Old Gold wing or????

Hey guys. I'm talking to my grandpa about possibly taking a trip to visit them come spring. They are 13-1500 miles away it would be from St. Louis to Fort Meyers Fl. I would take like 2 weeks so giving myself a good 3-4 days to get there and back and a week down there. I honestly don't know that maxim x would be comfortable for such a long ride. I do plan on doing an 800 mile ride to visit a buddy first to make sure I want to do 1300. I know it's a long ride but I feel like it wil give me memories and an experience I will enjoy.

My bike I take a lot of wind, the seat kind of forces me onto the tank, and I don't have the largest of gas tanks.




Enter my idea.... Tell me if I am stupid. Over winter I am contemplating buying a "touring" bike. Locally I can find an 80's goldwing for 1-2k In decent shape needing basic work. Would give me sometime on an extra bike plus something more comfortable for my trip.


From what I've read the old Gold Wings will get 40-48mpg around 80mph. The heavier bike and larger engine as wel as the windshield and more touring style. It would probably be more comfortable of a trip plus the full fairing and luggage racks could be a blessing.

Upon returning home I could sell the bike at "spring" price and make up the cost of my trip or some of it. Or if I end up liking it... Have two bikes.


What are the thoughts here around the 80's gl1100 and gl1800?

I grew up enthralled with Gsxr, Zx6r, R1, and ducati. I find the goldwings pretty ugly.... But they're growing on me. What other bikes would you guys recommend? Did Yamaha make a touring bike?

Looking to keep the bike cost at around 2k or less.

 

Yamaha made a couple options which might fit your needs. Theres the Venture, basically a direct competitor to the Goldwing, not as common (at least here in CA). There is also the FJ1100/1200 series, which is more of a sport tourer. These are even more rare, but excellent quality machines. You will also find the Kawasaki Voyager and the Suzuki Cavalcade to be similar to the Goldwing. The Goldwings are the most common of the bunch.

I have found Goldwings to be tough as rocks, last a long time, and can be very comfortable especially for guys who don't have the backs that they used to. It will be easiest for you to find a Goldwing, and it sounds to me that you have a good budget range. Just be sure to replace the timing belt as soon as you get it regardless of what the previous owner says about it. Its actually a pretty easy job, far easier than in a car.

Really though, most any big bike of the 80s will fit your purposes. They made a bunch of fairing and hardbag options for the Suzuki GS line of motorcycles, so you can basically suit them up like a goldwing. Similar products are available for Honda CB bikes. If its a cruiser that you want, its less common for them to have luggage space, but plenty of guys roadtrip on Honda Shadows, Yamaha Viragos, Kawasaki KZ's, etc. These bikes are more commonly outfitted with a faring and soft saddlebags, perhaps with a magnetic tank bag and a larger bag strapped to a sissybar.

So, the possibilities are endless. Guys roadtrip on bikes as small as a 50cc moped (movie: Dumb and Dumber?!?) to the biggest Goldwing, or beyond, as trikes or bikes pulling trailers are concerned. So, you can outfit pretty much any bike for a long distance trip. My wife and I went cross country on my Suzuki Madura GV1200, and strapped it Beverly Hillbilly-style with everything that we would need to camp along the way. Here's our setup:

Have a great trip!

 

Ryan, I realize you said $2K or less; but FWIW, you can easily find a WELL MAINTAINED, ready to ride cross country, 1999-2000 BMW K1200LT for $5K-$6K. My daily driver is a 2000 LT; in terms of touring bikes, they are among (if not the best) the best, and in the twisties "the fat lady can dance". Here's one for sale in my area.

 

Hey there! This is my first season and I took my first big trip last July! We started in Lorain Ohio, and rode through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was a good ride, and I did it all on my 82 xj! What I did for luggage (also on a tight budget) was use a few clips and bungee cords to attach my hikers backpack onto the back seat of my bike! I also strapped a cooler to it! It was easy and it does not throw the balance off of the bike. It was a great trip!

