Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
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Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
Hi Everyone
I'm new to the Goldwing scene and I'm currently deciding whether or not to purchase a GL1100.
I have ridden a fully dressed GL1100, Vetter font fairing, panniers etc etc but my interests lie more in the "Cafe" versions I've seen trawling the interwebs.
My question is really for those currently riding Naked/cafe Goldwings I suppose.
1. How does it handle? Good in the twisty stuff?
2. What is the acceleration like? Exiting corners etc
3. Is it likely to scrape the footpegs/engine?
I am a moderately skilled rider who likes riding something a little bit different
Thanks, I await your input
Tyson
I'm new to the Goldwing scene and I'm currently deciding whether or not to purchase a GL1100.
I have ridden a fully dressed GL1100, Vetter font fairing, panniers etc etc but my interests lie more in the "Cafe" versions I've seen trawling the interwebs.
My question is really for those currently riding Naked/cafe Goldwings I suppose.
1. How does it handle? Good in the twisty stuff?
2. What is the acceleration like? Exiting corners etc
3. Is it likely to scrape the footpegs/engine?
I am a moderately skilled rider who likes riding something a little bit different
Thanks, I await your input
Tyson
- RB
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Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
They are a beast..lower center of gravity(boxer engine and gas tank under the seat)you can scrape pegs, mufflers, crash bars etc. etc. if you have the right tires..sticky...and know how to ride.. you can lower the front a bit and the back by getting shorter shocks and letting the forks up past the top of the triple tree clamps but this changes everything steering wise so be careful!!! Not recommended for the faith of heart..
Just IMHO!!
Just IMHO!!
98 1500 SE..
99 1500 SE SOLD
97 SE 1500 SOLD
83 SOLD
82 REBUILT sold!!!
81 DAILY RIDER sold her ((!
81 REBUILT SOLD!!!
81 REBUILT SOLD!!
80 REBUILT SOLD
79 IN BASKET PARTS FOR SALE
79 CLEANED UP AND SOLD
78 REBUILT SOLD
77 REBUILT SOLD
76 SOLD/PARTIAL REBUILD
76 REBUILT AND SOLD
75 REBUILT SOLD
75 REBUILT SOLD
75 REBUILD SOLD
FAIR WINDS,
RB
99 1500 SE SOLD
97 SE 1500 SOLD
83 SOLD
82 REBUILT sold!!!
81 DAILY RIDER sold her ((!
81 REBUILT SOLD!!!
81 REBUILT SOLD!!
80 REBUILT SOLD
79 IN BASKET PARTS FOR SALE
79 CLEANED UP AND SOLD
78 REBUILT SOLD
77 REBUILT SOLD
76 SOLD/PARTIAL REBUILD
76 REBUILT AND SOLD
75 REBUILT SOLD
75 REBUILT SOLD
75 REBUILD SOLD
FAIR WINDS,
RB
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Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
Not a 1100 but this is my 79 1000. To me it rides good and handles good but I am probably older than you. I did change the carbs, cam, and timing to 75. It is comfortable enough that I can make a 100 mi ride or so without any problem.
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79 GL1000,75 GL1000,76 GL1000 LTD,70 CB750k JDM, 79 CBX, 2000 Valkyrie CT 2008 Goldwing Roadsmith
Trike and another 76 LTD bad shape, and several more for parts.
Trike and another 76 LTD bad shape, and several more for parts.
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Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
Not a cafe more brat style, lower bars, bar end mirrors and seat. I think it rides very good, but I'm no racer.
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Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
Just another pic.
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Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
They look great.
That is the style I'll be aiming for. I'm not into going fast or racing around too much, I'm more into enjoying the bike, cruising around with the occasional squirt Thanks for your input!
That is the style I'll be aiming for. I'm not into going fast or racing around too much, I'm more into enjoying the bike, cruising around with the occasional squirt Thanks for your input!
- fish
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
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Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
the shaft drive is heavy so WOT over rough ground can give a little tire spin.
These girls are a little heavy so you need to be smoooooth..
countersteering rather than muscling it in twisties.
The damping is antiquated.. if you wanna ride it hard you gotta upgrade to better parts & get the suspension really dialed in for your style and weight.
In my opinion the point of a NGW is coolness & one of a kind factor.
In traffic with 2 or 3 modern sport bikes they all look alike & all sound alike & all even shift gears at the same time.
The NGW with it's unique exhaust, gear whine from the shaft drive & the NGW style, have a look and a sound completely unique. get the carbs dialed in & these girls purr like a kitten & roar like a lion!
Go to bike night at the hamburger stand & the NGW will get more comments than a row of fully faired modern sportbikes.
These girls are a little heavy so you need to be smoooooth..
countersteering rather than muscling it in twisties.
The damping is antiquated.. if you wanna ride it hard you gotta upgrade to better parts & get the suspension really dialed in for your style and weight.
In my opinion the point of a NGW is coolness & one of a kind factor.
