Buying a 1993 GL1500

[Piddler]

Hello
I haven't been here since I sold my 82 GL1100 5 years ago
I have an opportunity to buy my Bro-in Law's 1993 Aspencade 1500 with 125,500 miles on it and a trailer with new tires. The bike has a car tire on the rear which I'm not sure I'm fond of.
My question is how many miles can I expect this bike to last? It's been well maintained and has some scratches on the paint from someone going off into the bushes and laying it down but no cracks in the plastic. I'm looking at $3,500 for the whole bundle.
Any opinions would be appreciated. I'd like to decide today
Greg in California

[DenverWinger]

No reason it won't last another 125,500 miles if maint has been good and continues to be good......

[minimac]

Don't be afraid of the car tire-try it, you might like it! Mine lasted over 35K miles and stuck to the road like glue.

[Piddler]

I just took it for a real test drive without my wife on back. Took it to 95mph and id went into a wobble, tried it 3 times, same thing. I guess the fork bearings are getting worn or loose.
Does that sound about right?
I think I'll opt out on the purchase. Bummer Bike with trailer for $3,500
Greg

[WingAdmin]

I just took it for a real test drive without my wife on back. Took it to 95mph and id went into a wobble, tried it 3 times, same thing. I guess the fork bearings are getting worn or loose.
Does that sound about right?
I think I'll opt out on the purchase. Bummer Bike with trailer for $3,500
Greg

There are quite a few different things that can cause speed wobble. Basically anything that allows flex - from wheel bearings, steering head bearings, worn fork bushings, swingarm pivot bearings, even a cracked frame.

[blupupher]

I just took it for a real test drive without my wife on back. Took it to 95mph and id went into a wobble, tried it 3 times, same thing. I guess the fork bearings are getting worn or loose.
Does that sound about right?
I think I'll opt out on the purchase. Bummer Bike with trailer for $3,500
Greg

There are quite a few different things that can cause speed wobble. Basically anything that allows flex - from wheel bearings, steering head bearings, worn fork bushings, swingarm pivot bearings, even a cracked frame.

I had issues with front end wobble at speed when I first put my car tire on and had it inflated to 40 PSI. When I upped the pressure to 50, high speed front end wobble went away (as well as the mushy feeling in curves).
I would check the rear tire pressure (and front as well) and adjust it to see if that helps the front end wobble.
What was the condition of the front tire?

[Earl43P]

My 93 was double darkside with an Austone Taxi Tire on the rear, one Pilot Activ and then one BT45 on front.
I wore 2 ATTs out on that bike plus another ATT on my Valkyrie.
Both bikes would weave at high speeds on that rear tire.

My Valkyrie now has a 205/65-16 and it'll weave ever so slightly, but far less than the Austone did at 45 psi.

So don't rule out that the rear "car" tire is causing it.

[Piddler]

I put air in front and rear, 42 in the front and 50 in the rear car tire (Rear had 32 lbs). Took it to 90mph and it felt like it was going to throw me off with movement of about 4" rapidly back and forth. I backed off the throttle but it kept wobbling so I tapped the foot brake and it stopped shaking. Don't want to do that again.
I had a 1979 KZ650 that had that same problem. My son borrowed it when he was 18 to drive to work after being warned about exceeding 70mph. He decided to race a Harley on the freeway and it went into the wobble. He, in his wisdom< jumped off at about 70, he said and removed a good portion of his skin. His clothes were shredded and he got a ride to work by a witness of the event where they sent him home. The bike was still on the freeway so i had to go pick it up.
Such a lovely story. lol

[Piddler]

I decided not to buy the 1993 with the wobble but instead bought a 2002 GL1500 in great condition. 67,000 miles on it but while driving it home, I stopped for gas and when I went to restart it,,, nothing. Not even a click. Lights come on, app the buttons and switches are where they should be. I’m at ck in Safeway parking lot. The seller will s on his way to help and San d it has never gone Ben him any trouble. I even walked to buy a new battery but still nothing. A fully charged solid state battery. Anybody ever seen this before?
I checked the fuse box and all seems good.

[Piddler]

That’s a 2003 GL1800 I meant to say

[Piddler]

Hello out there
I have the worst luck sometimes. I test drove a 2003 HD Ultra-glide yesterday, beautiful bike with a badass sound system which unfortunately ate up too much luggage space with the sub woofers and the amp, The ride was rough as hell and the idle would shake your teeth loose,
I declined on the purchase and on the way home I decided to check on a 2002 GL1800 with 68,500 miles on it. I had originally turned away from this bike because it looked purple in the online pics. I thought maybe if I had "Grape Ape" hand painted on the bags I could get away with that. Well it is kinda of purple but kinda of blue too so it actually looks pretty beautiful, started right up and rode like a dream, smooth as silk so I bought it.
On her maiden voyage home I stopped for gas, filled her up and hit the start button,,,, Nothing. Checked to make sure I was doing it right and still nothing. A couple young guys helped me push it off to a parking spot where called the seller he and I tried several different things and decided the battery may have died, I may have left the key on while filling after putting the side stand down which killed the engine. I found a battery .8 miles away and walked down to buy it, put it in and still nothing, The seller felt bad and drove the 15 miles to help me figure it out. We opened her up, pulled the left side bag, the battery compartment and the seat which had to come off, all while in a parking lot in a 91 degree heat. He thought maybe the side stand switch had stuck, but then we came to the conclusion it must be the starter solenoid. A 20 year old bike and the damn solenoid goes out the day I buy it. We then gave it a good push start and got it running. I tried the push with the two young men that helped me push it away from the gas pump but it didn't seem to even try to start so I figured it must be electrical.
I'll post a pic when I get it running and can get it out in the sunshine. It has no speakers in the two rear speaker boxes so I will want to remedy that plus I will want some highway pegs and a cup holder.
Any suggestions on those would be helpful.
Greg
Pittsburg, California

[Piddler]

Hello
I got her running with a new solenoid and some practice taking the bike apart and putting it back together until I got it right, It starts quickly and runs great, I put a new front tire on yesterday but when I rolled it out and put it in reverse, which has been working fine, the reverse light comes on but when I push the starter button it lurches backwards fir a fraction of a second and the R light goes out. Does anybody know what's going on?
G