'82 - Cabernet

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wingrider
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Re: '82 - Cabernet

#46

Post by wingrider »

Congrats on BOTM!
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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Re: '82 - Cabernet

#47

Post by Gowing »

Another BOTM, how exciting, looks Great!
Dave

1975 GL 1000
1980 XS650
1981 ct110
1972 F7 KAW 175
2000 moby blaze 40cc
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Re: '82 - Cabernet

#48

Post by Track T 2411 »

Congrats!
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

"He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail" - Abraham Maslow

"If you can't take the time to do it right the first time, how are you ever going to find the time to do it over?" -Unknown

Current Rides:
'Grumpy' - '81 Standard, now fully dressed.
'Layla' - '81 Standard w/dealer installed fairing and Hondaline bags.
'Scarlett' '76 'Survivor' nekkid as a j-bird!

Under Construction:
The 'Jalopy' '78-'79 Mash-up
'Quikie' '81 gl1100I back on the lift, project with the step-son!

In The Shed:
'81 gl1100I barn find aka "Josie, the farmer's daughter." (almost comatose build)
'77 gl1000, roller parts bike.
'82 gl1100I, 'Old Crusty' titled roller parts bike (free!)
'82 gl1100I, My first 'Wing, and an expensive lesson!
New2U Bike? Read Me.
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Re: '82 - Cabernet

#49

Post by NotSoLilCrippseys »

Holy Cannoli, Batman!

What a nice recognition. I'm honored.

It's now time to double down on sorting out that snapped upper shock mount bit. I'm inspired!
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
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5speed
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Re: '82 - Cabernet

#50

Post by 5speed »

anim-cheers1 congrats
1982 1100 standard. (sold)
1986 Yamaha FJ1200
2000 Yamaha Roadstar
1976 GoldWing. running but not on the road
1978 Goldwing. future cafe project.
2019 Can-Am ryker (boss's new ride)

2002 Shadow American Classic(sold)
1983 Shadow 500. (sold)
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Re: '82 - Cabernet

#51

Post by Jonesz »

Nice Job, deserving bike.
Jonesz

1983 GL1100 Aspencade named "Freki" currently undergoing change to a standard. Sold
1999 Valkyrie CT 1500 goes by the moniker "Valerie"
1978 Gl1000 "Loki" new project going to be a Cafe Convertible
1979 Suzuki GS850. Sold
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NotSoLilCrippseys
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Re: '82 - Cabernet

#52

Post by NotSoLilCrippseys »

Inspired by BOTM, I set aside time this weekend to tackle the problem with the Cabernet's upper left shock mount.

I ran a test with the snapped end that was still in the nut. I drilled and tapped a hole for a test M6 screw on Friday after work. Easy peasy. Armed with that success, I forecast a straightforward couple hours of work for Saturday. Like the weatherman, my forecast was not so accurate.

I confronted several challenges, owing to hard steel about 1/4" into the mount. I'm not sure if I hardened the steel by overheating it with a bit or snapped a tiny piece of my small bit in there, but all work progress died once I hit the hard spot.

I'm not entirely convinced there's not a stud screwed into the shock mount post, as it might make sense for the post to be hardened steel. (Note photo 3 below.) But what do I know?

Late Saturday I ran out to grab the hardest bits available at my local Ace: cobalt. I snapped the first one, and the bike laughed at the second. There went Saturday.

Sunday morning, after walking the dog, I rode the Blue Phoenix out to the Depot and bought some carbide-tipped masonry bits. No more problems!

Anyone who has used a tap knows what to do, but I've never actually used one. Fun.

