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1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 7:38 pm
by CrazyJerry
After looking at many Goldwing Cafe Racers, it was time to do a budget conversion for myself.
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Quick Stats:
- GL1000 Flat Four
- Empi/Solex Pict34/3 VW Carburetor (Modified)
- Dyna-S Ignition Upgrade
- Amber Headlight
- Paint/Stripe Retro Scheme
- Lightweight Fiberglass Seat
- Custom Directional Lights
- Straight Handle Bar w/mirror ends


~CrazyJerry~
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 3:29 am
by Track T 2411
Sweet ride! I like the color scheme a lot!

Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 8:57 am
by desertrefugee
Yep, real nice paint work. Welcome!

Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 10:47 am
by 5speed
am I the only one the pics aren't showing for?

Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 12:08 pm
by OCR
Beautiful!

Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 1:31 pm
by delling3
No, I am not seeing the pictures either!

Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 1:37 pm
by CrazyJerry
Thanks for the Welcome and comments.
For those who are unable to view the four pics, there is an alternate album online here:
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https://diesel-bike.com/dir/index.php?/category/13
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Give it a whirl!
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~CrazyJerry~

Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 1:39 pm
by CrazyJerry
And a video clip on youtube just after the single EMPI/Solex carb conversion was completed:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5VQ0KaRGlM
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~CrazyJerry~

Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2018 1:35 pm
by rcmatt007
5speed wrote:am I the only one the pics aren't showing for?
at work I get a black X the work computers will not allow certain hosted websites (e.g. you tube)

Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 1:09 pm
by Jonesz
Your bike looks gorgeous, if she runs as good as she looks you have built a winner! Now the hunt is on again for a project 78 or 79. Thought that had almost gotten out of my system till this beauty showed up.

Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 8:34 pm
by CrazyJerry
Jonesz wrote:Your bike looks gorgeous, if she runs as good as she looks you have built a winner! Now the hunt is on again for a project 78 or 79. Thought that had almost gotten out of my system till this beauty showed up.
Thanks Jonesz!
Extra pains were taken to ensure this one would be a runner.
It's a joy at 45mph and a complete thrill is just a twist-away!
A few video clips are now on youtube (links below).

#1 is a cold start (46 degrees - high humidity) and brief run.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAp_V1Q9PxY

#2 is a low rpm pull through a dirt/gravel parking lot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUWySS77vNM

#3 is running from about 10mph through just past 80mph being conservative on the rpms.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvSwCJ4RBM4

These OldWings are great looking bikes so use your imagination and make it yours!!

~CrazyJerry~

Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 9:38 pm
by desertrefugee
Too bad it's time to put it up for the winter! Nice ride.

(Oh, and I hear there's a great invention out there: Gloves!)

Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2018 7:32 pm
by CrazyJerry
In an attempt to keep all the info handy, here's another post and this one contains spark plug pics.
These plugs have a bit over 350 miles on them all with the EMPI Solex single carb conversion.
As an experiment two different plug manufacturers were used:
#1 & #3 each used a Champion RA6HC
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#2 & #4 each used a NGK BP8EA
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Both sets look good and were run at varying rpms - mostly at 3,000-3,500 or what I'd consider normal cruise. There's plenty of stop-light idling and also a few "hot suppers" too.
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Currently idle is set to 850 rpms and needs little to no throttle during take-off. The initial low-rpm clutch release is as good as my stock GL1200 (which I previously didn't think was possible.) As it stands (and as a comparison), from 0-100 the GL1000 will eat the fully dressed GL1200 Goldwing. (Yes the GL1000 is lighter and geared differently but the GL1200 is bone-stock with just a bit over 18,000 miles, runs excellent, and serves as a marker for this project.) After 100 mph, I'd probably be sucked off the naked GL1000 by the intense air pressure, but on the GL1200 fully dressed Goldwing, I'd probably be able to easily light a cigarette with one hand while steering with the other.
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~CrazyJerry~

Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 9:06 am
by 5speed
what brand mufflers are those?

Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2018 10:44 am
by robin1731
5speed wrote:what brand mufflers are those?

Look like Jardine full exhaust.

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