A NON-economy run today

imported post

I have a GL-1500 here, 1989, Commodore Blue Green, that's being kept for a friend until it's picked up. It's been about two weeks since I've fired it up and I wanted to let it breathe a little.

I had a meeting in Irvine, CA at 1PM, and that requires me to leave the house here, and travel the Ortega Highway to San Juan Capistrano and travel up I-5. 50-miles one way.

I fired it up, checked the tire pressure while it sat purring. It's got non-stock exhaust, so it purrs a tad bit louder than a stock GL-1500. (but not MUCH louder.)

Proceeded up and over the Ortega. Leaving Lake Elsinore, the first bit is an uphill twistie bit for 5 miles. Because of the Noontime departure, traffic was light and I was able to laneshare around those cars that were in my path. :action:

All I can say is - for those that run their GL-1500s at seldom-more-than-3k-RPM, you're missing out. I ran it mostly 3rd gear up the Ortega. Temperatures stayed bang-on where they belonged, and the powerplant seems turbine-like. When you're sitting at 3,500 RPM with a car in front of you, a quick laneshare to his 12-O'clock is just a blip away. The 1500 revs up to 4,500 or 5k easily and reminds you that you're sitting on quite a powerful beast with buttery-smooth jet-like power-delivery.

Curves marked 30mph dominate the next portion of the Ortega, and taking them at 65 to 70mph is no problem. You do have to hang-off that those speeds to avoid touching-down a footpeg. Not a problem, as I was having a ball and keeping sane around other cars.

Some of you are saying: "What the %*^&?, hanging off a GL-1500? over 3k rpm? revving to 5000 rpm?"

All I can say in return is..... yes.

I think I blasted through 3 gallons of gas in my 100 mile round trip, but neither the rider nor the trusty mount are worse for the wear. (In fact I think the mount idles a bit smoother.)

And the rider is smiling. (whilst I look at a Barbados Blue 93SE example sitting here needing a carb rebuild before it can do the same).

Tomorrow - time to go flying in the air instead of on the ground.