| What can you tell me about this bike from the pics? | Rate Topic |
| Moderators: redbaron, MDKramer, Flyone, AZgl1500 | Page:   1 2 3 4 5 6   |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 02:50 am | 21st Post |
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MDKramer wrote: And, since it was apparently an Interstate, the fairing was changed for a reason. I'm guessing drop damage. That or some one decided to trick out a standard. A lot of bucks there if they did. BTY, I prefer pegs to floorboards but I updated my round pegs to the wider flat ones off a 1200.
____________________ Michael Too much chrome to polish, too little time!! Have trailer, will travel!! Not all Wingers are old Wingers. PGR member. Riding in memory of my father, Clyde D. Ward, USN. WWII Myself, USN, Vietnam Vet. 68-72, 74-76 VF-194 aboard the USS. Oriskany USS Saratoga, ships company |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 04:30 am | 22nd Post |
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Custon paint job[no pin strips]. Windshield looks like it has been adapted?Do pull off left battery cover and check wireing connectors[look for 3 yellow wires in a connector or sordered]. The vin # is on the ;neck of the sterring tube,make sure it matchs. $1300 is not a bad price. If the bike has been damaged and fixed with bondo it will not last long so be careful.
____________________ 1981 GL1100I Keep it vertical! Fred |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 03:43 pm | 23rd Post |
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Keep in mind that you may have to work on the bike. Finding a shop that will work on the older bikes is often impossible. You have a tendency to take your chances on an older bike. I picked up a 76 BMW airhead with 65k miles and did a lot of work on it, easily doubled my purchase price in repairs. I then picked up an 84 wing with 74k miles and have done nothing besides basic maintenance. You couldn't really tell from the outside which one was taken care of more. Although, I think the Wing holds up better than the Beemer in the long run 
____________________ Main rides in order by year: 03 Honda XR650L 99 Shadow VLX (VT600C) 84 GL1200 Aspencade |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 04:42 pm | 24th Post |
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Speaking of maintenance : Which manual is best to pick up for the GL1100 - the Honda, Clymer, or Haynes? available here
____________________ ------------------------ 84 GL1200 Interstate 91k 07 Fatboy 15k |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 04:52 pm | 25th Post |
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twopeanuts wrote: Speaking of maintenance : Which manual is best to pick up for the GL1100 - the Honda, Clymer, or Haynes? available here I'd got with the Honda shop manual and the Haynes. i don't have much faith in Clymers anymore as I've found a few mistakes in some of their manuals.
____________________ Michael Too much chrome to polish, too little time!! Have trailer, will travel!! Not all Wingers are old Wingers. PGR member. Riding in memory of my father, Clyde D. Ward, USN. WWII Myself, USN, Vietnam Vet. 68-72, 74-76 VF-194 aboard the USS. Oriskany USS Saratoga, ships company |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 06:27 pm | 26th Post |
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MDKramer wrote: And, since it was apparently an Interstate, the fairing was changed for a reason. I'm guessing drop damage. MDKramer has a good point. From what I can see from the pictures, there are several things I'd look at very closely. First, it looks to me like the front brake caliper is a single piston type, these were used through '81, the '82's all had dual piston calipers front and rear. Second, the fairing is added, as said above, and if the bike WAS an Interstate, why the change. Third, the front fender is not stock (smaller, chrome). Fourth, the faux tank has Honda badges, Interstates did not because the fairing covered them. Of course all of these changes could be "just because," But I would look it over very closely. First thought is front end damage took out forks, were replaced with 80 - 81 forks, wheels, brakes. BTW, 82 front wheel size is 18" 80-81 is 19" to quickly tell. Good wrenchin' Todd
____________________ TrackT "New" '81 GL1100I Barn Find! '82 Gl1100I '79 Yamahama 750 Special (Triple) "He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail." ...Abraham Maslow |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 06:51 pm | 27th Post |
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Good spot on the single piston caliper Todd. I missed that, and you are correct. Something tells me this bike may have seen some front-end damage in it's life. I'd be checking the tree and wheel alignment pretty close too.
____________________ Mike Kramer "Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: Now." Denis Waitley |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 07:03 pm | 28th Post |
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You guys are very astute! I'm impressed!
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 07:07 pm | 29th Post |
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Only thing that bothers me about it is it has Honda Bags and trunk. The fairing is a Vetter model, have to ask your self why, has it been crashed? 
