Topic: 78 GL1000 20 year sleeper! Old Blue.

[Don R]

 I rode it today after a short warmup, it ran poorly, I let it sit at the other end of my ride and it was like a different bike coming home. I think it's the heat soak it needs to run well, I guess it wants to idle a few minutes rather than run on choke.
 I stretched the new seat cover over the old seat to give it some time to take the shape. It feels like it will go on easier than the F seat cover.

[Don R]

 We rode the gl to our union retirees Christmas party today, it was so warm out my wife didn't even mind. I think it made it up to 60*F. 
   It had been on the side stand and smoked like crazy when it started. Maybe too much choke because it fouled the front left plug, I dried it and swapped it to the back cylinder, it ran great after that.
 The Bosch relay on the dyna really didn't make any difference. I'm running 1500 coils with no ballast resistor so the coils should be happy I'd think.

[desertrefugee]

We rode the gl to our union retirees Christmas party today, it was so warm out my wife didn't even mind. I think it made it up to 60*F. 
   It had been on the side stand and smoked like crazy when it started. Maybe too much choke because it fouled the front left plug, I dried it and swapped it to the back cylinder, it ran great after that.
 The Bosch relay on the dyna really didn't make any difference. I'm running 1500 coils with no ballast resistor so the coils should be happy I'd think.

4 cylinder Goldwings are notorious for smoking when left on the side stand. They did that from the factory. Depending on where the ring gaps end up oil can flow through the gap into the combustion chambers from the crankcase. Very, very common on the left side.  Park it on the center stand and you won't see it, I'll wager.

[Terry in Australia]

We rode the gl to our union retirees Christmas party today, it was so warm out my wife didn't even mind. I think it made it up to 60*F. 
   It had been on the side stand and smoked like crazy when it started. Maybe too much choke because it fouled the front left plug, I dried it and swapped it to the back cylinder, it ran great after that.
 The Bosch relay on the dyna really didn't make any difference. I'm running 1500 coils with no ballast resistor so the coils should be happy I'd think.

4 cylinder Goldwings are notorious for smoking when left on the side stand. They did that from the factory. Depending on where the ring gaps end up oil can flow through the gap into the combustion chambers from the crankcase. Very, very common on the left side.  Park it on the center stand and you won't see it, I'll wager.

Same/same with BMW's, particularly "K" series flat fours. My poor old 1989 K100RS SE ABS1 (yes, that's it's actual title, makes Harley nomenclatures look short...) has been on it's sidestand since 2014, so when I eventually fire it up again it'll smoke like a train.

[Don R]

 Thanks, it usually doesn't smoke but on occasion it does. I wonder if the ring gaps walk around and sometimes line up? It's on the center now, actually easier to center it then most of the cb750's. She's still a cold blooded old girl but like most of us old timers once going it goes pretty good.
 It was in the 70's today, I can't believe I set up a deer feeder, played Santa Claus, worked on a K0 but didn't ride anything. 

[Don R]

 I got an F seat cover and a gl1000 seat cover. I'll hone my skills on the F bikes and when I've gathered all of the tools and products, I'll have a go at the GL seat.

   I have an aftermarket seat that I'm not a fan of, I just cut a double saddle seat down for the n'F or Fn'K project and maybe I'll attempt a cut down for the gl also. I don't really need a lowered or modified seat but I'd keep the nos one just in case.

[desertrefugee]

Lol.  We won't talk about iseats on a GL1000.  My 78 was a 10-year sleeper also with the full Vetter treatment.  I went down the cafe path with it for some crazy reason. I'm good for maybe 200 mi on this thing before my derriere starts screaming.  Not the most comfortable seat I've ridden on.  But I like it and it's the right tool for the job sometimes.

