New arrival would appreciate

[MonkeyWrench]

Hello, new arrival here (I just made my first post in "introductions" !)

I've just found a 1978 GL1000 listed for sale in a nearby town, went and looked at it yesterday. It was listed as a "parts bike", sad fate for such a classic. Seller claims that it was running about a year ago. I think it could be up and running & roadworthy with a day or two of TLC. Butt-ugly and ripped aftermarket seat - but I can deal with that...

When I saw it the battery was charged and the starter turned it over just fine, even kicked a bit - but I didn't really expect it to fire right up after a year+ crammed in a garden shed. Chances of bad fuel etc pretty high I think. Anyway I mostly wanted to be sure that the engine wasn't seized. Check on that front. (^_^)

SO - - The big thing that I'm concerned about, is that sometime in its past it was subjected to a single carb conversion. This is not something I'm wild about, if it'll run I don't mind keeping the single carb short term but I'd definitely be hoping to get it back to a stock carb setup asap.

Just hoping for a little pre-purchase advice / insight as to how easy (hard) it will be to find stock carbs to put back on. (I'm in southern Alberta, Canada BTW.) Part of this is that I'm not wanting to spend thousands of $$$ on a painstaking restoration, looking for a great 'ol classic that I can mostly ride day-to-day and tinker with to fix up over time. Any recommendations as to where I might find ? In its current state I believe I can pick it up pretty cheap, but is it worth it if I have to spend more on carbs than the bike itself ??

Would appreciate any insight ! Thanks in advance,

Al from Alberta

[Shadowjack]

Biggest return on your time and money if you want a nice bike: don't start with a "parts bike". The parts it needs are the same all the others need, and now they cost a ton, if you can find them.

[robin1731]

Carburetors are easy to find on ebay or even ask here in the wanted section. Be sure to get the correct year carbs for your bike. They will need a thorough rebuild unless you can buy some from a known good rebuilder that has already gone through them. Good kits from Randakk. If you can do them yourself it won't be bad money. That route is better than trying to get the single carb going and then getting stock carbs. You could sell the single carb conversion. The guys who don't know how to rebuild and set up carbs will buy that.

[Whiskerfish]

^^^^^ What Rob said!

[Rat]

Robin's advice is great, as usual … he's a professional carb rebuilder and as such is always looking for the best possible result. If you find appropriate 1000 carbs it would be good to have him rebuild them.
I’m not as idealistic and have had acceptable results putting 1100 carbs on 1000s too, apparently you lose a little at WOT, but I rarely go there anymore ...

Gord

[Track T 2411]

My first two Wings (yes, I know I have MBS) were 'parts/ in-buckets' bikes, and I learned a lot from that experience, mostly good... seeing that the engine turns over freely and the bike is mostly complete are plusses.
IMhO one usually spends more on a bike for cosmetics. A bike that's been sitting, whether 'pretty' or not, is going to need much the same work, ie. brakes, tires, carb work, etc. I'd rather buy a $500 bike and do the work to my standards than pay more for a supposedly road- ready half-a$$ed resurrected bike and stick more money and time into it. My 2 cents...

[leonardhcross]

With all of the on-line resources, I'm going to say that you can do all of the work yourself. You have a great start for a project bike. You don't seem concerned about making it perfect. So, I say...think of it as a hobby. Embrace the challenge and take pride it what you accomplish.

[MonkeyWrench]

All of the speedy replies are much appreciated, everyone – thank you very much ! I'm kinda stuck here with trying to consider options/costs before I commit to buying the Goldwing.

Frankly I'm feeling a little in over my head on this as I'm certainly no kind of authority on early Goldwings. Trying to educate myself here in a big hurry. The seller has had the unit listed for a month and a half now so I'm not TOO worried that someone will snap it up while I look into carbs/rebuilding etc.

Re: the comment from Shadowjack about don't start with a parts bike - I do hear you there! My head tells me to just find a newer bike, like maybe an '84 GL1200 that's totally roadworthy right now, and go naked from there. But aside from my single carb concern, this 'ol GW does not really deserve the ignominious label of "parts bike..." It gives me a serious heartache. Like seeing an old dog with a heart of gold (no pun intended) stuck in a shelter, that nobody wants to adopt.

As I understand it so far, the early GWs were all the same displacement in each production year ? Just wondering if year is the only variable that I have to worry about, in sourcing a set of carbs ?

I see a few listed on ebay right now – to my inexperienced eye, one at least looks like unusable junk other than for parts/bits/pieces. I'm generally not afraid to jump in and learn on the fly (thinking carb rebuild here) but on the other hand I'd be a little worried that WOULD end up buying unusable junk off ebay, and would definitely consider asking Robin (do you prefer Rob?) to source and rebuild for me this first time around if that's do-able ? Just wondering if you'd be able to give me a ballpark figure for such a project Robin? Shipping could be to Sweetgrass Montana, I can pick up from there easily (about an hour away for me.)

Thanks again for all the input & advice !

