79 Honda Gold Wing GL1000

[KDS111]

Hello All,
I went today to look at a 79 Gold Wing GL1000.
It's been sitting for about 10 months. It has a been converted to electronic ignition. New stator. Water cooled. It is complete and original in appearance.
Vetter fairing, bags and trunk. Highway bars and lights. recovered seat.
I'm told it ran fine. The battery is no good. I have not heard it run yet, that will happen over the weekend when the owner gets a new battery.
He is asking $850.00. Can I get some feedback, opinions, etc.

 

[Steve]

If that is what floats your boat, GET IT.

A running Wing of ANY year is worth 2-3 times that. The fact that it has all the luggage only adds to it value. :clap:

I know most of the guys here will strip off a fairing or saddlebags, but that's what the Wing is made for.

.

 

[DanTheMan]

I'd buy it in a heartbeat. One of my buddies has one just like it. It's a decent touring bike, has some inherent Honda problems, but it's a solid bike.

 

[KDS111]

What do you mean by inherent Honda problems?
Please explain.

 

[DanTheMan]

In the early model 1000cc wings, there were two problems that I've read about, only experienced one of them helping my buddy out. Somewhere along the line, the starter on his was replaced by the PO (just like a zuke, crank too long, overheat....) and a bike shop replaced that replacement starter for him with the wrong one. I looked that up on an old 'wing forum a few years ago, and they said it was common for that starter problem to happen and also for bike shops to substitute one that wasn't really the correct one for the bike. Another one was the timing chain for driving the camshafts. If it sounds extra noisy, it's getting ready to fail, and it will take out a lot of components when it does due to valve/piston interference.

 

[KDS111]

Thanks very much for the info.
Also it has 32,000 miles. For a wing I don't think that is a lot.

 

[DanTheMan]

32k miles? That's almost showroom new. Buy it! Around here, where prices are pretty low, it wouldn't be less than $1500.00.

 

[Guest]

Hell I think I'd buy that one, and I hate oldwangs.. But then, when I got through with it you wouldnt know it was a wing.
Seen some pretty cool custom wingers out there and for 800 bux? Sheesh.

 

[Calvin Blackmore]

buy the bike already

I mean its the original crusie all day at 90 and be relaxed while doing so

a lot of folks like bikes for agressive vanyon carving

I personally like them because if you dont look down you can actaully ppretend you are flying

 

[SqDancerLynn1]

I would buy it.. Check the charging circuit, stator replacement requires engine removal I think? So Ask some questions.. I would definately change the timing belt just for piece of mind because it is probably the original..

 

[wacky941]

A little over a year ago I was in California (Moreno Valley) and while searching craigslist I came across a Gold Wing that I would love to have bought, someone had removed all the bags and fairing, everything that makes it a tourer, changed the bars and everything and cafe'd it out, that was actually a really good looking bike I'm sure it wouldn't handle as well as a conventional cafe bike but it sure did look good.

 

[hacksaw55]

Was it yellow by any chance,I saw one on ebay a few years back best looking wing I ever seen.

 

[LuckyEddie]

GL1000 Info

GL1000 Info

I presently own 3 early Wings. Nice bikes. You can find all the info you will need at www.randakks.com

 

[wacky941]

Was it yellow by any chance,I saw one on ebay a few years back best looking wing I ever seen.

The one I saw was black, it was impressive.
I never realized that a Gold Wing could look that good as a cafe racer.

 

[Steve]

I never realized that a Gold Wing could look that good as a cafe racer.

Did someone say "cafe'd Wing"? :-k

Lots more interesting bikes (all Wings, of course) can be seen at the Naked Goldwings Club.


Or, if you want something a little bit "wilder", how about this?

.

 

[850 Combat]

I owned this fine looking and running example.

I hated it. It is so long that you have to lean it way over to make it turn, and it doesn't turn very well. The throttle is super slow acting, and it takes two turns to open it practically.

Fast?

No. Not at all.

