The maiden voyage!!

724 Views 15 Replies 11 Participants Last post by mcdonl, Oct 5, 2009

mcdonl

Discussion Starter · Oct 2, 2009

imported post

Well, as luck would have it I had to run an errand this morning, about 50 or 60 miles out of my way

that's a good thing!

So, last night I got my 1987 GL1200 Interstate off the trailer and took her for a couple of spins around my neighborhood.

The bike has floorboards, and a heal-toe shifter. That took some getting used too. Having never had one, I was silly and thought you used the toe/ball of the foot to down shift and the heal to up-shift, and KEPT your foot on it... lol... once the cramp went away I figured it out

The posture I sit at takes some getting used to. More then half of my young 41 year old life has been on cruisers with my legs out in front of me, and the rear brake at the ready. I am not sure if it is the aftermarket seat, or just the way it is supposed to be, but when my feet are on the floor boards I need to make quite an adjustment to get to the rear brake. I hope it is not the seat, because it is a drag specialty seat with the utopia backrest and is very comfy... I will try it without the backrest, but it just may be that I have about 150,000 miles on cruisers and 100 on this bike.

Let's see... there is the brake squeaking, no concerns yet as it does not affect the stopping of the bike but makes an annoying sound that is easily heard because the bike is so quite!

The windscreen is nice, it has adjustable "flaps". but like I mentioned it was in the mid 30's so I had no desire to adjust them to allow any of the cold air in, and let me tell you... the ride was awesome. I had my heavy leather, full face helmet and gauntlet gloves on but still I would have normally been frozen near to death from those temps at highway speeds. It was a joy...

Highway speeds... yeah, wow... holy cow! So, V-Twins are nice, they sound cool... all the young chicks turn their heads, any loose fillings in your teeth or bolts on your bike fall out, but they leave a little to be desired going 70 MPH on a cold and windy day. Not to mention, the top end power is lacking on most V-twin cruisers I have owned. The GL1200 was awesome when cruising 70MPH and turning 4K RPM's.... If I needed to pass a truck or just wanted to see what the bike would do at those speeds I just got on the throttle a little and it responded like no bike I have ever had. Very, very smooth at those speeds.

Well, I know that all of this is old news you all of you but this is the ramblings of someone who has never owned a GL1200. Even my GL1100 I had for one day did not compare to this.

Leroy

See less See more

Status: Not open for further replies.

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

papabee49

· #2 · Oct 2, 2009

imported post

Congrats on the 1200, I have an 84 that came with floorboards, my advice, get rid of the and put the oem foot pegs back on. The shifting is more natural and there is no hunting for the brake pedal. Enjoy your ride and ride safe. Travel down to VA the temps are warmer now. :waving::waving::waving:

redbaron

· #3 · Oct 2, 2009

imported post

OK I have two 82 Interstates and between the two the latest addition to my addiction is far the better riding of the two....The first one has the afore mentioned floorboards and a heel toe shifter, thought I would never find either the shifter or the brake petal on my first ride on it...Rode it a few more times then started working on it.....The newest addition has more in the way of bells and whistles but it has no heel toe shifter...First time I rode it I didn't have any problems like wanting look at where my feet were on the shifter or frantically searching for the brake petal....The PO of my newest one had drilled the stock brake pad and installed a wider metal pad, the rubber is gone, but while at my favorite breakers , I found a rubber pad for it off of a what I think is a brake pad off of Markland crusier brake pad????? Works great, No searching for that brake petal.....So I think in the very near future I will be looking for the stock pegs for my first wing and sell that Markland heel toe shifter, or trade a member for stock pegs????

See less See more

mcdonl

Discussion Starter · #4 · Oct 2, 2009

imported post

Thanks guys, thats good advice. I never found shifting to be difficult on any bike. I guess I do not see the benefits of the heel-toe shifter. I dunno. It was just my maiden voyage so maybe I will give it some time.

Papabee I have ridden from Maine, down the Blue Ridge on Honda CM450C's before! Great riding down there. A lot like our Kanagamanga Highway up here.

