I'm a newbie

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mbraun
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I'm a newbie

#1

Post by mbraun »

Many years ago I had a Kawasaki 1100 Spectre. This is an air cooled shaft drive bike. I liked it but kids came and the bike went. Now, kids are gone and a mechanic friend of mine keeps telling me to buy a GL1100. I have looked at the naked Goldwing site many time thinking about this project. I like the wheels on the 83 the best so today I purchased an 83 gl1100. It has all of the body work off of it and has not been run in years. I am sure it needs the brakes rebuilt top to bottom and gas tank cleaned. It is a 37K miles bike. The old gentleman (74) I bought it from seemed like a great guy. We chatted for about 3 hours. He has all of the parts I need except a seat. His house had 3 rooms of Goldwing parts, so I maybe back LOL. He is throwing in extras as well as a Honda manual. He is getting out of motorcycles due to his age and health. Here is a pic of the new project. I am planning a simple clean naked build. I am a better than average car mechanic but wish me luck as this will be my first motorcycle build.

PS if you have a seat for sale, let me know. (seat found)
Attachments
my_gl1100_small.JPG
my_gl1100_small.JPG (130 KiB) Viewed 698 times
Last edited by mbraun on Wed Jul 01, 2015 5:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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chewy999
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Re: I'm a newbie

#2

Post by chewy999 »

Welcome to the forum from the UK, you have found the best forum for help and advice for GL's. You have made a good start, apart from a seat, but surprised me the seller is getting out of bikes because he's 74. I'm 55 and considered a youngster here, amongst other things! lolol Any questions ask away and someone will be able to help. Let the fun begin.

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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Neil
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Re: I'm a newbie

#3

Post by Neil »

Welcome to NGW ... like most of the 83 especially the wheels. The 83 does have linked brakes. Luck on your project.
mbraun
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Re: I'm a newbie

#4

Post by mbraun »

Thanks for the info.

I just learned about linked brakes yesterday from the old gentlemen that sold me the bike. I never knew about it before that.

I also learned that the 83 has a hydraulic anti dive system on the front forks. I thought that was cool.
Kriss
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Re: I'm a newbie

#5

Post by Kriss »

Welcome to the fountain of knowledge anim-cheers1
5x GL1000S, 2x GL1500,
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gearhead4207
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Re: I'm a newbie

#6

Post by gearhead4207 »

anim-cheers1 I currently have an 84 aspy but my favorite was my 83 good luck on your build you have the best fountain of knowledge you could ask for on here welcome from ca hope to see your progress we love pictures lolol
83 gl 1100 i stripped gone but not forgotton! :(
82gl1100sold :( black betty
81 gl1100sold :(
78 gl1000 bagger mongrel sold miss you my friend :(
87 aspencade sold :(
84 aspencade f4-b build :mrgreen:back
87aspy stripping for road warrior :mrgreen:
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Easter
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Re: I'm a newbie

#7

Post by Easter »

Welcome, I too have an '83 Aspencade (along with several other old Wings) and agree with you about the wheels. In fact bought a set to use on my '80 Model. Linked brakes are not a problem but can be eliminated easily if you choose. Start your project by becoming familiar with the Shop Talk section of this sight. Most of your questions will be covered there. Good luck and have fun.
Bikes at present:

83 XL 600r with a 2004 XR650L engine
And a slightly worse for the wear BMW GS adventure bike awaiting repair
83 GL in process :IDTS:
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Rat
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Re: I'm a newbie

#8

Post by Rat »

Welcome to the 'Wingdom.

74 doesn't sound too old ......

Gord (74 in November) Jones crossy.gif
"I'd rather Ride than Shine"
‘14 KLR650 ... not a rat ... yet
‘84 GL1200i ‘R2B6' (Rat to Be 6, the last, adopted by twowings)
My Original 'RAT' was a hybrid '82 CB900/1100F
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zman
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Re: I'm a newbie

#9

Post by zman »

Welcome to the forum, I was new to GL`s when I joined , I knew other bikes very well , mostly I thought why did they put the clutch,generator and ignition in a location not easily accessed, why an interference motor , why is the water pump buried in the motor instead of mounted to the outside or easily accessed location.
I suppose they had good reasons but I might have picked the Voyager or Venture instead :mrgreen:
I don't really regret buying it though , get it right and they are rock solid and a pleasure to ride and own.
1980 1100 Interstate, 1978 GL1000
miltoncaniff
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Re: I'm a newbie

#10

Post by miltoncaniff »

Welcome from Iowa! We need more people from the Great Midwest to join! Thanks for doing your part and enjoy the build!

