First Ride Report on my New-to-Me '76 LTD

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WingMan71
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First Ride Report on my New-to-Me '76 LTD

#1

Post by WingMan71 »

Well... seven weeks after I got her, and many hours of carb rebuild, brake caliper rebuilds, fluid replacements, and other general maintenance and reconditioning... I finally got my first real ride today.

70 degrees and sunny here in Atlanta this afternoon. Perfect day for my maiden voyage.

All I can say is WOW! I've ridden Gold Wings since 1984, but this is my first naked Wing. I love it! This has got to be my favorite Gold Wing of all. :-D

This Wing is basically a BIG sport bike. Accelerates like one. Handles amazingly well for its weight. (Much better than my full dress '87 or '06.) I was flipping it back and forth through some S-curves like it was the '81 CB750C I just sold recently. Does it require a bit more counter-steering effort? Sure. Will it do it? Yes! What a pleasure to ride. I had a smile so wide on my face when I got back home it'll take it a week to wear off!

I learned a couple things on the ride:

1. I finally got my idle circuit/pilot jets set right after some experimentation last week. I had a hanging idle and poor off-idle performance as they were set previously at 2+1/2 turns out. It was just plain way too lean at idle. I used Mike Nixon's GL1000 carb rebuild book to do the carbs, and he recommends starting at 3 full turns out on the pilot screw. I knew that Honda sets their bikes lean at idle but had no idea how lean! I ended up at 3+1/2 turns out on my pilot screws to get a really nice idle, with no hanging idle, and good off-idle transition. (Of course, you have to pull the limiter caps off of your pilot screws to do this.) Thanks for the great book Mike!

2. The little National Cycle Street Shield EX windshield that I put on it is way too small for this bike. Too small may not be the proper description. Too low is probably a better explanation. You sit so high up on the seat on these bikes that a short windshield mounted just above the headlight bucket is too low on your body to do much good. I had lots of wind blast on my upper chest and head, and I'm only 5' 8" tall. I think I'm going to sell the brand new Street Shield EX and get a National Cycle PlexiFairing 3 instead.

3. I may have to fiddle with the clutch lever adjustment a bit. I had it set according to spec in the owner's manual. At that setting the clutch lever is pretty far away from the hand grip when it finally engages. I've got short fingers and that puts it out close to end of my reach, which is a bit unnerving. May have to adjust it to get it to catch closer to the hand grip. Question: Do most of your clutches engage pretty far away from the hand grip, i.e. is that normal?

4. This Wing is just a cold-blooded as any carbureted Wing I've ever ridden. Had to keep just a little choke on until the temp gauge was up into the white "warmed up" range. That took a bit of riding. As soon as it was warmed up though, the choke could come full off.

At any rate... sure am glad I finally got naked! What a trip! dancr

***
1983 GL650 Silver Wing Interstate
2006 Gold Wing GL1800 CSC Trike
1982 CB750 Custom
1976 Gold Wing GL1000 LTD - SOLD :(
1987 Gold Wing GL1200A Aspencade - SOLD :(
U.S. Navy SWO 1967-1976
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Track T 2411
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Re: First Ride Report on my New-to-Me '76 LTD

#2

Post by Track T 2411 »

action1 action1 action1
"I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein

"He that is good with a hammer tends to think everything is a nail" - Abraham Maslow

"If you can't take the time to do it right the first time, how are you ever going to find the time to do it over?" -Unknown

Current Rides:
'Grumpy' - '81 Standard, now fully dressed.
'Layla' - '81 Standard w/dealer installed fairing and Hondaline bags.
'Scarlett' '76 'Survivor' nekkid as a j-bird!

Under Construction:
The 'Jalopy' '78-'79 Mash-up
'Quikie' '81 gl1100I back on the lift, project with the step-son!

