...so I bought a GoldWing.

Just seemed like the thing to do.

1981, original owner, 84,000 miles but every nut & bolt & oil change or flat tire is documented in the log book! Been to Daytona six times, to every State on the east coast and Nova Scotia. Guy bought a new Wing in 1998 but kept this one, just didn't ride it much.

Last year he sold the '98 and bought a Wing with a California Cobra modification (no, it doesn't look like a Cobra). Time for the '81 to go, for $1,000 I get the bike, box of parts swapped out over the years, books, original sales brochure and a big red skateboard thing to roll it around on.

It needs tires, the fuel flushed and general putzing. I'm going for a new seat and lower bars but nothing crazy. Plan on adjusting valves and replacing the timing belt that hasn't been done since 54,000 miles.

Welcoming comments, complaints or suggestions.

Dan

This is how the guy rolls now.

Good catch! I'm sure you know about the stators. Please don't chop, cut, or otherwise bastardize it. Enjoy! In case anyone else is looking: http://syracuse.craigslist.org/mcy/5647654971.html

Spend a little time in the seat before you buy a replacement. I suspect you're going to find yourself surprised by it.

Enjoy the bike for a while before modifying it. Then you'll have a better idea of what you'd really like to do with it, if anything at all.

Here ya go Minimac.

Yeah, they're out there!

$650? you can get that for all the Tupperware.

1200 bagger

$1200

$1100.

A lot of bike for the money

I hate the windshield.

But that logbook is Fan-FREAKIN-tastic. That is so awesome I can't explain, every trip, every service. I'd like to meet that guy just for funs.

Please dump that windshield

I'm really surprised at how low some of the prices on these are. Dan, you got a great deal on a pristine bike and the documentation is awesome. It would be a shame(IMHO) to alter it, but it's yours to do with as you like. Got any plans?

Drained out the old gas and put in 93 Ethanol free stuff, fired right up. Windshield and crash bars are off. Plan on lower bars and a new seat. Timing belt is over due and it needs tires.

Nothing crazy.

Dan

Love those old Goldwings. I had a plan in mind for my next bike, but with the deals you guys are getting on Goldwings I am now thinking n+1.

Great rides! Low CG, comfy on the highway, torque; what's not to like?

You have to see how this one cleans up, I'm afraid you'll like it.

Oy, another 10 minute job gone bad.

Bike cleaned up well, got new Dunlop sneakers and changed all the fluids. Removed the high rise, pull back cruiser bars for something lower and black. Seat is at Sargent and will be done this week. The timing belt hasn't been changed in 40,000 miles; why not?

The old ones didn't look that bad. PITA getting the radiator out of the way and removing the covers, following the instructions in the Manual, get flywheel marks to #1 TDC, align cam pulleys to the marks and tighten up the idler pulleys.

Something bad happened. I bent two intake valves on the starboard side.

Soooo.... the head is off and through the parts washer. New valves on order and Monday I borrow my buddy's Newage valve & seat hand machine. Handy device.

Not a biggie, just sets me $100 and a week behind, like I have a schedule or something.

Dan

How did that happen? Did you use the wrong cam marks?

No, marks were perfect. I had one valve cover off and the other on. I suspect one bank was 180/360 out. Next time my friend Ron agreed to help (he's got 22 Hondas)another set of eyes is always good.

Maybe try a GL 1500 next time, they're a piece of cake. It took me less than 45 minutes start to finish- even with having to take off some tupperware- and the belts are good for 50K miles, at least.

UPDATE:

Well the timing belt thing didn't go well, one notch off and I binked two intake valves. Oy.

Here's the break down:

$1,000 for the bike

$110 for two timing belts

$105 for two valves and the gaskets

$209 to have the seat recovered

$79 for new lower handlebars

$300 for new sneakers

The mirrors are from something once upon a time, will probable swap them out.

So for about $1800 and a little aggravation, I have a pretty torque, fun to ride bike. The seat is a little taller than I wanted, but Sargent assures me it's exactly what I wanted. Feels OK, just looks high.

OK, go pound the Craigslist!

I like it!

Yeah, if Honda built a large CB ......

Good job, Dan. Hard to believe that one tooth off resulted in an oopsie. When you put it together, did you manually turn the motor over slowly with the plugs out to make sure nothing bound up?

Yep, and heard the tink.

I'm 10 days behind and $100 smarter.

wow...shame about the valves, but that is a heck of a clean bike.

Is it possible that the pulley on the side that is causing all the trouble is marked wrong, or is the wrong pulley altogether? Weirder things have happened.

No worries.

I like the looks of it with the lower bars. Suits the bike.