Topic: Why do Goldwings Sell so Cheap

[nvr2old]

I lowered the forks on my '77 about 3/4" in the triple clamps to not only (visually) level it out, but to make it turn in a bit quicker.  Unless you've ridden one of these bikes, it's hard to appreciate just how well they do handle.  I've completely worn off the nubs on the pegs.  They really are fun to ride, and to ride fast.  We sometimes forget that Honda first designed them as more of a sport bike then the full-dressed touring bike they turned into.

[kerryb]

I bought my 83 cheap and puts lots of time into learning how to work on it...just like my '78k.  Belts,carbs (randaaks kit), tires (metzler), brakes, valve job, wiring repairs and add-ons, made my own trailer and trailer hitch and then took it on a 2500 mile tour to tennessee and Illinois, 14 days of riding and camping.  Result.....what a great bike, under 2 grand, nothing broke, very comfy (need highway pegs) and it feels more nimble than any of my cb750's.  I wish it weren't so heavy cause it likes to lay down in the occasional campground, but I can still pick it up.  I'm keeping only one cb750 and got a much nicer '83 aspencade to take the wife for rides!

Are they cheaper than a cb750?  Maybe...if you're lucky, but I'm having a great time!

[Don R]

 I carry a chunk of aluminum plate in the fairing to put under the sidestand when it's parked on turf or new blacktop. It came in a hugely ugly K4 750 I bought prettied up and resold. 

[kerryb]

I carry a chunk of aluminum plate in the fairing to put under the sidestand when it's parked on turf or new blacktop. It came in a hugely ugly K4 750 I bought prettied up and resold.

I carry a plastic kickstand baseplate I bought at the dragon after running it, works great...bike fell 'cause of other foolishness!

[strynboen]

i had also a thik alu plate in the Tool box on my cbx..to stick under the sidestand...

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Funny, mine has never taken a nap. 

[MD]

Bought a 1985 GL1200A about a year ago for $500. 



I put in another $500 to get it road worthy, battery, timing belts, radiator hoses, windscreen, speedometer wheel gear, speedometer pickup cable, and tax & insurance.  $1000.00 for a road worthy bike is a nice price.



Of course I had to start adding farkles to make it more comfortable.  Custom seat, DC power plug, USB Power Plug, GPS mount, Phone Mount,  different highway pegs and an electronic cruise control.  These definitely have put the price higher but compared to a new 1800 or 2018 bike it is a bargain.

-MD

[Moto nut]

Here’s my 78 gl 1000 17k miles I picked up for $1000, all it needed was fork seals and a fuel pump. And my 76 gl 1000 22k miles I got for $200 after digging it out of a snow drift, I invested about $1300 into it, both are awesome bikes, I think most people are mechanicly afraid of these bikes but they are really simple to work on, but can be time consuming.....

[Bankerdanny]

Heck the Lesters on the 76 were worth more than $200

[Moto nut]

Yeah, that’s The real reason I bought the bike, but after research I found out that I was the 2nd title owner of the bike and the miles were original....

[MauiK3]

I liked my 75 GL back in the day, candy blue green of course. Lots of miles all over the northwest. There seems to be no Yamiya for them, it would be hard to restore one fairly stock. Wonderful engine, silky smooth and plent,y of grunt.

[Don R]

 There is a learning curve with them but it's worth taking the time to learn. Both of mine needed a water pump and oil seals, battery and the usual tire and brake work. It's like most bikes, once you're familiar and learn the workarounds they're not so bad. The fan switch and neutral lamp can be a small pain. A little high mileage oil seems to take the varnish off the starter clutch, If you wire a small light bulb inline with the neutral switch it may burn the carbon off the contacts.

[rtbmrgl]

I have a 75 & 76 in the garage now.  The 76 is almost done.  They can be a bit daunting to work on if you plan on keeping them in stock form. But the availability makes them great candidates for customs with great performance after you go through them.  They are becoming ever more popular to pimp out and the joy of riding a naked wing has led  me away from other platforms to build customs out of.   


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Nice!,  , got any more pics

[palepainter]

I have a 75 & 76 in the garage now.  The 76 is almost done.  They can be a bit daunting to work on if you plan on keeping them in stock form. But the availability makes them great candidates for customs with great performance after you go through them.  They are becoming ever more popular to pimp out and the joy of riding a naked wing has led  me away from other platforms to build customs out of.   