What I did:
  • I ground down the threads left over from the snapped end to get a nice flat end.
  • After marking center with a sharpie, I used a small punch to put a dimple in the end of the post.
  • I then started drilling with a really small bit to drill a pilot hole.
  • I nudged up bit thicknesses a little at a time, after I hit the hard steel about 1/4" in and started breaking tiny bits
  • Not wanting to get too wide before I got deep, I waited until I had carbide bits before resuming work
  • With my smallest carbide bit, I drilled in to about 1/2" (give/take)
  • Stepping up a bit size at a time - and with my regular bits, actually, I widened the hole to the 17/64" called for
  • Then I followed some basic tap rules with my new M8 1.25 tap. I used lots of Tap Magic oil, and tried to be a bit obsessive about getting out the cuttings as I slowly worked my way in - and backed out, and in, and out.
Here's the obligatory documentary evidence.
Hanging on by a thread - or two.
Hanging on by a thread - or two.
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Ground down the threads and cleaned up the post.
Ground down the threads and cleaned up the post.
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Getting closer to 17/64".
Getting closer to 17/64".
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Testing my threads with a too long M8 1.25
Testing my threads with a too long M8 1.25
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Shock and grab bar mounted up. One step closer to registering this Wing.
Shock and grab bar mounted up. One step closer to registering this Wing.
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I'm pretty happy with the repair, and I'm confident it's solid. (I owe a debt of gratitude to all of you who shared advice when I posted the problem on the tech forum. Thanks!)

It's not a pro-level repair. I didn't strip the bike, put the frame under a drill press to ensure I have a dead center hole, etc. But it worked out pretty well. This bike will be a rider, period. If it's safe, works, and looks pretty good, I'm satisfied.

And if something should fail on the fix down the road a year or twenty, whoever owns the bike will have the option of drilling and retapping for an M10 bolt without going nuts. I'm glad I didn't attempt to over-engineer a fix, especially since failure is always an option with me.

I'm missing some bolts and nuts to fully mount the grab bar, and I need to sort a few small odds and ends. But then it's off to the BMV with my bill of sale to get the Cab a shiny new license plate.
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
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NotSoLilCrippseys
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Re: '82 - Cabernet

#53

Post by NotSoLilCrippseys »

The Cab is officially on the road.

After some touch-and-go waiting outside the BMV and hoping to get in before the 4:30 lockdown this past Wednesday, I slipped in and walked out with a plate. Woo Hoo! And just in time for a deep soaking rain Thursday and overnight until early Friday morning. Still, I rode her to work.

The report:
  • The Cab shifts sooo much easier than the Blue Phoenix. And the motor behaves better on launch.
  • I don't like the touring saddle, and it's not going to stay on the bike any longer than it has to. I feel crowded in the cockpit, and I have the seat set all the way back. But the seat is a quibble, and I'm on the case.
  • The bike hops right up to cruising speed, to be sure, and I'm not feeling any stumbles. I guess I did ok on the carb disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly - and on the tune.
  • So far so good on the rebuilt calipers and masters. I thought one of the front calipers was dragging a bit at first because of a "squeak" when backing up in the driveway. But I didn't feel any unusual heat after 15 miles. It was probably some oxidation on a rotor, or maybe the pads got seated.
  • I'm pretty wary about the coolant, as I've seen some drip drip in the work space. I didn't find any wetness in the lot after work, and I ran my finger under the couple spots where I think the drips have been coming from. I thought I had taken care of things with new gaskets, but I've got a jaundiced eye out for now.
  • I had a bagger in mind for the build, and I even fabricated some heat shields in case the pipes created a heat situation under the bags. Now I'm not so sure I want bags with the pipes. I've come to like the bags on the Blue Phoenix, as I don't need a backpack to commute to work.
Also, I ended up swapping in the '83 speedo, which immediately put 25k on the odometer ;-).
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I was giving a buddy at work a little "tour" of the bike on Friday afternoon, and I explained about the 85mph vs 150mph speedo swap. I said it was not about going 150. He had a suggestion: Why not have a dial that goes to 11, as with Nigel Tufnel's amps in This is Spinaltap.

