Was this a good buy?

[orthoDaniel]

Hey guys, new Goldwing owner here. I am really excited to ride this bike long distance.
I bought a 1993 gl1500 interstate, and I don't know if I got a good deal on my bike at $3200
I bought it in Cour d'Alene Idaho. It has 100,000 miles on it. The owner did a lot of work on the bike, including timing belts, alternator coupling, all-new fluids, new tires, LED lights all around, replaced the stereo, and added a voltmeter ammeter and temp gauge. In some sense, the bike is someone's completed project bike. He replaced the pegs with boards, put a heel-toe shifter on, and painted the bike yellow, and put some carbon fiber wrap on some trim pieces(he did an okay job but not great).

The guy was an absolute salesman, so I walked away feeling weird about the whole deal. This is why I am asking you guys if this seemed to be a good deal, or was something I should have walked away from.

[Rambozo]

Not great, but not terrible. The Interstate lacks a number of neat features like reverse.
Good service records are worth a lot. The mileage is not really an issue as long as the bike has been well taken care of. There are plenty of examples with double that and still going strong.
Not a fan of the heel/toe shifters. Too easy to rest your foot on the shifter and wear the shift forks, or apply too much pressure and bend them. 4th gear seems especially susceptible to damage on the 1500 and it happens a lot more on bikes with boards. There is a test you can do.
Paint looks good from the photos, but you need to see that in-person and like the color. Plenty of paint jobs are good from far, but far from good.
The Fire Creek Windbender windscreen is one of the better designs that a lot of folks like.
Looks like you need a new rear backrest. I see a CB antenna, but no factory CB. Something aftermarket?
Always better to get a well-used and taken care of bike, than one that has been sitting untouched for years.
You can learn almost anything you want to know in this and other GoldWing forums.
Nothing better for long distance than a Wing. You just missed the 11,000 miles in 11 days Iron Butt Rally.

[Randy1352]

Any deal is a good deal if the buyer and seller are happy. If you smile going down the road on your new bike then it's a great deal. Just enjoy life .

[Happytrails]

Seem like if bike is running good then you possibly got the good deal. Maybe say the best bike is the one your riding.

Like the spot that the tablet mount is located. Garmin is good but tablet maybe solves a lot of issues/shortcomings on

[MaineStreet]

I paid the same amount in February for a '99 SE w/75K miles. It didn't have the niceties you mention and I've spent a fair amount of time and an additional $1K for tires, Madstad windscreen, maintenance, etc. I agree with others that it seems like a fair price. Not a smoking deal (as GL1500s go), but good. That said, it's my opinion that for the money, it's hard to beat a used GW as a value proposition. Run incredibly well, very reliable, super comfy, maneuver surprising well, can tow a trailer, and can carry $120 worth of groceries in the bags. What's not to like?

Enjoy the new ride!

[GD2]

It sure is YELLOW!

[Rambozo]

Run incredibly well, very reliable, super comfy, maneuver surprising well, can tow a trailer, and can carry $120 worth of groceries in the bags. What's not to like?

Well, I don't like that sometimes I can carry $120 worth of groceries in one bag.

[MaineStreet]

Well, I don't like that sometimes I can carry $120 worth of groceries in one bag.

I'm right there with you - trust me.

[orthoDaniel]

Thanks, guys for the responses. Took the bike on a club ride the other day, that was a first also, It was pretty fun. Wish I could have done the ironbutt. So far I haven't encountered any serious issues with the bike. The upper fairing vent levers are gone, so I can't get air over my arms, and there is a buffetting at over 65 mph due to the air pressure difference behind the fairing. That should be an easy fix.

Unfortunately I have no service records on the bike. I am also trusting the guy's word and work on all the things he did to the bike.
The CB antenna is still there, but the CB unit is removed. I was looking to get that back on, but I need to figure out the logistics of mounting an original or aftermarket unit, and how I would actually use that with my current setup.

It is so far a much better bike than the sort-of running Virago 1000 I still have.

[Happytrails]

CB very nice for group ride if other goldwings using. Missing group riding here

[ScottTheEngineer]

If he put that much time and money into it I can't imagine he would have skimped on something as important as servicing. People that invest so much into something are fairly anal in the oil change department.
I'd swap fluids and air filter anyway just so I know 100% as it's really easy to do.
If oil is good put it in the lawnmower.
Final drive oil change for sure.
Looks like a good deal though. Better than I did on my 99 at 5k.

[offcenter]

Run incredibly well, very reliable, super comfy, maneuver surprising well, can tow a trailer, and can carry $120 worth of groceries in the bags. What's not to like?

Well, I don't like that sometimes I can carry $120 worth of groceries in one bag.

Funny that this came up! I just now came back from grocery shopping with my '99 SE.
Here's what I brought home:
4 2 liter bottles of coke.
4 2 liter bottles of ice tea.
1 2 liter bottle of fruit juice.
1 gallon of milk.
1 loaf of bread.
1 bag of sandwich rolls.
1 pound of sliced cheese.
1 container with 6 chocolate desert cakes.
...and I had a LOT of room left!
LOL!!!