I got rid of mine right away and continued my search for another GS1000G instead. I sold it to my brother. He picked it up an my mother's place in Anaheim and rode it to Phoenix. He hated it equally. Now he is happy with an 850G.

He sold it to another guy who loves it dearly.

I like a bike to be far more agile and faster than the Wing. By todays standards a Suzuke G is neither fast nor agile, but compared to a Wing of the period it sure is.

Oh yeah. The seat is horrible compared to an early "G" as well. It feels bouncy like it has springs or something.

Neither of us kept it long, but we had no trouble with it.

Final note:

Putting instruments on the top of the tank is an engineering decision people who like to use tank bags, like me, really appreciate. But then who would ever imagine that a touring rider might use a tank bag?

 

[Guest]

I owned this fine looking and running example.

No disrespect to you but sometiimes with the vintage jap bike ugly looks good but not in this case.
That thing sure is ugly.

 

[willie]

I'd like to add my .02 worth here. I gave serious thought to buying an older Wing a yr or so ago. The guys on this forum, which I have the utmost respect and appreciation for, talked me out of it. I stopped looking for one for the time being. Then, last month, I went to look at a cherry '83(?) model that was for sale at a very reasonable price. I was extremely impressed with the overall appearance. If only it had performed half as good as it looked. I was thankful I wasn't going more than 25 when I came into the 1st turn. It wallowed so bad that I got on the brakes to slow down as quickly as possible. Too bad the brakes were pretty much non-existant. After coming to a stop, I opened it up for the long straight ahead of me. I was as disappointed with the acceleration as I was with the brakes.
I decided to pass on it rather than get into an "updating" project. Great looking bike though and I hope you have a far better experience with the one you're considering.
Good luck,
Willie

 

[850 Combat]

No disrespect to you but sometiimes with the vintage jap bike ugly looks good but not in this case.
That thing sure is ugly.

I bought it from a HS shop teacher who aparently was having students work on old bikes in class. It had rebuilt carbs, a new water pump, cleaned and polished engine covers, etc. They had mounted HD style tail light and turn signal as well as the light bar in front with the extra lights. I think they were trying to do a Japanese Road King or something. The whole effect was really not my thing, but it was a handsome machine in its own way, and a real clean example of what it was. I just wanted to have a bike suitable for longer rides when I visited my relatives in So Cal at Christmas time. I think I paid $1500 for it.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and as I said, it really wasn't my thing. It got lots of favorable comments everywhere I parked it though. I never liked the look of Gold Wings, and that type, with the fake gas tank sloping forward and the gage pod on it, I like less than most of them. None the less, it was a fine looking example of what it was. Queen of the leper colony, maybe.

 

[Guy]

Hello All,
I went today to look at a 79 Gold Wing GL1000.
It's been sitting for about 10 months. It has a been converted to electronic ignition. New stator. Water cooled. It is complete and original in appearance.
Vetter fairing, bags and trunk. Highway bars and lights. recovered seat.
I'm told it ran fine. The battery is no good. I have not heard it run yet, that will happen over the weekend when the owner gets a new battery.
He is asking $850.00. Can I get some feedback, opinions, etc.

Sounds an ok deal if the motor's running ok, although the 1100 is a better bike if you're set on a goldwing. It's better engineered with better carbs, brakes and suspension. More power too. Easy enough bike to maintain, but clutch, alternator and starter issues means motor out to fix, so check carefully.

In the early model 1000cc wings, there were two problems that I've read about, only experienced one of them helping my buddy out. Somewhere along the line, the starter on his was replaced by the PO (just like a zuke, crank too long, overheat....) and a bike shop replaced that replacement starter for him with the wrong one. I looked that up on an old 'wing forum a few years ago, and they said it was common for that starter problem to happen and also for bike shops to substitute one that wasn't really the correct one for the bike. Another one was the timing chain for driving the camshafts. If it sounds extra noisy, it's getting ready to fail, and it will take out a lot of components when it does due to valve/piston interference.

Hmmm, maybe you and your buddy should do a bit more research. It doesn't have a timing chain. It uses belts. 2 of them.