I do miss not having the '83's purple overdrive light on the tach. I don't know if I could swap in an '83 neutral switch and tach down the road, but I'd like to give it a shot if I'm ever pulling the water pump. I don't mind not having the "low air pressure" warning light as the tradeoff.
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
User avatar
NotSoLilCrippseys
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Re: '82 - Cabernet

#54

Post by NotSoLilCrippseys »

I'm about a gallon into tank #3 on the Cabernet. Tank 1 was really the re-fill after I de-rusted the tank and reinstalled it, so it doesn't exactly count. Lots of time on the center stand running - carb sync, testing pipes, running oil through, draining, refilling, etc. Tank 2 was the MPG test, and I'm pleased to report a good 42.X MPG with mixed driving between 40 and, umm, a good bit over the legal limit.

I'm still dealing with a small, intermittent coolant leak from either the outer o-ring or the gasket mating the elbow to the head for 1 & 3 - or both. It's tough to tell for certain. There's blue discoloration on the bit of gasket peeking out from between mated parts, and I sometimes can get a blue residue on my finger if I wipe under the o-ring area. I have some bluish residue (and sometimes a small, half-teaspoon or less puddle of coolant) on top of the head.
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Frustrating, mainly because the shipping for those little bits basically doubles the cost - and I've bought several of them now in an effort to fix the issue. (Yes, I've cleaned the mating surfaces very well, there's no scoring on the aluminum surfaces, etc.) The real tweaker, though, is that the original coolant leak was in the tube leading to the other head. I should have left the right side alone.

It needs to be fixed - again. But it's not spraying coolant. I'll keep an eye on the coolant level for now. If it gets worse, I'll tackle it again. If not, I'll handle it come winter.

I've been working on-and-off on a pan for a solo seat setup. It's all new to me, though I've done a little fiberglass work on my surfboards - including a pretty major rehabilitation of a '67 Dewey Weber board that I pull out of the rafters in the den and ride a few times a year.

I got back to the work today. The goal isn't cafe seat, exactly. But I'm aiming for a reasonably gentle slope/hump that transitions to the rear fender.
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Aided by a strange aftermarket king/queen/solo bag set up that came on our '83 GL1100 parts bike, I've got the foam for two solo-seat models in process. One is somewhat cafe; the other is more bobber. Not sure which way I'll end up going. Perhaps I set it up to swing either way.
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
User avatar
NotSoLilCrippseys
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Re: '82 - Cabernet

#55

Post by NotSoLilCrippseys »

It's now clear that the Cabernet's rear air shocks need a rebuild.

They're saggy, and I have a yellowish oil escaping when I put a pressure gauge on the valve. They mostly hold air, and I thought they'd be in good shape. They worked for the first 200 miles or so, I think. But they're not doing the job. Springs are probably shot in there, and I think they're likely low on oil. I now notice a "squeak" as well. Parts wear and 40 years is a long time.

Fortunately, I have an aftermarket set I'm going to put on, at least for now. We're using the same style shocks on the Blue Phoenix, and they're decent, at least for one-up, mostly unloaded riding. The bike is confident in the twisties, tracks nicely at highway speeds, easily supports my 200 lbs, and more. I'm not sure how they'd handle a 500 lb load, but that's not in the game plan. (They did come off an Interstate, so someone was riding them with a load.)

I don't know that I'm game for a rebuild of the original Wing air shocks. I'll keep an eye out for a deal on some quality second-hand shocks. Maybe I'll get lucky and score some inexpensive Progressives down the road.
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
User avatar
NotSoLilCrippseys
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Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2020 8:21 am
Location: York County, Maine

Re: '82 - Cabernet

#56

Post by NotSoLilCrippseys »

With my son home from college for the weekend, I wanted to make sure both Wings were ready for a ride. I got up early to sort out a couple issues.

Cabernet's coolant leak at the input to the right head has been getting worse. I haven't taken it to work in about a week, owing to the leak. Gaskets are again on order, but I decided to try something. I pulled one of the elbows and o-rings off our '83 parts bike to try to stop the leak. (No new gasket. Just the one that came off the parts bike.) 40 minutes later, I had a bike that runs and doesn't drip coolant onto the top of the head.