P.S. that was only $53 worth of food. Guess I
didn't spend enough.

P.P.S. When I told the checkout lady that this was all going
home on the motorcycle, her jaw dropped and she said,
"You must have a BIG bike!".

[offcenter]

Thanks, guys for the responses. Took the bike on a club ride the other day, that was a first also, It was pretty fun. Wish I could have done the ironbutt. So far I haven't encountered any serious issues with the bike. The upper fairing vent levers are gone, so I can't get air over my arms, and there is a buffetting at over 65 mph due to the air pressure difference behind the fairing. That should be an easy fix.

Unfortunately I have no service records on the bike. I am also trusting the guy's word and work on all the things he did to the bike.
The CB antenna is still there, but the CB unit is removed. I was looking to get that back on, but I need to figure out the logistics of mounting an original or aftermarket unit, and how I would actually use that with my current setup.

It is so far a much better bike than the sort-of running Virago 1000 I still have.

That looks like a really nice bike.
If you don't have the service history, CHANGE THE TIMING BELTS!! A broken belt could trash the engine.
Hmm....I like yellow bikes, particularly lemon yellow. But School Bus Yellow?
Uhh....Not so much.
One thing is for sure. You'll never lose that one in a big group of bikes at a rally!
Best of luck with it!

[KAW1185]

Seems like a decent buy.

I picked up a 95SE with 87,000 on the clock for 3500.

Very nice condition.
Previous owner had recently done a lot of maintenance on her.

He replaced the timing belts, spark plugs, fuel and air filters. Oil and filter change and rear differential fluid and coolant changed.

It came with Dunlop Elite 4’s with about 85% tread life left. Radio, cruise, CB and intercom all work. Recent PA inspected good till July of 24.

This was a buy it and ride it bike so I couldn’t pass it up.

Pretty happy with the deal I got.

I have had this bike for 1 month and I have put a little over 2,000 miles on her. So far so good.

[orthoDaniel]

Now thats a good deal, KAW1185!

[newday777]

Thanks, guys for the responses. Took the bike on a club ride the other day, that was a first also, It was pretty fun. Wish I could have done the ironbutt. So far I haven't encountered any serious issues with the bike. The upper fairing vent levers are gone, so I can't get air over my arms, and there is a buffetting at over 65 mph due to the air pressure difference behind the fairing. That should be an easy fix.
Unfortunately I have no service records on the bike. I am also trusting the guy's word and work on all the things he did to the bike.
The CB antenna is still there, but the CB unit is removed. I was looking to get that back on, but I need to figure out the logistics of mounting an original or aftermarket unit, and how I would actually use that with my current setup.

It is so far a much better bike than the sort-of running Virago 1000 I still have.

With the Windbender windshield, the aftermarket radio, and the upgraded center digital info panel between the speedo and tach that your Interstate has you did okay on price even with the miles.
With the aftermarket radio you won't be able to put the stock 1500 CB back on it as plug and play as it requires the use of the main radio unit to feed the CB through.
You could watch for a used J&M handlebar mount CB(discontinued) to add on if it had all the wiring with it as they were self contained if you get the headset with it to mount in your helmet.
As to buffeting, lower the windshield to the lowest point. Ride it for a bit and feel the difference of riding it low for a while, then move it up a notch at a time for a while until you find your sweet spot. Following other traffic effects buffeting you will feel(think dirty air in racing terms) I really like my Windbender and it's adjustability and getting rid of buffeting and being able to look over it as apposed to through it. Much better looking over in my opinion.
Then get some Baker hand wings under the mirrors to draw in air as apposed to thinking the dash vents will do you any good to get cooling air to you.

Baker built hand wings product review....
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=12248

Hmmm. Looks like they don't have the hand wings anymore.... but the do still offer the lower wings to help bring in cooler air to you.

https://bakerbuiltairwings.com/products/?cat=9

[Solo So Long]

If you have RECORDS showing that the did all of that work, you're in the right price range. No record for the timing belts, REPLACE THEM.

But before you give up on records, ask where he bought the stuff -- especially the belts. If on Amazon, he can go onto the site and check the "Buy Again" feature to show what he bought and when. If at a motorcycle dealer, NAPA, etc, they will be able to give him the same info.

"No records, no credit" -- if the seller can't prove something, assume it hasn't been done.

I would not have bought an Interstate. Reverse is really useful sometimes, but if you are careful about parking, you'll be fine. Get into the habit of backing into any space that is flat or slopes away from you. For that matter, get into the habit of scouting for the good parking spots, don't just ride up and ride into the first one you see.

That color is GREAT. If you're gonna yellow, YELLOW.

As far as "ironbutt," this really hasn't got a lot of meaning except for people on little bikes or on V-twins. On your Wing, you'll be the guy who gets to the other end and wonders what all of the hype was about, while the V-twin guys are doing the Harley Hunch and peering into their smartphones to find Radio Taiso vids on YT.