____________________ John 2006 GL1800 Dark Red DarkSider Kumho 195/55/16 RF 
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 07:09 pm | 30th Post |
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I'm finally learning from my own mistakes and lapses in judgement (after way too many years)! Todd Last edited on Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 07:09 pm by TrackT2411 ____________________ TrackT "New" '81 GL1100I Barn Find! '82 Gl1100I '79 Yamahama 750 Special (Triple) "He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail." ...Abraham Maslow |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 07:10 pm | 31st Post |
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According to what twopeanuts posted, the add did not state it was an Interstate. That was a comment about the bike by twopeanuts. I have also seen were titles will get the year of the bike recorded when the bike sold and not the year of manufacture. there should be a VIN plate on the bike that has the year of manufacture. Maybe the title says 82 but the bike is really an 81.
____________________ Main rides in order by year: 03 Honda XR650L 99 Shadow VLX (VT600C) 84 GL1200 Aspencade |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 07:39 pm | 32nd Post |
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jwhitmore44 wrote: According to what twopeanuts posted, the add did not state it was an Interstate. That was a comment about the bike by twopeanuts. I have also seen were titles will get the year of the bike recorded when the bike sold and not the year of manufacture. there should be a VIN plate on the bike that has the year of manufacture. Maybe the title says 82 but the bike is really an 81. Absolutely true, JW. The VIN plate will be the answer for the most part.  I'd bet a dollar the bike is a standard and has been dressed. The trunk looks to be an Aspencade trunk, with larger backrest and pockets. Todd
____________________ TrackT "New" '81 GL1100I Barn Find! '82 Gl1100I '79 Yamahama 750 Special (Triple) "He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail." ...Abraham Maslow |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 07:51 pm | 33rd Post |
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Looks like a nice bike. I had the 84 Aspy before my 93 1500. What I really like about the 1500 is the cruise control. If you could find a 1500 with cruise control it would more worth it, esp. since most of your travel is interstate. Just a thought!
____________________ Previous Bikes 1973 CB450 1978 CB750K 1984 GL1200A 1994 GL1500A 2010 GL1800 ABS/Nav |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 08:00 pm | 34th Post |
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TrackT2411 wrote: I'd bet a dollar the bike is a standard and has been dressed. The trunk looks to be an Aspencade trunk, with larger backrest and pockets. I'll take that bet, even money says that the tank shell was changed (to one that came off a standard) at the same time the forks, calipers, fender, and fairing were changed, and everything was custom painted black. The backrest, while bigger, is a replacement backrest with a bigger back plate, hung on a standard 80's trunk. The "beauty bump" on the top of the trunk didn't appear until 1984 with the 1200.
____________________ Mike Kramer "Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: Now." Denis Waitley |
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| Posted: Wed Mar 3rd, 2010 08:38 pm | 35th Post |
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WOW - you guys are good! I bet it was crashed and rebuilt by some PO (really believe this guy doesn't know a lot about it from talking to him). Still - it might be worth the money depending on how it runs and rides. Here's the other bike I'm seriously considering checking out first since the one above might have been a wreck rebuild. I don't how many miles are on this one - seller doesn't really want to answer many questions via email and just wants me to come see it and find out what I want to know by looking at it. The pics he put in the ad are really small, so here's all I got to work with. From this - which one looks like a better deal? I got him down to saying he would take $1500 but no less. 3 ads say: "1981 goldwing 1100 road edtion - $2500 bike runs and rides very well is in need of some small cosmedic repairs on seat and leather,tires are in excellent condation has new battery and starts up when turned on." "1981 honda road edition 1100 goldwing:$2000 will except nothing less than price shown will how ever trade for a good trike.bike runs excellent needs small leather cosmetic work." "1981 1100 road edition goldwing - $1600 bike is in excellent shape may need a few cosmetic repairs rides well new battery just installed. call me. will not take lest than priced if interested call me. would trade for trike with a little extra" I emailed and asked "Would you take $1000 cash? How many miles are on it? Do you know when it had the last timing belt change?" and he replied with: "sorry i will take no less than 1500.00 - do not know much about bike i purchased it last for the same price i am asking rode it home from tifton ga you may call me to see it" From the pics it looks like its got some bling on it and the original hondaline fairing - which would be better for commuting the hondaline for the vetter w/ lowers? Anything else you can tell from these little pics? (trying to determine if its worth all the gas and time to drive out there and look at it....) Attachment: 81-1100-1.jpg (Downloaded 163 times)
____________________ ------------------------ 84 GL1200 Interstate 91k 07 Fatboy 15k |
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| Posted: Thu Mar 4th, 2010 02:09 am | 36th Post |
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Looked like it had aftermarket ring of fire on the front forks,or its been swapped over to newer model front end. Could not tell if it had pin stripping on the paint. On the 81 the pin stripping on plastic parts wear put on before clear coat. Also looked like it has a lot of chrome[spark and plug covers,side covers that came standard on it. At $1500 it would be a good price. $1300 for my bike and it did not run at 19600 miles. $2000 more and I had a good bike until last fall when some o-rings went out. Blew head gasket and dumped oil in coolant. No pin stripping on mine but a good paint job. So mine had been wrecked before I got it. Back up again next week with 39000 miles on it and 29 years old. The cylinders have no wear on them at all. Good luck on your purchase.
