I'm Baaack . . .

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delling3
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I'm Baaack . . .

#1

Post by delling3 »

So it's official. I am the proud owner of a "new to me" 1978 Goldwing. Compression test was the last check for me - very consistent across the board at between 165 and 170 PSI after a running a very short time.

29,200 miles, new rubber and brakes. Needs paint, and some "personalization" over the winter. Drag bars gotta go, change out the mufflers for some new cans, and maybe a Corbin Gunfighter (although the saddle is in great shape, and is growing on me). Will change the fluids (and likely go with Progressive springs in the fork). I'll ride it for a season, and decide if I want to tear it down and powdercoat the frame next winter.

Here's the starting point. I'll post updates as we move along.
FullSizeRender (2).jpg
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delling3

1979 Yamaha XS750SF

Previous:
1978 GL1000 - JUNE 2017 BOTM: Sold
2006 Kawasaki Concours: Sold
1995 Kawasaki Concours: Crashed/totalled.
1976 GL1000: LAST RESTORATION, sold
1981 Honda CB900F Supersport: 3rd restoration, sold.
1979 Yamaha XS-750F: 2nd restoration, sold.
1982 Honda FT-500 Ascot: First (only) new bike. Family forces sale.
1973 CB500 Four: First restoration, long gone.
1972 Suzuki TS-100: First bike, sold.

Only dead fish go with the flow . . .
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Easter
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Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#2

Post by Easter »

Looks real sharp and those compression numbers are outstanding.
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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desertrefugee
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Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#3

Post by desertrefugee »

Starting point?? Looks done to me! Nice.
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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TNTbefree
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Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#4

Post by TNTbefree »

Very nice. She looks to be well taken care of.
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warhead_71
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Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#5

Post by warhead_71 »

Looks very near original... would be a shame to chop this one up. The stock seat looks pretty good on there. Reverse-cones or megaphones would look great on it.
( Other bikes: 76 CB200T | 68 CL350 | 69 CB350 | 76 CB360T | 78 CB400T | 81 CM400 | 79 CB750F | 81 CB650C | 73, 74, 76 CB750K | 83 V45 Magna | 84 V65 Magna )
'78 GL1000 :: EMGO Superbike handlebars, Corbin touring seat, National Cycle F-16 windscreen, EMGO "Roadhawk" wide-mouth 24" megaphones.
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77Gowing
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Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#6

Post by 77Gowing »

Welcome back Chris!
"Less is More" Anonymous

77Gowing
1977 GL1000 "O'le Blue." (sold :crying)
2014 Yamaha 950 V Star (sold)
2017 Indian Scout Std w/ABS (sold)
2009 Honda VTX1300R "Me Brudder's" (sold)
1984 Honda Interstate "84' 2outa4." Gone
1982 Honda GL1100 "After thought." Gone
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chewy999
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Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#7

Post by chewy999 »

Nice buy, you didn't say how much you paid, but just to wind up the non US members, you probably paid far less than we do for a lot worse! (Think that makes sense, in a non to bitter and jealous way)

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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delling3
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Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#8

Post by delling3 »

Thanks for the replies. Kenny: Glad to be back! As for the bike, no way I am going to chop or bobber this. I plan on going with some reverse-cone megaphones for the exhaust, superbike bars to replace the drag bars, and basically a re-spray of the "tins" in the original factory black with gold pinstripes - probably without the factory emblems. I will likely cut down the front fender a bit, but that's about all I have planned. The picture above was taken before the factory chrome shields were installed on the head-pipes. One really nice aspect of this bike is all the chrome is really nice - no pitting, dents, or scratches. Oh, and don't worry - timing belts are first on the list!
delling3

1979 Yamaha XS750SF

Previous:
1978 GL1000 - JUNE 2017 BOTM: Sold
2006 Kawasaki Concours: Sold
1995 Kawasaki Concours: Crashed/totalled.
1976 GL1000: LAST RESTORATION, sold
1981 Honda CB900F Supersport: 3rd restoration, sold.
1979 Yamaha XS-750F: 2nd restoration, sold.
1982 Honda FT-500 Ascot: First (only) new bike. Family forces sale.
1973 CB500 Four: First restoration, long gone.
1972 Suzuki TS-100: First bike, sold.

Only dead fish go with the flow . . .
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delling3
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Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#9

Post by delling3 »

Well, I have been getting to know my new girl. Kind of like staying too late at the bar - she's a "10" at 2:00, and a "2" at 10:00! Well, that's a bit of an exaggeration, but there is some work to do. I did make a couple of changes that I personally think are an improvement. Ditched the drag bars that didn't clear the shelter at lock, and fitted some superbike bars, and Randakk's grips. I also swapped out the shorty mufflers for a set of reverse cone mufflers. I think her profile is already improved.
day 2 compressed.jpg
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Now for some more serious stuff. Took a short ride yesterday to fill the tank with fuel treated with Stabil. Nasty headshake starting around 40MPH. When I got back I popped the front end up in the air on the centerstand, and sure enough the steering head bearings are really loose. So, I am going to start in front. Ordered replacement bearings, and some braided stainless brake lines. Will pull the front end, change the belts while it's off, and fit new bearings and brake lines. I'll check the wheel bearings while it's apart, but they seem to be fine based on a cursory inspection. New fork oil, and that should pretty much take care of the front.

