Topic: Let's see your non-SOHC4 on the road

[grcamna2]

Rode the Varadero 1,060 kilometres last weekend. +400 of it was on gravel, logging trails and fire routes. Tim rode his new Yamaha and my 15 year old HONDA had no issues keeping up. We had a blast.

John,how did your tires do on soft surfaces ?

[simon#42]

just outside of bastogne last weekend my bmw and the girlfriends kawasaki

[jas67]

We had a few days of fantastic weather for late October, here in central PA.  I took full advantage of it!

[grcamna2]

Wonderful 2-wheeled machinery jas67 and fantastic weather ! 

[PeWe]

Fantastic photos!!

[RAFster122s]

Great photos and some gorgeous bikes...glad you were able to get out there for some safe rides.

[MauiK3]

Very nice bikes. I'm partial to the Wing.

[grcamna2]

Very nice bikes. I'm partial to the Wing.

The rear(air)shocks on your GL1000 Wing seem sunk-down quite a bit 'jas67'.

[Alan F.]

This, was last week in New Hampshire on my Royal Enfield Interceptor 650.

[jas67]

Very nice bikes. I'm partial to the Wing.

The rear(air)shocks on your GL1000 Wing seem sunk-down quite a bit 'jas67'.

They are air shocks.  I let the pressure down hoping to reduce the harshness of them.   They still hurt my back a lot when I hit dips in the road.

One of the things on "the list" over the winter is to get better shocks for it.
Suggestions?

[BenelliSEI]

Very nice bikes. I'm partial to the Wing.

The rear(air)shocks on your GL1000 Wing seem sunk-down quite a bit 'jas67'.

They are air shocks.  I let the pressure down hoping to reduce the harshness of them.   They still hurt my back a lot when I hit dips in the road.

One of the things on "the list" over the winter is to get better shocks for it.
Suggestions?
[/



Could they be bottoming out due to lack of air? That would be quite a hit?
My buddy Gary just put new shocks/ springs on the back of his GL1000. It has a very plush ride. I’ll ask what he got.

[Stev-o]

Not on the road but broke down on the side of the road!



Had just fueled up on some good non-eth fuel, cruising around 30mph and went to give it the beans and no beans!!  Throttle cable broke so I just idled to a safe place to pull over.
Called a buddy, he was available and came with a trailer to rescue me within 30 min.

This is the third bike that I've experienced a broken cable. My CB550 broke one, I was able to easily adjust the idle adjustment and made it home, about a 20 min ride, no problem. I could not do it on the big Kaw, I was facing a slight incline and idling even in first gear would not have been possible to make the grade.

So, what is the life expectancy of cables?! New cables ordered...

[Kelly E]

Life expectancy depends on maintenance. We use Sylglide grease on the barrels and in the cable grooves of the wheels. Along with annual cable cleaning with brake cleaner and fresh cable lube has kept them going. The only bike we have throttle cable issues is the 90' Moto Guzzi 1000 Le Man's. Inside the throttle pod is one tiny cable that is half as thick as a standard throttle cable. With the He Man return springs on the dual 40mm Del Orto carbs the tiny cable breaks regular enough to carry a spare and the tools to change it.

[PeWe]

Throttle pull cable broke on my K6 2022 also when I intended to give all.
Stopped and fixed a higher idle so I could ride home only 3km away.

That cable had done around 35000 km. Wire snapped of ca 10 mm after the upper "plug". Maybe it bends up there.
I remember It snapped off there back in the 80's too when I noticed broken wire strands so I could replace it in time. Possible to feel and hear.

Throtte was not returning as easy as before so I should have inspected it before total snap off. My mistake.
Replaced both. I had an extra set home.

I ordered a new set direct. A must have.  Have extra for clutch  and gauges too.
Can not risk good riding days waiting for cables.

[newday777]

Very nice bikes. I'm partial to the Wing.

The rear(air)shocks on your GL1000 Wing seem sunk-down quite a bit 'jas67'.

They are air shocks.  I let the pressure down hoping to reduce the harshness of them.   They still hurt my back a lot when I hit dips in the road.

One of the things on "the list" over the winter is to get better shocks for it.
Suggestions?

Dump the air shocks, most companies that had them don't offer them any longer. Parts might be available to rebuild your air shocks depending on the brand they are??
Just get some good manual adjustment coil over shocks. I think Ikon and Hagon offer good shocks for your wing and will help your back in the bumps.

Ikon Basix shock will be much better than you have. Ikon is the new name for the old classic Koni shocks of the 70s and 80s made the same way after Koni went under. I put Koni shocks on my 750 back in 76 and they are still good. I stocked them for the wings and 750s when I was parts manager in the 70s. Well worth the money. Ikon are offered in 3 different levels of shocks.

https://ikonsuspensionusa.com/shop/

[70CB750]

Very nice bikes. I'm partial to the Wing.

The rear(air)shocks on your GL1000 Wing seem sunk-down quite a bit 'jas67'.

They are air shocks.  I let the pressure down hoping to reduce the harshness of them.   They still hurt my back a lot when I hit dips in the road.

One of the things on "the list" over the winter is to get better shocks for it.
Suggestions?

I got Hagons for my sidecar rig - CB750.  Very good ratio price/performance.

Also my 900 Custom originally had air shocks but I got it already with Progressive.  They work ok.

The only air shock I use is for the sidecar suspension.

[jas67]

Very nice bikes. I'm partial to the Wing.

The rear(air)shocks on your GL1000 Wing seem sunk-down quite a bit 'jas67'.

They are air shocks.  I let the pressure down hoping to reduce the harshness of them.   They still hurt my back a lot when I hit dips in the road.

One of the things on "the list" over the winter is to get better shocks for it.
Suggestions?

