Update: Several months into purchasing my first wing, 82 GL110A, I have used this forum shamelessly. Changed timing belts, radiator hoses, rebuilt brake calipers and replaced brake lines with stainless braided, adjusted valves and synced carbs. New tires too. We are experiencing unseasonably warm weather, so I've ridden it the last two days, and it is running well, and quite a trip. I have long been fascinated by Wings, and I purchased this as a winter project, But now I want to keep it. I have some questions, for anyone who wants to weigh in, no urgency.
1. Tires, I bought Bias Ply tires because I couldn't find radials to fit. I prefer Radials, Are there any options?
2. Wind shield: Stock windshield is a little too high for my personal preference, and I could cut it down, but even too high there is a lot of buffeting around my head . Any options? I haven't looked online because I have spent quite enough money for now.
3. How do you guys justify owning more than one bike? I now have two that I want to keep, but I can only ride one at a time. My other bike is a BMW 1150 RT, retired police bike.
I thank this forum and the helpful advice I have gotten sincerely.
update and questions
- donmcferran
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2018 9:06 pm
- Location: Bend, OR USA
- Motorcycle: 82 HondaGoldwing Aspencade
- DenverWinger
- Posts: 2441
- Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 2:20 pm
- Location: Denver, CO
- Motorcycle: (s)
'80 GL1100 STD Vetter (2005-)
'93 GL1500 Aspencade (2017-)
'83 Trav-Lite Camper (2010-)
Past rides
'72 CL350 (1980-1988) sold
'78 Suzuki GS550 (1985-2005) sold
'77 GL1000 (2002-2006) sold
Re: update and questions
I bought the 1500 two yrs ago, transferred the insurance from the 1100 ($75/yr) to the 1500 and upped the insurance to full coverage. Two and a half years still left on the 1100's 5 year "Collector" tags. Then I thought "That was stupid" and called the insurance back. They added the 1100 back to the 1500 policy for $25/yr. And since the 1100 has depreciated out (in Colorado license plate $ based on vehicle "book" value) tags are only $25 or so a year, it will be around $125 to re-up my 5-year tag this summer.donmcferran wrote: ↑Sun Jan 27, 2019 1:00 pm 3. How do you guys justify owning more than one bike? I now have two that I want to keep, but I can only ride one at a time. My other bike is a BMW 1150 RT, retired police bike.
So it really only costs me $50 extra per year to keep around. Maintenance has to be done on a bike regardless, and there's two bikes to spread the maintenance-miles out between.
A local inventor has figured a way to turn a sausage grinder backward to manufacture pigs.
♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫
♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪
~Mark
♫ 99 Little Bugs in the Code, ♪
♪ 99 Bugs in the Code. ♫
♫ Take one down, Patch it around, ♪
♫ 127 Little Bugs in the Code. ♫ ♪
~Mark
- Wilcoy02
- Posts: 1212
- Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2010 11:37 pm
- Location: Marengo, Ohio
- Motorcycle: 1983 GL1100 I purchased 3/16
1983 GL1100I frame with an 80 engine. poor boy installed with C-5 ignition--DIED in Grande Prairie Alberta Canada 8/15
98 valkyrie sold 8/16
Re: update and questions
One bike to ride and the other to fix. You always have a bike to ride.
I have 2 extra windshields that came with the bike. They are shorter than the original. If interested give me a pm and I will send pics and measurements. They have been sitting in a box for the past couple of years. No scratches.
I have 2 extra windshields that came with the bike. They are shorter than the original. If interested give me a pm and I will send pics and measurements. They have been sitting in a box for the past couple of years. No scratches.
- Viking
- Posts: 3760
- Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:59 pm
- Location: North Bay, Ontario, Canada
- Motorcycle: 2009 GL1800 AD
1987 Harley Softail Custom
1974 Harley FLH (sold)
1965 Harley FLHE (sold)
1957 Harley Chopper (sold)
Re: update and questions
Before I bought my GL1800, I had four motorcycles in the garage. I did not need to, nor want to justify it. It just was the way it was. If a person is a motorcycle enthusiast, no justification is necessary. It is as the T-Shirt says:
If I have to explain, you would not understand, and if you understand, no explanation is required.
Since buying the Goldwing, I have sold three of the other bikes, but still am the proud owner of two (incuding the GL1800). One (a 1987 model) only gets ridden in the fall when highway riding is limited due to salt spray, but they have not begun salting the city yet. The other gets ridden the remainder of the riding season, which total is five to six months per year, here.
If I have to explain, you would not understand, and if you understand, no explanation is required.
Since buying the Goldwing, I have sold three of the other bikes, but still am the proud owner of two (incuding the GL1800). One (a 1987 model) only gets ridden in the fall when highway riding is limited due to salt spray, but they have not begun salting the city yet. The other gets ridden the remainder of the riding season, which total is five to six months per year, here.
