Year model questions

[Grumpy75!]

I just 2 days ago found a 1200 that looks good for a starting point. There are maybe 50 oldwings for sale around here. Some questions: was it 84 to 87 the 1200? Was it the 85 only the fuel injected? I saw an 86. There must be 20 knobs on the shelter. I guess it was fuel injected too. Did hydraulic lifters start in 85? 99% of the oldwings i see the air compressor and shocks are either gone or nonfunctional. I assume a pair of progressives solves that. What year was the integrated fairing? I will have to source a headlight and blinkers and support mount wings for those years.i want so much to settle on one and get going.almost a miracle happened and a friend got my 20x20 shed cleaned out where i can work on something.this is the coolest forum. Randak kits last time i checked were $190. Timken sealed waterpump bearings were $80 , a rebuilt pimp was $140. Belts about $40. Is that right? Thanks for any input.

[robin1731]

If you mean carb rebuild kits for a 1200 the Randakk kit is only $118.22.

[Whiskerfish]

the 85 LTD was injected as was the 86 SEI (Special Edition Injected) All other 1200's were Carbs.

[ritalz]

Integrated fairings and hydraulic lifters both started in 1984.

[Grumpy75!]

Thank you. Just thde answers i needed.BUT, 2 days ago i broke my left wrist in 2 places so i cant work on anything. I know what you are gonna say. Stay out of those places.

[redglbx]

I had a 86 Sei that I wish I had never sold, bought it from my neighbor who was the oe owner (he went to the dark side HD) once I got everything fixed and working it sure was a nice bike but constant inputs from some about parts and it being so old convinced me to trade it on a new FJR 1300 which was also a great bike but back problems and surgeries have me on the sideline as a spectator. I need to get busy and sell off all my project bikes going back to my core stuff hoping to be able to ride them at some point.

[eades473]

Timken sealed waterpump bearings were $80 , a rebuilt pimp was $140. Belts about $40. Is that right? Thanks for any input.

Don't get a rebuilt pimp, more trouble than they're worth!

[Rednaxs60]

Good morning and welcome to the madness! As mentioned, all 1200s have hydraulic lifters. I am a fan of the 1200 fuel injected (FI) models, have an '85 FI model that is my retirement project.

Since you are laid up for a bit, shouldn't impact on a purchase issue, try and find an OEM service manual, Electrical Troubleshooting Manual, and the OEM service Manual Supplement that is specific to the '85/'86 1200 FI models.

The advantage with the 1200 FI models is that there is no carb work to be done. Have resurrected a couple of 1200 '85 FI models after these sat in the back 40 for some 4 years or so. One was in northern Ontario, cleaned out the fuel system, and started the engine. After the engine started, did the necessary work/maintenance to make the bike road worthy (was going to part it out), and rode it from Northern Ontario, Canada to Victoria, BC Canada with no issues - some 4500 Kms. A carb bike would have been a bit more challenging.

Fuel injectors can be sent to a shop and serviced. There are computerized fuel injection (CFI) component alternatives. Parts for the carb models are getting more difficulty to source. No requirement for a rebuild kit.

The carb and FI models have an achilles heel. The electronic control module (ECU) for the FI models, and the ignition control unit (ICU) for the carb models. If these fail a used replacement must be found and this can be expensive, or a replacement project must be done, I'm replacing the ECU on my '85 FI model and upgrading, modernizing the CFI system at the same time.

For s@#ts and giggles, this is a comparison of the new aftermarket ECU I am using compared to the original OEM CFI ECU:

Old-New 2.JPG

Old-New 3.JPG

Spark Gap X4 Size - 1.JPG

Spark Gap X4 Size - 2.JPG

Once the CFI system is in good working order, all 1200s share the same maintenance/work requirements/issues.

The Travel Computer (TC) that is located on the shelter is nice to have. There are a lot more bells and whistles because of the TC. It has a fuel management system, a distance management system, you can change from KPH to MPH. The default dash setting is for fuel and engine temp, the TC allows you to change this to oil temp and pressure.

When considering a carb model 1200 GW, you can service and reinstall the carbs, you cannot adjust or change the engine ignition timing, it is fixed. Similarly for the 1200 FI models, everything fuel and ignition is controlled by the ECU.

Stator assemblies can be an issue. I submit that most stator issues, carb and FI models, are primarily because of dirty connectors, wiring and grounds. Have taken several wiring FI harnesses apart and the wiring is quite brittle. mcGovern61 on Classic GW forum, rewired an 1100, he has a thread about this. It was an eye opener regarding the GW wiring harness and how it put together at the factory.

There will be work when you go to resurrect any of the 1200 series of GWs, but don't rule out the FI models just because of perception.

I knew nothing about the FI models when I bought mine in 2015, but have learned a lot since then.

Just a bit of history regarding the '85/'86 FI system. The first CFI systems were on the '82/'83 CX500/650 turbo bikes (there are a lot of these still on the road). The CFI system for the '85/'86 is based on the '82/'83 CFI systems. The CFI system is the forerunner to the Honda PGMFI that is still used in its cars today. The '85/'86 CFI system was state of the art for its day and rivalled anything in production at that time, and is still comparable to the motorcycle FI systems used today, with the exception of the additional bells and whistles you find such as traction control and the likes.

The 1500 GWs are all carb models and this is because emission standards for motorcycles lag behind the auto world, and carbs are less expensive to use; however, Honda designed the 1500 engine with 5 systems that emulate an FI engine. Honda didn't use FI in the GW until the 1800s came on line, and this was because emission legislation caught up to the bike world.

FI systems were being used before environmental legislation caught up to the bike world, but this is because OEMs knew it was coming.

In good Canadian fashio, apologize for the long post.

Good luck.