Anyone with Goldwing experience?

[Rob S.]

...a little too car like...

That was exactly the first criticism I heard in 1975. "Too smooth...like a car."

I didn't want to ask, but one day I found out my buddy wanted to try my Z1 as much as I wanted to try his new Wing. We both came back with smiles.

The original 1000 was the only one I ever rode, but that Valkyrie sure looks interesting.

 

[chuck hahn]

If its the redone and youre getting another GS thrown into the deal..what you waiting for?? Thats the OEM paint job and its got the bag racks and a LOT of add on period stuff..I would be all over that deal. Bet he has some wiggle room too.

 

[chuck hahn]

Eckland...Guys over at NGW CLUB forum say mines worth around 2 grand minimum. They are the go to gurus as far as what the current trends are. I got mine cheap because the guy didnt know what he had in the first place and the fuel was flowing into the intake plenum and he didnt want to tear into the carbs.

He had already purchased the master rebuild kit ( $200.00 dollar kit ) and gave that to me with the bike. All I had to do was dip and rebuild the carbs and it was running the next night after i got it home.

Link to original thread...

http://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...other-bike-right&highlight=75+GL1000+Goldwing

 

[GS1150Pilot]

The more I look at the 1st gen Wing, the more I wonder whether it might not be a great touring sled for my designs.

Looking at SuperSkyPilot's B-Girl thread at goldwingfacts.com makes it an especially appealing thought.

 

[chuck hahn]

welll..........did you.pull the trigger?

 

[Ecklund]

Ecklund, I actually like the bikini fairing on yours. Makes it look a bit R90Sque, which is a cool look. Love the color on yours.

Looks like I'll get to go home October 1st for a bit.

Hoping to put on some taller shocks, Daytona handle bars and maybe even fatten up the seat some.

I have to say the bike is way faster than I thought. I guess most liter sized bikes without all the fairing crap would be fairly quick.

Who puts a yellow head light in a bike though...?

A liter sized BMW airhead would be very nice. They are getting pretty pricey though...

 

[Ecklund]

That was exactly the first criticism I heard in 1975. "Too smooth...like a car."

I didn't want to ask, but one day I found out my buddy wanted to try my Z1 as much as I wanted to try his new Wing. We both came back with smiles.

The original 1000 was the only one I ever rode, but that Valkyrie sure looks interesting.

Everyone has their idea of what smooth is. But in '75 the standard bikes were Harleys and British twins. Of course the GL1000 was thought to be smooth. And it is too. Just not a car. Naked ones are really very fun bikes.

 

[Ecklund]

Eckland...Guys over at NGW CLUB forum say mines worth around 2 grand minimum. They are the go to gurus as far as what the current trends are. I got mine cheap because the guy didnt know what he had in the first place and the fuel was flowing into the intake plenum and he didnt want to tear into the carbs.

He had already purchased the master rebuild kit ( $200.00 dollar kit ) and gave that to me with the bike. All I had to do was dip and rebuild the carbs and it was running the next night after i got it home.

Link to original thread...

http://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...other-bike-right&highlight=75+GL1000+Goldwing

Agreed. The NGW site has some very interesting current past build threads. One guy is doing a supercharged build currently. Very interesting.

I have to say that this is the big difference between the bike groups. GS bikes were raced in large numbers and performance info and parts are readily available. There is precious little info on performance improvement for the GL1000. Different bike I understand, but one of the biggest draws for me to the GS was the large performance segment of the GS group.

The NGW site has quite a few 'cafe' threads. Not my thing, but interesting ideas on cosmetics and also lots about keeping those GL bikes on the road.

$300 for a decent GL1000 including the $200 rebuild kit? And now its worth $2K? A very nice find of a really very nice bike Chuck.

 

[chuck hahn]

I got the master carb kit, the screw on style oil filter adaper, a master seried carb rebuild DVD, and a factory service manual with the bike..$300.00 for it all. When I went to Randazz site to check the cost of the extras it was something like 350ish!! So I got more just in the goodies than i paid for the entire shootin match...LOL

I cant biitch one bit about the deal!!!!

 

[Ecklund]

I got the master carb kit, the screw on style oil filter adaper, a master seried carb rebuild DVD, and a factory service manual with the bike..$300.00 for it all. When I went to Randazz site to check the cost of the extras it was something like 350ish!! So I got more just in the goodies than i paid for the entire shootin match...LOL

I cant biitch one bit about the deal!!!!

Sometimes a guy gets a deal like this but its for a bike that's not very appealing. From my side the GL1000 is a bike that is very close to what motorcycling is all about. A great deal on a great bike.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Looks like I'll get to go home October 1st for a bit.

Hoping to put on some taller shocks, Daytona handle bars and maybe even fatten up the seat some.

I have to say the bike is way faster than I thought. I guess most liter sized bikes without all the fairing crap would be fairly quick.

Who puts a yellow head light in a bike though...?

A liter sized BMW airhead would be very nice. They are getting pretty pricey though...

