Thinking about a Fall/Winter project... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jplinville · #1 08-05-2012, 10:45 AM

I have an opportunity to pick up a '82 Honda Gold Wing that's been left outside under a tarp for 2 years. The motor has been gone over, and cleaned, and it runs pretty good...had a gasket replaced and the fuel system cleaned and adjusted. The owner has replaced the tires with newer tires that only have a few hundred miles on them.

Here's the bad, but not too bad...the seats are trashed, fiberglass faring cracked, and the hard bags are cracked. It LOOKS like hell.

I'm thinking of either a bobber or cafe style bike. Something that looks pretty cool, but rides nice.

I can pick this bike up now for $400, with 2 boxes of spare and missing parts.

If I get it, I can have the frame PC'd rather cheaply, same with the tank and other parts. The lines of the bike, when the seats are removed, isn't too bad...a little tweaking and it should look pretty nice.

I'm leaning more to the bobber look, as it's just cooler.

I should be able to get this project on the road for less than $1500 total investment. I have a neighbor that works at the local bike shop that is willing to give me a hand wrenching on this on the weekends.

I was working on the '46 Triumph my dad left me, but haven't had the time to get back to the garage in Ohio to start back up on it. Dad raked the frame a bit on it, and it has great lines...I just need to either spend some time on it in Ohio, or bring the thing to my house. At the moment, I'm not interested in doing either, as there are still too many memories there, and it still doesn't feel right working on it.

elchivito · #2 08-05-2012, 11:02 AM

Good luck with that Triumph. There is an old Indian MC out in the barn, my father traded for it and never finished getting it running. My grandfather's "town car", a 61 F100 is moldering right next to it. I can't find the time, money or interest to deal with either one of them, but can't bear to part with them either. My place is full of things that have attachments to people who are long dead. Sometimes they're like a giant ball and chain that gets heavier all the time.

jplinville · #3 08-05-2012, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

Good luck with that Triumph. There is an old Indian MC out in the barn, my father traded for it and never finished getting it running. My grandfather's "town car", a 61 F100 is moldering right next to it. I can't find the time, money or interest to deal with either one of them, but can't bear to part with them either. My place is full of things that have attachments to people who are long dead. Sometimes they're like a giant ball and chain that gets heavier all the time.

I know that feeling. Dad also left his '68 XKE, as well as other toys to me. I can't seem to do anything with them, but I won't get rid of them. Someday I'll get out there and do something with them, but for now it's a place of solitude where I feel most attached to him. It sounds odd, but that's what it is to me.

Stretch · #4 08-05-2012, 11:12 AM

From what I understand the Goldwing has a pretty car-like engine compared with most motorbikes - I'd say you probably wouldn't find anything particularly difficult to deal with other than the usual trouble you'd expect with a car engine of course!

catmandoo62 · #5 08-05-2012, 01:50 PM

the main issue with goldwings is carbs and carb adjustment.they are hell to get all 4 carbs syncro'ed.

jplinville · #6 08-05-2012, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Army

From what I understand the Goldwing has a pretty car-like engine compared with most motorbikes - I'd say you probably wouldn't find anything particularly difficult to deal with other than the usual trouble you'd expect with a car engine of course!

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

the main issue with goldwings is carbs and carb adjustment.they are hell to get all 4 carbs syncro'ed.

I had a tri-powered Chevy in the past that was a PITA also...

Here's an interesting, highly modified GL...

raymr · #7 08-05-2012, 02:13 PM

No idea what a naked stock Goldwing looks like. Could be an interesting experiment though, and the lack of tupperware will make it much easier to work on.

Stretch · #8 08-05-2012, 02:15 PM

Tupperware - like it!

jplinville · #9 08-05-2012, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymr

No idea what a naked stock Goldwing looks like. Could be an interesting experiment though, and the lack of tupperware will make it much easier to work on.

How's this??

tbomachines · #10 08-05-2012, 04:53 PM

$400 what's there to lose? Agreed on adjusting those carbs though--that's something that plagued a lot of those older Japanese bikes. Once you get good at it, might be able to sell your time out to others who have given up...good skill to know albeit dying with FI.

SwampYankee · #11 08-05-2012, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplinville

How's this??

I likey!

catmandoo62 · #12 08-05-2012, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplinville

I had a tri-powered Chevy in the past that was a PITA also...

Here's an interesting, highly modified GL...

what kinda tri-power.i have a corvette 3x2 set-up on my 66ss chevelle and both outside carbs are vacuum and they work like a charm.one other thing about the goldwings.you actually sit on top of the gas tank,what looks like a gas tank is just a couple covers to hide the air cleaner.

jplinville · #13 08-05-2012, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catmandoo62

what kinda tri-power.i have a corvette 3x2 set-up on my 66ss chevelle and both outside carbs are vacuum and they work like a charm.one other thing about the goldwings.you actually sit on top of the gas tank,what looks like a gas tank is just a couple covers to hide the air cleaner.

When I was 18, I bought a heavily rashed out '58 Impala with a 348 tri-power. I had it for about a year or so...the body was too far gone to do anything with it. The seat was barely bolted in, floorboards shot with rust, broken motor mounts, etc. I paid the princely price of $400 for it...and was laughed at when i brought it home. Dad immediately recognized junk when he saw it...but in the eyes of a boy with cash, it was a dream that turned into a nightmare. I tinkered enough on it to get the engine running pretty good, enough to pull it and install it into a '76 C-20 flatbed. The rest was hopefully crushed, sold and turned into a stop sign, which would be ironic, because I never could get the brakes to work worth a hoot. LOL

732002 · #14 08-12-2012, 01:17 AM

'78 Honda Goldwing Cafe Racer -*

t walgamuth · #15 08-13-2012, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elchivito

Good luck with that Triumph. There is an old Indian MC out in the barn, my father traded for it and never finished getting it running. My grandfather's "town car", a 61 F100 is moldering right next to it. I can't find the time, money or interest to deal with either one of them, but can't bear to part with them either. My place is full of things that have attachments to people who are long dead. Sometimes they're like a giant ball and chain that gets heavier all the time.

I have quite a few artifacts from my Dad. Two boats, three boat motors (one was my Grandfathers evinrude 1.5 hp), guns, fishing rods, reels, tools etc.

I also have some clothes. I have been wearing one of his shirts and this summer have worn one of his straw hats nearly every day. I got a compliment on the hat from a twenty something young lady the other day...took me by surprise.

I've been thinking about selling some of dad's stuff off. I am pretty sure none of my kids want any of it.

I am torn between wanting to hang onto things that were important to him and the practical side of getting them to someone who will use them.