I'm a Kawboy now

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Dirty Dave
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I'm a Kawboy now

#1

Post by Dirty Dave »

My 79 Wing threw a stator again May of '17 and I just got thru replacing it, rotor and starter clutch roller thingies, not to mention polishing carb caps and various aluminum engine parts. Yeah, I'm pretty slow pulling engines. She looks amazing and runs great. The Valkyrie has been a great standby but gets me in trouble, in NY state particularly.

Then my wife goes and buys me a Kawy Z900RS SE, yunno an updated Z1 from the seventies for my 65th...... (poor me)

The Wing has to make way for it in the garage and I have triplicate Wing parts. I don't know where anything is on the Kawasaki. Guess I'll learn.

Gotta thank you guys for all the help over the years. I'll be checking in from time to time but wrenching less I guess.

I still have a naked "Wing" (Valkyrie) but it never gives me trouble mechanically. The alternator is external (yay).


Play nice guys and thanks again.
1978/9 GL1000
1997 Honda Valkyrie
2018 Kawasaki Z900 RS
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Whiskerfish
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#2

Post by Whiskerfish »

A new adventure! Enjoy :-D :-D :-D
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and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

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Pony Ruiz
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#3

Post by Pony Ruiz »

Congrats! Nice wifey!

less wrenching - especially welcome when you have something you don't have to work on all the time.

I went that route too. Still have a wing to fix / wrench on when I have the urge.

those things look fast.
1978GL1000 naked - kinda sadly gone. no bike at the moment.

"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." Albert A. Bartlett.
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desertrefugee
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#4

Post by desertrefugee »

I wouldn't be happy if I didn't have something to wrench on...

Have fun, Dave!
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Dirty Dave
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#5

Post by Dirty Dave »

I know.

Wrenching for me was at least half the fun. Nothing like ripping down the road knowing you can trust your work. I gave up on local bike "mechanics" after a few horrible experiences. Hard to find someone who knows what they are doing especially with the older stuff, not to mention the cost.

Saw the Kawy on YouTube doing 142 mph but it's the ABS and traction settings that interested me. Floating on liquid rubber in a panic stop was never one of my favorite things to do. Guess I had to practice more.

Candy (see avatar) said I could keep the Wing as well. Maybe an antique plate for the Ol' Girl. Will have to be creative with garage space.

Guess you won't be rid of me yet. Who knows, stator #5 might be on the horizon.
1978/9 GL1000
1997 Honda Valkyrie
2018 Kawasaki Z900 RS
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wingrider
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#6

Post by wingrider »

No pictures??? lolol
2002 1800 Wing
2001 Valkyrie Interstate
1978 1200 EFI Wing with Motorvation Coupe Royale sidecar
1977 1200 Wing cafe/bobber project
1974 Suzuki GT550
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Sidecar Bob
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#7

Post by Sidecar Bob »

Image
Sorry. I couldn't help myself
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
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Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#8

Post by cbrianroll »

20180627_164118.jpg
20180627_164118.jpg (202.28 KiB) Viewed 271 times
I'm not picky, I buy cheap and fix. Last one was a kawasaki kz550ltd. Still needs air valves.
78 gl1000 rat project thingy...still under construction
76 gl1000 parts for 78? Trying to get running...
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chewy999
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#9

Post by chewy999 »

I know that I have a diamond in Karen, I thank the Lord every day that we met, and we are very happy.

That said, for my last birthday, I got a (large) bar of chocolate!!!!! :shock:

anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
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Dirty Dave
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#10

Post by Dirty Dave »

What a departure from Winging it all these years. Really hard for me to change gears, so to speak.

First of all it seems tiny and buzzy compared to boxer engines. My first mile or two from the dealer, I hated it.
There is a ECU flash mod to smooth out the choppy throttle response that can be purchased aftermarket.
Not much wrenching there. Looks great and pulls nice even though I have to break the engine in and haven't
gotten anywhere near the power band yet (6-8K). Really nice looking and loaded with LCD goodies I don't really need.
I was down to the last gas gauge "block" but when I stopped to top it up, I still had a 1/2 tank left.....

I am having fun but wonder if I'm just too old too change from the Ol' School Wings.Time will tell.

A wheelie is in my not too distant future fer sure.........
1978/9 GL1000
1997 Honda Valkyrie
2018 Kawasaki Z900 RS
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Dirty Dave
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#11

Post by Dirty Dave »

Seems that my Valkyrie got really jealous of my infatuation with the Z900 and decided to quit working after 15 years of perfect reliability.

Intermittent starting and now doesn't charge even after replacing the alternator and cleaning the starter switch and all
fuses/contacts. Starts well now but does not charge. Running out of things to check.
1978/9 GL1000
1997 Honda Valkyrie
2018 Kawasaki Z900 RS
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OCR
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#12

Post by OCR »

Check stator output.
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Dirty Dave
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#13

Post by Dirty Dave »

OCR,

New alternator. Both old and new are functioning properly. I have/had electrical trouble with 3 of 4 vehicles.
Not my forte.....
1978/9 GL1000
1997 Honda Valkyrie
2018 Kawasaki Z900 RS
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Dirty Dave
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#14

Post by Dirty Dave »

The jealous Valkyrie's cry for attention has been answered.

There is a black/green 2 pin connector (with one wire) giving a hot 12+ volt signal to the alternator. If this is interrupted (corrosion) no charging is the result.

Alternator I swapped out was good as well as all fuses & other connections I massaged.
Good to have the Pearl white & Purple beast back.
1978/9 GL1000
1997 Honda Valkyrie
2018 Kawasaki Z900 RS
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chewy999
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Re: I'm a Kawboy now

#15

Post by chewy999 »

Glad you found it, sometimes hard to trace a dodgy connection.

anim-cheers1 anim-cheers1
Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
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