Last month I purchased a red full bagged 76 GL1000 in good shape. It even had original exhaust!. I have owned many motorcycles and even 3 GL100s before. Ten years ago I did a frame up restoration and created a daily driver. This time I want to create a show bike. I will have to learn a lot about the show scene but thought it might be something fun for the family.

I have not changed the timing belts but will soon. I plan on doing the full restoration starting in the fall after riding season.

So far I have removed all of the Vetter stuf, installed a new original seat, obtained a grab rail in need of some chrome and replaced a not original set of handle bars.
In this picture she looks great but she does have the usual signs of wear and tear

More photos to come

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Sam Butler
Madison, WI
GL1000 1976

Wow, nice bike. I would have second thoughts about turning that naked. Just me, but that is so period correct and clean I would find another bike to tear into.... She is worth quite a bit as it is...

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I found the end of the internet

---- Bradshaw Bikes offers polishing and upholstering for your Wing!

I am looking forward to seeing what it itakes to go to show quality.

beautifull bike

Here are some more pictures. The Vetter bags and trunk are in good shape but now they are in the shed. The new seat looks great. I have a grab bar that needs some chrome plating. And I have a couple of questions

Are there members who do chrome plating as a business or does anyone know of a good chrome plating company? There is one here in town.

What do you do with the yellowing, cracking plastic on the clutch and break levers? What about the black rubber on the ends. Can you re-apply after polishing?

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Sam Butler
Madison, WI
GL1000 1976

Remove the plastic, polish, and finish with black plastidip

http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip

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1980 CX500C, All around road warrior
1975 TS125 (Sold), old smoker
1985 Camaro Berlinetta, Megasquirted V8 swap (sold)
2002 WRX, Daily fun (Sold)
2012 Golf TDI, fast and frugal oil burner
1977 naked GL1000, Highway cruiser
1981 GL1100 14,000 (reconditioned and sold)
1981 GL1100 50,000 miles (in pieces)
1981 CM400C beginner bike
1980 CB750C

On my 77, I cut the plastic away and polished. It looks great. However, if you want a show bike, that would not be correct. I have never entered a show with a bike, but I know with cars those little things mean all the difference in the world. I am pretty sure that new levers do not have that clear plastic. May need to look for NOS. If in a show, I'm not sure if you are better with yellowed plastic or none at all. I am sure some show guys will chime in. That is a great looking 76 by the way!

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Hope for the best, expect the worst and take what comes!

1977 Candy Sirus Blue Wing (gone but not forgotten!): Ernie's 77 Resto
1998 Yellow/Creme Valkyrie: Valk Redo
1976 Sulfur Yellow Wing (sold): Melloyellow to live again
1976 LTD #1353 (my new love!): And away we go . . . . LTD style
1970 CT90: Had too much time on my hands so . . .
1/4 of 1975 Wing #898: Team 898 - raised from the ashes

That was one of the nicest dressed 1000s I've seen.

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76 gl1000

Plastidip comes in clear as well if he wants to do both layers.

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1980 CX500C, All around road warrior
1975 TS125 (Sold), old smoker
1985 Camaro Berlinetta, Megasquirted V8 swap (sold)
2002 WRX, Daily fun (Sold)
2012 Golf TDI, fast and frugal oil burner
1977 naked GL1000, Highway cruiser
1981 GL1100 14,000 (reconditioned and sold)
1981 GL1100 50,000 miles (in pieces)
1981 CM400C beginner bike
1980 CB750C

Didn't think about the clear!

_________________
Hope for the best, expect the worst and take what comes!

1977 Candy Sirus Blue Wing (gone but not forgotten!): Ernie's 77 Resto
1998 Yellow/Creme Valkyrie: Valk Redo
1976 Sulfur Yellow Wing (sold): Melloyellow to live again
1976 LTD #1353 (my new love!): And away we go . . . . LTD style
1970 CT90: Had too much time on my hands so . . .
1/4 of 1975 Wing #898: Team 898 - raised from the ashes

Due to gas in the air chamber and possible hydro-lock due to a cylinder filling with gas I decide now was the time to get started with the restoration.
I also needed to fix the steering bearings,I had a noticeable indent in the steering at the center position, and needed to replace timing belt.

So let the tear down begin!

At the end of the day


As I was taking things apart I began to think about the goal: To have a bike that I could enjoy riding but also enter into shows.
So a couple of questions have come up.
When painting the shelter lid how do you take the metal decal stuck around the fuel guage? Do you tape it? Do you somehow loosen the adhesive without bending the decal and replace when done painting?



What abou the original safety decals can you get these replacements?

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Sam Butler
Madison, WI
GL1000 1976

Good thinking on the tear down. Better to just get it all done right than to be chasing a problem all the time. Get on ebay to get your decals. 77 honda gl1000 decals are available from a guy in Canada. They are nearly exact reproductions and cost about $30. Good Luck!

_________________
Hope for the best, expect the worst and take what comes!

1977 Candy Sirus Blue Wing (gone but not forgotten!): Ernie's 77 Resto
1998 Yellow/Creme Valkyrie: Valk Redo
1976 Sulfur Yellow Wing (sold): Melloyellow to live again
1976 LTD #1353 (my new love!): And away we go . . . . LTD style
1970 CT90: Had too much time on my hands so . . .
1/4 of 1975 Wing #898: Team 898 - raised from the ashes

Tape around or replace depending if you want to show or want to show and win. Mine is to ride, and show when I get there sometimes. The pictures make the paint on the shelter look good, are you sure it will not polish right up with 0000 steel wool or other restorative processes?

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Proud member of the NGW Cartel
1977 GL1000 BAD DOG - Bring Along Deb, Decades Old Goldwing (April BOTM)
Motorcycle restoration is our hobby and we pay for that. But in the end of wrenching, the bikes are free!

The lid has the 4 holes drilled in to it for a rack!
The right side shelter has break fluid spill on it.

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Sam Butler
Madison, WI
GL1000 1976

Bummer on the right side shelter, but I would just get the rack for the top, they are pretty sharp looking but to each his own. Once you need to pant the right side shelter, you may have just as well include the other two parts.

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Proud member of the NGW Cartel
1977 GL1000 BAD DOG - Bring Along Deb, Decades Old Goldwing (April BOTM)
Motorcycle restoration is our hobby and we pay for that. But in the end of wrenching, the bikes are free!