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Nice!,  , got any more pics

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[Don R]

   Very nice.

[70CB750]

I say!

[Bankerdanny]

Damn, too bad it can't quality for BOTM here. I haven't gone to look, but I imagine its getting some love over at NGW

[70CB750]

Cheap GW, not in my area.  84 on craigslist for $2800.

[Prospect]

Besides the higher level of technical knowledge required to get the gl1100 and gl1200 running I think the styling is what most buyers are shying away from.  In the past decade there has been a trend towards naked classic bikes like the cb's or gl1000 some BMW's.  The later goldwings have a lot of fairings and plastic and sit too upright for a new generation of enthusiasts but will definitely be mildly desirable by the true enthusiast with a penchant for tinkering. 

I was advised to buy a running goldwing which I did when I bought my 75 gl1000.  The price difference between a non runner and a good running bike it so small that I rather pay the extra $800-1200 and have a running bike allowing me to concentrate on my other projects.

Having said all this I don't think the gl1000 will ever be sought after and attain the classic status as much as the cb750.  It's an argument I have with a friend of mine and he is convinced that the early gl1000 has achieve collector status and will appreciate greatly in the coming years.  I think it is way behind the cb750 in that aspect perhaps most accurately compared to where the cb750 was in the late 90's.  The cb750 will be the air cooled Porsche and the gl1000 is the Karmann Ghia and will remain second best. 

[madmtnmotors]

Found another 84' GL1200 "pitbike" today for the mighty sum of $500:

[Gurp]

Affordable price I have been thinking about buying one too. I know most of you on this program are not crazy about it but I have seen a lot of good quote on quote Rat Baggers built out of them. Buddy did one up few years ago.

[Bankerdanny]

There were a bunch for sale at the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days swap meet over the weekend. One guy had a titled Sulfur Yellow '76 (a collectible color) for sale for $500 and there were several other running naked or mostly naked 1000's and 1100's for sale.

I was really happy I didn't bring my trailer with me or that yellow bike might have found its way home with me, or maybe the '75 Guzzi Eldorado, or maybe one of the CBX's. Lordy I could have easily emptied my savings account.

[slikwilli420]

There were a bunch for sale at the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days swap meet over the weekend. One guy had a titled Sulfur Yellow '76 (a collectible color) for sale for $500 and there were several other running naked or mostly naked 1000's and 1100's for sale.

I was really happy I didn't bring my trailer with me or that yellow bike might have found its way home with me, or maybe the '75 Guzzi Eldorado, or maybe one of the CBX's. Lordy I could have easily emptied my savings account.

I was there Friday morning and didnt see the yellow one, or it may have found its way home with me. I only saw a few, so either I wasnt looking or they were gone. As to CBX's, I didnt see one in the place worth near asking. Some people were out of their minds in prices, and it seems diligent craigslist searching is the better approach these days. The $11K for the Wes Cooley GS1000 jumped the shark for me. And after some research, it appears the $125K for the green frame Ducati may have been a good price, if everything was right.

[Bankerdanny]

There were a bunch for sale at the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days swap meet over the weekend. One guy had a titled Sulfur Yellow '76 (a collectible color) for sale for $500 and there were several other running naked or mostly naked 1000's and 1100's for sale.

I was really happy I didn't bring my trailer with me or that yellow bike might have found its way home with me, or maybe the '75 Guzzi Eldorado, or maybe one of the CBX's. Lordy I could have easily emptied my savings account.

I was there Friday morning and didnt see the yellow one, or it may have found its way home with me. I only saw a few, so either I wasnt looking or they were gone. As to CBX's, I didnt see one in the place worth near asking. Some people were out of their minds in prices, and it seems diligent craigslist searching is the better approach these days. The $11K for the Wes Cooley GS1000 jumped the shark for me. And after some research, it appears the $125K for the green frame Ducati may have been a good price, if everything was right.

I saw the Cooley bike, but didn't stop to check the price. I was only there on Saturday, but maybe the seller didn't bring it on Friday, I did see a bunch of bikes being offloaded from trailers on Saturday morning.