My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
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- Lead Member
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My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
Hi everybody, I have been led here with my questions from GW Docs. I own a 1981 GL1100 and am converting it to complete naked, now I have already removed the fairing, took the wiring harness out and removed the fork weight and am now in pickle. I need a new headlight because the one in the fairing will not work. I need a headlight with a bucket to cover the wires from the jbox does anybody know of any headlights that will work for this? Will parts from earlier models such as the 70's bikes that are naked from factory work with the 81 gl1100s? Thank you for your time and if you have any questions please ask.
- RB
- Honored Life Member
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- Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2007 7:26 am
- Location: AZ
Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
all the GL buckets from 75 to 83 will work but the space inside is too small for all that wiring, it can be done but it's tough. All the standard model buckets 80 to 83 will work and have more room. Look for "square" backed headlights rather than the dome shaped ones..you may have to get aftermarket ears to make them work..the OEM ears for the GL1100's are very hard to find.
You should ask over in the customizing forum
You should ask over in the customizing forum
98 1500 SE..
99 1500 SE SOLD
97 SE 1500 SOLD
83 SOLD
82 REBUILT sold!!!
81 DAILY RIDER sold her ((!
81 REBUILT SOLD!!!
81 REBUILT SOLD!!
80 REBUILT SOLD
79 IN BASKET PARTS FOR SALE
79 CLEANED UP AND SOLD
78 REBUILT SOLD
77 REBUILT SOLD
76 SOLD/PARTIAL REBUILD
76 REBUILT AND SOLD
75 REBUILT SOLD
75 REBUILT SOLD
75 REBUILD SOLD
FAIR WINDS,
RB
99 1500 SE SOLD
97 SE 1500 SOLD
83 SOLD
82 REBUILT sold!!!
81 DAILY RIDER sold her ((!
81 REBUILT SOLD!!!
81 REBUILT SOLD!!
80 REBUILT SOLD
79 IN BASKET PARTS FOR SALE
79 CLEANED UP AND SOLD
78 REBUILT SOLD
77 REBUILT SOLD
76 SOLD/PARTIAL REBUILD
76 REBUILT AND SOLD
75 REBUILT SOLD
75 REBUILT SOLD
75 REBUILD SOLD
FAIR WINDS,
RB
- TNTbefree
- Silver Member
- Posts: 928
- Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:49 am
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
Welcome to the club. Had same issue with mine, whatever you do, do not get the new headlight and bucket off ebay. It is a piece of junk. Get an OEM bucket with a headlight in it. Also, fork ears... Try to find a set that still has turn signal tabs and rubber boots on them.
As for the wires, I could find no way to get them to fit in OEM bucket. Ended up adding a fork bag to front of bike. Cut hole in bottom back and top back of bag. Ran wires up bottom hole and down top hole, connected them inside and then mounted bag to forks. Many cut and splice all the wires to shorten .
As for the wires, I could find no way to get them to fit in OEM bucket. Ended up adding a fork bag to front of bike. Cut hole in bottom back and top back of bag. Ran wires up bottom hole and down top hole, connected them inside and then mounted bag to forks. Many cut and splice all the wires to shorten .
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Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
Thank you for the suggestions I will look into it.
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- Brass Member
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- Joined: Sat Aug 06, 2016 11:37 am
- Location: New Hampshire
Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
What about the aftermarket online headlight inner ring and outer retainer rings? I've seen them in the $35.00 range on E-bay. My 78 had a fairing on it and the rings were taken out and a black plastic cover installed over the bucket.TNTbefree wrote:Welcome to the club. Had same issue with mine, whatever you do, do not get the new headlight and bucket off ebay. It is a piece of junk. Get an OEM bucket with a headlight in it. Also, fork ears... Try to find a set that still has turn signal tabs and rubber boots on them.
Copy.jpg
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CB450-CB500-CB5 ... 2011445069
1960 BSA A10
1971 Norton Commando
2007 Suzuki Bandit
1978 GL1000
1971 Norton Commando
2007 Suzuki Bandit
1978 GL1000
- 5speed
- Honored Life Member
- Posts: 5312
- Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2015 2:37 pm
- Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
pictures..we demand pictures.
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)
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)
- TNTbefree
- Silver Member
- Posts: 928
- Joined: Sun Mar 23, 2014 8:49 am
- Location: Jacksonville, FL
Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
Mikeg: I'm not sure about them, but if it was me, I would find the whole OEM bucket and headlight together. Keep an eye out for them, I didn't pay much for mine. But I like to snipe on ebay.