With that success, I elected to swap out the clutch cable on the Blue Phoenix and install the parts bike's cable - after a good lube. Good news: the lever on the Blue Phoenix is notably easier to pull. But Cabernet is still smoother. It could be the more extreme bend on the Phoenix, as we're running smaller bars on the bike. I'm happy.

And my son enjoyed the ride on Cabernet.
PXL_20211009_163159301.jpg
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Here's what he likes:
  • His feet don't get hooked on the older style pegs when he comes to a stop, something he doesn't like about the '83 pegs. (I think he just needs a 1000 miles in mixed conditions to get used to the '83 pegs. But that's me.)
  • Cab shifts more smoothly all around, and the clutch lever is relatively easy to pull.
  • Surprise to me, but he seems to like the more relaxed touring/cruising position.
His first comment after our ride: "Wow. That's a heavier bike than what I've been riding."
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
User avatar
NotSoLilCrippseys
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Location: York County, Maine

Re: '82 - Cabernet

#57

Post by NotSoLilCrippseys »

Some quick updates: heat shields under bags to protect from Sportster pipes; from-scratch solo seat.

Heat Shields
I had some stainless from the odd seat/bag setup on a parts GL1100, which I cut up and bent to fabricate a pair of shields. The Cabernet has upturned Sportster pipes, and they exhaust about 1.5" below the bags. Better safe than sorry.
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Solo Seat
Be gentle, please. The fab work is of the "good from far, but far from good" variety. I do see how I could improve on a second go, and I actually think I might try to improve on this one by addressing some of the lines - and possibly by adding another 1/2" of foam.
Fiberglass/foam base, with fiberglass seatpan
Fiberglass/foam base, with fiberglass seatpan
PXL_20210919_153857943.jpg (248.18 KiB) Viewed 536 times
After body filler and primer
After body filler and primer
PXL_20211016_203520340.jpg (285.66 KiB) Viewed 536 times
Still in primer but mocked up and ridable
Still in primer but mocked up and ridable
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I wouldn't call the seat plush - or even "comfy" in any real sense. But there's padding, and it's not uncomfortable over, say, 30 minutes or so. (I have yet to ride that saddle for an hour.)

The plan is flat black for the base, at least right now, as it makes for an easy swap across Wings.

Right off, anyone can see the ride height has dropped about 3-4". I also moved the position back as far as possible while still sitting in the dip over the gas tank sending unit. I think it's maybe 1-1.5" back from the rearmost setting available with a stock seat. Mostly, I'm playing around with it right now and think it might ultimately sit more regularly on the Blue Phoenix, with it's lower bars. (Who knows?) If it ends up living on the Phoenix, I'll paint it blue to match that bike.
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
User avatar
NotSoLilCrippseys
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Posts: 522
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2020 8:21 am
Location: York County, Maine

Re: '82 - Cabernet

#58

Post by NotSoLilCrippseys »

After a couple hundred miles on the solo seat and a flat black paint job, both the ride and the look are growing on me. I have yet to spend more than about 45 minutes in the saddle, but I'm not getting numb, feeling abused, or the like. The seat lacks real estate, but I can shift fore/aft enough to alter my position. All in all, not bad.

I'm still tweaking the mounting bracket a bit, but I've got it so it will almost seamlessly bolt up to the stock mounts on the frame. I have to drill out the bracket some more for a rock solid fit. With work, limited daylight, and more, I just haven't made the time to lock it down. My so-called metal work is pretty crude, so I'm really happy with my progress on that front.

I should take some photos worth posting to provide a better look, but here's what I have today.
Solo seat and cold weather windscreen.
Solo seat and cold weather windscreen.
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Last weekend, I mounted up the Memphis Hellcat windscreen we have. Morning rides are mostly frosty at this point, and cutting the windchill even a little keeps the commute more pleasant. Getting the angle right to avoid severe head buffeting was a pain in the - lots of things. The angle is a lot more laid back than the "fork angle" most recommend, but it's where I settled after about 20 stops for field adjustments. I get some vibration in the ears at times, but it's way better than anything more upright. And I like that I'm never looking through the screen - except if I want to see right in front of the tire.

