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ironwoodsmith
Member
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Posted: Sun Sep 28th, 2008 12:11 am | 1st Post |
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Well, I am once again looking to purchase a GW. In the past, (way back there), I had a '76 naked and a '83 Aspencade. Between them I had a Silverwing 500cc. I recently sold a BMW R80GS. At the moment I am riding a ST1100, a '97.
I will be looking around in the forum for a while and look forward to meeting the regulars.
I am between a 1500 and a 1800. I am 6'0" with a 34" inseam and from what I have read so far It seems like the 1500 may fit better. Any opinions on that subject?
I live on San Juan Island in NW Washington state. I am 57 years young. Married for many years. I do my own mechanical as much as I can.
Joe
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Wingle
Very Active Member
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Posted: Sun Sep 28th, 2008 12:42 am | 2nd Post |
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Welcome to the forum Ironwoodsmith. I'm 6'4" and a 34" or so and find the 1500 a good fit. However the seating position of the 1500 is unusual in that you are sitting bolt upright. Although the bike is quite heavy at a standstill, once underway it really feels superbly balanced and light for it's size.
I would suggest you have a feel before you decide of course.
____________________
Opinions are like toothbrushes. Everybody has one, so there's no need to share. - Red Green
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TwoWings
Member
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Posted: Sun Sep 28th, 2008 12:49 am | 3rd Post |
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| I'm 6'4" also and 36" inseam and find the 1500 quite comfy. A backrest really helps a lot. The 1200 is a little more cramped. One of my friends is 6'7" and 38" and he finds his 1800 a little cramped.
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TwoWings
Member
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Posted: Sun Sep 28th, 2008 02:17 am | 4th Post |
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Copied this from Wing World Magazine Sept 2001 Issue
This explains the ergonomic differences between the 1500 and the 1800 quite well.
" Note: With a little help from Fred Rau at Motorcycle Consumer News, we
secured a couple of their CycleStats? ergonomic templates comparing a 1997 GL1500
and a 2001 GL1800 Gold Wing. What the numbers show validates your outcry that
one size doesn?t fit all.
There are 2.5 inches less lateral ?arm room? (measured from driver seat back
laterally to the handgrip centers) on the GL1800.
There is 1 inch less vertical ?arm room? (measured vertically from saddle to
handgrip centers) on the GL1800.
There are 1.5 inches less forward legroom (measured driver seat back to foot peg
centers) on the GL1800.
There are .4 inches less vertical legroom (measured saddle to foot peg centers)
on the GL1800.
And to make things worse, the handgrips on the GL1800 are not vertically
adjustable as they were on the GL1500. Aaaaghrh!
So what?s a tall fellow/gal to do?
If you ride solo most of the time, or if your Co-Rider is a fairly small person,
you could conceivably gain back some of the arm room and legroom by having an
aftermarket saddle tailored to your measurements, taking some of the room away
from the passenger seat.
Or you could look into the ergonomics of the VTX, as V-Twin cruiser-style
machines generally favor longer-legged and -armed frames. Without the
horizontally opposed engine of the Wing or Valkyrie, the VTX doesn?t interfere
with your foot placement as much.
Or you could simply stick with your GL1500 as a better ?fit? for your needs.
It?s difficult to speculate as to what determined the ergonomic decisions that
went into the design of the GL1800, but for years shorter people have complained
bitterly about previous model Wings heights, while taller folks have been fairly
quiet about changes, such as the lowering of the seat height in ?97 GL1500s on.
As always, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Some motorcycles offer some adjustment for ergonomic differences; however, thus
far, Honda hasn?t followed that path with the Gold Wing."
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jwhitmore44
Member
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Posted: Sun Sep 28th, 2008 02:30 am | 5th Post |
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6'1", 36" inseam I have highway pegs attached to the engine guard so I can stretch out. If I ride with my feet on the pegs my legs get a little cramped. The handle bars feel too close in, but I'm getting used to that. Course this all means nothing if you want a GL1500 or GL1800 as I have a GL1200A 
____________________
Main rides in order by year:
06 Yamaha WR450
99 Shadow VLX (VT600C)
84 GL1200 Aspencade
76 BMW R90/6
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mikef
Moderator
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Posted: Sun Sep 28th, 2008 05:21 am | 6th Post |
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Welcome to the site, ironwoodsmith. I find my feet sit back farther on an 1800 and I don't like the way my knees sit too close to the fairing.
