Honda GL1000 Goldwing

[bikerphil]

You do awesome work my friend, looks great!

[James England]

I'm anxious to see more!

Since you ask (and posting pix is great... any excuse), here's the headlamp back on today, along with the re-chromed clock lower casings. I renovated the dials too and spray painted the instrument top casings. I zinc plated the alloy part of the reflectors on the headlamp ears. I've found alloy takes zinc-plating really well; it comes up really shiny and then it never needs polishing. I did my XS11 fuel taps about a year ago and they are still shiny and look great.

[James England]

I'm anxious to see more! Are you taking these out and getting them dirty? Nice work!

Hell, yes! I rode my XS1100 all this summer and autumn and took it out last week. I also took it out in the rain to conduct my 'corrosion test'. ie you get the bike soaked, leave it for a few hours and see if you've missed any ferrous fasteners.

The Gl1000 will be in use as soon as the carbs go back on. I got the re-chromed bits back today and they are now on the bike (lovely shiny headlamp and instrument cases). I also used my zinc-plating kit to good effect on loads of bits.

Personally, I think even a fully restored bike should be used. It strikes me as a bit sad to see bikes in museums or treated as if they are in one. I never abuse them but I do use them.

[jetmechmarty]

I'm anxious to see more! Are you taking these out and getting them dirty? Nice work!

[James England]

NICE job, James!
VERY well done

Thanks, ma'am, it's getting there. I've been told the headlamp is in the mail to me and should be here tomorrow. Then it's a matter of getting the carbs back and on and seeing what happens. The carb man says the float levels were all over the place, wrong jets, sticking slides etc etc, so I'm hoping he's got them sorted out. They're a lot more difficult than the XS11 carbs and really weird design.... a bit beyond me really. He's ultrasonically cleaned them too, so they should look a lot nicer.

So, I'll post a few more pix once everything is back together......

[Wildkat]

NICE job, James!
VERY well done

[James England]

Little update

Here's a little update on the GL1000. Yes, I did those timing belts! I've had a hell of a problem with the carbs though, and have ended up sending them to someone who specialises in the GL1000 carb rebuild. The Dyna S ignition is great, as are the green meanie coils. Theoretically, once the carbs are back, the bike should run well (it ran before but rough on one cylinder). I'm awaiting the radiator scoops to be resprayed, so they'll be on in the next pics, same with the headlamp atthe re-chromers..

[Lonerider62]

Very nice looking Wing you have there. I bought an 81 Aspencade a few years ago just to get up to the point that it was a reliable runner. Although I fixed, polished and replaced a lot of stuff, I didn't go nearly as far as you because I knew I wasn't going to have it long. The valves are 1000% easier to keep in specs but beyond that, they can be a nightmare to repair and those intakes are the most difficult I have the opportunity to work with. Randakk is definitely the guy to go to for intake parts. They do make a fine ride, there's no mistake about that, they just were never intended to be much of a performer. If your starter starts getting a bit slow it's almost always the brushes but theyre quite easy to replace. Again, very nice job. Watch the rear gear case and the splines that match up to the rear wheel, many never saw a bit of grease in their lives and they are very hard to find.

[James England]

Hi James and congratulations on your new baby.
the photos tell me you are doing your same ol' hyper resto job, looks great!
A thing I read about 'Wings is that where the book says replace the cam-timing belts every so many miles, you better believe it or you'll be sorry.

Thanks! Yes, I put new timing belts on...with:

Dyna coils, Dyna S ignition, iridium plugs, carbon-fibre HT leads and HT caps, new battery, NOS fenders, replica blinkers, NOS tail-light, clutch plates and bearings, cables, rocker covers, air filter, oil filter, better drive-shaft, powder coat everything including frame and engine bits, re-chrome headlamp, head bearings, wheel bearings, new centrestand, used manifolds, used muffler, re-bound wiring loom, caliper and MC rebuilds, NOS fuel pump and tap, etc etc etc..... I'll post a few pix when the paint job is done...... I kept a spreadsheet of the cost of it all but I am wishing I hadn't. Ignorance is bliss on the cost side of things, I reckon.

[fredintoon]

Hi Folks - - - I bought another of the bikes of my youth.. a 1976 GL1000 ... and have been renovating it. - - -

Hi James and congratulations on your new baby.
the photos tell me you are doing your same ol' hyper resto job, looks great!
A thing I read about 'Wings is that where the book says replace the cam-timing belts every so many miles, you better believe it or you'll be sorry.

[jetmechmarty]

It looks like it will be another beauty, James! Here's a cool '76 Wing:

http://thekneeslider.com/images/2010...ing-finish.jpg

[LuckyEddie]

Nice bike Mister!

Great job James. I have had about 9 GL1000's since 1978. I presently have a 76 and two 78's, one parts bike and one that I've Supercharged and done a frame up restoration on with everything but the painted panels powdercoated.
As to your carb issues...... have you visited www.randakks.com ? The man's knowledge of these bikes is a godsend. After you have logged on, you will not come up for air for a week!
By the way, I enjoy the 76 the most.

[James England]

Lots goog James............hope you checked that stator is good as it would suck to have to pull that motor to fix on those..............BTW, u think those are a bit different...........jump in the middle and wrench on an ST............like workin on a minature half of a V-8.......

Yes, that thought occurred to me too. I checked the stator. It looks OK and the light brighten when the engine's revved. I renewed the clutch for the same reason. Actually though, I'd say the engine is easier to remove than on an XS1100.

The biggest 'challenge' so far is the carbs. They really are tricky and apparently were like that from new!

[crazy steve]

Looking NICE....

It gets addictive, doesn't it? Taking a clapped-out bike and making it look near-near again. Keep posting progress on the build....

[motoman]

close Dean.......75 first year....