In traffic with 2 or 3 modern sport bikes they all look alike & all sound alike & all even shift gears at the same time.
The NGW with it's unique exhaust, gear whine from the shaft drive & the NGW style, have a look and a sound completely unique. get the carbs dialed in & these girls purr like a kitten & roar like a lion!
Go to bike night at the hamburger stand & the NGW will get more comments than a row of fully faired modern sportbikes.
Timothy Mark Fisher
Catalina Arizona
"ride it.. don't be one of those guys who will fix it 'til it's broken" (JDVorchek)
"It is not logic or economics that drive a motorcyclist but passion!" (bugdaddy66)
"I fully agree with fish, well at least 27% of the time."(Casper)
"Why do you have to ruin a perfectly good thread with common sense"(Placerville)
"my best guess for an answer would be a stream of complex expletives" (Transitman)
"I like a cold beer with my beer" (OldeWing)
"Most of us like the sport of wrenching too." (fred camper)
"Now go ride the heck out of it, til mother says do your chores"(Gowing)
"I agree with Fish" (Salukispeed)
Catalina Arizona
"ride it.. don't be one of those guys who will fix it 'til it's broken" (JDVorchek)
"It is not logic or economics that drive a motorcyclist but passion!" (bugdaddy66)
"I fully agree with fish, well at least 27% of the time."(Casper)
"Why do you have to ruin a perfectly good thread with common sense"(Placerville)
"my best guess for an answer would be a stream of complex expletives" (Transitman)
"I like a cold beer with my beer" (OldeWing)
"Most of us like the sport of wrenching too." (fred camper)
"Now go ride the heck out of it, til mother says do your chores"(Gowing)
"I agree with Fish" (Salukispeed)
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Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
I couldn't agree more.. I beleive you need to know what you want, not what others think... Handling and performance are not (a deal breaker) and any part of my decisions building a NGW MC.... There are plenty of other and cheaper options out there but it's a 70's bike for me to spend time with...fish wrote:the shaft drive is heavy so WOT over rough ground can give a little tire spin.
These girls are a little heavy so you need to be smoooooth..
countersteering rather than muscling it in twisties.
The damping is antiquated.. if you wanna ride it hard you gotta upgrade to better parts & get the suspension really dialed in for your style and weight.
In my opinion the point of a NGW is coolness & one of a kind factor.
In traffic with 2 or 3 modern sport bikes they all look alike & all sound alike & all even shift gears at the same time.
The NGW with it's unique exhaust, gear whine from the shaft drive & the NGW style, have a look and a sound completely unique. get the carbs dialed in & these girls purr like a kitten & roar like a lion!
Go to bike night at the hamburger stand & the NGW will get more comments than a row of fully faired modern sportbikes.
If you Tyson, want to buy a bike go here ... http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=56795 or PM me as its almost ready...
1972 Norton.. Rebuild from boxes.. http://www.accessnorton.com/strange-fra ... 44-60.html and here http://www.accessnorton.com/strange-frame-t18084.html SOLD
1975 Mk3 Norton.. Too good to mess with, but refurbished...
1975 Goldwing #1 SOLD
!975 Goldwing #2.. http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 2+wing%232
1975 Goldwing #3... http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic. ... =Wing+%233 Going very slowly but going forward..
1975 Mk3 Norton.. Too good to mess with, but refurbished...
1975 Goldwing #1 SOLD
!975 Goldwing #2.. http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 2+wing%232
1975 Goldwing #3... http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic. ... =Wing+%233 Going very slowly but going forward..
- bladredhead
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Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
it sounds like you might be happier with a more or less stock riding position. the cafe/brat whatever look is largely accomplished with lower bars or clipons. if you're mostly wandering around at a sedate pace, that position might get uncomfortable quickly.Tyson wrote:They look great.
That is the style I'll be aiming for. I'm not into going fast or racing around too much, I'm more into enjoying the bike, cruising around with the occasional squirt Thanks for your input!
these bikes scoot around just fine in stock configuration. brakes and suspension can be fiddled with to match riding style.
Broken 1976 gl1000... and a few others
- delling3
- Gold Member
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Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
Well, here is the GL1000 that I took from a full-dressed model to what you see here. I found that it handled the twisty stuff quite well, and while I may have been a bit slower than my buddy on his ZRX1200, it wasn't so much of a difference as you might think. I have since moved on to a Kawasaki Concours, as for me it was kind of the perfect balance between the two extremes. I found the dressed wings to be too biased to the touring side of the ledger, but liked the wind protection and baggage that the Concours had to offer.
FWIW, I never got more comments/thumbs up, etc. that I did when I was riding the Wing.