Here's a picture: (Hopefully)

 

If you look at an earlier goldwing, make SURE that you test the stator and regulator. Those were known problems, because a lot of people would load the electrical system with extra lights/radio/cb/heater/etc.....

Those earlier systems were not designed for that much load. People wanted to make their earlier 'wings look like later 'wings and would burn 'em out.

Also, the connection from the stator into the harness was at a location that would readily pick up water. They would corrode, the resistance would build, and the stator's would burn out.

If you have to replace a stator, be ready to drop a couple hundred bucks for one, AND THEN-----be ready to disassemble the whole bike so that you can pull the engine. The stator is inside the rear cover, which can only be removed once the engine is out of the bike. While you're doing that job, you should replace the timing belts on the front. You'd be foolish not to do that.

Yamaha made the venerable Venture 1200 and then the Venture Royale 1300, both of which was MammaYamma's answer to the goldwing. I know of no issues with either. The 1200 engine was the same engine that was in the V-Max, and the 1300 is the same engine just punched out a bit........tried and true.

Now, back to your bike.....if you pull up the front have of the seat cover, you can slip a section of tapered foam in there that will raise the lip of the seat and help you cradle back into the seat rather than slide up onto the tank. Once I did that with my 700, I can ride it all day long. The only drawback is that you have to stop every 100mi or so for a tank of gas. But, I use that time for my bathroom breaks, a cup of coffee, a soda, or a bite to eat............or a nap I also load up the backrest and the passenger seat area with enough stuff that gives me a good solid backrest. I have footpegs on the engine guards, and I can stretch out pretty good even though I"m looking at 6'3".

Hope that helps some.....

 

Ventures had a 2nd gear problem. I'm thinking 82 or so, to which people would replace something ( not sure ATM ), or just skip second gear.

Mostly it would pop out of 2nd under heavy accel, which if you were light, it wouldn't do it.

The fix is engine teardown, but I've seen detailed how-to's on the interweb, and it's a permanent fix, I believe.

I think by mid 80s the problem was fixed.

 

If you do buy a goldwing 82- Honda changed the gear ratio dropped the rpm on the highway quite a bit. Earlier ones turns about 4k at 60 vs 3500 for a later ones if memory serves me correct. They are nice on the highway especially if its cool but they really feel like a big heavy bike when not running down the road.

 

Thanks guys for all of the insight on the Gold Wings I've never rode anything aside from my maxim x, a 650 Honda Nighthawk, and some dirt bikes. My plan wouldn't be to keep the bike for long basically take my long trip with it and flip it. Unless for some reason I just love it...

It seems like a Gold Wing would be my best bet just for the fact of how available and cheap they are out here.


Also good to know to look for a stock one that hasn't had its electricla system tampered with. I am by no means ready to pull an engine.

Anything else I should look for? What is considered good mileage on these things? 60k? 90K?

I know being a touring bike I'm not expecting to pick one up for 1800 with 12k miles on it like my Maxim X.


Or should I just do it on my bike?

Those of you guys that have done this type of a trip... More fun in comfort or ruffing it a little? I may just throw a bikini fairing on my bike to give me a little something to hide behind on the highway. I think the maxim x's look prettu ugly with a full wind shield.

 

Avoid the GL-1100.

They were known for an excess of gremlins.

 

If you're wanting to spend 2k just so you don't "look funny" with a windshield, that's just dumb.

Also, not hating, but- you have already laid your maxim down twice. A goldwing is a LOT more bike.

 

I'm with Rick. A 1200 or later. At some point the 1500s got a bolt on alternator, no more pulling the engine to do the stator.

I don't think you're going to find a 1200+ Wing that is in decent shape for 2K. You can probably get more bang for your buck with a Venture. Wing is more comfortable, Venture is more fun.

If you go with a Venture go 86 or later. 2nd gear was fixed part way through the 85 run. It'll be a 1300. I think in 86 and 87 they still made a base Venture. The Royale trim will have AM/FM cassette, intercom, CB, cruise and on board compressor for the suspension. Still not likely to get a good one for 2K.