- Rednaxs60
- Posts: 2952
- Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2015 12:44 pm
- Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Motorcycle: 1985 GL1200 LTD
2014 Can-Am Spyder RT LE
2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan (sold)
1995 GL1500 SE CDN Edition (sold)
2012 Suzuki DL1000 VStrom (sold)
2008 GL1800 (sold)
Ontario 1985 GL1200 LTD (sold)
Re: update and questions
I have two, an '85 LTD and a '95 1500. When one is down for work maintenance, have one to ride. Can keep both on the road for less insurance than a newer model.
Being fully retired need a project so my '85 fills this requirement, been working/refurbishing it for almost four years. It has been used for several tours in BC and down south, solo and two up. I also like to work on it and get it closer to original as possible.
Do I need two, no, but living in Victoria where I can ride practically all year round would not be as nice if only having one bike. Both are GWs but each is different.
Older bikes need attention and when the weather is good, sucks to have the only bike you have down for work/maintenance.
Just a few thoughts.
Being fully retired need a project so my '85 fills this requirement, been working/refurbishing it for almost four years. It has been used for several tours in BC and down south, solo and two up. I also like to work on it and get it closer to original as possible.
Do I need two, no, but living in Victoria where I can ride practically all year round would not be as nice if only having one bike. Both are GWs but each is different.
Older bikes need attention and when the weather is good, sucks to have the only bike you have down for work/maintenance.
Just a few thoughts.
"When you write the story of your life, don't let anyone else hold the pen"
"My '85 FI model is not a project bike, it's my retirement career"
Ernest
"My '85 FI model is not a project bike, it's my retirement career"
Ernest
- donmcferran
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2018 9:06 pm
- Location: Bend, OR USA
- Motorcycle: 82 HondaGoldwing Aspencade
Re: update and questions
Thanks Wilcoy02. (He is selling me one of his extra shields) New wrinkle, Right front fork is leaking. Rebuild time, I guess. Not surprising, since the fork is 37 years old. I'm looking for opinions on upgrading to progressive springs. Will it make an important difference? I realize "important" is subjective, but I'm looking for opinions. I put progressive springs on forks on an ST1100 once, and didn't really notice much difference.
So please, let the opining begin.
So please, let the opining begin.
- Rednaxs60
- Posts: 2952
- Joined: Wed Nov 18, 2015 12:44 pm
- Location: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
- Motorcycle: 1985 GL1200 LTD
2014 Can-Am Spyder RT LE
2021 Royal Enfield Himalayan (sold)
1995 GL1500 SE CDN Edition (sold)
2012 Suzuki DL1000 VStrom (sold)
2008 GL1800 (sold)
Ontario 1985 GL1200 LTD (sold)
Re: update and questions
Here's my take on suspension. Not only does it provide for a great ride and bike performance, but suspension is the only item on the bike keeping the tires firmly planted on the road. Even though we cannot feel it, the tires with a soft/weak/worn out suspension tend to "hop" causing the tires to scallop reducing the longevity of the tires. If the tires do this when cornering all sorts of things can happen. This same suspension will tend to allow the bike to "wallow" in the corners/twisties and can become more pronounced as the speed increases. In my opinion and just mine, I liken a good suspension to a safety item.
For a car, when you take it into a tire shop, there is generally posters on the walls that explains what is happening to your vehicles tires should some suspension parts be worn out. The basic premise is that if you do not correct the root problem, you will be back to get new tires and lighten your wallet. You can tell when a car has a worn out strut/shock suspension by watching it go over bumps and dips in the road, and it bounces more than one would expect.
You may not notice a difference, but the difference will be with the tires, and how the bike handles when you really need it to. You may notice that it doesn't dive as much when you stop, or come off the centre stand. Just little things but all telling.
After 36 years, we all sag a bit. Cheers
For a car, when you take it into a tire shop, there is generally posters on the walls that explains what is happening to your vehicles tires should some suspension parts be worn out. The basic premise is that if you do not correct the root problem, you will be back to get new tires and lighten your wallet. You can tell when a car has a worn out strut/shock suspension by watching it go over bumps and dips in the road, and it bounces more than one would expect.
You may not notice a difference, but the difference will be with the tires, and how the bike handles when you really need it to. You may notice that it doesn't dive as much when you stop, or come off the centre stand. Just little things but all telling.
After 36 years, we all sag a bit. Cheers
"When you write the story of your life, don't let anyone else hold the pen"
"My '85 FI model is not a project bike, it's my retirement career"
Ernest
"My '85 FI model is not a project bike, it's my retirement career"
Ernest
- donmcferran
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2018 9:06 pm
- Location: Bend, OR USA
- Motorcycle: 82 HondaGoldwing Aspencade