____________________ 1981 GL1100I Keep it vertical! Fred |
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| Posted: Thu Mar 4th, 2010 02:17 am | 37th Post |
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I'm still leaning in favor of the first bike you priced. Go look at it. Even if it is a rebuild, IF it was done meticulously it is a good bike. And the price really makes it worth while to go find out.
____________________ John |
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| Posted: Thu Mar 4th, 2010 02:37 am | 38th Post |
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Road Edition? What the flip is that?  What I'm seeing is an '81 Interstate Seat looks like a JC Whitney Saddleman knock-off. Rotor covers actually look like highly modified 1500 rotor covers. Not a bad thing, just not something I've seen done on an 1100. I know it can be done on a 1200 though. Only thing I see on the 2nd one I don't particularly like is the drivers' floorboards. But when you wear a size 15 motorcycle boot, floorboards on a Goldwing = foot cookers. Looks like a touch of rust on the weld under the passenger floorboard on the right side. Nothing unusual in that. Happens there on all of the 1100's. Looks like a tall windscreen. I personally would change that, but you may like it. I personally prefer the Hondaline fairing to the Vetter. Better wind protection, and where the Hondaline was designed to match the bags and complete the bike, the Vetter was a commercially produced, three sizes fit all fairing. Striping on the fairing, bags, trunk, and faux tank should be double gold, but as Lit points out, it was tape under the clearcoat, and around 5-6 years ago, they all started looking like poop, so alot of guys had the clearcoat and striping removed, then reshot the clear, or just repainted the bike completely. I'd look at 'em both and decide which one I liked the better myself. Don't let the possibility of the first one being lightly damaged and repaired put you completely off. If it was bumped into a car, or dropped enough to just damage a couple things, the frame and head weren't bent, and the person doing the repairs was as meticulous as most of us Goldwing owners are, then I wouldn't shy away from it.
____________________ Mike Kramer "Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: Now." Denis Waitley |
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| Posted: Thu Mar 4th, 2010 03:43 am | 39th Post |
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My, my! Sounds like the last garage sale I was involved in. Couldn't sell a five dollar bill for four dollars to the bargain hunters. Several offers of $1.75 just to take it off my hands. If it feels right and sounds ok you probally are getting a good ride. The pup in the first pictures has an honest face. If he lets you test ride or takes you for a ride you'll know by the time you hit 4th. Lots of luck and Welcome to the forum --Keno Good points by all, I'd bet on replacing the old seat pads on any of them. The foam just seems to give up the cushion after a few years. Unless you are very short that short windshield on # 1 is going to put your head and shoulder in the buffet zone. Last edited on Thu Mar 4th, 2010 04:06 am by Keno |
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| Posted: Thu Mar 4th, 2010 07:27 am | 40th Post |
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Twopeanuts, I've owned the older wings for many years...and can tell you this. Most folks buy based on the obvious appearance. This is a mistake. Don't buy for color, or for equipment, or even for a nice seat, rather buy the best bike without worry about a few hundred dollars. Buying the best bike will save you those few hundreds. Look for upgraded parts, and nice seats and accessories on eBay...shop carefully, but great deals are all over the place for the old GLs. I wouldn't buy any bike till I've ridden it hard and put it away wet...so you know how it handles in all situations...and be sure to take it up through the twisties fast and furious. The Goldwing is one of the best engineered bikes in history. I'd do some research on the internet. Go to http://www.Randakks.com. He's one of the few gurus who have shared secrets of the old GLs. I'd prioritize my inspection and decisions based on these checks (get an experienced motorcycle or car mechanic to do this for you...the money you pay is worth the savings down the road): 1. Go over to the seller's early in the morning, so you can start it cold...after sitting overnight. It will likely smoke on the left side for a few minutes. This is due to the oil settling in the left horizontal head sitting when the bike is on its side stand. If at all possible, you should have the bike sit overnight on its center stand to see if it still smokes. Sit on the bike...do the handlebars sit evenly, do the forks seem aligned? Check for signs of hard drops...exhaust or engine valve cover damage. 2. Give the bike a dry, then wet compression test. This will tell you whether or not the valves or guides are worn (dry test), or the rings are leaky (wet test). In both tests, you should find all four cylinders close in lbs. pressure. See Randakk's recommendations concerning this. This is the most important test you can do. Also, compare the spark plugs while they're out. Check the internet for what a plug from a good running and properly tuned engine looks like...and do all 4 look alike. 