Topic: another GL1000 front end question

[shovelheadshawn]

i tried using the search but had no luck. i am wondering what years will work? will the later front ends with the comstar wheel accept the spoke wheel? are all the fork tubes the same diameter? is any years better than the others? and does anyone need an almost perfect 78 750 front end and back wheel? good tires everything complete.

[Bankerdanny]

I know from threads over at the Naked Goldwings forum that you can't just bolt up Comstars to a wire wheel front end, but that it can be adapted to fit. I imagine that the reverse is true.

 Concentrate on the 75-77 years, those are the wire wheel bikes. Front end assemblies aren't that hard to come by.

[dusterdude]

I think 75-76 are direct bolt on

[754]

Put your location in your wheels for sale ad...

[shovelheadshawn]

10-4 i'll do so now.

[Bankerdanny]

If I recall correctly the steerer tube length on the wire wheel GL triple is the same diameter as the 750, but is a bit longer, so it is not a straight bolt up.

At some point in '77 Honda switched to a roller bearing system on the GoldWing (mine has them), so even if the stems are the same length, a '77 front end might require you to convert to roller bearings. The 75-76 GL's use ball bears just like all the various SOHC4's.

[icecoast]

Try to keep everything in the same year or get it all from one person. It's pretty easy to get things mixed up. 75-76 and some 77 have wire wheels and ball bearing stem. 78 switched to rollers along with different caliper offsets, fork spacing, wheels and some other things that won't swap. No matter what you get the stem will need to be swapped out as they are longer than any cb although the same diameter.

[754]

I could be wrong but a longer stem can sometimes be shimmed.within reason ..and it can be remachined if it is only longer..

[shovelheadshawn]

ok so let me make sure i got this correct. i'm looking for 75-77 gl1000 front end. if it's newer i will need to make spaceers to adapt the spoke wheel. if i get the 77 front end i will possibly need to shim the steering head.

other than the dual disk and aluminum rim, what are the advantages of this swap? would i be better off just putting the second calliper on the other leg and, and change the master cylinder? then lace up an aluminum rim?

[Jayhawk]

ok so let me make sure i got this correct. i'm looking for 75-77 gl1000 front end. if it's newer i will need to make spaceers to adapt the spoke wheel. if i get the 77 front end i will possibly need to shim the steering head.

other than the dual disk and aluminum rim, what are the advantages of this swap? would i be better off just putting the second calliper on the other leg and, and change the master cylinder? then lace up an aluminum rim?

You'll also need to modify the steering stops with the GL1000 front end or you'll have contact with the fuel tank.
Here's a pretty good thread that covers a GL1000 front end swap:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=16903.0

I went with the second disc on CB750 right fork leg route:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=74547.msg829292#msg829292

[icecoast]

ok so let me make sure i got this correct. i'm looking for 75-77 gl1000 front end. if it's newer i will need to make spaceers to adapt the spoke wheel. if i get the 77 front end i will possibly need to shim the steering head.

other than the dual disk and aluminum rim, what are the advantages of this swap? would i be better off just putting the second calliper on the other leg and, and change the master cylinder? then lace up an aluminum rim?

The stem will be longer no matter the year. The main advantage you get is 37mm tubes (stiffer front end), dual disk with the ability to upgrade calipers and rotors in the future. The cost relative to adding a second caliper are almost even especially if you find someone local parting one out. In that case grab the rear wheel as well, although shaft drive the 17" rim and spokes can be laced to the cb hub.