner long before me repainted it in the dark blue paint scheme of a '78, complete with ...

Unless you’re able to see that it can be brought to life easily, $400 is the most I’d pay. I haven’t heard of fair ones going for $4000. It’s very easy to sink a grand into them and still have an old bike. If it’s been sitting you’re looking at lots to rule it safe. People get them going for less, ...