- Steve81GL1100
- Silver Member
- Posts: 522
- Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 12:01 am
- Location: West Chicago, IL
Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
There's always old Wings being parted out on ebay. Personally I find it kinda sad that somebody will sell one off this way, especially when a lot of the ones I see are "running" bikes.... Anyway, I've had good luck finding a few pieces I wanted that way.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Steve
1981 GL 1100 Standard, 81 Interstate bags, 84 GL1200 pegs, sometime National Cycle PlexiStar windshield
1996 BMW R1100R
2007 Piaggio X9 Evo500, wife's ride so she can keep up with the GL
1980 Vespa P200 (also wife's), restored, with custom paint, custom trim
1981 GL 1100 Standard, 81 Interstate bags, 84 GL1200 pegs, sometime National Cycle PlexiStar windshield
1996 BMW R1100R
2007 Piaggio X9 Evo500, wife's ride so she can keep up with the GL
1980 Vespa P200 (also wife's), restored, with custom paint, custom trim
- tbird71
- Tin Member
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- My Album: http://www.timemachinewatch.com/wweek/p21.htm
- Location: Ramsey, IL
- Contact:
Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
The ears will be your hardest thing to find. My 84 Standard has a rare dealer installed
1983 Hondaline fairing on it which i love so thankfully that's not a worry for me.
(Dealers put these on a few of the 84 Standards as they were not selling
because of the new Interstates and Aspencades, also to get rid of the 82-83 fairings they couldn't sell either. I got a pretty rare setup and will leave it alone. GL1200 with a round headlight...LOL)
These old GLs (87 and older) are going for peanuts now, real shame.
The strippers enjoyed a renaissance and price increase a few years ago, but this year they too have gone back
to giveaway prices, I saw a bone stock 1982 GL1100 stripper in real nice shape on CL for 1800 and he can't get even that. I'm real tempted to call and offer 15 but he'd probably take it and I have my 84 which is the best so I'll just keep it. Good Luck in your resto! There really are no better than the 80-84 standards.
1983 Hondaline fairing on it which i love so thankfully that's not a worry for me.
(Dealers put these on a few of the 84 Standards as they were not selling
because of the new Interstates and Aspencades, also to get rid of the 82-83 fairings they couldn't sell either. I got a pretty rare setup and will leave it alone. GL1200 with a round headlight...LOL)
These old GLs (87 and older) are going for peanuts now, real shame.
The strippers enjoyed a renaissance and price increase a few years ago, but this year they too have gone back
to giveaway prices, I saw a bone stock 1982 GL1100 stripper in real nice shape on CL for 1800 and he can't get even that. I'm real tempted to call and offer 15 but he'd probably take it and I have my 84 which is the best so I'll just keep it. Good Luck in your resto! There really are no better than the 80-84 standards.
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- Lead Member
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Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
Thank you everyone for commenting, I'm taking pictures of my goldwing for ya @5speed
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- Lead Member
- Posts: 7
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Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
Here are a couple of pictures I am currently rebuilding the calipers.
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- 5speed
- Honored Life Member
- Posts: 5312
- Joined: Sat Jul 11, 2015 2:37 pm
- Location: Nova Scotia Canada
Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
ApplecoreR6 wrote:Thank you everyone for commenting, I'm taking pictures of my goldwing for ya @5speed
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)
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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- Lead Member
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2017 9:53 pm
Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
It's a project bike and I will sure have more questions in the future and I will keep using this site thanks to everyone, if anyone can give me links to products such as in headlights/turn signals/fork ears that would be greatly appreciated, don't feel obligated though.
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- Lead Member
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- Joined: Tue Jul 25, 2017 9:53 pm
Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
Could anyone link me to some front turn signals that will work on my 1981 gl1100 (naked) how should I set them up?
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- Rusty Probie
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Thu Jul 03, 2014 5:34 pm
- Location: Utah
Re: My 1981 GL1100 naked conversion
I bought a headlight and brackets from dime city. The headlight was big enough to hold the wiring. I believe it was the 7" "british style" complete assembly. The brackets had different plastic bushings for different sized forks. They are very stout cast aluminum.
Also got fork-mounted brackets for my blinkers there. Front are dual filament, rear are single aluminum units. Lots of choices but dual filament blinkers seem to be rare. If memory serves me I mounted the rear blinkers in a hole thru the subframe and fender.
Also got fork-mounted brackets for my blinkers there. Front are dual filament, rear are single aluminum units. Lots of choices but dual filament blinkers seem to be rare. If memory serves me I mounted the rear blinkers in a hole thru the subframe and fender.
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