Topic: What do you guys say about a GL1000

[Can550]

I’m getting a good/ reasonable deal on a 1978 gl1000. It’s complete bike and amazing condition from 10 feet but does need good time and work invested.

I have never owned or ridden one. How easy or hard are they to work on compared to 550/750s ?

Are they worth restoration?
Any forum/board recommendation to Check

Thanks 


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[RAFster122s]

Naked goldwing group is worth checking out.  You can get the radiator cap as a fairly common automobile radiator cap, far cheaper than the $25-45 for oem ones.  Belts should be changed before you put any miles on them... The CB carbs are a pain to clean and have to be torn down completely.  A good ultrasonic cleaning and are critical to use original Keihin carb brass.  Did I say they were tough to clean?  Can be done but you really do need a good ultrasonic with a good cleaner to get them clean.

Shaft drive should be checked for wear at the splines.  You have to use a good Moly paste like Honda's M77 Moly Paste. Needs at least 50% moly paste. They have to be cleaned and serviced regularly.  The front splines too.  Not having proper cleaning it will wear badly then you are going to have to find expensive replacements.
They are very smooth running and eat up miles with ease and can cruise at 75-80 for hours if so desired and in an area that is appropriate.  Once you get used to the handling you will find for their size they are quite agile and the early wings were quicker than later GL1000s. Early Wings being a flat four and later Wings went to a six when displacement had grown to the large displacement of modern cruisers.
If the price is good and you are interested in them, then go for it...worst case you enjoy it a while and flip it afterwards if you do not like it for what you have put into it in many cases.

[PeWe]

A touring machine if that is what you intend to do. You guys in USA have a huge country for touring with all kind of climate types all year around. Summer in winter, go south!
Winter in summer, go north, maybe not that much north since you have the mountains with snow, right?

[scunny]

check this out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo

[minimo]

That video is so mesmerizing. Now I’m drooling for some of that good ol’ Goldwing


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[MauiK3]

The only caution I would throw out there is the availability of repair parts. I don't think it's nearly as good as what is available for the 750's. At one point I thought about finding a candy blue-green 75 GL-1000, the first one which was a pretty cool bike. I was unable to find a source similar to Yamiya that had a lot of the stuff needed to restore one. It may be out there, I just could not find it.
They are great bikes, solid engine, smooth as silk.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Now that RAF has you scared to death and ready to buy a new bike LOL......

Go for it. Just don't over pay. Great bikes.

[Bankerdanny]

They are pretty easy to work on. Getting the carbs off and on is easier than on the 550. The carbs themselves are a bit finicky. I highly recommend that you get your rebuild kit from Randakk's. He is the Hondaman of Goldwings. His kits are all viton rubber gaskets and o-rings and are very complete. He also has a DVD on how to rebuild the carbs that he will bundle with the kit. I used it for my '77 and it is worth the extra cash.

Job #1 is replace the timing belts. It is an easy job and you can buy replacements at any auto parts store. The GL1000 is an interference engine. A snapped belt most likely means a bent valve. If you go to the tech section of Naked Goldwings: https://ngwclub.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=24 there is a list of interchangable car parts.

While the center of gravity is nice and low thanks to the flat style engine and under seat fuel tank, the Wing is still a heavy bike compared to an SOHC4. So it isn't a great daily rider. But let me tell you once you hit the highway with the fairing blocking the wind and the super smooth and powerful engine you will understand why the 'Wing became the standard for distance touring.

[RAFster122s]

I didn't mean to scare him off, merely the opposite.  Go in with your eyes open and know they have quirks.  If the rear end is wore out you want to know it pretty quick.  Belts are critical.  Carbs are the bane of a bike that has sat.  Other than that, if cosmetics are good and no indicators of other issues seen, then go for it.  Also, clean spotlessly and tighten the connections from the stator.  If it shows any signs of heating replace all the connectors and housings or solder it together skipping that connector block entirely.

If it is in good shape and appears well kept, then go for it.

Naked 75-76  Goldwings are more desireable and Sulfur Yellow naked wing being the unicorn of desire for many.

[PeWe]

check this out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo

Like normal touring to the Alps! :-)  Is it the mail man or pizza delivery guy getting paid to deliver in time?
I hear how the bike scratch thru the corners...foot pegs, center stand?

[RAFster122s]

Yes, I heard that as well.  I hoped it was foot pegs as centerstand could be a little dangerous, right?
The yellow bike was a Goldwing 1800 and the chase bike was also a GoldWing.

[Don R]

 I bought a 79 and rode it to Sturgis two years ago, this year I did the same with a beautiful blue 78. It was practically gifted to me. X2 on the timing belts, I bought gates belts from Rock Auto, I hear Napa is very reasonable also. If you can tune a cb750 you can tune a gl. My pegs have never dragged but then I'm chicken. I do ride mine everyday and around town, it feels nimble riding it and stops well. I seem to spend about a thousand for new Michelins, battery, water pump, seals, timing belts, and a tune up / carb clean.

 I have to remember to ride my cb750's to keep the carbs fresh. L0L!. There are a couple GL threads in other bikes also.

[RAFster122s]

They slowly changed the GL1000 from a perf oriented bike to more of a touring bike between 75 and 78.  The 77/78 bikes can freely swap most parts, whereas they may fit they may not work well.  Camshaft and carb change occured as part of that switch to more of a touring bike from what I have read.  So, the giddy up was quite a bit more on the 75-76 models compared to the 78.  The 75 did respectable numbers on the stripfor as big as it was/is

Just a bit more info.

[MoMo]

They slowly changed the GL1000 from a perf oriented bike to more of a touring bike between 75 and 78.  The 77/78 bikes can freely swap most parts, whereas they may fit they may not work well.  Camshaft and carb change occured as part of that switch to more of a touring bike from what I have read.  So, the giddy up was quite a bit more on the 75-76 models compared to the 78.  The 75 did respectable numbers on the stripfor as big as it was/is

Just a bit more info.

I assembled the first Wang that came to our shop back in 75, took it out for a test spin and hit the ton before I knew it and without any sense of speed .  You're right David the first couple years were the best, more like a sport bike than touring....Larry

[RAFster122s]

Meant to say, other wing parts from a 75 might fit a 78 but motor timing, spark curves, carbs, cams, etc are all very different.  Can't just pop a 75 cam in and be good to go.  Degreeing the cam and changing the flywheel timing marks and lots of other changes to get 75 perf in a 78 beyond bolting on the gear from a 75.  The 78 is no slouch, but as Larry has said.  The 75 was more of a sports bike that morphed into yhe touring bike and quickly found and created its market.

[Don R]

 Guys used to bolt on the 1100 carbs as a speed secret. My 79 came with them and I borrowed a set to try on my 78, I couldn't see much difference except you could give it a squirt of fuel when cold or when the fuel levels were low.  After I rebuilt the brakes on my 79 I did a test panic stop from 80 mph on a closed road. I was impressed with the braking which I feel is extremely important.

[Don R]

 Keep us updated if you do get it. As far as a restoration, I'd just do the usual service and updates, clean it up and call it good. My experience is the resale value isn't really high so flipping one is less of a reason to own one than to keep one long term.