1993 Gl1500 Aspencade

[rowanb]

Above are the ebay pictures of what is now my 1993 Gl1500 Aspencade. I made a silly offer to the seller and got it for well under £3000. I jumped the train to Scotland and had a very plush and comfortable 220 mile ride back home. The only problem, a slight weep of oil from the right hand fork seal.

I did do a little checking into the history of the bike, https://www.vcheck.uk, provide a good free service. It's a 1993 model, first registered in the UK in 2003. The earliest mot showed a 2006 mileage of 76000, so it's done a fair few miles in a foreign clime. The only advisories were for worn tires and brake pads, the one worry was headlamp aim to high in 201, it passed 1 minute later so it must have just needed adjusting. It's now done 90000 miles and the current mot runs out mid July.

I know for the price I paid it's going to need work doing. What that amounts to will be revealed, as I go through the bike. I see this as a road-going project, as I am going to continue riding it as much as is possible,while doing the necessary to make it a trustworthy ride.

[rowanb]

The pictures that should have appeared in the first post

[MikeB]

Curious, why is the side stand resting on a 2 x 6? Is there a low spot on your driveway or is the side stand too short?

[rowanb]

Hi Mike. The photos are the ebay ones from the seller. I asked him about the block of wood and he said it felt as though the bike was leaning over too far when it was on the sidestand. Now that I've got it (the bike) the lean angle seems perfectly fine, no need for a block of wood. The centre stand needs to come off because it doesn't spring back up, needs lubricating, (it's also very rusty, so he wanted to keep it out of view in the photos probably). I reckon the seller was keeping it on the side stand in his garage, and the block of wood was to keep it in a more upright position.

[MikeB]

Okay, I understand. The previous owner must not owned GL1500 before. They do seem to lean over quite a bit but that is by design. Makes them more stable when parked.

Thanks for the reply. Good luck with the center sand. Should not be too difficult to fix.

[dingdong]

Lots of rust could mean the frame is rusted out causing the bike to lean excessively on the side stand as well the center stand not wanting to spring back. You might want to inspect just to be sure since you are in the land of perpetual rain. Lol.

[MikeB]

Lots of rust could mean the frame is rusted out causing the bike to lean excessively on the side stand as well the center stand not wanting to spring back. You might want to inspect just to be sure since you are in the land of perpetual rain. Lol.

Though rusted components could mean problems, he said,

... Now that I've got it (the bike) the lean angle seems perfectly fine, no need for a block of wood. ...

So I don't think the frame is rusted out but it should still be looked at just in case there is some rust on the frame.

[rowanb]

Thanks, Mike B and Dingdong for your replies. The framework around the center stand looks solid.When it's on the center stand, the back wheel has good ground clearance. There is more significant rust on the front down tubes and cross members. It doesn't look like the plastics have been off for a while. I have the wire brushes and rustproofing undercoat ready.
Liverpool does feel like the county of perpetual rain at times. I have to do all the work outside, so rain spoils play sometimes. I will be posting photos regularly as I go. On my last bike I never took many photos. I can already see how useful they will be on reassembly.
I hope the posts will be useful for anyone looking for a budget 1500 in the UK. Showing what's behind the plastic. Our weather certainly takes its toll on bikes.
Lower plastic parts removed.

The lower fairing reflector strips have broken bits, the piece with the missing tab was glued in.

The lower running lamps have horrible looking corrosion on the back of the reflectors.

Rusty hose clips.

Radiator fluid drained, rusty framework exposed.

More to follow.

[MikeB]

Looks like some pretty nasty rust to deal with.

Look into Loctite Extend Rust Neutralizer. I don't know if it is available in the UK but you can check.
http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/s_trmt ... alizer.htm

[landisr]

Regarding the leaking fork seal: You might try a SealMate. People seem to have success with them. Google them and also check out several Youtube videos about them. If it doesn't work you're only out a few pesos, but what the heck.. ?

SealMate.net

Ron in AZ

[rowanb]

Thanks for your suggestion MikeB we have a similar loctite product available I went with Hammerite Kurust. I am going to use that brand of paint, so I wanted to match the product. Pictures of the effects to follow.

[rowanb]

Thank you landisr. I watched some youtube and am having a go at making my own tool out of various thickness of plastic bottles. I am going to tackle the timing belts first.

[rowanb]

Timing Belts.
The timing belts are off.

Old timing belt

Close up

labelling

I decided to drain the radiator and move the hoses out of the way for a first attempt at doing this job.

Cover on right

Cover on left

I also used the fact that a fair bit of the lower front frame was exposed, to clean and rust treat the corroded areas.

Cover off left

Cover off centre

Cover off centre

I prefer a breaker bar to an impact driver for hex and socket head bolts and nuts.

Breaker bar

[landisr]

Wow. Yes, you definitely need to address that frame rust.