It can't all be in my head

1816 Views 24 Replies 20 Participants Last post by gnorman46, Jun 13, 2009

JIMBO83

Discussion Starter · Jun 9, 2009

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As I have mentioned earlier, I have put my bike on a Seafoam regimen. Today, I went out for a ride to experiment with my front fork pressure. Upon starting the bike I got the expected little puff of white smoke at startup. I guess thats the nasty stuff burning off. When I first joined this forum, I had some criticism of shaft drive because I didn't like the feeling of the bike being "wound up" all the time. At highway speed in high gear, if I completely let off the throttle, the bike would surge a bit and everything would be fine if I gave it even a little throttle. I was not used to that phenomenon with a belt driven bike.

About an hour ago, after altering front fork pressure, I decided to take this bike out on the freeway and run the snot out of it! I took it to damn near redline all the way through. Man does this bike like to be pounded! All of a sudden the "surging" on decel has almost diminished to nothing, the shifting never felt better. I used to think the shifting was way to clunky. She shifts perfectly now. Is this because of the Seafoam? Is it because I ran the crap out of it? Or is it because I am just getting used to the bike? or a combination of all 3?

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nightwizard40

· #2 · Jun 9, 2009

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I think that was some of the first info I got on here when I bought my 81 that hadn't been ridden in a while.

Ride it like you stole it, and she would come around!!!

And she did!:action:

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Wingnumberone

· #3 · Jun 9, 2009

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They were built to be ridden. No doubt.

Just be careful about how much you thin out your oil. These boxers load the sides of the main bearings pretty good, and you want that lube to do it's job.

IRAQI RAM

· #4 · Jun 9, 2009

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My money is on you 'getting used to it.'

The first time I got on a big wing, I was leery of the weight and how it handled, braked and sounded. It took me all of 20 minutes before I reacheda highway and beat the daylights out of it. Something about highway speeds make you get used to a bike better than city.

JIMBO83

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 9, 2009

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I agree getting used to it is a factor. I am sure the bike is shifting better and the throttle response is improved.

Silver7

· #6 · Jun 10, 2009

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I Concur on the "SEAFOAM". My Throttle response and get up and go really Gets up and goes NOW. Seems the sliders and carbs really open up.My throttle snaps back.I liked the results so much i bought a can and put it in my pickup same response no Backfire and NO sluggish running. I LIKE IT .

JBz

· #7 · Jun 10, 2009

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i know it took me a while to get used to a shaft drive. Ididnt like it at first .There isnt any give like a belt or a chain. I had to be much more disciplinedwith the throttle.. I find myself shifting from 1st to 3rd more often now.It sure is nice not having to mess with a chain though.JB

tire joe

· #8 · Jun 10, 2009

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Three hours at 80 will do good things for a wing.

exavid

· #9 · Jun 10, 2009

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And its rider.:action:

BigWingD

· #10 · Jun 10, 2009

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The onley thing,after rideing Wing,its hard to go back to anything else,Ever time I get on my Night Hawk it fells like I on a toy.

Nightrider1

· #11 · Jun 10, 2009

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I have a little over 50, 300 miles on my GL100 now. It has sounded the same at 40 through 80 mph, and has the usual honda feel at both speeds. The lower the most difficult. The faster, the easier. Crazy, but it works for me. I had my belts changed the week I got my wing, and the tensioners checked. Thats about all i worry about other than keeping a check on my oil/coolant. I also do my routine owners manual inspection.
Good Luck,
Nightrider1

Dusty Boots

· #12 · Jun 12, 2009

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I remember the 'pogo effect' of my 75 GL1000 shaft drive. Let off on the throttle on a curve and she would drop down a couple of inches and hammer the throttle on the exit of the corner and she would raise up the same amount. Took a bit of getting used to that.

On the 1500 that no longer exists.

They do like to be ridden hard(90-110mph for 3+ hours)and seem no worse for wear and at the same time, are equally at home just 'puttering' along some old,country lane/blacktop, doing 35-45mph in top gear. Great bikes! :action:

tg02z71

· #13 · Jun 12, 2009

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Did the seafoam effect your clutch at all??

muaymendez1

· #14 · Jun 12, 2009

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I was leary about pounding the wing because alot of wing owners were very carefull with speeds and as to the care of thier bikes. i thought to myself no way is almost redlining good for any engine, but I realized that touring with another wing owner at 90mph the bike would be at 4500 rpm and the bike would be as smooth as silk. SO now I never shift below 3000 and if I do , My w ing will nag me until I throttle up.

