Topic: ‘75 GL1000

[BenelliSEI]

Fresh gas, oil and filter change today. Ready for Spring!

[PeWe]

Another good looking old bike!
Is it a new old project/purchase or part of the family for some years?

[BenelliSEI]

Another good looking old bike!
Is it a new old project/purchase or part of the family for some years?

Thanks PeWe. Belongs to my good friend, Gary A. He lives in Toronto and for the past 15 years (since we moved here to the farm, full time) he  comes out here for one day a week, for “shop day”. This was our first project. Engine came out to repair a failed starter clutch and the carbs needed a lot of work (from memory). Otherwise, it needed brakes, master cylinder rebuilds, tires etc. Super quiet and smooth, I often sneak it out for ride. Bike is very quick and fun. He keeps it here, along with a K8 and a lovely TransAlp.

[MauiK3]

75 GL 1000’s are under rated and under appreciated. Maybe because I bought one in 75 but they really are good bikes and of course the candy blue green (one year color) looks great.
I used to commute to work in Northern California to the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard and I some times made a detour through the sloughs in southern Sonoma county near the bay, there was a small bridge I’d go over and sometimes I’d get very light on the tires, almost air borne. Lots of fun.
I could do 900 miles in a long days ride no problem.

[grcamna2]

I like that candy blue green 

[BenelliSEI]

Gary really looks after this one. He had the instruments restored by a guy named “Pistol Pete” and I think he did the carbs too, years ago. It runs like a Swiss Watch and is a real pleasure to ride. Not long ago, he found an NOS muffler and it’s super quiet. I really enjoy riding it occasionally.

[newday777]

Yes Pete was well known for his carb rebuilding. He had a mule motor in a stand at the shop to sync the carbs on so most could just install them and ride.

[CaseyH]

My Sulpher Yellow 76

[RAFster122s]

I like the Sulfur Yellow GL1000s. They tend to sell for a bit more money as well.

I haven’t ridden one but want to.

The new ones are monsters in size and weight. I wouldn’t want to own one of them. Cannot imagine trying to pick one up that had been dropped.

My top heavy Vstrom 650 can be a handful to pick up when laid on its side. Some terrain makes it more of a challenge than others.

Not that I go around dropping bikes…

David

[grcamna2]

A lot of full dresser touring bikes I've seen look like '2 wheel Winnebagos' 

[newday777]

I like the Sulfur Yellow GL1000s. They tend to sell for a bit more money as well.

I haven’t ridden one but want to.

The new ones are monsters in size and weight. I wouldn’t want to own one of them. Cannot imagine trying to pick one up that had been dropped.

My top heavy Vstrom 650 can be a handful to pick up when laid on its side. Some terrain makes it more of a challenge than others.

Not that I go around dropping bikes…

David

There is a right way to pick up a motorcycle and a wrong way, especially a goldwing or any heavy bike.
I've seen girls pick up goldwings the correct way. If it's on the engine guards and saddlebag guards, it can be done without hurting your back, I have 2 discs I ruptured and can still pick up my 08 wing.

A couple videos to learn the technique.

And a girl picking one up

[RAFster122s]

I use the correct technique, just doesn't seem as easy anymore, but need my right hip replaced and the left one is getting to be problematic. Spinal deterioration sucks. I've lost some muscle mass in past 4 years and the right hip has been very limiting... cannot walk very far before it begins to ache and hurt bad. So, I am not in good shape.

I know you cannot muscle up a 900-1000 pound bike without using technique.

A Goldwing is not in my future.

Hip surgery definitely is...

[PeWe]

Possible for adding lifters on both sides? Press a button and a rod can push it up.
Like on race cars at wheel change.
(Or side wheels popping out, pressing bike up in riding position)

A bike easy to get back on track can be something when the riders body has limitations.

[MauiK3]

I dread ever needing to pick up my K3 750, I know I can do it but it's not light.

[Stev-o]

I really enjoy riding it occasionally.

How does it ride compared to a CB750, John?  Certainly much heavier.

I never considered owning a GL but if I did, it would have to be a '75.

[BenelliSEI]

I really enjoy riding it occasionally.

How does it ride compared to a CB750, John?  Certainly much heavier.

I never considered owning a GL but if I did, it would have to be a '75.

Steve..... I had a ‘76 I restored too. They are a lovely ride, actually more power than a cb750 and the early ones love to rev. They handle very well. At rest, you don’t really feel the extra bulk. Most of the mechanicals hang very low, and even the fuel tank is behind the engine, under the seat. Excellent brakes too. You would not be disappointed. Carbs are finicky, but once sorted, they run great.

[MauiK3]

Yes, with the bulk of the weight very low they are pretty well mannered. I dragged my foot pegs a lot, it was fun.

[BenelliSEI]

My Sulpher Yellow 76

My favourite colour!

[RAFster122s]

Rust-Oleum has a yellow oil based paint that comes in quart cans the same shade as Honda's Parakeet Yellow.

[Bankerdanny]

I have a '75 roller frame in my garage right now, 3/75 build serial #5003. I got it for $100 along with a '77 GL project that has a 1980 GL1100 engine in it. I got an engine too, but it turned out to the the ;77 engine and sadly not the hotter '75 engine. I got titles with both and still haven't decided what to do with it. The wheels are in terrible shape, literally chunks flaking off.

[grcamna2]

I have a '75 roller frame in my garage right now, 3/75 build serial #5003. I got it for $100 along with a '77 GL project that has a 1980 GL1100 engine in it. I got an engine too, but it turned out to the the ;77 engine and sadly not the hotter '75 engine. I got titles with both and still haven't decided what to do with it. The wheels are in terrible shape, literally chunks flaking off.

I remember when you first opened the thread about those two GL's Danny. A good deal 

[nvr2old]

I've got a '77 GL1000 that I've owned for about 15 years now.  Goldwing's first gen bikes are so very cool.  They're deceptively fast, mostly because they're so quiet.  I've dragged the foot pegs on it many, many times.  They handle and brake really well.  I love riding that bike.  The experience is unique from any other motorcycle I own. 

[BenelliSEI]

I've got a '77 GL1000 that I've owned for about 15 years now.  Goldwing's first gen bikes are so very cool.  They're deceptively fast, mostly because they're so quiet.  I've dragged the foot pegs on it many, many times.  They handle and brake really well.  I love riding that bike.  The experience is unique from any other motorcycle I own.

+1 to all of the above. I was 22 years old in 1975 and I remember we all thought the the thing was a monstrous size.

[Bankerdanny]

I've got a '77 GL1000 that I've owned for about 15 years now.  Goldwing's first gen bikes are so very cool.  They're deceptively fast, mostly because they're so quiet.  I've dragged the foot pegs on it many, many times.  They handle and brake really well.  I love riding that bike.  The experience is unique from any other motorcycle I own. 

After I sold my first SOHC4, a '77 550K I bought right before the first Relay Rally in 2011, I replaced it with a '77 GL1000 with a Vetter SS and Bates bags/tail. I rode that bike in the 2013 Rally with Sean Barney, Ekpent, MJ Stone and a few others at various points as we rode around the perimeter of the Michigan mitten. It was a great bike on the highway, but heavy and kind of unwieldy around town. I only could have 1 bike at the time, so I sold it and eventually picked up a '75 550F that I rode to the Family Reunion in Colorado in 2017.

The GL1000 is sneaky fast and so smooth, not a single vibration in the mirrors at any speed. My ultimate goal is to make the '77 into a sport tourer with one of the Hondaline fairings and Shoie bag sets I have in my parts stash.

[MauiK3]

Yes, deceptively fast and even economical on gas.