Author Topic: Wife says ' Your Gold Wing curious '..... (Read 2958 times)

Johnie · « **Reply #25 on:** December 07, 2011, 01:08:32 PM »

Spanner...not starter problems but "stator" problems. The 1100 had a stator problems but not as bad as the 1200's. Had to break the motor to get at it. Go for the 1500 Gold Wing, no more stator, they have an alternator and you can replace the brushes in them or put in a comp-u-fire alternator and solve all your problems. I put that unit in mine 9 years ago and it has been flawless.

Really? · « **Reply #26 on:** December 07, 2011, 01:19:59 PM »

It is nice to have a dresser. Nice on longer rides and a place for the ole lady to sit and nod off. Driving in city traffic can get old at times though.

Trav-i · « **Reply #27 on:** December 07, 2011, 01:24:42 PM »

Hey Ray, even little old me has seen the light of the GW. I've ridden Chris's a time or 2 and it's a freakin hoot to ride. Very nimble, very stable, but very heavy! You really have to think about where you park it, (if your my size) unless you get one with reverse. I say go for it, you'll love it on the next Barber trip, you would not believe what we managed to stuff in Chris's bike.

I will say this consider 83 on up that's when they got cast wheels (the comstars did not hold up well to the weight of the GW), also that year the GW got some nice upgrades as standard equipment from the Aspencade like anti-dive forks and others I can't seem to think of. I would also say stay away from the Aspencades they have way to much extra (read not necessarily needed electric crap) on them including a digital dash which is BIG dollars to replace.

Just some food for thought.

Travis

edbikerii · « **Reply #28 on:** December 07, 2011, 01:53:03 PM »

Yeah, in my experience (others' may vary), the connector goes bad, and makes it look like a bad stator (perhaps on others' bikes the short burned out the stator, I don't know).

So, I just cut out the connector and spliced the wires together directly. Now no problem.

For those who have genuinely blown stators (or those that run lots of auxiliary lighting, heated clothing, etc.) there is another solution, known as the "poorboy" alternator kit, which allows you to put an external alternator on the bike, driven from the crankshaft pulley at the front of the engine. Google it.

Spanner 1 · « **Reply #29 on:** December 07, 2011, 02:30:17 PM »

Great answers guys, thanks a mil., anyone else ?

TwoBigCats · « **Reply #30 on:** December 07, 2011, 02:44:13 PM »

Quote from: Spanner 1 on December 07, 2011, 02:30:17 PM

Great answers guys, thanks a mil., anyone else ?

yep.

i'm 58 and have had 4 gl's - '84 aspencade, '76 naked, '89 and (now) '95 1500 SE - beginning in '85. the longest ride i've taken was ~2k miles the '84 and that was great; i've made numerous trips to LA and back w/out breaking a sweat. each of them is more nimble than they look and they are just about bulletproof. due to increased power / abs, i'm considering adding an 1800 to our garage.

i suggest you spend time on http://www.goldwingfacts.com to familiarize yourself with the various models, capabilities, etc.

btw, my wife hated the ST i replaced our '89 gl with so wouldn't ride with me again until i bought another gl.

78 k550 · « **Reply #31 on:** December 07, 2011, 05:05:54 PM »

Quote from: Spanner 1 on December 07, 2011, 08:19:30 AM

Wow, lots of Wing owners among the tribe !................. also what's the best Wing Forum ?

Here it is again.

http://www.ngwclub.com/

Paul

78 k550 · « **Reply #32 on:** December 07, 2011, 05:07:07 PM »

And yes you can whip a wing around. I have a 75, 76 LTD and a 84 Standard.

Paul

scrapvalue · « **Reply #33 on:** December 07, 2011, 07:56:32 PM »

It's o.k. to have more then one motorcycle.
Nice things about the old wings is, you really can't loose any money on them.

CoachDoc · « **Reply #34 on:** December 13, 2011, 10:54:55 PM »

Wow, until recently I thought I was the only GW guy who prowled this site. Nice to see some company here. I got my first Wing in '95, a 1500. I put 30k miles on it before it was totaled and I went right to a new 2000 SE in Dec. '99. That one will turn 100k soon, and has been completely trouble free. All the time I had those 2 Wings My '74 550 sat in the garage, partially restored in '94, awaiting the completion of the project. I finally got the time this past Spring, so now I have my yin and yang. Loving it. I forgot how much fun a quick and light 550 can be. The Wing can't be beat, however, in comfort and reliability. I've ridden them all over the Western U.S., stereo blazing the whole time. The rear seat is a veritable throne, which makes my wife very happy (she thinks she is a queen anyway, so why not a throne). People do underestimate how nimble the Wing can be (parking lot speed excepted). So to me it's the 550 for fun, but I would have to go with the big Wing for the long haul and heavy lifting.

CoachDoc · « **Reply #35 on:** December 13, 2011, 11:00:38 PM »

Quote from: Spanner 1 on December 07, 2011, 08:19:30 AM

Wow, lots of Wing owners among the tribe !....... For me it would be about a little more comfort on a long trip vs. a 750, also lots of storage when travelling too. No need for a 2-up bike in my case, the Mrs. would always ride her own bike on a trip Anyone know any common issues on the gl1100's ( Johnie said starter probs. ? ).......... also what's the best Wing Forum ?