Ed1955

· #15 · Jun 12, 2009

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I'm also a huge Sea Foam fan as it pretty much saved my 95 GL1500 Aspy that was parked six years ago with 2 gallons of stanky rotten fuel in it. I sucked the old fuel out, added new fuel with the Sea Foam and it started right up after treating it to a new battery. Funny story is that my brother in law bought a new Harley Fat Bob, what a beautiful and different machine. Anyway, after he had about a 1000 miles on it, we did a little drag race on a dead highway near our home and I pretty much had him beat until that last bit of crud loosened up and passed through the carbs and it fell flat on it's face in fourth gear at about 80 mph. I actually think he could have smoked me but both of us are to smart to be racing on the highway to begin with but it was fun while it lasted.

As far as the shaft drive, I recall when Yamaha came out with one of the first shaft drives on a 750 three cyl cruising machine back in the 70's. I rode one and was amazed at how the ass end lifted up under acceleration and dropped when you let off. I'm talking inches, maybe two or three inches it would jack up, it was weird! On my Wing what I notice more than anything else is that if you back off the throttle suddenly in first or even second gear, it can easily break the tire loose and actually get a chirp on pavement, not recommended! Chains are the ass of a motorcycle as far as I'm concerned. They stretch, they're very dirty and they have that irritating reel in, reel out crap that made me want to over tighten the chain which only stretches them even more. I'm a shaft drive lover now but I must admit that Harley Davidson really has the belt drive system down to perfection.It's light years ahead of any chain drive system and there's no lubrication ever needed. Pretty Slick!

Respectfully,

Ed

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VA.GENT

· #16 · Jun 12, 2009

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One thing I have found out, a goldwing does not do well sitting still.They need to be run.I've noticed lately on short 25 mile round trips my 1100 is just smoothing out when I get back. THEY NEED TO RUN.IMHO

Conley

· #17 · Jun 12, 2009

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This is a very encouraging thread.

I just got an 84 GL1200 and I was finding out what a lot of this thread is talking about.

No shifting below 3k RPM
The ol girl likes to run at higher mileage and RPM

Haven't tried the seafoam, but I have put some MMO and the tall white bottle(can't remember the name) carb treatment from autozone.

I am getting more excited each day as I ride it to work. I am ready for a nice ride here real soon. Maybe next weekend I will head to the hill country or somewhere there abouts to see how my butt will handle the seat.

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Dadoo

· #18 · Jun 12, 2009

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My old beast had the rise and squat issue when it had the stock air shocks. I put a set of non air shocks from J C Whitney and the rear end stayed in place nicely. I have since installed Progressive air shocks and the handling is perfect with very little squat and rise. New shocks will really improve the handling.

John

GSMacLean

· #19 · Jun 12, 2009

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IRAQI RAM wrote:

My money is on you 'getting used to it.'

The first time I got on a big wing, I was leery of the weight and how it handled, braked and sounded. It took me all of 20 minutes before I reacheda highway and beat the daylights out of it. Something about highway speeds make you get used to a bike better than city.

I completely disagree. Anyone can take any bike and run it on the highway where it is stable and easy to ride.

Once I have mastered the bike at LOW (i.e. parking lot) speeds, then I feel comfortable on it enough to test out *MY* limits on it on twisty roads at higher speeds. And once I have determined it's and my performance capabilities on those roads, THEN I consider myself "used" to the bike.

MWLONG

· #20 · Jun 12, 2009

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I have an 82 Aspencade. This is the first bike I have owned. I experience the rise and fall effect when pulling out. It is not a bother. I do agree with everyone who is saying they need to be run. The faster they go the smoother they get. I also agree that shifting above 3K rpm works well and they are only getting "warmed up" after the first 20 or so miles.

I have not tried seafoam yet. I wish I would have found this forum before I spent $700.00 getting the carbs rebuilt. I have used it on my van in the oil. It has just about 200K and the engine has a squeal at times. After seafoam it went away. I will use it in my bike soon as I will need an oil change here before too long.

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