Gearing

[Skeldog]

as usual another question comes to my mind. I have this old 82 running and it rides OK and has decent power. however I guess being built in the early 80's they were mostly looking at 55 mph highway speeds.and it runs fine at 65 and Ok at 70 ,but with our Texas speedlimits running 75 for the most part it seems to be getting close to where it's singing pretty fast by 75. I think close to 5600 RPM at that speed if I remember right.I was just wondering if anybody ever swapped a later model rear drive on one ( providing it's a different ratio) if it's even possible. probably not worth the trouble unless it's a direct bolt on. but just wondering out loud.

[DenverWinger]

I wouldn't worry about it. These 4 cyl 'wings are happy to sing along at high RPM all day long.

In 2012 Deb and I were riding my 1100 which was also pulling a fully loaded camper trailer (appx 550#), we were on I-76 thru Colorado and and I-80 thru Nebraska with 75mph limit (I was probably going 80), the bike never complained one bit. 5500rpm for hours on end, the entire 700 mile day in fact! We were in a hurry to reach destination in Michigan. This was in 2012 record heat, too. Temps were in the 100 degree zone! Engine temperature showed at 5/8 scale and stayed there. Fuel mileage was only around 27mpg with that speed and load though.

The return trip was much more leisurely, taking 5 days. We returned via 2 lane US24 (parallels I-70), making camp again after only 200-400 miles. It was even hotter, mid afternoons it was reaching mid 100's, the bike still not complaining but the humans couldn't take the heat and we'd have to stop in some small town and cool off somewhere until temperature came down some, then we could put on some more miles.

These 4cyl 'Wing engines were designed by running them way past red line under severe conditions until they came apart, analyze what broke, redesign and test again. Rinse and repeat. So they are an almost bulletproof design!

[Skeldog]

Thanks for the reply. that is good to know. as you can tell I'm new to them and with a 38 year old machine I was a little reluctant to push it too hard.but if I can keep up with the majority of traffic I'm good with it.I do need to balance the carbs before long. the previous owner had screwed the left side adjusters down quite a bit to keep it running. I removed them as a set and cleand them without removing the linkage and installed and ended up backing those back off till with a temp feel on the pipes as it warms up I was getting all 4 to warm up together and I know that's a crude way to start but it does fairly good. I do know a fellow with a guage set I should be able to borrow and tune them before long.I'm sure it will help and I have not looked for the procedure but I know it must be available in the how to articles

[Overdog]

Something doesn't sound right....82 & 83 are pretty close in their gearing. My 83 is turning 4000 at 75 mph. I wonder if at some time an 80 or 81 engine was swapped into your bike.

[Skeldog]

I'm sure that's possible

[newday777]

Something doesn't sound right....82 & 83 are pretty close in their gearing. My 83 is turning 4000 at 75 mph. I wonder if at some time an 80 or 81 engine was swapped into your bike.

Actually, in 1983 Honda changed the gearing in the transmission, to give lower rpms in overdrive, 5th gear.

[WingAdmin]

Something doesn't sound right....82 & 83 are pretty close in their gearing. My 83 is turning 4000 at 75 mph. I wonder if at some time an 80 or 81 engine was swapped into your bike.

Actually, in 1983 Honda changed the gearing in the transmission, to give lower rpms in overdrive, 5th gear.

This is correct.

[Overdog]

They changed the 82 high gear from the 80 & 81. In 83 they changed the secondary reduction ratio and also gave it a shorter first gear. The actual transmission ratio of high gear is the same on the 82 and 83

[Overdog]

