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1200 c.c. GoldWing - is it reliable?

22069 Views 102 Replies 41 Participants Last post by  fireseeker, 
MoneyGuy
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I'm a new member. I'm looking at buying a 1984 Wing, 1200 c.c. A friend says the 1200 is probably the worst built GoldWing. Can anyone comment on that for me? It's in great shape - 77,000 km (48,000 miles). Has a trailer also. Can anyone comment on the 1200 Wing form a mechanical point of view? thanks.
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Hawker22
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If a bike has already been hard wired at the stator plug and the regulator; and the fusable link has been replaced with an automotive weather proof spade fuse, how much additionalimprovement would one of these harnesses provide?
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Sir Slink
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Welcome to the world of wings. the 1200 had a few bugs but everything is fixable. Had 2 1984 and an 87 put 155.000 on the 84 and 87,000 on the 87. Never had any problems with either i'ts a great bike:jumper::jumper::jumper:
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tricky
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190,000 on my 85 aspy (2 stators) now hard wired and ec harness.
Since installing the Harness it seems to fire immediately. Could be my imagination but thats what it feels like.
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dean_3326
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tricky wrote:
190,000 on my 85 aspy (2 stators) now hard wired and ec harness.
Since installing the Harness it seems to fire immediately. Could be my imagination but thats what it feels like.
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tricky, It is not your imagination, after installing the dc harness my bike starts instantly, runs better too.
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SilverDave
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Hawker 22 :                                                     If all those have been done (Fusible link, Hard soldered at BOTH ends,) then the harness will only add the larger ga wire to the system... and maybe a coil relay, so maybe not worth it../forums/images/emoticons/tongue.gif. Check your real battery voltage after a cold start   plus 5 minutes.. If its 14 + volts, I think you are OK..                                                                                                         The greatest improvement AFTER the harness install , was summer before last when I crawled around ALL the connections with a toothbrush sized  brass wire brush, and shined up EVERY connection, including the hidden ground woven strap,the battery posts, of course and the starter connections... WOW! /forums/images/emoticons/shock.gif Starts like a charm, runs like a finely tuned clock.... and the voltmeter comes back to 14.2 v within 2 blocks of my house, after an early morning  startup...                                                     and .. heavy sigh/forums/images/emoticons/confused.gif ... I recently added 35 watt  (Tiny) driving lights ,thinking that 50's would overload the stator...  and now... with both driving lights, brakes, rear bumper, trailer, and brakes.. the voltage "Only" drops to 12.7  volts... and I almost never have all those things on at the same time!! SilverDave /forums/images/emoticons/emoticonsxtra/cooldj.gif                        
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R
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reliable???? just scroll done all the threads on my wife's problem 1200 (bike is problem not wife....) is it a great bike... sure is... is it nearly 20 years old... yes...
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MoneyGuy
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tdsnuggs wrote:
MoneyGuy wrote:
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I'm a new member. I'm looking at buying a 1984 Wing, 1200 c.c. A friend says the 1200 is probably the worst built GoldWing. Can anyone comment on that for me? It's in great shape - 77,000 km (48,000 miles). Has a trailer also. Can anyone comment on the 1200 Wing form a mechanical point of view? thanks.
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My 85 Aspencade has 122,000 miles on it and purrs like a kitten. Do the electrical hard soldering, both on the stator side and the regulator sideNOW! Change the timing belts NOW!Replace the fusible link with an inline fuse holder. Keep up with the preventative maintenance stuff at regular intervals and this bike will serve you well and for a long time. The GL-1200 series, in my opinion, is the best looking of all the Goldwings. They handle well and can be run hard. They (with the exception of the stator) look to me to be easier to work on than the other vintages too. You won't regret buying this bike if it's been halfway well cared for.

TDS
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By my assessment and that of my friend the motorcycoe expert, it's been well cared for. I think I'll be buying it.
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Curt Miller
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I bought my 1986 GL1200I on June 30, after studying the issues relating to the bike on this forum very carefully. In the less than three months I've owned it, I've put 6,500 miles on it and it runs like a top. I just did the stuff (hardwired the 3 wires) these guys told me to do and the bike hasn't skipped a beat. I think - like some of the others - that how the bike was cared for by the previous owners is important. There are a lot of backyard mechanics - myself included - who really shouldn't wield a wrench. In my case, the bike had been neglected: air box full of mouse bedding, fuel tank rusty from not winterizing it, yellow wires connector was partly fried (but not shorted).