With the solo seat mounted, I'm noticing that even my vastly smaller taillight is too big - and too high with a stock GL1100 license plate bracket. I'm a bit hamstrung by the chopped trunk mount needed to secure the bags and the rear fender. I'll meditate on some options, but it's a bit off. Maybe the build is never really quite finished.

In other news, no signs of coolant leaking since my last repair, and she recently passed her first 1000 miles since I picked her up. She did the ton up on the superslab the other week, with zero drama and throttle to spare. ('83 speedo helps me know she was up there.) It's not my normal route or approach to riding, but rolling with traffic on the highway often calls for 80-85 around here. Once I'm at that speed, a long open stretch of 3-lanes can occasionally tempt. It's seeming like I've worked out most of the kinks and got lucky with this long-neglected Wing.
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
User avatar
Rat
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Re: '82 - Cabernet

#59

Post by Rat »

Looking good ...

Gord
"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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Re: '82 - Cabernet

#60

Post by NotSoLilCrippseys »

Cabernet is nearing 6000 miles since being put back on the road last Fall.

Some quick updates:

Stranded?
In those 5500+ miles, I've had one situation where I thought I was stranded. I went into Ace to get some supplies a couple weeks back. All was fine. When I came out, the bike was dead. No lights. Nothing. I pulled the main fuse. Not 30 amp, as it should be, but 15. And it was blown. Luckily, I was at Ace, went in, bought some 30 amp fuses, and installed one. She fired right up. Now, what happened? No idea. (I'm watching things. Maybe lightning doesn't ever strike twice.)

Shocks
New-to-me Progressive rear shocks for Cabernet (e.ay deal). What a difference. Stiffer, yes, and with one-up riding pre-load is at a minimum. But the whole bike feels better.
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They are a little longer than stock (1/2", more or less), but it's barely noticeable and I've got long legs. And I didn't pay anywhere near full, new price, which suits my style.

Tires
I went in for an inspection last week, thinking I'd be just fine. I knew my Shinko Tourmaster rear was getting a bit tired, but I didn't pay enough attention to notice the wear bar situation. I failed over a rear tire. Bad news: I failed. Good news: I've run this bike through a tire in about 9 months.

At the risk of starting some fight I don't want to see emerge, I'm not so pleased by the Tourmasters on the heavy wing. Price is great, and they're sticky/surefooted. But the mileage isn't what I thought she'd be. I was imagining 8-9k, based on other Wing riders' reports. I'm not touring, don't have a heavy load in the rear, weigh 190 or so, rarely ride two-up, and spend most of my riding miles commuting on twisty roads around here.

For a side-by-side comparison, I've got two GL1100s, both Naked and both with '83 alloy wheels. Granted, Cabernet has the bags and crash bars, which come in at maybe 50 pounds - probably more like 30. Also, last Summer, I did 1000+ miles with the Blue Phoenix as a bagger, so it's not that the '83 has seen "lighter" miles.

Cabernet - 5500 miles on Shinko tourmasters
Blue Phoenix - almost 9000 miles on Michelin Commander IIs.

Here's the wear comparison:
tourmaster
tourmaster
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commander ii
commander ii
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The side view, which I don't show here because of the 5-image limit, reveals the expected flat spot at the center of the Shinkos. Even feeling by hand, I can't really sense much if any flat spot at the center of the Michelins.

I've got no other complaints about the Shinko tire. It's been stable in peg-scraping cornering. It kept me safe riding through a Maine winter. (I don't ride in the snow or snow/ice-covered roads, but sand/gravel is real - as are frozen bits of asphalt on tree-lined roads.) It's been stable at highway speeds in the 80-100 mph range. I never really felt like my Shinkos were affecting my confidence.

