Can anyone identify these engine covers?

[NathanielSalzman]

Hi folks, first post. I'm about to take delivery of my first GL. It's an '83 Standard and one of the things that drew me to this particular bike is the unique engine covers. Thing is, I can't find another example of them anywhere. Can anybody identify these? The going theory is that they are Japanese aftermarket covers.

Thanks!

[tfdeputydawg]

Need a much closer pic to see the detail of the covers.

[detdrbuzzard]

hello nathaniel and welcome to the forum. the engine covers seem to be stock

[NathanielSalzman]

Sadly this is the only photo I have right now. The covers weren't on it when I went to inspect the bike at the storage facility, so I haven't had a chance to look at them or take better photos.

And just to clarify, when I say engine covers I'm talking about the brown body panels covering the rear 3/4 of the engine. I've seen the smaller chrome covers on the Aspencade models from this year, but these are much larger and are color matched to the other body panels. Not sure if they afford any real aerodynamic advantage, but what they have managed to do is keep the engine really clean. It's got 47k miles and the engine cases look brand new.

[littlebeaver]

Welcome NathanielSalzman, I must say that's a great looking bike, the whitewall tires brings it to life..I had a Nomad with whitewall tires looked good..I saw a bike on youtube with covers like those [Dallas], looks great and that's the only other place I have seen them.. Welcome to the site.. You're not selling that bike are you? I wish it..

[NathanielSalzman]

If you could share a link to that YouTube video, that'd be awesome. And no, I'm not selling, I'm BUYING. I wish the white walls were still on it, but I fully plan to ride the rubber off of it, so the white walls may return.

[littlebeaver]

This probably won't answer your question but it show it..



   Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!

[NathanielSalzman]

Well there you go. Thanks for the link. They certainly look like Hondaline level of fit and matching. In all my searching though, that's the first set I've seen besides the bike I'm getting. They ought to look really sharp on the Standard. Would love to get confirmation as to their origins though. Anybody got a vintage Hondaline catalog?

[s_lapid]

this is my bike.
the covers are nice and give the bike a nice clean look. the only disadvantage is that
I think that they tend to reduce the ventilation around the engine . I am not sure how good this is for the bike.

[littlebeaver]

Is that an old Hudson car in the background of that photo, we used to hide in the trunk of one of those my dad had in the yard..We were children having fun..

[sweetoldwing]

The covers you have are usually referred to as engine covers or cowl covers. The original ones were made by Markland for the original Hondaline in 1981; you could have ordered them from Hondaline with your bikes paint color and with matching pinstriping. They were discontinued and Markland sold the molds in 1989. I have a set on my 1981 GL1100 Interstate that I bought from the original owner-he ordered them from dealer when he bought bike. The frames that the covers attach to are extremely hard to come by, as are the fasteners used originally; spring loaded quarter turn black nylon manufactored by DFCI (no longer made but a pic of them on webpage). I personally need 3 more fasteners of any type that work to secure cover so you guys who have these guards any info on getting some extra's from you or where you found them would be greatly appreciated. BTW, the covers DO NOT hold in heat to the engine. On the contrary they seem to keep moisture/water/rain out of the plug area (long a problem with 1100's). This is my 1st day on site and will post some pics of my Wing soon. My Wing is restored to near original condition (16.6K miles and runs better then new) and I have a ton of otherwise useless info about parts and resto issues specific to this bike so give me a shout if you need off the wall info.

[WingAdmin]

Just out of curiosity - who did Markland sell the molds to?

[NathanielSalzman]

Thanks for the info, everybody. These were indeed the covers that most have described. Time for an update. I've since taken delivery of the bike and it's great. I bought this bike over others precisely because it had these covers. Those I had to have. What I could do without is the bastardization of harley parts on the front end. The improvised headlights and front blinkers have got to go. I've also got the proper front rim for it, which will go on tomorrow. In the long run, it will get a reworked seat from Vinyl-Lux and flatter handlebars. It will also need a refresh to the paint job eventually.

swetoldwing is correct about these covers keeping everything clean. The motor looks brand new under the covers, even after nearly 50k miles and 30 years. Only the exposed bits have any real pitting on them, which is good. Like swetoldwing, I'm missing a couple of fasteners, but I've got a line on replacements. If it works out, I'll share the source.