[Don R]

 I had those Harley mufflers on my 79 wing. I loved them at anything above an idle.
   I did 15 hours on a seat that nearly neutered me so I can sympathize. I modded the seat when I got to Sturgis and fixed the seat but the damage was already done. I was sore for a week after I got home. 
  When my 79 went naked people were in awe not knowing what it was. I told one guy it was the old Porsche motorcycle they made for a couple years in the late 70's.

[desertrefugee]

Yeah, if it's not badged, a lot of people have no clue what it is. I get that a lot. Just to be cruel, I have since blacked out the Honda emblems on my valve covers. People have even less of a clue now.

 

[Terry in Australia]

Lol.  We won't talk about iseats on a GL1000.  My 78 was a 10-year sleeper also with the full Vetter treatment.  I went down the cafe path with it for some crazy reason. I'm good for maybe 200 mi on this thing before my derriere starts screaming.  Not the most comfortable seat I've ridden on.  But I like it and it's the right tool for the job sometimes.

Where'd you buy the tracker seat Darrell? I need one for my son's Yamaha XS650 "Tracker" build.

[Kelly E]

Yeah, if it's not badged, a lot of people have no clue what it is. I get that a lot. Just to be cruel, I have since blacked out the Honda emblems on my valve covers. People have even less of a clue now.

 

I debadged my 94' Kawasaki Concours ZG1000 and people guess all kinds of brands trying to figure it out.

[desertrefugee]

Lol.  We won't talk about iseats on a GL1000.  My 78 was a 10-year sleeper also with the full Vetter treatment.  I went down the cafe path with it for some crazy reason. I'm good for maybe 200 mi on this thing before my derriere starts screaming.  Not the most comfortable seat I've ridden on.  But I like it and it's the right tool for the job sometimes.

Where'd you buy the tracker seat Darrell? I need one for my son's Yamaha XS650 "Tracker" build.

A guy named Dave in Florida was running a business called Hot Wing Glass.  He at one time had a full line of fiberglass items.  I bought mine in 2013.  I believe he's now cut back dramatically and may even have pulled the plug.   The last known good address I have for him is: 

1hotwing@bellsouth.net

Good luck.  His stuff was really first rate.

[seanbarney41]

Lol.  We won't talk about iseats on a GL1000.  My 78 was a 10-year sleeper also with the full Vetter treatment.  I went down the cafe path with it for some crazy reason. I'm good for maybe 200 mi on this thing before my derriere starts screaming.  Not the most comfortable seat I've ridden on.  But I like it and it's the right tool for the job sometimes.

Where'd you buy the tracker seat Darrell? I need one for my son's Yamaha XS650 "Tracker" build.

A guy named Dave in Florida was running a business called Hot Wing Glass.  He at one time had a full line of fiberglass items.  I bought mine in 2013.  I believe he's now cut back dramatically and may even have pulled the plug.   The last known good address I have for him is: 

1hotwing@bellsouth.net

Good luck.  His stuff was really first rate.

I talked to Dave about 4 years ago.  He had his stuff set up at the Gilmore Museum swap meet.  He made the tail section on my gold cb750.  Absolutely top quality stuff.  I bet he still sells mostly the tracker stuff.

[Terry in Australia]

Lol.  We won't talk about iseats on a GL1000.  My 78 was a 10-year sleeper also with the full Vetter treatment.  I went down the cafe path with it for some crazy reason. I'm good for maybe 200 mi on this thing before my derriere starts screaming.  Not the most comfortable seat I've ridden on.  But I like it and it's the right tool for the job sometimes.

Where'd you buy the tracker seat Darrell? I need one for my son's Yamaha XS650 "Tracker" build.

A guy named Dave in Florida was running a business called Hot Wing Glass.  He at one time had a full line of fiberglass items.  I bought mine in 2013.  I believe he's now cut back dramatically and may even have pulled the plug.   The last known good address I have for him is: 

1hotwing@bellsouth.net

Good luck.  His stuff was really first rate.

Thanks mate, I'll check him out.

[Don R]

 When I first got the sleeper, I sold the black one and spent every penny on the sleeper.

