Question
Question
Hello all, I'm new to the Gold wing family. I just picked up a 1977 GL1000. The thing I noticed as soon as I got the bike home, on the valve covers, it says 1100. Is this normal, or could someone have slapped an 1100 motor on the 1000 bike? Is that even possible?
- Maz
- Posts: 785
- Joined: Tue May 19, 2015 4:43 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Motorcycle: 1975 GL1000K1
1976 CB500T
1979 CB750L
1990 Yamaha FJ1200
1993 Suzuki GS500E
Re: Question
Not normal. Could be an 1100 motor or just 1100 covers or badges. Check the engine number.MikeStoke wrote:Hello all, I'm new to the Gold wing family. I just picked up a 1977 GL1000. The thing I noticed as soon as I got the bike home, on the valve covers, it says 1100. Is this normal, or could someone have slapped an 1100 motor on the 1000 bike? Is that even possible?
Maz
Ironically, Common Sense is the LEAST common of all senses!
- dingdong
- Posts: 4025
- Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:35 am
- Location: Oklahoma City
- Motorcycle: 1976 gl1000
1993 gl1500A
2004 NRX1800 Rune SOLD
Re: Question
1100 covers will fit the 1000. Someone could have swapped engines however. Need pictures.
- virgilmobile
- Posts: 9091
- Joined: Sun Sep 19, 2010 5:39 pm
- Location: Denham Springs,La.
- Motorcycle: 1988 GL1500 I
Previously owned
78 GL1000
81 GL1100
82 GL1100 I
83 GL1100 I
83 GL1100 standard
84 GL 1200 I
Re: Question
Check the tag on the right side of the steering stem,just below the triple tree.It should have the make and year on it.
Hopefully you actually got a 77 gl1000 and just the valve covers were replaced.
Hopefully you actually got a 77 gl1000 and just the valve covers were replaced.
Re: Question
dingdong wrote:1100 covers will fit the 1000. Someone could have swapped engines however. Need pictures.
- WingAdmin
- Site Admin
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- Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:16 pm
- Location: Strongsville, OH
- Motorcycle: 2000 GL1500 SE
1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (sold)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2012 Suzuki Burgman 400 (wife's!)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer
Re: Question
Those are aftermarket valve covers. You definitely have GL1000 carbs on that engine, so I suspect you have a GL1000 engine that someone stuck some aftermarket valve covers on that say "GL1100."
Re: Question
Thank you, that makes it a little easier to know which engine to buy for! MikeWingAdmin wrote:Those are aftermarket valve covers. You definitely have GL1000 carbs on that engine, so I suspect you have a GL1000 engine that someone stuck some aftermarket valve covers on that say "GL1100."
- dingdong
- Posts: 4025
- Joined: Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:35 am
- Location: Oklahoma City
- Motorcycle: 1976 gl1000
1993 gl1500A
2004 NRX1800 Rune SOLD
Re: Question
Yeah! Looks like the PO just wanted chrome valve covers. The PO added an electric fuel pump too.
Re: Question
Yes, the PO stated he changed the fuel pump to electric, and put in a carb kit. He rode it 1 time and parked it, it sat outside for 2 years before I could convince him to sell it. I had to take off the fuel tank and clean the junk out of it, checked the carb bowls, luckily there was no fuel in it when he parked it. I changed all fluids, put a new battery in it and some fresh gas, it fires right up.dingdong wrote:Yeah! Looks like the PO just wanted chrome valve covers. The PO added an electric fuel pump too.
- RoadRogue
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- Location: southern Okanogan BC, Canada
- Motorcycle: 1997 1500SE
Re: Question
I am a little concerned about what appears to be holes drilled in the frame down tubes just in front of the timing cover. This seriously weakens the frame. Please have a close look at the area and repair as necessary .

Ride safe, Todd
Over night campers welcome
Over night campers welcome