Dump the air shocks, most companies that had them don't offer them any longer. Parts might be available to rebuild your air shocks depending on the brand they are??
Just get some good manual adjustment coil over shocks. I think Ikon and Hagon offer good shocks for your wing and will help your back in the bumps.

Ikon Basix shock will be much better than you have. Ikon is the new name for the old classic Koni shocks of the 70s and 80s made the same way after Koni went under. I put Koni shocks on my 750 back in 76 and they are still good. I stocked them for the wings and 750s when I was parts manager in the 70s. Well worth the money. Ikon are offered in 3 different levels of shocks.

https://ikonsuspensionusa.com/shop/

http://epmperf.com/
Contact Klaus and know what sort of ends you need he'll probably have a recommendation for springs.
https://www.ikonsuspensionusa.com/

I emailed Ikon yesterday, a Roger got back to me.    I'm going to order the 7610-1296 "Dial-a-ride".   I'm getting the steel-bodied ones, as they're more correct looking.  Also, no need to speend another $125 for aluminum bodies for this heavy bike.

[newday777]

You should be happy with the steel bodies. The Konis I have are still going well since 1976 with the steel bodies. The Ikons are made the same way.

[BenelliSEI]

Not on the road but broke down on the side of the road!



Had just fueled up on some good non-eth fuel, cruising around 30mph and went to give it the beans and no beans!!  Throttle cable broke so I just idled to a safe place to pull over.
Called a buddy, he was available and came with a trailer to rescue me within 30 min.

This is the third bike that I've experienced a broken cable. My CB550 broke one, I was able to easily adjust the idle adjustment and made it home, about a 20 min ride, no problem. I could not do it on the big Kaw, I was facing a slight incline and idling even in first gear would not have been possible to make the grade.

So, what is the life expectancy of cables?! New cables ordered...

Steve…. this has only happened to me once. I was close to home, so cranked the idle up to 25-2600 rpm  and actually had a pretty easy time of it. Afterwards I was thinking; would it be possible to swap in the “pull” cable and get home twisting backwards???

[Stev-o]

Not on the road but broke down on the side of the road!



Had just fueled up on some good non-eth fuel, cruising around 30mph and went to give it the beans and no beans!!  Throttle cable broke so I just idled to a safe place to pull over.
Called a buddy, he was available and came with a trailer to rescue me within 30 min.

This is the third bike that I've experienced a broken cable. My CB550 broke one, I was able to easily adjust the idle adjustment and made it home, about a 20 min ride, no problem. I could not do it on the big Kaw, I was facing a slight incline and idling even in first gear would not have been possible to make the grade.

So, what is the life expectancy of cables?! New cables ordered...

Steve…. this has only happened to me once. I was close to home, so cranked the idle up to 25-2600 rpm  and actually had a pretty easy time of it. Afterwards I was thinking; would it be possible to swap in the “pull” cable and get home twisting backwards???

Hi John...good question, I dont think so.   But depending on what broke, could the push cable be swapped in place of the pull?

I have my new cables and plan to install tomorrow, I'm guessing the end of the cable on the pull came off as there is no resistance at all. [that is what happened last time on the H2]

[BenelliSEI]

Steve….. Thinking back, I also had an end break off a clutch cable too. The little barrel end dropped off at the hand lever. One of the guys I was with (riding an old Triumph)had some bicycle cable ends in his tool kit (a little barrel with a hole through it and a set screw in the end). We managed  to adjust the cable so I just got it to reach through the lever end and screw the barrel on the frayed end. Got me home and it must be in the bottom of my tool bag. Probably a handy thing to toss in!

[grcamna2]

Steve….. Thinking back, I also had an end break off a clutch cable too. The little barrel end dropped off at the hand lever. One of the guys I was with (riding an old Triumph)had some bicycle cable ends in his tool kit (a little barrel with a hole through it and a set screw in the end). We managed  to adjust the cable so I just got it to reach through the lever end and screw the barrel on the frayed end. Got me home and it must be in the bottom of my tool bag. Probably a handy thing to toss in!

+1 on that John !  Was the cable repair 'end' brass? Do you still have it ?
I think I'll look for one of those to carry in my toolkit.

[MoMo]

"Back in the day'  I remember soldering new barrels on the end of a cable due to minimal amount of money.  Especially in the service when I was getting 212 a month, Larry

[BenelliSEI]

Steve….. Thinking back, I also had an end break off a clutch cable too. The little barrel end dropped off at the hand lever. One of the guys I was with (riding an old Triumph)had some bicycle cable ends in his tool kit (a little barrel with a hole through it and a set screw in the end). We managed  to adjust the cable so I just got it to reach through the lever end and screw the barrel on the frayed end. Got me home and it must be in the bottom of my tool bag. Probably a handy thing to toss in!

+1 on that John !  Was the cable repair 'end' brass? Do you still have it ?
I think I'll look for one of those to carry in my toolkit.

The ones he had were plain, plated steel. I think a good bicycle shop would have them?

[grcamna2]

Steve….. Thinking back, I also had an end break off a clutch cable too. The little barrel end dropped off at the hand lever. One of the guys I was with (riding an old Triumph)had some bicycle cable ends in his tool kit (a little barrel with a hole through it and a set screw in the end). We managed  to adjust the cable so I just got it to reach through the lever end and screw the barrel on the frayed end. Got me home and it must be in the bottom of my tool bag. Probably a handy thing to toss in!

They even have a hex-head screw;great to have 'in a pinch'.

+1 on that John !  Was the cable repair 'end' brass? Do you still have it ?
I think I'll look for one of those to carry in my toolkit.

The ones he had were plain, plated steel. I think a good bicycle shop would have them?