____________________
Mike
93 Aspy
Do not place a sharp object in the hands of amateurs....
http://goldwingtech.info
Buy & Sell your stuff: http://RudysBackyard.com/
http://glhelpers.com/members/
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badass
Forum Greeter
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Posted: Sun Sep 28th, 2008 07:46 am | 7th Post |
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Hi....welcome from the Netherlands!!!
____________________
Ronald
GL1100 Standard
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Previous bikes in random order:
GL1200 Interstate 3x
Honda Transalp
Honda CB900C
Suzuki Burgman
Yamaha XV920
Yamaha TDM 900
Kawasaki Vulcan 1500
Yamaha Diversion 900
Honda Shadow 800
GL1100Interstate
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Speedratchet
Forum Greeter
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Posted: Sun Sep 28th, 2008 12:46 pm | 8th Post |
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Hello Joe and welcome from Arizona.
"Why buy'm if you don't ride'm"
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Iron Butt #35218/Patriot Guard Riders ID: 145830
Bike History: 08 GL1800 Goldwing, 02 H-D Wide Glide, 90 Suz GSX 750 Katana, 88 Suz GSX600F Katana, 79 Yam XS1100, 84 H-D Low Rider, 83 Kaw KZ750 Spectre, 79 Hon CX500 Custom, 78 Yam XS650 Special, 77 Yam YZ125, 75 Yam MX 80
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Rabbit
Forum Greeter
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Posted: Sun Sep 28th, 2008 01:47 pm | 9th Post |
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Welcome from the
Steve Saunder's GOLDWING FORUM
A Big Welcome From TEXAS
____________________
"The government cannot give to anyone anything that it does not first take from someone else."
1998 Goldwing SE
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Daveo
Very Active Member
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Posted: Mon Sep 29th, 2008 06:56 am | 10th Post |
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| Hello, welcome to the site!
____________________
Owned Previously:
SL100 1974-1976 9,000mi
CB175 1975-1976 100mi
CL350 1975-1980 20,000mi
CB550K 1978-1982 20,000mi
GL1000 1988-1993 2,500 (got the 1500, never looked back
GL1500 1989-1997 50,000mi
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Crazy Dog
Very Active Member
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Posted: Mon Sep 29th, 2008 11:31 am | 11th Post |
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Welcome buddy
***best site by far***
Be strong at all times
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Be strong at all times
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ironwoodsmith
Member
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Posted: Mon Sep 29th, 2008 04:13 pm | 12th Post |
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| Thanks for the warm Welcomes. Look forward to learning much from this site. Joe
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ke aka
Member
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Posted: Mon Sep 29th, 2008 04:20 pm | 13th Post |
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Hey, Joe, I just joined, too. I had an '82 1100, and just bought an '03 1800. Both have factory seats. I'm sure the dimensions are different, but I'm very much surprised how much the 1800 feels like my old one.
Both give me the impression they were made for someone a bit smaller, yet I've never had any discomfort at all. My first ride on my new one was over 4 hours, and I was ready to go again soon as I got home.
Only spent a few minutes on a 1500 once, so don't know how it fits in. But my 1800 fits me just fine.
I'm 6'2", with 34 inseam.
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RayandTracy
Senior Member
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Posted: Mon Sep 29th, 2008 11:31 pm | 14th Post |
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Welcome to this Great Site!
Pull up a chair and join on in!
Ride Safe, Ray
____________________
1986 interstate parts
http://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/forum6/57854.html
I should be riding today
10 percent of everything sold will be donated to the forum
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Button Lady
Forum Greeter
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Posted: Wed Oct 1st, 2008 06:55 pm | 15th Post |
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Hey! from Hamburg, NY
THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO BE!
If you have Goldwing Technical Smarts - GIVE IT! 
If you need help - ASK FOR IT! 
If you know of an event coming up or a cool ride you went on - SHARE IT!
If you have a joke or funny story - TELL IT! 
If you have prayers to give or need some - FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, SAY IT! 
If you have anything bad to say to or about anyone on this forum - STUFF IT! 
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!!! 
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Dum spiro spero - While I breathe, I hope
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