Best advice is to study this forum well and ask intelligent questions. Unless it's a real basket case, this group will help you to enjoy the ownership of your choice of wing. Can't say enough good about the support and cmraderie around here. The help you get will save you an untold sum of money and give you a lot of riding pleasure, a deal you can't pass up!
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C
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I have an 86 Aspencade and once i figured out the electrical bugs( mostly caused by PO)

the bike has been great A friend has a 1500 not bad He can mostly keep up with me.

But too plasticy for me Another guy I know took one look at my aspy and offered straight trade for his hidious full dressed gold coloured 1991 1500 NO THANKS I'll be keeping mine for a while
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MoneyGuy
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Great comments. Great site.

I'm mechanically challenged so if I buy the Wing (likely) first thing I'll do is print out all of the maintenance advice that you good folkshave offered on this thread and discuss those fixes with two friends who own Wings (they do most of their own work and ahve the expertise I don't) and then have a mechanic do the work for me as required.

Anyone know if there are basic motorcycle maintenance courses offered in most cities? I live near Edmonton, Alberta. I'd like to have more skills in this area.

It'll be different with a Wing. My wife says I look so manly on my Honda Shadow. It's beautiful black with nice striping and stuff on it. Looks great. The Gold Wing will be very different for me, but I love the idea of doing the long road trips. Zoom, zoom.
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Wendell
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I think you will be pleasantly surprised! :cool:My wife and I recently trailered our 1200 to Nashville TN to meet my younger brother and his wife for a three day cruise. He was riding a VTX1800. My bike was alot quicker from the start (yeah, we did some drag racing! :p:p) AND he could tell our bike was alot more comfortable. He bought an 03 Goldwing when he got home last week. Sixteen grand is a little rich for my blood, I'll stick with my 84 Aspy!
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Sir Slink
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Buy the GL 1200 shop manual it will tell you everything you need to know:jumper::jumper::jumper:
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Redwing
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MoneyGuy wrote:
I'm a new member.
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[shadow=green]WELCOME[/shadow] MoneyGuy :clapper:

:leprechaun::18red::leprechaun:
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MoneyGuy
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Thanks for all the good welcome messages.Maybe I'll meet some of you nice folks on the road someday.

:grinner:

Why does this thread say "moved?" I didn't notice it moved anywhere. Seems to be in the same place I put it. :baffled:
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exavid
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MoneyGuy wrote:
My wife says I look so manly on my Honda Shadow. It's beautiful black with nice striping and stuff on it. Looks great. The Gold Wing will be very different for me, but I love the idea of doing the long road trips. Zoom, zoom.
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Yeah, well hell, all of us look like whusses rolling down the road on our recliners, tryeight hours of 75mph on the Shadow and I'll bet you won't feel all that manly!
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MoneyGuy
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You're probably right. Wow, over 4,000 posts. Maybe I'll be up there with you in about a hundred years. :grinner:
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shydog
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Welcome to the best Goldwing forum around. My situation was somewhat like yours...I had a '95 Kaw 1500cc Vulcan that was a great bike, but not that comfortable with a passenger on longer trips. I started looking/checking on Goldwings that I could afford. Found a nice '84 Aspencade that was in very good condition. Bought it around Memorial Day this year and have not regretted it one bit.Sold the Vulcan and basically did an even trade from the Vulcan to the Wing. The Wing is a great bike and the stator wires were already soldered. All I have done to it is put in an in-line main fuse and voltmeter (other than oil change etc.). The wife sure likes the comfort of the Wing, as do I. I ride it in town to take care of business as much as I can and I am very surprised that this big bike is easy to ride in any situation. Anyway, I think that you will really enjoy a nice Goldwing...

Take care...shydog
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MoneyGuy
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Okay, you guys have me convinced to buy the Wing.:clapper: Don't stop, however, with the great comments.
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Sir Slink
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Got another one:band::toast::cooldj::jumper::jumper::jumper:
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C
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OW eskimo fan and a politician I guess you don't get out to the coast very often We were in Jasper 2 weeks ago And got caught in a blizzard on the Columbia Icefield Hwy Actually email me if you ever decide to ride your wing down #5 great ride
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