Police Wing

[wbetheajr]

My best friend has an 82 interstate and I have an 82 interstate but they are entirely different. His sets several inches taller than mine and his will leave me setting at the ramp every time. I also have an 92 1500 that will no touch him. I believe he could take out an 1800. His bike is fast. He bought it and has done nothing to it. it is still stock. The only thing we can figure is honda built a police edition that was faster. Does anyone know of this?

[WingAdmin]

I've seen Goldwings used as police bikes, but as far as I know, there was never a purpose-built (by Honda) police bike edition.

The "sitting higher" can be caused simply by newer, fresher springs - I know when I replaced my rear shocks/springs with new ones, the bike rose up almost an inch. And if his bike is leaving you in his dust, there are a two possible reasons:

1. You and your bike weigh more than he and his bike do
2. His bike is developing more power than yours

Assuming the weights are similar, the easiest way to check a common cause of decreased power is to check engine compression. If his compression numbers are higher than yours (and I suspect they will be), then you'll have your answer right there.

[wbetheajr]

assuming his compression is better than mine on my 82 that don't explain how he can leave my 92 1500 in the dust when is riding 2 up. This is one amazing 1100, we can not figure out what the difference is. I'm trying to find someone with an 1800 to put him in the dust (if they can)or just buy me a busa, lol

[Bouvier1]

Have you tried exchanging bikes - it may be riding technique!

[dingdong]

A "well tuned" 1100 is equally as fast as an 1800 and faster than a 1500. It just doesn't have the low rpm torque that either if them do. I have a 93 1500 and a 76 1000 and the 1000 will out run the 1500 from stop through all the gears. (Running flat out at high rpms.) Roll on time acceleration in the higher gears is a different story.

[nsjoe]

A "well tuned" 1100 is equally as fast as an 1800 and faster than a 1500. It just doesn't have the low rpm torque that either if them do. I have a 93 1500 and a 76 1000 and the 1000 will out run the 1500 from stop through all the gears. (Running flat out at high rpms.) Roll on time acceleration in the higher gears is a different story.

I didn't know that an 1100 could catch an 1800. My 1200 sure never would have been close to my 1800.

I also know of several police Goldwing units, and they were just stock wings with lights and sirens.

[WingAdmin]

I didn't know that an 1100 could catch an 1800. My 1200 sure never would have been close to my 1800.

Next time we're out, we'll give your 1800 a try against my 1100. I suspect that from a standing start I might have you (you're ~250 lbs heavier than me) - but as soon as you get up to any kind of speed, where the engine is fighting more wind than acceleration of mass, the 1800 will pull away. I know for a fact that at highway speeds you can roll on the throttle and effortlessly leave me behind - because you've done it!

The 1100 doesn't have a lot of torque down low whereas the 1800 has gobs of it. I can get the 1100 to shoot off from a standing start and accelerate very quickly to around 65 mph, but it takes a copious amount of clutch slipping to do it, holding the engine in the revs where it is developing torque.

[nsjoe]

I didn't know that an 1100 could catch an 1800. My 1200 sure never would have been close to my 1800.

Next time we're out, we'll give your 1800 a try against my 1100. I suspect that from a standing start I might have you (you're ~250 lbs heavier than me) - but as soon as you get up to any kind of speed, where the engine is fighting more wind than acceleration of mass, the 1800 will pull away. I know for a fact that at highway speeds you can roll on the throttle and effortlessly leave me behind - because you've done it!

The 1100 doesn't have a lot of torque down low whereas the 1800 has gobs of it. I can get the 1100 to shoot off from a standing start and accelerate very quickly to around 65 mph, but it takes a copious amount of clutch slipping to do it, holding the engine in the revs where it is developing torque.

Well, that certainly sounds like fun. I suspect that my 20 year newer and 65% larger engine may squeak by.

[WingAdmin]

I did some hunting and found some 1/4 mile times:

1975 GL 1000 12.95
1980 GL 1100 Standard 13.18
1986 GL 1200 Interstate 12.67
1985 GL 1200 LTD 12.88
1988 GL 1500 13.06
2001 GL 1800 12.87
2004 GL 1800 12.71

I also found these...

GL1100 dyno chart:

GL1100 Dyno Chart

2004 GL1800 dyno chart:

2004 GL1800 Dyno Chart

Note how they are almost even at the start, but that massive amount of torque in the 1800 (90 ft lbs almost from idle!!) just hauls it away so much faster.

The GL1100 chart came from this specification page:

GL1100 Specifications

[nsjoe]

I didn't know the 1100 redlined at 8,000RPM.

[WingAdmin]

I didn't know the 1100 redlined at 8,000RPM.

It will go higher - there's no rev limiter. But the tach redline is at 8,000.

[TerryRuth]

I had an 1100 that I used to shift at 9200 it was spry top speed 186 my 1500 redlined at 5500 and faultered after 5000 my 06 1800 is rapid fast and agile neither the would have 1/2 a chance at ANY speed ,,, shifting at 6000 is INSANE