[grcamna2]

When I first got the sleeper, I sold the black one and spent every penny on the sleeper.

Don,that blue 78' is sweet Don  Did it come with the Windjammer stock ?

[Don R]

When I first got the sleeper, I sold the black one and spent every penny on the sleeper.

Don, that blue 78' is sweet Don  Did it come with the Windjammer stock ?

 I'm sure the Vetter equipment was dealer installed but ordered in the Honda blue. I bought 5 1/2 750's from a guy and he gave me the wing. He was moving to Florida and it hadn't run in 20 years. I paid a hundred just because.

  I've been able to get a few Hondas cheap because the owners could see how excited I was to talk about them and listen to their Honda stories.

[grcamna2]

When I first got the sleeper, I sold the black one and spent every penny on the sleeper.

Don, that blue 78' is sweet Don  Did it come with the Windjammer stock ?

 I'm sure the Vetter equipment was dealer installed but ordered in the Honda blue. I bought 5 1/2 750's from a guy and he gave me the wing. He was moving to Florida and it hadn't run in 20 years. I paid a hundred just because.

  I've been able to get a few Hondas cheap because the owners could see how excited I was to talk about them and listen to their Honda stories.

I have heard(never owned one)that the GL1000 engine has a bit more rpms toward the top of their powerband than the GL1100?

[MauiK3]

When I had my 75 Wing I remember it revved willingly.

[Don R]

 A couple years ago I rode it to a Judicial hiring meeting. Crazy asking a plumber's opinion, right?  Anyway, coming back on a long straight with good visibility I let it loose. Redline in third and fourth then for a bit in fifth, I got up over a hundred five or so pushing a windjammer and lowers. It might have had more but I didn't. The Michelins were just broken in then too. 

[desertrefugee]

When I first got the sleeper, I sold the black one and spent every penny on the sleeper.

Don, that blue 78' is sweet Don  Did it come with the Windjammer stock ?

 I'm sure the Vetter equipment was dealer installed but ordered in the Honda blue. I bought 5 1/2 750's from a guy and he gave me the wing. He was moving to Florida and it hadn't run in 20 years. I paid a hundred just because.

  I've been able to get a few Hondas cheap because the owners could see how excited I was to talk about them and listen to their Honda stories.

I have heard(never owned one)that the GL1000 engine has a bit more rpms toward the top of their powerband than the GL1100?

The early 1000s ( 75 - 77) were tuned to spin a bit more. By that time, it had become clear to Honda that they had created a touring beast. So, the 78-79s were detuned a bit to provide more torque in the mid-range as these bikes began to be outfitted (think Vetter) for the long haul. 

Folks have long crowed about how much "faster" the early 1000s were than the 78/79s.  Well, sometime back - 5ish years -  I ran for a couple of seasons with dual Weber 40s on my 78. Those Webers made such a difference at the higher end of the RPM range, that I installed early cams to go along with them.  I was just disappointed. Couldn't really feel a seat of the pants difference. Maybe there was one, but my butt dyno could not detect it.

It wasn't until the 1100s were introduced that Honda finally decided that they wanted to reap the benefits of the touring capabilities of the machine and not let Craig Vetter get all the glory. The Interstate was born. The Aspencade soon after.

[Don R]

 I had a black and gold 79 that was naked for a while, no one knew what it was. I'd bet your bike with the Webers got similar responses.

[CaseyH]

When I ride my yellow 76 people are surprised how cool it looks naked.
It revs pretty solid.
Third gear is strong.
It is just so quiet with the stock exhaust

[Don R]

 I think my 78 exhaust has been slightly modified by time and corrosion. My 79 had rusty welds which let go as I was returning from Sturgis about 13 hours into the return. I had used some propoxy to seal them up and it worked fantastically.

[MauiK3]

The early GL1000 was way under appreciated. It’s really a good bike and rock solid.