 

http://motorcycles.oodle.com/detail/198 ... -_-NA-_-NA

 

Not $2K but still practically free...

 

I think I'll look into the ventures more. Very cool thank you rick.


I am not spending 2k because I think I that a wind shield is ugly. I am considering it because full fairing, luggage racks, larger tank, less wind, and comfort will probably be important to ride 2600 miles in two weeks. Last thing I want is to get there and dread the ride back.

However if I am able to make my bike more comfortable I may very well take it. I am just considering options.

RickB I WISH. But my dream bike is an older Ducati or a Hayabusa with luggage set up for touring. I can get the Ducati I want for less. However I bet those are a blast.

 

More space for crap, extra room and weight for comfort, really hard not to love a big bike for long hauls.

The major down side to the Venture is it's all wrapped in plastic. Figure an extra hour for every repair to pull the wrappings off. You even have to pull a panel to add oil.

The nice thing about all that plastic is at 70mph in a heavy rain all that gets wet is my fingers and the top of my helmet. Slow down though and you'll get just as wet as you will on the XJ. :lol:

 

With the bikes I want eventually I should get over wrapped In plastic. Doesn't sound like a bad way to go. And it seems you enjoy yours. Can you hear the radio at speed? Been reliable for you?

 

I use a headset. Only time I used the speakers was with a guest passenger that didn't have a headset so I turned them on. Seemed passable up to the 55mph speeds we were doing, even for her. When I closed the shield on my full face though it cut it down a lot. Stock speakers are pretty tinny sounding though.

They have the common Yamaha issue of charging system connectors burning up. The only time the bike ever quit on me was when the plug melted off the regulator. Fortunately I was able to fix it on the side of the road. Since they use a permanent magnet alternator you can push start them even with a dead battery. BTW, ignition system works at low enough voltage the radio quit before the bike stopped.

The starter on the 1300s is weak. It's tucked between the front pipes and if I stop mine for 5 minutes on a hot day I need to wait a half hour for it to cool off enough to start. I've got a V-max starter to put on this winter that should take care of it.

I had the pinion shaft in the final drive break (it may have been that way when I bought it). I'm not going to explain here why, but they don't strand you the way they break. What happens is the gears get excessive lash and make noise. I believe the same can happen with the pinion at the middle gear. This is a somewhat common problem with the 1300 Ventures and the only thing I would call a major "defect". If you buy one listen for gear moan on acceleration and deceleration.

The 1300 Ventures use a diaphragm type clutch spring that weakens with age. It's a quick, easy, inexpensive repair.

My biggest problem with my Venture is poor fuel mileage. I only get about 33-35mpg. I know others are getting more like 40. I've done all the usual stuff and a brand new ignition module with no improvement. I'm thinking the jet needles and needle jets may be worn (90K miles) and letting it run a tad rich. Tackling that possibility is on my winter list.

One handy thing is that the engine and drive line was used in the V-Max and in the current Royal Star Ventures. Parts are readily available.

 

Ryan,
A bike that may be just what you are looking for is a 1986-2006 Kawasaki Concours. Good budget sporty touring bike; they underwent very few changes over their 20 years of production. Betcha if you looked hard you could find a good earlier year model that fits within your budget.

 

Thank you for the heads up that may be actually better than the Goldwing or the others. I wanted something still "Sporty".

 

I've only ever seen one Concourse. Seemed like a very nice bike.

Lots fewer of them around (at least here) than Ventures and Wings.

 

Too bad this oneis about 12 hours from you; looks yummy. Love the red... Asking $1750.

 

I wanted something still "Sporty".

I have a 77 GL1000, completely naked. It is pretty quick, a blast to cruise around on, but not sporty.....Then again, I'm not as "sporty" naked as I once was.....

Dave

83 900
77 GL1000

 

damn, that one does look nice