I've ordered a Commander II for the rear of Cabernet, even though it's twice the price of the Tourmaster.

My thoughts here: If I were putting maybe 1000/1500 miles per year on the bike, a Shinko would be a great bet. I'd get 5 years out of it and replace it as the date code shows expiration time. Makes sense. But Cabernet is rolling about 500 miles per month.

By the way, the Tourmaster front is also near the end of its wear life, which really surprises me.

Surf
Admittedly, what follows is at least semi-tangential to purpose of this forum.

I surf, and I've long wanted to mount a board rack to a bike to enjoy two pleasures of a Maine summer: riding and surfing.

The internet is full of glamour shots with boards on garage-queen or showroom motorcycles, and my approach was inspired by those images. (Curious: Are they really functional - or just a bike or board porn fetish?)

Armed with my new "welding skills" (ha ha!) and a bunch of steel from full dresser Wings, I got busy noodling on a rack for the Cabernet. I took some highway peg crash bar mounts and a bunch of metal from the bumpers around the rear end of either the Blue Phoenix of our parts GL (I don't recall which). I'm using 4 highway peg mounts, two fore and two aft, to handle mounting the rack to the bike.

The result is a solid, stable surfboard rack that I can install/remove in under 5 minutes.
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Early morning, parking lot near a local break before the summer tourists stream in - and before pay-to-park rules apply.
Early morning, parking lot near a local break before the summer tourists stream in - and before pay-to-park rules apply.
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I've taken the bike out a couple times with a board on it. Here's a report:
  • The rack is affixed firmly enough that I can pull the bike up off the center stand by grabbing it and pulling hard. In other words, It's not some wobbly, flimsy thing. I'm not using thin-walled aluminum or PVC pipe.
  • There's no risk of the board ever running into either the front wheel or the handlebars, as there's plenty of clearance in those spots. I HAD TO HAVE THIS right.
  • I have about 9" of space between the right side cover and the inside of the surfboard, when mounted in the rack. Given leg angle and the space, I can comfortably, easily, naturally put my foot down at stop signs/lights. I thought I'd need to accommodate the board. I don't need to make ANY adjustments to my foot-down technique, and that's a good thing. Mounting and dismounting are easy and natural.
  • I've ridden it with a midlength board installed, and it's easy peasy. I've also taken it out with a 9'6" longboard, which does extend out beyond both the front and rear wheels by about a foot. Obviously, I took it slow at first. But the ride to one local break includes a 50mph stretch. There's no weirdness up to and above 50. (OK. I went to 60 and figured that's more than enough speed. There'll be no run down the highway with this set up.)
  • I do need to use a little countersteer input on the left hand to keep her straight, but it's not like I need to muscle it or anything. I'd guess sidecars might have a similar input required given the drag from the third wheel.
  • Hi-vis yellow pool noodle foam on the outside helps with conspicuity, or so I'm imagining. Truthfully, my boards are so colorful that they're likely conspicuous enough by themselves. (I had the noodles. Black would have been more biker badass, and pipe insulation would be good.
  • The 600-pound Wing is made for loads. A longboard weighs about 25 pounds, so it doesn't really do anything to upset the bike's balance. I'm not sure I'd do this set up with a longboard on a small bike, but many put boards on scooters and even beach cruiser bicycles.
  • I need to take right turns mindfully to avoid scraping the "foam," but I've still got a good lean angle available. It's comparable to the angle afforded by highway pegs. I can take pretty tight right at a stop sign, with all the lean that entails. Still, caution is warranted.
  • While there are laws in Australia and New Zealand on bike width and overhang, I've been unable to surface any specific road law violated by this set up. It's not 3" off the back of the bike, which would require a flag. It's very well secured, so no issue with a loose load. No doubt, I will get pulled over at some point - which brings me back to the inspection and my failure owing to a worn rear Tourmaster tire.
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
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