[sweetoldwing]

Regarding the molds-I heard 2 stories-one was they sold them to Craig Vetter of Vetter Fairings. I'm not sure about that one cause Vetter went out of business if I remember correctly around 1989 (when Hondaline took all of his business). The story I believe is they were sold to a small company that became Kuryakyn. The company never pursued making them after buying the molds because by 1990 Honda had so drastically redesigned the Gold Wing cowl area that there was little demand for the old full covers. I wish you and I had the molds; there's money to be made with them today!

[sweetoldwing]

Hey Nathaniel..your bike looks real sweet. Great purchase and I agree with your line of thinking-these old Wings should be kept/brought back to original condition if financially and mechanically feasable.

[NathanielSalzman]

Hey Nathaniel..your bike looks real sweet. Great purchase and I agree with your line of thinking-these old Wings should be kept/brought back to original condition if financially and mechanically feasable.

Thanks! It won't be fully stock when I'm done. I'll do some soft customization, and probably custom paint, but it will be much closer to stock than it is now — at least mechanically.

[cowboy450]

Anyone ever find a source for the spring loaded fasteners?

[NathanielSalzman]

I'm still looking. I found a supplier with the same kind of fasteners, but their online configurator didn't register the size I need. I'll have to call them. They wouldn't be that hard to fabricate in a pinch out of a nylon bolt, washer and spring. It also wouldn't be that hard to convert the bracket to simply take threaded nylon bolts as opposed to quarter-turn fasteners.

If/when I come across a solution, I'll share it with the group.

[bottona]

QUARTER TURN FASTENERS FOR MARKLAND GL1100 ENGINE COVERS

MCMASTER-CARR:

STANDARD CATALOG ITEMS:

93442A442 SLOTTED PANEL SCREW (1) PACK OF (10 EACH) $12.14/PACK - $12.14 TOTAL

93442A223 CLIP-ON NUT FOR PANEL SCREW (2) PACKS OF (5 EACH) $7.45/PACK - $14.90 TOTAL

93442A311 SPLIT PANEL SCREW RETAINER (1) PACK OF (10 EACH) $4.49/PACK - $4.49 TOTAL

SPECIAL ORDER ITEMS: MINIMUM QTY (100)

93442A999A SELF EJECTING SPRING (1) PACK OF (100 EACH) $10.58/PACK - $10.58 TOTAL

93442A999B SELF EJECTING SPRING CUP (1) PACK OF (100 EACH) $8.44/PACK - $8.44 TOTAL

TOTAL COST: $50.55 (LESS SHIPPING)

[cowboy450]

I see I posted almost 2 years ago. I gave up looking for originals and came up with something different. I welded washers with a 10mm center hole (if memory serves) over the original holes in the mounting bracket. I then used 10mm "Christmas tree" push in thingys. Works great but not nearly as easy to remove as the originals.

[NathanielSalzman]

This is terrific info! Thanks for tracking that down. I put in an order for all but the last two items. McMaster's website couldn't find the spring and the cup. Any idea what the disconnect is?

[NathanielSalzman]

Also, if anybody has a line on another set of these covers, I'd be interested in buying them if it's not outrageously expensive. I'd also be interested in the mounting rails, but those would be much easier to fabricate. Cracked or beat up is fine.

[bottona]

The last two parts on the listing were special order from Southco. McMaster Carr placed the order for me. Delivery took a week more. I have 90 extra of these parts (springs and spring caps) I would gladly share them if you send me your address. I could draw up plans for the frames if anyone has covers without frames. I had to grind off about 1/32 off of each tab to get the new nuts to lock into the tabs.

[Dan J]

While researching solving the heat given off by my 1983 Aspencade I ran across this topic. My engine runs cool but the heat radiating onto my feet and lower legs in the summer isn't working for me. I have installed highway pegs and they do help but the heat coming off the engine is still very uncomfortable. I am hoping somebody out there might have a set of the Markland engine covers referrenced in this subject that they might be willing to part with. Please let me know if you do. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[sw3dl1]

Dan J,
I have a set of these covers. I've had them for about 6 years waiting to put them on something. They are Cosmo Black with the proper Honda pinstripe. They are in almost perfect condition. I have the mounting rails as well. I'm going to say I do not have the quarter turn fasteners, but I might be able to locate 4 of them from when I took the off a 1981 GL1100 Interstate.
They are rare as "Hen's Teeth" and I have to tell you they will not be cheep. Most of the time only "died in the wool" collectors know of them. I've only seen one other set for sale in six years, as a mater of fact, that's the only set I have evere seen other then the set I have.
I'm pretty sure I'm not going to use them, I was debating with myself about putting them on eBay last week.
If you are interested send a private message.