Code: Select all

Features  (Last Rev. July 8, 2007)	'75 Std.	'76 Std.	'76-LTD	'77 Std.	'78 Std.	'79 Std.	'80 Std.	'80 Int.	'81 Std.	'81 Int.	'82 Std.	'82 Int.	'82 Asp.	'83 Std.	'83 Int.	'83 Asp.	'84 Std.	'84 Int.	'84 Asp.
GL-1000 (Engine 4-Cyl. 0999cc Liquid-Cooled)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----
GL-1000 - Government rated 84 Max.hp	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----
GL-1100 (Engine 4-Cyl. 1085cc Liquid-Cooled)	----	----	----	----	----	----	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	----	----	----
GL-1100 - Government rated 81 Max.hp	----	----	----	----	----	----	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	----	----	----
GL-1200 (Engine 4-Cyl. 1182cc Liquid-Cooled)	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	Yes	Yes	Yes
GL-1200 - Government rated 86 Max.hp	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	Yes	Yes	Yes
GL-1500 (Engine 6-Cyl. 1520cc Liquid-Cooled)	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----
GL-1500 - Government Max.rating (per model)	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----
Air Compressor (on-board)	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	Optional	Yes	----	Optional	Yes	----		Yes
Audio System: Clarion II (AM/FM-Intercom)	None	None	None	None	None	None	None	Clarion-II	None	Clarion-II	----	C,Type-II-O	C,Type-II	----	C,Type-IIl-O	C,Type-III	----	P,Type-II	P,Type-III
Automatic Hydraulic Valve Adjusters	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	Yes	Yes	Yes
CB radio (Opt. or Std.)	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	Opt.	----	Opt.	----	Opt.	Opt.	----	Opt.	Opt.	----	Opt.	Opt.
Brakes: Front, Dual-disc, single piston caliper	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----
Brakes: Front, Dual-disc, twin piston caliper	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	Yes	Yes	Vented	Yes	Yes	Vented	Yes	Yes	Vented
Brakes: Integrated F.Dual-disc, Rear Single-disc	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Brakes: Rear, Single-disc, single piston caliper	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----
Brakes: Rear, Single-disc, twin piston caliper	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	Yes	Yes	Vented	Yes	Yes	Vented	Yes	Yes	Vented
Carburetion (2) 36mm CV	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----
Carburetion (4) 30mm CV	----	----	----	----	----	----	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	----	----	----
Carburetion (4) 31mm CV	----	----	----	Yes	Yes	Yes	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----
Carburetion (4) 32mm CV	Yes	Yes	Yes	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	Yes	Yes	Yes
Electronic Cruise Control	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----
Fuel Capacity	5.0 gal.	5.0 gal.	5.0 gal.	5.0 gal.	5.0 gal.	5.0 gal.	5.3 gal.	5.3 gal.	5.3 gal.	5.3 gal.	5.3 gal.	5.3 gal.	5.3 gal.	5.3 gal.	5.3 gal.	5.3 gal.	5.8 gal.	5.8 gal.	5.8 gal.
Fuel Injection  ('85 LTD-E and '86 SE-i only)	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----
Trans. Primary reduction	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708
Trans. Secondary reduction	0.825	0.825	0.825	0.825	0.825	0.825	0.973	0.973	0.973	0.973	0.973	0.973	0.973	0.897	0.897	0.897	0.897	0.897	0.897
Gear ratio of 1st	2.500	2.500	2.500	2.500	2.500	2.500	2.500	2.500	2.500	2.500	2.500	2.500	2.500	2.642	2.642	2.642	2.643	2.643	2.643
Gear ratio of 2nd	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.708	1.667	1.667	1.667	1.667	1.667	1.667	1.667	1.667	1.667	1.667	1.667	1.667	1.667
Gear ratio of 3rd	1.333	1.333	1.333	1.333	1.333	1.333	1.286	1.286	1.286	1.286	1.250	1.250	1.250	1.250	1.250	1.250	1.250	1.250	1.250
Gear ratio of 4th	1.097	1.097	1.097	1.097	1.097	1.097	1.065	1.065	1.065	1.065	1.000	1.000	1.000	1.000	1.000	1.000	1.000	1.000	1.000
Gear ratio of 5th	0.939	0.939	0.939	0.939	0.939	0.939	0.909	0.909	0.909	0.909	0.829	0.829	0.829	0.829	0.829	0.829	0.829	0.829	0.829
Gear ratio of Final Drive	3.400	3.400	3.400	3.400	3.400	3.400	3.091	3.091	3.091	3.091	3.100	3.100	3.100	3.100	3.100	3.100	2.833	2.833	2.833
Ignition System: Electronic (no points)	----	----	----	----	----	----	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ignition System: Points and Condenser	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	----
Instrument Cluster	2-Analog	2-Analog	2-Analog	2-Analog	2-Analog	2-Analog	2-Analog	2-Analog	2-Analog	2-Analog	2-Analog	2-Analog	2-Analog	2-Analog	2-Analog	Digital	2-Analog	2-Analog	Digital
Saddlebag liners	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	Yes	----	Yes	----	Yes	Yes	----	Yes	Yes	----	Yes	Yes
Saddlebags, Fairing and Trunk	----	----	----	----	----	----	----	Yes	----	Yes	----	Yes	Yes	----	Yes	Yes	----	Yes	Yes
Seat Height	31.9"	31.9"	31.9"	31.9"	31.9"	31.9"	31.3"	31.3"	31.3"	31.3"	31.1"	31.1"	30.7"	30.7"	30.7"	30.7"	30.7"	30.7"	30.7"