The other thing I discovered during my ride is that the carbs just ain't right. P.O. "rebuilt" them, but not to my liking. I'll send off to Pete in the next few weeks. A lot to do, but lucky (?) for me that winter is fast approaching.
delling3

1979 Yamaha XS750SF

Previous:
1978 GL1000 - JUNE 2017 BOTM: Sold
2006 Kawasaki Concours: Sold
1995 Kawasaki Concours: Crashed/totalled.
1976 GL1000: LAST RESTORATION, sold
1981 Honda CB900F Supersport: 3rd restoration, sold.
1979 Yamaha XS-750F: 2nd restoration, sold.
1982 Honda FT-500 Ascot: First (only) new bike. Family forces sale.
1973 CB500 Four: First restoration, long gone.
1972 Suzuki TS-100: First bike, sold.

Only dead fish go with the flow . . .
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Moto nut
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Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#10

Post by Moto nut »

Beautiful! Like the new bars & exhaust
Proud winner of ngwclub 2017 bike of the year......76 GL1000
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desertrefugee
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Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#11

Post by desertrefugee »

Really nice. Something about a black '78. Looks like the unsightly factory stickers have already been addressed.
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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Easter
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Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#12

Post by Easter »

Moto nut wrote:Beautiful! Like the new bars & exhaust
crossy.gif
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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delling3
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Location: Sterling Heights, Michigan

Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#13

Post by delling3 »

So, it's been a long winter. I am not very good about documenting my work - I know you guys love pictures (and so do I) but it seems like I never get around to taking them. Anyway, rolled my latest project out of the garage today. First time she's seen daylight since October, and a lot of water under the bridge.

Last fall after I bought the beast, I found during my first ride that there was something really wrong in the front end. I knew the bearings were loose, but just knew there was more to it than that. It pulled hard left, and had a nasty death wobble at 40MPH. Turned out it had a bent fork. New fork legs, new seals, steering head bearings, a C&C Products fork brace (thanks for the heads up on that eBay find Calif Wingnut), and a set of fork gaitors had the front suspension sorted. While I had the front end apart I had Truedisk resurface and drill the front rotors, fitted SS braided brake lines, and a new 14mm master cylinder. and the brakes are sooo much better!

Only 29K on the odometer, and really good compression, so I did a belt change, valve adjust, and oil change with Randakk's spin-on oil filter adapter. Also changed out the rear diff drive oil. I also replaced the clutch cable with a shorter length unit from Motion Pro. Adjusted the clutch per the FSM at the same time. Sent the carbs off to Pistol Pete and Moose for their spa treatment, and took the occasion while everything was apart to pull paint the radiator, and touch up some scratches in the frame paint.

I sent the bodywork out to a local guy to paint. 2-part urethane base-coat/clear coat in British Racing Green. Used most of the stock pinstripes (deleted the stripes on the top of the side shelter - I thought they looked too busy. The pinstripes were done before the clearcoat, so they should last a long time. I deleted the emblems from the side covers, but retained the vinyl cladding on the shelter lid, along with the thunder chicken emblem there.

Final details include superbike bars, with Randakk's grips, bar end mirrors, and some nice EMGO reverse megaphone mufflers on stock head pipes. Overall, I am really happy with how it turned out. Still have a few minor details to sort, but this is pretty much how she's gonna look. Hope y'all approve!
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delling3

1979 Yamaha XS750SF

Previous:
1978 GL1000 - JUNE 2017 BOTM: Sold
2006 Kawasaki Concours: Sold
1995 Kawasaki Concours: Crashed/totalled.
1976 GL1000: LAST RESTORATION, sold
1981 Honda CB900F Supersport: 3rd restoration, sold.
1979 Yamaha XS-750F: 2nd restoration, sold.
1982 Honda FT-500 Ascot: First (only) new bike. Family forces sale.
1973 CB500 Four: First restoration, long gone.
1972 Suzuki TS-100: First bike, sold.

Only dead fish go with the flow . . .
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robin1731
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Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#14

Post by robin1731 »

:orange dancr :crosso

.
1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
1976 KZ900 Dragbike
1992 ZX7 Dragbike (KZ900 style motor w/NOS)
and a rotation of various purchases
Randakk approved Carb Rebuilder
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Rat
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Re: I'm Baaack . . .

#15

Post by Rat »

Really beautiful .... love BRG ....

Gord action1
"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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