I was really stoked
about finding this 1975 GL1000. Other than not being a naked Wing it's what I've been looking for. First year of the GW, it's in good shape, everything works, low miles The current owner(he's the 3rd owner) has had it 7 or 8 years and has took care of it. He thinks alot of the bike. Doesn't ride it much anymore and wants it to go to a good home. If I had to guess he has no idea and is totally clueless the motor is not the original and has been swapped out along with a few other things done by one of the PO's sometime during the bikes life. Moral of this story is always do your homework, because you never know what could have been changed on a old bike from the time it rolled of the assembly line in Japan and went you run across it almost 40 years later.
Ok this is what I and we know- By the frame vin#GL1E1008253 it is a 75 model with a build date of 4/75. By the engine vin#GL1E3000652 it's had a 77 motor threw in the frame sometime over the last 38 years. The side covers have emblems(later models GL1000) not decals like it should have. Paul thanks for pointing out non original speedo(only having the 150 mark not the 150 in numbers like the Wings are supposed to have. The current owner says he's put 7 to 8K on it since buying it 7 or 8 years ago. This is the only accurate mileage we have on the bike and the 77 motor, and will ever have. My gut feeling is that this old Wing is ok even though it's had a engine swap and a few other things changed. But still not knowing what the true miles is on a bike scares me a little, I mean it's anybodies guess. I mean low, high, or somewhere in between. Also has other things been changed out that is not of the 75 year that is harder to spot. I failed to check the carb #'s. I know the 75 engine came with #755A carbs, and the 77's came with #764A. This is something else I need to check out. Me myself and I wants to talk to the PO that did the motor swap, the different speedo, incorrect emblems and ask him a ton of questions. Was he just repairing a bike that the original motor had gone bad and could only fined a 77 model year replacement not another 1975. And the speedo, why did he replace it. Did it just stop working and he replaced it with a non GW speedo, or was he covering up the true mileage before selling it
I've pulled back the hammer, but have not pulled the trigger, so the deal is still up in the air. I feel like there is almost to many unknown question about this bike and no way to ever get the answers to them of why certain things were done. But I'm going to talk the the owner and inform him about the changes to the bike and see what he can tell me if anything. Straddling the fench right now.