FWIW, I never got more comments/thumbs up, etc. that I did when I was riding the Wing.
delling3
1979 Yamaha XS750SF
Previous:
1978 GL1000 - JUNE 2017 BOTM: Sold
2006 Kawasaki Concours: Sold
1995 Kawasaki Concours: Crashed/totalled.
1976 GL1000: LAST RESTORATION, sold
1981 Honda CB900F Supersport: 3rd restoration, sold.
1979 Yamaha XS-750F: 2nd restoration, sold.
1982 Honda FT-500 Ascot: First (only) new bike. Family forces sale.
1973 CB500 Four: First restoration, long gone.
1972 Suzuki TS-100: First bike, sold.
Only dead fish go with the flow . . .
1979 Yamaha XS750SF
Previous:
1978 GL1000 - JUNE 2017 BOTM: Sold
2006 Kawasaki Concours: Sold
1995 Kawasaki Concours: Crashed/totalled.
1976 GL1000: LAST RESTORATION, sold
1981 Honda CB900F Supersport: 3rd restoration, sold.
1979 Yamaha XS-750F: 2nd restoration, sold.
1982 Honda FT-500 Ascot: First (only) new bike. Family forces sale.
1973 CB500 Four: First restoration, long gone.
1972 Suzuki TS-100: First bike, sold.
Only dead fish go with the flow . . .
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Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
What a great bike!
I'm looking at building the bike myself according to my SWMBO budget ha ha. But I'm going to ride a GL100 with only a front vetter fairing hopefully tomorrow. I'll get a better feel for the weight and balance, then I'll decide then.
Thanks so much everybody for your input.
Tyson.
I'm looking at building the bike myself according to my SWMBO budget ha ha. But I'm going to ride a GL100 with only a front vetter fairing hopefully tomorrow. I'll get a better feel for the weight and balance, then I'll decide then.
Thanks so much everybody for your input.
Tyson.
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Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
Those of you that built a cafe/brat/bobber from a dresser, whats the differemce in riding stripped down, more poweful?
Is it noticeable a different machine?
Is it noticeable a different machine?
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Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
For me it feels like a light bike but then I also ride a GL1500 so compared to that it is light. It is less top heavy without the fairing.
Danie
Danie
79 GL1000,75 GL1000,76 GL1000 LTD,70 CB750k JDM, 79 CBX, 2000 Valkyrie CT 2008 Goldwing Roadsmith
Trike and another 76 LTD bad shape, and several more for parts.
Trike and another 76 LTD bad shape, and several more for parts.
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- Silver Member
- Posts: 780
- Joined: Sun Jan 11, 2015 6:05 am
- Location: Mandurah,Western Australia
Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
Once you see the light! there may be no turning back !!UK_Andy wrote:Those of you that built a cafe/brat/bobber from a dresser, whats the differemce in riding stripped down, more poweful?
Is it noticeable a different machine?
1972 Norton.. Rebuild from boxes.. http://www.accessnorton.com/strange-fra ... 44-60.html and here http://www.accessnorton.com/strange-frame-t18084.html SOLD
1975 Mk3 Norton.. Too good to mess with, but refurbished...
1975 Goldwing #1 SOLD
!975 Goldwing #2.. http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 2+wing%232
1975 Goldwing #3... http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic. ... =Wing+%233 Going very slowly but going forward..
1975 Mk3 Norton.. Too good to mess with, but refurbished...
1975 Goldwing #1 SOLD
!975 Goldwing #2.. http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 2+wing%232
1975 Goldwing #3... http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic. ... =Wing+%233 Going very slowly but going forward..
- ericheath
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Re: Cafe style GL1100 - What are they like to ride?
Several years back someone posted pics of a guy who took his gl to track days. He never won but finished near the top against the mostly sport bikes. Most people expect these to have torque like a modern v-twin at lower rpm. It took me years to get over my fear that mine would blow up if I rode it at the rpms where the torque is. These are old school, camwise and need to rev to find their power. Ride it between 4-7k and it's pretty quick.
Whatever I suggest here should be given ample time for a moderator to delicately correct. I apologize in advance.
77 WING, 1200 engine with 77 heads, cams, gl1100 foot pegs, Magna V65 front end, 764A carbs, [-gone Suzuki M109 monoshock--, replaced with gl1100 shocks] gl 1200 swing arm, gl1500 final drive, wheel and rear brakes Valkyrie seat, Meanstreak tank, Sportster pipes, Power Arc ignition off crank.
77 Wing. black
83 Wing, in pieces
"Continuing education is important even if the subject matter is fairly useless (as in this case)."---Greg Foresi
77 WING, 1200 engine with 77 heads, cams, gl1100 foot pegs, Magna V65 front end, 764A carbs, [-gone Suzuki M109 monoshock--, replaced with gl1100 shocks] gl 1200 swing arm, gl1500 final drive, wheel and rear brakes Valkyrie seat, Meanstreak tank, Sportster pipes, Power Arc ignition off crank.
77 Wing. black
83 Wing, in pieces
"Continuing education is important even if the subject matter is fairly useless (as in this case)."---Greg Foresi
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