[Whiskerfish]

75-79 were all 1000 cc 75-77 are very similar but carbs had minor changes every year, 78/79 engines are basically identical except for the carbs.
This read here will provide some insight
viewtopic.php?t=17558#p155838

1980 started the 1100 cc series and 1984 the 1200 cc

I think were I just starting I would not tackle one without a dedicated space and a reasonable amount of tools. It will take some time and odds are, some fairly significant expense. Me I do not like 40 year old brake systems, so new lines and rebuild kits for calipers and Master Cylinders, fresh tires, fuel lines, rad hoses etc etc etc can all add up to numerous days and several hundred dollars.

[Track T 2411]

75-79 were all 1000 cc 75-77 are very similar but carbs had minor changes every year, 78/79 engines are basically identical except for the carbs.
This read here will provide some insight
viewtopic.php?t=17558#p155838

1980 started the 1100 cc series and 1984 the 1200 cc

I think were I just starting I would not tackle one without a dedicated space and a reasonable amount of tools. It will take some time and odds are, some fairly significant expense. Me I do not like 40 year old brake systems, so new lines and rebuild kits for calipers and Master Cylinders, fresh tires, fuel lines, rad hoses etc etc etc can all add up to numerous days and several hundred dollars.

Good advice here... I will say, however, that you don't have to be an expert, just patient and thorough. If you're contemplating buying a newer Wing (1100 or 1200) and making it naked, an 1100 Interstate is the easiest as the fairing and saddlebags are basically added on to the standard (naked) model. Even the extra wiring needed for the lighting, etc. are plug-in sub-harnesses and are easily removed.
Just like automobiles, some things change from year to year, some things interchange easily, and some with only minor modification. The most significant changes through the early years, 1000's and 1100's, were brake components, suspension, and carbs. The 1100's frame and suspension is significantly different than the 1000's, and the 1200's from either of the earlier models.

[robin1731]

All of the speedy replies are much appreciated, everyone – thank you very much ! I'm kinda stuck here with trying to consider options/costs before I commit to buying the Goldwing.

Frankly I'm feeling a little in over my head on this as I'm certainly no kind of authority on early Goldwings. Trying to educate myself here in a big hurry. The seller has had the unit listed for a month and a half now so I'm not TOO worried that someone will snap it up while I look into carbs/rebuilding etc.

Re: the comment from Shadowjack about don't start with a parts bike - I do hear you there! My head tells me to just find a newer bike, like maybe an '84 GL1200 that's totally roadworthy right now, and go naked from there. But aside from my single carb concern, this 'ol GW does not really deserve the ignominious label of "parts bike..." It gives me a serious heartache. Like seeing an old dog with a heart of gold (no pun intended) stuck in a shelter, that nobody wants to adopt.

As I understand it so far, the early GWs were all the same displacement in each production year ? Just wondering if year is the only variable that I have to worry about, in sourcing a set of carbs ?

I see a few listed on ebay right now – to my inexperienced eye, one at least looks like unusable junk other than for parts/bits/pieces. I'm generally not afraid to jump in and learn on the fly (thinking carb rebuild here) but on the other hand I'd be a little worried that WOULD end up buying unusable junk off ebay, and would definitely consider asking Robin (do you prefer Rob?) to source and rebuild for me this first time around if that's do-able ? Just wondering if you'd be able to give me a ballpark figure for such a project Robin? Shipping could be to Sweetgrass Montana, I can pick up from there easily (about an hour away for me.)

Thanks again for all the input & advice !

PM sent.

[dontwantapickle]

My opinion:
Buy the best bike that you can afford, and ride the crap out of it.

These old neglected Goldwings can be picked up cheap all day long,
But...
They are not that cheap to bring back to life!

tires, brakes, battery, belts, water pump, seat, fluids, etc, etc, etc...
all of that stuff ends up costing a lot. it adds up quick.
Add in a carb rack, and that's a lot of $$$ to make a bike that is trip capable.

Better off to buy one that's already roadworthy and outfit it the way you want.
Unless what you want is a project, then give it a go.

IMHO, of course.

[Sagebrush]

You didn't mention where you're located but here is a runner in apparently good shape that you can begin riding right now.

https://raleigh.craigslist.org/mcy/d/carrboro-1979-honda-goldwing-gl1000/7751066123.html

00H0H_hiFBVkXgpnM_0CI0t2_600x450.jpg

[Sidecar Bob]

He did mention where he is: Southern Alberta.

If you are handy and willing to learn how to work on these bikes the bike you described could be a good starting point if it is cheap enough. The thing about old vehicles of any type is that unless it has been looked after by someone who knows about them and cared about doing things right you are likely to need tires, brake lines, brake caliper kits, a battery (even if it was new before it sat for a year) and a few other things so you could easily spend more making it safe & reliable than you paid for the bike.
BUT when you are done you will have something that you understand well enough to work on yourself so when Murphy strikes you will be less likely to be stranded.

BTW, before I bought anything that old I'd make sure that the seller has the correct ownership (check that the numbers on the paper match those stamped into the right side of the steering head and on the VIN plate on the left side of the steering head)(someone recently joined another forum I'm on and found out the title & VIN plate didn't match the bike he'd bought).

And call the insurers to make sure you will be able to get insurance that you can afford.
If you intend to use it as a daily driver don't even think about that inexpensive "antique" or "historic" vehicle coverage because it will include an annual mileage limit and only cover going to & from certain club events, parades &c.