By far the best GoldWing forum is the goldwing facts forum. Rivals this sites, with lots of how to's and video.

TwoBigCats · « **Reply #36 on:** December 14, 2011, 07:32:22 PM »

Quote from: CoachDoc on December 13, 2011, 11:00:38 PM

Quote from: Spanner 1 on December 07, 2011, 08:19:30 AM
Wow, lots of Wing owners among the tribe !....... For me it would be about a little more comfort on a long trip vs. a 750, also lots of storage when travelling too. No need for a 2-up bike in my case, the Mrs. would always ride her own bike on a trip Anyone know any common issues on the gl1100's ( Johnie said starter probs. ? ).......... also what's the best Wing Forum ?
By far the best GoldWing forum is the goldwing facts forum. Rivals this sites, with lots of how to's and video.

+ 1 ... tons of technical info and help.

78 k550 · « **Reply #37 on:** December 14, 2011, 10:07:51 PM »

Never been to that site.
If you go Naked.

http://www.ngwclub.com/

Paul

Johnie · « **Reply #38 on:** December 15, 2011, 09:27:28 AM »

Never been to that site either. I will check it out. Used to belong to the GWRRA, but you had to pay dues to use their website and get the magazine. Then I got more into the vintage stuff and did not join up again. Good to have this site if I need it.

weekend_junkie · « **Reply #39 on:** December 15, 2011, 09:47:52 AM »

A go-to Goldwing for long hauls would be nice. I put 2k miles 2-up with the wife on a rented 2010 GL1800 and I would run out of gas before our butts would get tired.

My father pilots a 1981 GL1500 with sidecar around town all the time. Seating for 4 people, plus groceries. That is another machine that will run out of gas long before fatigue sets in.

Quote from: Gordon on December 06, 2011, 07:02:35 PM

2. A small convertible isn't meant to get wet on the inside, so you have to make sure to put the top up.

I have a dirty mind; that's all I'm going to say.

A 2.8 liter Z3 is a fun machine and gives that go-kart feel. Sure, it doesn't lean, but it can shuck-n-jive. About the same storage for 2 people as a full dressed GL.

CoachDoc · « **Reply #40 on:** December 15, 2011, 06:03:22 PM »

Somebody on this thread mentioned some GW reluctance due to concerns over possible lack of high speed avoidance capability. This may be valid if one controls the 800-900 lb. bike the same was as they would the typical SOHC. It took me some years to figure out that to maximize the maneuverability of the Wing, you have to resort to the mythical but highly effective mode known as countersteering. Just push the handlebar away from you on the side you wish to turn and the aircraft carrier suddenly turns like a nimble sport bike.

Another thing to consider is the enhanced safety that all the mass on a Wing provides. Abnout a dozen years ago I was traveling north on I-805 in San Diego in the fast lane when a high lifted pickup in front of me suddenly veered into the 3rd lane to our right. I quicly saw why. A sofa had fallen off some dumbass' truck and was horizontal in the lane right in front of me. We were going 80-85 mph and there was a truck on my right and a guardrail on my left.... no choice but to go straight into the sofa. On a 400 lb. bike I very well would have gone down and been roadkill for following vehicles. My 1500SE (895lbs. curb wt.) split the sofa in 2 like a knife through butter, or more appropriately like a karate guy breaking 20 or so boards with a violent kick. Never even came close to going down, and the only damage was cracks in the plastic front rotor covers. The front forks were not even bent.

sopo400f · « **Reply #41 on:** December 15, 2011, 07:45:02 PM »

http://capecod.craigslist.org/mcy/2681415818.html

The polygamist's gold wing.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #42 on:** December 16, 2011, 01:32:15 PM »

Magpie...that GL1800 rider knows Deals Gap well ! ++ his GL1800 !

Magpie · « **Reply #43 on:** December 16, 2011, 03:11:43 PM »

Yes, he's famous on the GL1800 forum. He's since sold the bike but still is on the forum. Cliff.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #44 on:** December 16, 2011, 03:17:16 PM »

I wonder if that "corner wizard" had anything left of his side cases or had to replace them before he sold the GL.

KRONUS0100 · « **Reply #45 on:** December 17, 2011, 05:59:53 PM »

I myself have been ogling craiglist and the for sale section of many newspapers, looking for anotherWing.
I have missed the comfort an power of my 1100 Interstate since totalling it a few years ago. I think this time tho i want an injected 87 1200 Aspencade.

ZanVooden · « **Reply #46 on:** December 18, 2011, 07:07:27 PM »

I've been working on my first wing. its a 76LTD. I got because I just couldnt pass up the deal.

Very interesting bike. All the people before recommending the NGW site are absolutely correct.

Here's my winter project.
http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=36764

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Author Topic: Wife says ' Your Gold Wing curious '..... (Read 2958 times)

scrapvalue