In The Shed:
'81 gl1100I barn find aka "Josie, the farmer's daughter." (almost comatose build)
'77 gl1000, roller parts bike.
'82 gl1100I, 'Old Crusty' titled roller parts bike (free!)
'82 gl1100I, My first 'Wing, and an expensive lesson!
New2U Bike? Read Me.
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5speed
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Re: First Ride Report on my New-to-Me '76 LTD

#3

Post by 5speed »

Pics or it didn't happen. :mrgreen:
1982 1100 standard. (sold)
1986 Yamaha FJ1200
2000 Yamaha Roadstar
1976 GoldWing. running but not on the road
1978 Goldwing. future cafe project.
2019 Can-Am ryker (boss's new ride)

2002 Shadow American Classic(sold)
1983 Shadow 500. (sold)
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WingMan71
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Re: First Ride Report on my New-to-Me '76 LTD

#4

Post by WingMan71 »

5speed wrote:Pics or it didn't happen. :mrgreen:
Dang! Never thought of that!

I've got over 100 digital pictures already of all the reconditioning work, but never thought to document the first ride! :oops:

What I need is a Go-Pro camera. Still don't have one. :IDTS:

Arghhhh ! ! !
1983 GL650 Silver Wing Interstate
2006 Gold Wing GL1800 CSC Trike
1982 CB750 Custom
1976 Gold Wing GL1000 LTD - SOLD :(
1987 Gold Wing GL1200A Aspencade - SOLD :(
U.S. Navy SWO 1967-1976
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Re: First Ride Report on my New-to-Me '76 LTD

#5

Post by Whiskerfish »

Good stuff!
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: First Ride Report on my New-to-Me '76 LTD

#6

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Fun, ain't they? ;)
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete

All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
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sparkyrasmus
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Re: First Ride Report on my New-to-Me '76 LTD

#7

Post by sparkyrasmus »

Your description makes me dream of spring! But it's 50's and rain today. Promises of snow the weekend. And March is our biggest snow month. Just hearing of your first ride makes me antsy!
Last edited by sparkyrasmus on Wed Feb 22, 2017 1:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
Goldwings don't accelerate, they gain inertia.

1978 GL1000 - almost stock - needs a head replaced, parts are ready to install!
1979 GL1000 - Winter project/parts bike - custom "Busted"
1983 GL1100 Standard- raised from the dead and back to organ donor status :cry:
And the newest acquisition, 1979 XS 650F to be a sidecar tug. crossy.gif
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Graham Cracker
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Re: First Ride Report on my New-to-Me '76 LTD

#8

Post by Graham Cracker »

Congratulations! Doesn't get much better than that!
Mark

1975 GL 1000 Candy Antares Red
1976 GL 1000 Sulfur Yellow
1977 GL 1000 Pearl White
1978 GL 1000 Candy Limited Maroon
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Re: First Ride Report on my New-to-Me '76 LTD

#9

Post by Gowing »

Ride on wing man!
Dave

1975 GL 1000
1980 XS650
1981 ct110
1972 F7 KAW 175
2000 moby blaze 40cc
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Re: First Ride Report on my New-to-Me '76 LTD

#10

Post by sunnbobb »

Congrats! ps.. a fork brace helps immensely with that counter steering..
I found the end of the internet

---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!

1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
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WingMan71
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Re: First Ride Report on my New-to-Me '76 LTD

#11

Post by WingMan71 »

sunnbobb wrote:Congrats! ps.. a fork brace helps immensely with that counter steering..
I'm actually looking for a fork brace for my GL1000. But so far I'm only finding one that is NOT adjustable.

I prefer an adjustable fork brace that has a bit of width adjustment (usually slotted screw holes) which allows for compensation in build inconsistencies. It's my experience that a fixed width fork brace that is not an exact fit can cause increased stiction in the forks and accelerated wear.

Superbrace makes a nice one, but it's not adjustable.

If anyone knows of an adjustable fork brace for a GL1000, please let me know.

***
1983 GL650 Silver Wing Interstate
2006 Gold Wing GL1800 CSC Trike
1982 CB750 Custom
1976 Gold Wing GL1000 LTD - SOLD :(
1987 Gold Wing GL1200A Aspencade - SOLD :(
U.S. Navy SWO 1967-1976
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Re: First Ride Report on my New-to-Me '76 LTD

#12

Post by Whiskerfish »

Randakk has a good article about stiction here: http://www.randakksblog.com/removing-st ... #more-1173
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
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