Episode XVI - All is Well.
A couple weeks out from the awful scare, and things seem pretty darned good for the Wing.
We're averaging about 45 MPG over the last few tanks, up from about 36-40 when we first pulled her from the shed and got her registered and inspected. Maybe the riding is a bit less spirited, but we're not tooling around at 1500-2000 RPM in overdrive.
After our "water in the crankcase" situation, I decided to run the Seafoam-recommended carb/injector cleaning method. 2-to-1 gas to Seafoam in the tank, run to get that mixture into the carb, let sit a bit, then drain and run. I then filled the tank with gas to dilute the remaining mixture. I don't think the bike likes the Seafoam, as it had something of an occasional sputter over the tank, which had me scared that I had screwed up the carbs by getting water in them.
The next tank - no Seafoam - has yielded a much smoother-running experience. It could be a placebo effect, but I think it's running better than before the water incident.
The shifting down from 4 to 3 is notably tricky, and she does pop out of first sometimes - which completely sucks when making a right from a stop sign onto a busy road. Not sure what to make of these issues. By preloading the downshift a bit, I notice it's less likely to get hung up going from fourth into third. I also notice that if I'm coming down off overdrive, head to 4th around 2500, continue a deceleration curve and hit 3rd at about 2500, things are often buttery smooth. (Clutch cable is adjusted to spec; I don't think the '83 GL1100 has any other adjustment for the clutch.) Quirks of an old bike. Bend with the machine.
We've put 2000 miles on the Wing.
![Taken near the end of Sunday's ride: a view of Kennebunk Beach from near Colony Beach in Kennebunkport.](./download/file.php?id=84350&sid=86a67d58f90db627eb0715f85a04cab7)
- Taken near the end of Sunday's ride: a view of Kennebunk Beach from near Colony Beach in Kennebunkport.
- PXL_20210523_221951773.jpg (185.84 KiB) Viewed 703 times
The bike has just under 53k on it over 38+ years. We're responsible for almost 5% of that mileage in just the last couple months.
And in other news (perhaps burying the lede), today I drove the truck over near Laconia, New Hampshire and picked up a 1982 GL1100I. That's 3 Wings in the stable for those who care to count: the Blue Phoenix (still brown for now); the donor '83 that made the Phoenix possible; and now an '82. It's too soon to "know" what we have, but it looks good and the starter turned the motor easily enough in the PO's driveway. I'll start a new topic for the '82 (with pictures) once we have done a bit more than roll her off the trailer and hose her off. I'll take a reasonable shot at the Randakk long-layup restart to hopefully yield a runner before putting her in the shed until after riding season. I can't put too much time troubleshooting given other demands in the coming weeks, but I know the wife wants it out of the driveway and hidden away.
Avatar is a summer '21 photo of the Blue Phoenix, our 1983 GL1100I rescue gone naked.
In the Stable and Ridable
1992 ST1100 - my longer haul tourer
1992 XJ600S - son's streetfighter
1987 VFR700 - son's latest, in blue/silver
1983 - GL1100I - naked Blue Phoenix (son's, really)
1982 GL1100I - naked bagger Cabernet
1979 GL1000 - Ginger Lynn, but not that Ginger Lynn (Wing and a Prayer)
1978 CB550K - son's cafe (carb issues still vex)
Active Project(s)
1979 GL1000 - Confirmed one owner, with original paperwork. Vetter fairing and bags, off the road in dry, heated storage for 35 years.
Sold
Not lookin' back to avoid regrets