3. Check the oil...is it clean? Check the brake fluid, calipers, both master brake cylinders for leaks...check for cracks in brake hoses and for leaky, corroded connections. Are discs badly and deeply scored? 4. With a mechanic's stethoscope, listen to the engine running, by placing the probe into several places. The best places to listen, include the top case toward the rear, to hear the crank and primary chain, on top of all four heads, listen for piston slap...you'll know when you hear it...usually one will be louder than the rest, then listen to the tranny and clutch. They are harder to access...the clutch is rear, left and the tranny in front along the bottom. Again, there's nothing like trained ears. A perfect engine will still have chain and tranny sounds, just not "loose" sounding or clanking sounds. 5. Complete a meticulous check of all wiring, especially for corrosion around the battery. If you see any hacking, beware. Electrical problems would cause me to WALK AWAY...this is the worst issue you can experience to have a bike run great till it gets warm...and have it suddenly stop dead going 60 mph in heavy traffic...it's happened only once to me...and I started a lifetime of prayer! 6. Rev the engine, while riding...accelerate, and then decelerate again and again to see how the several carb circuits are working together. Many old GLs need carb rebuilds...our wonderful gas is horrible on carbs designed for old fashioned, simple gas. If you have much backfire or rough transitions while speeding up and slowing down, the carbs aren't in good shape. If you follow Randakk's recommendations, a rebuild it not at all tough for an experience shade tree mechanic. But it can be tricky unless you're meticulous in your work. Rebuild yourself for maybe $100, and pay upward from $500 to get them done by a pro...it might be worth it. Don't forget to sync the carbs. 7. Take your hands of the bars...does the bike respond to body lean...does it ride straight? Test the clutch as you ride...get it to slip some to see how weak it is. GL clutches were not well sprung even when new, but not weak...just soft springs. It should not slip when you push the shifting and accelerating with a bit of aggressiveness. Does the bike brake smoothly and easily...does it pull or do the brakes drag or not release? A little squeaking is normal and should be expected. Listen for equal exhaust sounds. 8. During your test ride, feel the bike for wobble and wheel trueness. Have a passenger look closely to the back wheel and see if it looks true. Have them listen to the rear drive and drive shaft (lower right). You should feel for play in the driveline. CHECK FOR WHITE SMOKE after the bike has been running for 15 minutes...there should be no appreciable white smoke. Dark smoke means rich gas mixture...and a carb fix. 9. Inspect the engine for leaks...some around the horizontal valve covers, and new gaskets are easy to install. I'd be concerned if there are leaks down under. 10. Closely inspect for rust spots on the chrome and on the frame, especially around bolted connections. Bikes from the Great Lakes and along the East Coast can easily be pretty rusty. I have not seen ugly bike from the Midwest, and especially from the West or Southwest. States like Colorado, Arizona, California, and New Mexico are low humidity and are good for bikes. Take off the seat and look at the hidden areas. A flashlight inspection of the gas tank will tell you a lot. Check the exhaust for rustiness and corrosion. These are among the weakest components of an old GL. I have modified my '79, fitted with HD Softail stock mufflers...they're a perfect custom add. 11. A quick look at the gauges and the tank paint will tell you how well it was stored...in a garage or outside in the sun and snow. This is more of a cosmetic deal, but it does tell you about what you can't easily see...how much water may have seeped down into the bike over time. Consider following all of Randakk's list of "resurrecting" a long-sitting Goldwing. He's a wise man and provides the best advice I have seen on the internet. And he knows his Goldwings!! I'll pay double for a low mileage garage queen any day, than a nicely cleaned up bike that was mistreated by its owner. Take your time...there are garage queens all over America. You'll often see good potential bikes on eBay and Craigslist. If you're thinking of buying an out-of-state bike, contact a Goldwing local to where the bike is and ask if a club member will check out the bike for you. You'll usually find a great person who will help. But never, never buy a bike without taking these 11 steps. I currently have 2 GL1000s and am not interested in any other bike. It outrides every one of my friend's road "V-twin" bikes...in gas mileage, power, cornering, overall handling and long-ride comfort. Let me know how you do...I hope this is helpful to you. Enjoy the Ride!! Last edited on Thu Mar 4th, 2010 08:01 am by OldGold13 ____________________ OldGold13 1976 Goldwing GL1000 LTD 9000 mi beauty 1979 black custom GL1000 cruiser Why buy fragile, new technology, when a 30 year old Goldwing does it all and I can fix my own! |
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