Honda GL1000 finished

[James England]

How about a Z1? They have some parts support.

You do fine work! This one could be "sponge worthy".

Hell, that one looks lovely already!

[James England]

The CBX is a big-money bike here (in restored condition), and the parts appear to be rather expensive too. No idea how hard the parts are to find (although from judging from some of the prices I've seen, maybe fairly hard), that's something you'd probably want to research before attempting one...

Yes, they went a bit daft here too over the last 4 years or so. I think they have the capacity to soak up too much money for my taste.It's bad enough on 'normal' bikes. I saw one here in the UK at a reasonable $7500 but it still had binding brakes... "needs carbs tuning" (aka expensive rebuild) etc etc.

I'm thinking of restoring a moped... (do you have that word in the USA?)...you know, a little 50cc motorcycle which had to have pedals over here.. Yamaha FS1E. Honda SS50. Suzuki AP50. Maybe a nice little, light project for once.... I'd like a Garelli 50 or similar.........

[jetmechmarty]

...or a QT50?

[Lonerider62]

Your real name must be Job because that's how much patience a person would need to pull of a restoration like this Wing. Very, very nice work. It gives me too many ideas about what needs to be done to my XS Eleven.

[cywelchjr]

We used to have mopeds over here, but I haven't seen any in a while. Used to be an interesting vehicle with the fact that they were typically the only one that didn't require a license in any state (hence the requirement for pedals making them a bicycle with an engine).

[jetmechmarty]

We used to have mopeds over here, but I haven't seen any in a while. Used to be an interesting vehicle with the fact that they were typically the only one that didn't require a license in any state (hence the requirement for pedals making them a bicycle with an engine).

Hmmm. How come the QT50 doesn't have pedals? I'm not arguing. I never was aware of any of that and never owned one.

[madmax-im]

Ungainly or not your workmanship is superb. For what its worth I dont find it ungainly in the slightest....I love the unfaired naked look and how well the motor stands out...I've heard the term "cracking motor" but dunno if it applies to motorbikes but if it does then this is one cracking motor

[3Phase]

James, how about a nice little Honda CG125? They didn't sell them here in the U.S. but from what I've read they have a cult[ish] following in the U.K.:-

CG125 Wiki

[James England]

James, how about a nice little Honda CG125? They didn't sell them here in the U.S. but from what I've read they have a cult[ish] following in the U.K.:-

CG125 Wiki

I remember those bikes well. They were great little things, with a 4 stroke engine and they last for years. I'll scour eBay and see what pops up. A little bike would be fun, I think

[wingnut]

James that is a very nice looking machine. I hadn't seen your original thead but glad I caught this one.

[trdriver71]

looks great james i was considering getting a gl1000 myself when i was in the market for a bike but gladly i have a xs1100.

[trdriver71]

that kind of looks the same as an xl125.

James, how about a nice little Honda CG125? They didn't sell them here in the U.S. but from what I've read they have a cult[ish] following in the U.K.:-

CG125 Wiki

[fredintoon]

We used to have mopeds over here, but I haven't seen any in a while. Used to be an interesting vehicle with the fact that they were typically the only one that didn't require a license in any state (hence the requirement for pedals making them a bicycle with an engine).

Hi Cy,
there has to be an engine capacity/Horsepower ceiling on them too?
For instance, I saw a Harley with pedals. Admittedly it was a 1911 model.

[James England]

New home. New bike

Well folks, my GL1000 sold on eBay a couple of days ago and will be going to its new home tomorrow. Whilst it is a lovely looking classic bike and becoming quite a rarity (well the early ones), it just isn't my kind of bike. It has terrific handling and is super-smooth and reasonably powerful and it certainly looks retro. But....I think I've always been a Yamaha addict who has dabbled in other makes from time to time! It shows how much the bike market varies between the USA and the UK. I sold the GL for about $7,500 and had loads of people offering more (unsuccessfully) after the deal was concluded with the buyer.

I thought I would try a V-Max (not for restoration) as I missed out on them when they first came out. So, the loot from the GL has now been spent and I should be taking delivery of the V-Max next week....here it is. It's 147 BHP... rather more than the 98BHP of the XS1100 but I've heard the handling is atrocious! Anyone experienced it?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1507115501...84.m1438.l2649

[crazy steve]

All I've heard is they're scary fast in a straight line, but don't try corner-carving with one! I remember when these first came out, you would see guys smoke the rear tire off of stoplights! WooHoo!!!!