1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

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CrazyJerry
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1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#1

Post 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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Track T 2411
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#2

Post by Track T 2411 »

Sweet ride! I like the color scheme a lot!
"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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desertrefugee
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#3

Post by desertrefugee »

Yep, real nice paint work. Welcome!
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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5speed
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#4

Post by 5speed »

am I the only one the pics aren't showing for?
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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OCR
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#5

Post by OCR »

Beautiful!
79 CX500custom
76LTD
77Goldwing
2001 Polaris Scrambler 500 4X4

Secretary Caroline Lodge 681
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delling3
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#6

Post by delling3 »

No, I am not seeing the pictures either!
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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CrazyJerry
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#7

Post 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~
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CrazyJerry
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#8

Post 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~
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rcmatt007
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#9

Post 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)
-Rodger-
all it takes for evil to prosper is the want of a few good men to do nothing-Edmund Burke
The question is not how much time do you have, it is what you do with the time that you have Gandalf
"One of the greatest dignities of humankind is that each successive generation is invested in the welfare of each new generation." Fred Rodgers
"it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert" ancient saying
78 constantly modified/customized since 1978, BOTM June 2015 de-evolving this very moment viewtopic.php?f=30&t=65511
76 Ltd "cookies bike" ALMOST DONE
79 project, finished, FOR SALE
'86 1200 (Beth's)(FOR SALE) with motorvation sidecar (sidecar sold) , July 2017 BOTM
'17 HD Road king and 08 HD Heritage softail (Beth's) (FOR SALE). I guess you can say we have MBS
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Jonesz
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#10

Post 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.
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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CrazyJerry
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#11

Post 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~
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desertrefugee
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#12

Post 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!)
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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CrazyJerry
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#13

Post 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~
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5speed
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#14

Post by 5speed »

what brand mufflers are those?
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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robin1731
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Re: 1978 GL1000 Cafe Racer

#15

Post by robin1731 »

5speed wrote:what brand mufflers are those?

Look like Jardine full exhaust.

.
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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