Yeah, the big airheads are becoming rather dear. I'm also quite taken with the Guzzi Bassa, Jackal, etc. I used to hate the look of the Californias; now I like it, and those bikes flat out work. I love the older stuff. A friend suggested I consider an FJR. He has one, and it's a stellar machine, but when it comes to 1300s, my mind runs to the KZ1300. I'd grab one of those in a heartbeat if it came up at the right time.

 

[chuck hahn]

Thats the crappy part..they either come up when you dont have the money or you DO have the cash and milleniums can go by and nothing shows up!!!

 

[Ecklund]

Yeah, the big airheads are becoming rather dear. I'm also quite taken with the Guzzi Bassa, Jackal, etc. I used to hate the look of the Californias; now I like it, and those bikes flat out work. I love the older stuff. A friend suggested I consider an FJR. He has one, and it's a stellar machine, but when it comes to 1300s, my mind runs to the KZ1300. I'd grab one of those in a heartbeat if it came up at the right time.

I just watched a Youtube on a guy that goes over his KZ1300. What a beast. Bags of torque and of course heavy as ****. Probably a very roomy bike. It would be cool to have a straight six engine bike.

Those BMW K1600 bikes look very attractive and that six is one reason why. The FJR is probably an excellent bike. Its probably wrong to have just one motorcycle, right?

I've seen couple customs based on the older big Guzzi bikes. Very nice.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Yeah, they do come up when you have no cash. I found a KZ1300 recently, out of state, not running but in what looked to be solid shape (although with all the fairing stuff that would have to be pulled off) for $1500. But then it would have to be shipped, and then begins the rebuilding of carbs, ignition, etc.. It just wasn't to be, but that is a bike I think I can afford. That said, an '81 CBx with the Hondaline fairing and bags, which is the way I truly love the CBx, popped up not long ago in running shape for $4,000. Oh, and so did a CX500 Turbo. I love those things.

 

[Ecklund]

Yeah, they do come up when you have no cash. I found a KZ1300 recently, out of state, not running but in what looked to be solid shape (although with all the fairing stuff that would have to be pulled off) for $1500. But then it would have to be shipped, and then begins the rebuilding of carbs, ignition, etc.. It just wasn't to be, but that is a bike I think I can afford. That said, an '81 CBx with the Hondaline fairing and bags, which is the way I truly love the CBx, popped up not long ago in running shape for $4,000. Oh, and so did a CX500 Turbo. I love those things.

Mmm, CBX. The non-mono shock ones are getting very pricey. The mono-shock ones with the fairings are cool, but then we are kind of back to an FJR type bike.

Turbo CX. Now there's Honda with a bike looking for a market. But the unique factor is enough to want one.

Your list of maintenance, mods, upgrades to get a bike from that era to take advantage of the technological progress and its related costs is exactly right. That $1500 KZ1300 becomes a $3000 bike very quickly once the process starts. Also true about transport too. A few extras like some decent shocks and with transport its now a $4K bike. And a cool bike that fits you and is reliable at $4K is fine. But it aint $1500.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

I always loved the CBx with the fairing more. It was less raw, true, but I think it is beautiful. When I was a teenager, I worked summers at a Honda autoshop, busting tires, doing oil changes, etc. My boss owned both a faired CBx and a CX500 Turbo. I loved both bikes. He was a psycho rider, but eventually, due to awareness of mortality, put the bikes in the shop on display. I spent far too many hours drooling over them.

 

[Rob S.]

Those BMW K1600 bikes look very attractive and that six is one reason why.

I rode behind one of those last summer for a fast few miles. I was straining to keep up with him at 110-115 mph and I could tell he wasn't breaking a sweat.

Cycle World said it might be the perfect motorcycle engine - completely self balancing.

 

[Ecklund]

I rode behind one of those last summer for a fast few miles. I was straining to keep up with him at 110-115 mph and I could tell he wasn't breaking a sweat.

Cycle World said it might be the perfect motorcycle engine - completely self balancing.

Oh man, don't tell me that... I'm already jonzin for one.

Trevor has the K1300; also seems very nice, except for maybe the riding position. Now a roadster version of the K1600... Mmmm

 

[Rob S.]

Oh man, don't tell me that... I'm already jonzin for one.

Then you'd better stay away from what Cycle World has to say about them. Hint - all good. Better than good.

 

[Ecklund]

I always loved the CBx with the fairing more. It was less raw, true, but I think it is beautiful. When I was a teenager, I worked summers at a Honda autoshop, busting tires, doing oil changes, etc. My boss owned both a faired CBx and a CX500 Turbo. I loved both bikes. He was a psycho rider, but eventually, due to awareness of mortality, put the bikes in the shop on display. I spent far too many hours drooling over them.

One of Leno's garage episodes on Youtube features his '81? CBX. Really nice bike. Of course he rides it and even at 34 years old the bike still looks to be a great bike. Sort of an ancestor to the K1600.