John
1977 GL1000/1976 GL1000
1975 GL1000/1975 GL1000 (Parts Bike)
2002 FLHRCI/1993 ZR750C3 Zephyr
1982 GS750EZ/1978 GS550
1978 KZ1000A2/1978 KZ1000A2 (frame only)
1980 KZ650F1/1979 KZ650B3
1979 KZ650C3/1981 KZ550A1
1977 KZ400A1 Deluxe/1979 KZ400B2
1982 KZ250D2/1980 KZ750E w/parts bike


This is not MY circus and You are not my monkeys!
mbraun
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Re: I'm a newbie

#11

Post by mbraun »

Well, I have been working on it as I have time. I found a motorcycle salvage yard about 30 minutes from my house and scored some needed parts. I got a seat in really nice shape, a front turn signal, a right side cover with all 3 attachment points, a set of new handle grips the guts and ring to my empty headlight bucket and some much needed nuts and bolts. The rear fender has been sanded and primed. Flat black on the underside. The top has 2 coats of primer and 3 coats of Cobalt Blue metal flake on it. I have polished the rear light assemble and shocks along with the rear half of the exhaust pipe so that I could install the rear half. Looks good so far. I have filled in the holes for the small GL1100 emblem on both side covers, did 2 coats of primer and the inside of the covers in flat black. Tonight's project is 3 coat of the Cobalt blue.
Attachments
gl1100_side.jpg
gl1100_side.jpg (128.97 KiB) Viewed 588 times
mbraun
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Re: I'm a newbie

#12

Post by mbraun »

gl1100_ft_fender.jpg
gl1100_ft_fender.jpg (172.77 KiB) Viewed 330 times
More work getting done. The head light mounting ears that I have were "modified" by someone. The tabs where the turn signals mount had been cut off. So a bit of 1/4 x 1/2 bar stock, a cut off wheel, bench grinder and a gas welder fixed that. Then a 4mm hole and tap and it was good to go. Polished the headlight assembly and the mounting ears, removed the front wheel and each fork arm, installed the head light mounting ears and but the forks and front wheel back on. Then moved some wires around and installed the headlight bucket and front turn signals. The front "valence" bracket that was on the bike held a semi circular black piece of plastic so I removed it. In the box of parts was a Honda front "valence" so I modified that bracket and mounted it to the front of the bike between the turn signals. Now waiting on a bunch of part that I ordered to start the brake system rebuild.
Attachments
gl1100_front.jpg
gl1100_front.jpg (35.4 KiB) Viewed 588 times
GL1100_front2.jpg
GL1100_front2.jpg (41.78 KiB) Viewed 588 times
Last edited by mbraun on Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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duke182
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Re: I'm a newbie

#13

Post by duke182 »

Welcome to the club
Looks like a good start.
Just remember, we like pictures.
And you can get answers for almost anything here, and sometimes they're good answers. So ask away
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82aspy
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Re: I'm a newbie

#14

Post by 82aspy »

duke182 wrote:Welcome to the club
Looks like a good start.
Just remember, we like pictures.
+1
:popcornx2
"there is a Darwinian element"
Yoda said, "There is no try or not try; there is only do or don't do."
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ngw quotes anim-cheers1 - \ "I will strip the beast" \ "the swingarm is just a hunk of metal" \ "gonna maybe ...dunno yet" \ "It's never done, thats the fun." \ "something about this site brings me back"
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nakedall
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Re: I'm a newbie

#15

Post by nakedall »

Welcome, this is a great bunch here. Anything you need to know is here!
pat
84 standard black
81-83 standard
79 complete needs work
78 a mess now parts bike
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