1978 and 1979 GL1000

[little-joe]

I bought two GL1000s last summer as a paired deal; 1978 (electrical issues) and 1979 (junk gas tank); neither running and they'd been sitting for years. Finally got the 79 running and moveable (picture attached). Still has a lot of quirks. I've worked on cars but am new to motorcycles. Not sure this purchase was my brightest idea being a beginner, but I've learned a lot. Wanted to give up at various points but glad I made it this far. I tracked most of my repairs in a spreadsheet and may sell as is. But we'll see where this journey takes me.

[pidjones]

Congrats on getting her this far!

I've had one of each. Having done a few GL1000s, I would list carbs rebuild, belts, tires, battery, brake master and slaves, fork rebuild, electrical connector clean-up, points and condenser, plugs, fuel tank clean as expected needs to get a GL1000 back on the road. You might get by with less, but these are things age takes out. The pistons, crank, gears, etc. usually hold up for hundreds of thousands of miles if water is kept away. Head bearings on a '78 or '79 should be rollers and last well.

Except for the carb rebuild, the rest of it is fairly straight-forward (and, once you have done it, the carbs aren't that hard). A Honda service manual (available online in pdf form) is a MUST - Clymer and Haynes are inaccurate although they have better photos.

[little-joe]

Thanks pidjones! I'd made a list of needed repairs after I bought them and all things you mentioned were on there except for the points and condenser. Good to know I wasn't too far off.