Thinking about getting an 1800

1498 Views 30 Replies 15 Participants Last post by jobe05, Apr 6, 2013

jobe05

Discussion Starter · Apr 2, 2013

There seems to be some nice looking, low mileage 2001 to 2003 1800's for sale around the country lately at reasonable prices, Im thinking of pulling the trigger........

How can I tell by looking at poorly taken pictures if a wing is ABS or not? I know the "ABS" emblem on the front near the forks, but is there any other tell tale marks or signs to look for? Some pictures I am looking at don't always show a good enough pic to see the emblem.

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Chromo

· #2 · Apr 2, 2013

If you get an 1800 you keeping or selling the 1500?

SETHAN12

· #3 · Apr 2, 2013

There is a geared wheel on the rotor of the wing, but would be harder to see in a picture that the ABS emblem.
ABS would be a nice addition, but with that being said, I have never come close to locking up my wing, and have had to stand on the brakes quite a few times to keep from being killed by some idiot in a cage. We ride two up all the time, and maybe that is the reason. I've had no problems without ABS, but like I said, it would be nice to have.

newday777

· #4 · Apr 2, 2013

GL1800A is the ABS model designation
If it doesn't say in the ad, call.

tigger

· #5 · Apr 3, 2013

You just got the 1500. Keep it and ride it into the ground.

us385south

· #6 · Apr 3, 2013

Funny... In light of minor financial concerns, I was feeling poorly about having to pass on a couple of really great deals on several 1800's.

Then I went on our Horned Toads Spring Ride. ALL... (I mean ALL) of the 1800 riders were commenting on how much usable room my old, tattered old 1500 has.

These days I can go out for weeks at a time. Given a few known Walmart stops I would suspect I could ride the road forever. I carry a spare alternator... a full tool set... (You saw it at NASSIR) a 15.4 inch laptop, a portable DVD player... all the media... all the patch cords... everything I need to "live" out on the road... and I'm still pushing foam squares into spaces to keep things from shifting in transit.

Imagine that... I have extra space!

All the 1800 riders were in awe!

Made me feel sorta good about prolonging the upgrade for the next two years...

T

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saltmar14

· #7 · Apr 3, 2013

i researched the same thing, if they have a close up of dash there should be another window under the 240 150 on the speedometer. in this photo there are 4 visable, on abs there would be a 5th. they are little rectangle windows just visable above trip screen.

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AZgl1800

· #8 · Apr 3, 2013

I can VOUCH for all the tools and extra alternator, I saw it at NASSIR in Eureka Springs!!!!

Hondadiver

· #9 · Apr 3, 2013

Best to ask about abs ..it does up the asking price a bit though ..my non abs under normal emergency braking is great add a little wet or gravel and abs would be nice ..love my bike maybe not quite as comfy as the 1500 .. it's close and the added horsepower and handling one me over
good luck with it

jobe05

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 3, 2013

Sorry Chromo, Keeping the 1500..... Timmy will be moving up from the 1200. I would like to keep the 1200 LTD as it only has a little over 20K miles on her and I have done all the major repairs and maintenance, but she may have to go just due to space.

I started looking for 1500's as I like the ride, room and feel of the bike, however doing my own maintenance and mechanical work on the wing, less plastic, easier tire changes would be awesome! However, thats all I've got........ Never rode an 1800....... Sat on one once, it seemed to be sized nicely for me and my wife. A good ride may tell a different story........ Space for storage?, US385, no one could ever have saddle bags as well organized as yours..... I came home from N5 and headed to Walmart. I couldn't find the exact bin that you had, but $125 later on different size boxes and bins..... I gave up!....... I will pull the trailer....

Thanks Saltmar14, thats exactly what I was looking for. I had read someone elses post (on another forum) saying something about a dash light but had no idea what he was pointing out, your pic and description covered it well, Thanks!

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exavid

· #11 · Apr 3, 2013

I'm in the hunt for another 1800 too. The simplest way to know is simply to ask. Normally if a bike has ABS the ad will mention it as a selling point. The two things I'd like to have on the next bike are a CB and ABS like I had on my '01. Not deal breakers if they don't have one or the other though.
I can vouch that the 1500 does have a bit more cargo space but it's not as much more as I though before I changed from the 1500 to the 1800. The trunk is a bit smaller, I could get four 12 packs of Diet Pepsi in the 1500 but only three in the 1800. Part because the trunk is a bit smaller, part due to a different shape. The saddle bags look smaller but will hold about the same amount as the 1500. I'm pretty sure of that because I can carry the same gear in the bike on road trips as I could on my 1500.
I wasn't overwhelmed instant love for the 1800 when I got it but it didn't take very long to see that this is a big improvement over the earlier bike. EFI makes a big difference especially in cold weather and at high altitudes. The much stiffer frame eliminates the frame flexing you can feel in carving curves with the 1500. With the oldest 1800s now reaching 12 years old they aren't all that much more expensive than the last couple years of the 1500 which makes them a better buy to me. No problem with parts and a lot more farkles available for the 1800 too.

