Author Topic: A itch I had to scratch  (Read 1281 times)

Offline TezzerTel

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A itch I had to scratch
« on: May 24, 2025, 01:14:10 PM »
Just fancied one of these and after looking at a fair few I fired the cash cannon and brought this one home. It's a 1979 with 20k on the clocks. It definitely runs and I'll see how it rides later😬. It's hopefully a 'running restoration' but I guess only time will tell

Offline Johnwebley

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2025, 01:19:15 PM »
I remember when those came out,

Very sophisticated, unusual fuel tank,

Looked very big,

But looking back, seems small compared to modern bikes,

Quite quick as well

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lifelong motorcycle rider,and fan

Offline TezzerTel

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2025, 01:20:50 PM »
It's fairly big definitely heavy 😬

Offline Bryanj

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2025, 01:30:07 PM »
Looks in good order, change the belts if you have no idea when done, somewhere i have the Honda workshop manual for that and the number for Gates belts

Offline Orcade-Ian

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2025, 01:34:24 PM »
Looks great Tel,
Yes, they are a bit on the heavy side when manoeuvring around but great on the road for mile-munching.  We had 6 all together - a very early GL1000, 3 1200s and two 1500's and did well over 100,000 miles on them in total.  Aftermarket head gaskets can be troublesome and the drive shaft splines need a decent high Moly content grease to keep them good.  Belts need changing regardless of what PO might say. You will soon warm to it!

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

For some reason the colour in this pic is not as the bike was.

Oops,  Bryan beat me to the belt issue

Ian
« Last Edit: May 24, 2025, 01:36:15 PM by Orcade-Ian »

Offline mickwinf

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2025, 01:41:51 PM »
looks pretty tidy, they do ride well and handle better than you might think, sold mine because i found it too heavy to manouver.
Love the 500 and 550 have a 500 called Lazarus under restoration

Offline Bryanj

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2025, 04:57:56 PM »
1979?
There should be a grease nipple to lube the shaft spline ar the pinion which i cant see, was an update in first year, obviously repainted but looks good.
They have quirks as do all old Hondas, as a shop in Glos we had one that did a lot of miles

Offline Bloggs

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #7 on: May 24, 2025, 05:52:11 PM »
I have the gates reference at home and where I recently got a pair from.
Will be back on UK Wednesday, can post it then.

Michael

Offline Spitfire

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #8 on: May 24, 2025, 06:05:36 PM »
Only rode one once and I could not get over how smooth and agile it was when moving.

Cheers

Dennis
1976 CB750F

1977 CB750F2 In bits

1964 BSA A65R In bits

Offline Oddjob

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #9 on: May 24, 2025, 09:41:45 PM »
The carbs can be a bitch to vac until you figure out the trick of it.
Kids in a the back seat cause accidents.
Accidents in the back seat cause kids.

Offline TezzerTel

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #10 on: May 24, 2025, 10:30:50 PM »
Thanks for the kind comments I really think it's a keeper. Did a 30 mile trip on it this afternoon and I really like it. It's so smooth I can't tell it's running when I'm sat on it only the sound gives it away. Needs some fettling but it was cheap. Going to change the cam belts before long as the advice. Do the tensioners need doing at the same time?

Offline Bryanj

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2025, 12:22:03 AM »
Tensioners are not easy to get and expensive but on one of the goldwing formums is a how to adapt a car roller to a wing bracket, basically leave alone unless bearing noisy.
One cam will insist on trying to move as you fit belt be careful

Offline Orcade-Ian

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #12 on: May 25, 2025, 08:53:53 AM »
Worth joining www.goldwingfacts.com forum, lots of info on there, Stateside based but lots of UK members.  Some of those early GL1000s have done unbelievable mileages without serious issues.  As Bryan says, someone posted a mod for the tensioners but all of mine have been smooth and quiet, so not needing replacement. Does yours have the kick start knuckle at the back of the engine?  Can't remember when they deleted that useful feature.  The removable kick start was housed in one of the dummy tank sides.

Ian

Offline TezzerTel

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #13 on: May 25, 2025, 09:18:34 AM »
Great thanks I was just thinking I should join a goldwing forum as there is so much knowledge about (just like this forum) It has a space for the kick-starter in the dummy tank but it is missing. I haven't been able to locate where it would fit on to the engine yet but it's had a replacement engine at some point (different number to what is on the v5) so maybe a later engine?

Offline mickwinf

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Re: A itch I had to scratch
« Reply #14 on: May 25, 2025, 01:40:20 PM »
Randakk cycle shack in US is great for spares and advice for goldwings, they have had many parts manufactured that are unavailable elsewhere especially carb parts. https://www.randakks.com
Love the 500 and 550 have a 500 called Lazarus under restoration

 

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