MDKramer

· #5 · Oct 2, 2009

imported post

Welcome to 1200 ownership!

I've had a few Harleys in my day, and I've had an 1100 for about 20 years now, and just picked up my first 1200 this summer and I can say this...

If I'd ridden a 1200 before purchasing my 1100, I'd have had a 1200 for 20 years, and the 1100 would never have been bought.

First thing I did with my 1200, took the floorboards off and sent 'em to another forum member who wanted 'em because I couldn't stand 'em dragging every time I turned a corner.

mcdonl

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 2, 2009

imported post

MDKramer wrote:

because I couldn't stand 'em dragging every time I turned a corner.

:shock:On a Goldwing!!

You know, I did find the bike to be VERY nimble.

Maybe I will buy front pegs and see if someone wants to trade for rear boards for the women in my life...

See less See more

MDKramer

· #7 · Oct 2, 2009

imported post

mcdonl wrote:

:shock:On a Goldwing!!

Yes, on a Goldwing!

To be honest with you, once you get used to the bike, and get comfortable on it, you'll find that it will lean as far as your butt will allow you to lean her...with confidence.

On my 1100, I replaced the skid pad on the bottom of the drivers' pegs 3 times due to dragging them, then 2 seasons ago I had to pull the front case guards for some maintenance work, and I found that I wasn't only dragging the pegs...the bottoms of my case guards are ground flat.

In comparing the 1200's handling to my 1100, I told Gina that the 1100 is like pushing a truck around the curves, the 1200 is like riding a sport bike.

I don't understand how the Honda engineers did it, but the 1200 is bigger, wider, and heavier than the 1100...but it's so light on it's feet that it's almost scary at times.

See less See more

93Wing

· #8 · Oct 2, 2009

imported post

MDKramer wrote:

First thing I did with my 1200, took the floorboards off and sent 'em to another forum member who wanted 'em because I couldn't stand 'em dragging every time I turned a corner.

Did the same thing when I got my 1500, don't have that problem any more, plus it's a more natural feeling I think.

gtcouple

· #9 · Oct 2, 2009

imported post

The bottom of my footpegs on my 1200 have round knobs that really spark at night when dragging in the corners. I think I read somewhere that they are there to warn you when you are over that far

Andy Cote

· #10 · Oct 2, 2009

imported post

Glad to see you got her on the road. Just try the boards. If you really don't like them, give me a call and I'll switch with the pegs on my son's bike. Ditto the seat. You'll really appreciate it if you go back and use a naked cruiser. October 1st was enough for me. Used the GL1500 today with the heat on!

84GrayWing

· #11 · Oct 3, 2009

imported post

Welcome to the forum, Welcome to Goldwings and Welcome to the 1200 4 Cylinder. Engine will run and run and run.

Jeff

kyboy67

· #12 · Oct 3, 2009

imported post

MDKramer wrote:

I don't understand how the Honda engineers did it, but the 1200 is bigger, wider, and heavier than the 1100...but it's so light on it's feet that it's almost scary at times.

Have you ever ridden the 1500,I can not believe it,but I think you might say the same....:action::action:

AZgl1800

· #13 · Oct 3, 2009

imported post

I loved my 1200.

When I traded it for the 1500, I thought "what have I done?"

After six months of the 1500, it is just as nimble as the 1200. Unbelievable unless you get to know your bike.

My 1500 would scrape something on nearly every corner I turned near home once I got accustomed to it.

yes, the Goldwings are a real treat to own and ride.

See less See more

mcdonl

Discussion Starter · #14 · Oct 3, 2009

imported post

They sure are. I was so excited to try it, I couldnt wait to get to town hall. Of course I got pulled over by local PD... lol... they know me so let me go. I need to get to town hall, but it will not be until Thursday night

phatty of 2

· #15 · Oct 3, 2009

imported post

Mcdonl check out this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo

mcdonl

Discussion Starter · #16 · Oct 5, 2009

imported post

That was awesome phatty! Closest thing we have to that up here is the Hurricane Mountain Road in NH....

1 - 16 of 16 Posts

Status: Not open for further replies.