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Chromo

· #12 · Apr 3, 2013

jobe05 said:
Sorry Chromo, Keeping the 1500..... Timmy will be moving up from the 1200. I would like to keep the 1200 LTD as it only has a little over 20K miles on her and I have done all the major repairs and maintenance, but she may have to go just due to space.

OK, I was just wondering if that might be the case.
Not really looking for another bike right now anyway. I love my 4sp 1500 still.
1, 2, 3, 5 LOL
I do wish it had a 6th though, but don't care much about 4th at all :ROFL:

jobe05

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 3, 2013

exavid said:
The two things I'd like to have on the next bike are a CB and ABS like I had on my '01. Not deal breakers if they don't have one or the other though.
I wasn't overwhelmed instant love for the 1800 when I got it but it didn't take very long to see that this is a big improvement over the earlier bike. EFI makes a big difference especially in cold weather and at high altitudes. The much stiffer frame eliminates the frame flexing you can feel in carving curves with the 1500. With the oldest 1800s now reaching 12 years old they aren't all that much more expensive than the last couple years of the 1500 which makes them a better buy to me. No problem with parts and a lot more farkles available for the 1800 too.

Exactly my thoughts. The LTD had me spoiled with the CB and EFI, kinda hard getting use to carbs / choke after that. That initial start up, warm up period seems to last a lifetime........

CB is an almost must for me, when riding with others or my son (Which is most of the time), this is our primary communications, and it saves a lot of hassles. Luckily, CB's came on lots of models so Im not locked into just one.

ABS.....?? Never had it, probably won't know the difference if I did unless I need to stop fast in the rain or in slippery conditions, but then I'll do what I do now........ don't ride or slow down. Not a deal breaker here.....

Halfling

· #14 · Apr 3, 2013

ABS on my 2003 saved my bacon during my first year riding with the wife and trailer. Hit soft gravel coming off the highway at speed and rear wheel started to lock up. ABS kicked in and here I am! It doesn't make much of a difference until you actually need it and then....

Hey John, you need to take a test ride on mine next time we get together!

Here's a couple of pics of my ABS bike, not many places to tell it's ABS tho. First pic shows the ABS light area on the speedo and the 2nd shows the ABS ring on the front. Of course it's hard to miss the ABS emblem. Can't really see the ring from the left side either.

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da_bull

· #15 · Apr 4, 2013

I dont miss my 1500 much, except for the storage. I now realize why most 1800 owners also have a cargo trailer, lol (guilty). Other than that, the "good" has been said by most here. Braking is GREAT compared to the 1500s, fuel injection warranted me an extra 8-10mpg, better headlights, not as top heavy so cornering is more fun, etc. I did regain some storage by buying some 2012 saddlebags and putting them on my 02. They are a tic wider, and you get the corner where the tail lights sit in the 01-10s. In short, I loved my 1500, but I havent looked back since purchasing the 1832cc rocket, lol.You wont be disappointed...

jobe05

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 5, 2013

Well I went and did it..........

Got a 2001 GL1800 ABS model with a ton of chrome and extras, along with the Candy Red Color, it's a sharp looking bike and under 40K miles. Its an out of state purchase so Im picking it up next week sometime. Will post pictures when I get it home, but here is one that the owner sent to me.

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Hondadiver

· #17 · Apr 5, 2013

jobe05 said:
Well I went and did it..........

Got a 2001 GL1800 ABS model with a ton of chrome and extras, along with the Candy Red Color, it's a sharp looking bike and under 40K miles. Its an out of state purchase so Im picking it up next week sometime. Will post pictures when I get it home, but here is one that the owner sent to me.

Congates on the bike .. Sounds like mine except no abs you lucky fellow

Waldorf

· #18 · Apr 5, 2013

jobe05 said:
Well I went and did it..........

Got a 2001 GL1800 ABS model with a ton of chrome and extras, along with the Candy Red Color, it's a sharp looking bike and under 40K miles. Its an out of state purchase so Im picking it up next week sometime. Will post pictures when I get it home, but here is one that the owner sent to me.

What picture!!!!

jobe05

Discussion Starter · #19 · Apr 5, 2013

You dont see the pic? Ill add as attachment

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SETHAN12

· #20 · Apr 5, 2013

Congrats on the wing John. You are gonna love it!!!

1 - 20 of 31 Posts

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