Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

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byrd900sp
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Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#1

Post by byrd900sp »

I picked up a 1980 GL1100 with 96,000 miles on the odo for $400, and I've been going through it to see if it's worth putting on the road.
Before taking it apart, I got it to run enough to take it around the block, and it seemed smooth, but really slow on take off. I felt like I had to release the clutch really slowly to get up to speed.
The PO said it was his daily until six months ago, and "just needs a battery." There's no crash damage or rash anywhere, the bags are nice (I removed the fairing), and the bike looks great from across the street. The gas tank is rust free and carbs had minimal debris inside. None of the rubber stuff is rotted, but so far every chassis bearing I've checked is bad. Tires are date stamped 2017, and the brake pads were recently done. All the electrics work, and the gauges are not faded. Belts look new, but say Honda on them, originals perhaps?
The cylinder pressures are 125, 135, 125, 115 pounds. Oil and water look okay, but the radiator got hot enough to cook the paint off at some point, and the fan was really loose on its mounts.

My questions are: 1) Should I put money into head gaskets and belts, etc. Or is 100K miles just too much wear and tear for a bike that can be trusted on rides between Reno and Vegas (about nine hours through the Nevada desert)?
2) If I do commit to refreshing this bike, should I put in a new water pump while it's apart due to the cooked radiator?

Thank you!
My current bikes
2008 KTM 530 EXC-R
1998 Honda GL1500C
1997 Ducati 900SS SP
1996 Honda XR650L
1993 KTM 250SX
1984 Honda XR500R
1980 Honda GL1100 Standard
1975 Honda GL1000 Scrambler
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Fred Camper
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Re: Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#2

Post by Fred Camper »

Water pumps are likely to fail on old wings but you can check them pretty easy if you think the PO put one on. The slow accel seems likely from sitting. May clean up with miles or you may need to do a mild redu on the carbs. The bearings are not too bad to change and 96K miles is just break in for these. 300K is not uncommon. I would refresh it in a mild way (new belts and Water pump and maybe carb kit) and certainly make sure the brakes are great. Then do no more until you get a better fell for what needs a longer term update.
Proud member of the NGW Cartel (Rochester MI)
1977 GL1000 BADDOG (April 2012 BOTM)
1976 LTD - '993 LTD...and so it begins'

You should remember that it's peace of mind you're after and not just fixing the machine. R.Pirsig
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wingrider
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Re: Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#3

Post by wingrider »

Welcome to the forum! Sounds like it was on the road a bit in the last couple of years. If it was mine, I’d change the belts more as insurance than anything else. Belts can look new, and still be ready to let go. The mileage you see wouldn’t scare me in the least if it was taken care of.

I would change all the fluids in it, and while you have the coolant out, pop the bolts out of that lower radiator hose mount, and wiggle around the water pump. If no movement, and it isn’t weeping out of the weep hole, I would be tempted to run it. If it happened to have steel vanes on it, it means it has had one in the past.

While you have the coolant out, I would change out the thermostat and take a good look at the fan switch...if she got hot enough to boil the paint, then something isn’t/wasn’t quite right.
2002 1800 Wing
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1978 1200 EFI Wing with Motorvation Coupe Royale sidecar
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robin1731
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Re: Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#4

Post by robin1731 »

Looking at your other bikes you may just not be used to an early wing. They need a little more throttle/clutch to get moving than some people are used to. It could that the bike is fine but you need to learn it's quirks. ;)

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1976 Goldwing Super Sport
1985 Honda Elite
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Re: Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#5

Post by chewy999 »

I would start by taking the radiator off, you don't need too but it makes changing and setting the belts so much easier. You can then check the mounting on the fan.
Flush the rad through and see that the water flows without any problems. As has been said, check the water pump, with your fingers on the vanes, there should be no movement either way. There are tests in the manual for the thermostat and both switches, one for the fan and one for the gauge, (all are available if needed), so be worth checking before reassembling and refilling. I use 50/50 distilled water and anti freeze as normal water can fur up the system.
Most importantly, change the belts so you know for sure it has been done.

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Previous Rides,
1980 CB250N Good to learn on
1981 CX500 good mid range tourer, went to Austria on it!
1983 GL1100C Pride and joy, sold when I bought my 1st house, big mistake
1985 GL650 Silverwing another mistake, horrible bike
1986 CBX550 Good commuter
1989 Suzuki GS750 (1976) cheap and cheerful until a dog ran out in front of me on Xmas Eve, 1991
Current bikes
2010 CB1300 back on a bike after 19 years, two divorces, children grown up etc
1980 GL1100 NOW ON THE ROAD, still use CB1300.
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byrd900sp
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Re: Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#6

Post by byrd900sp »

Update on my GL1100: I changed the head gaskets and belts, and went through the brakes, cooling, and electrical systems, and replaced too many worn parts to mention. I think I found the original cause of the problem: The right head had never been torqued properly because the locating dowel was in crooked and deformed. The exhaust valve near that dowel had a crack in the shaft. After a few questions here and a lot of work, I got it running, carbs balanced, and a few shake down runs yesterday. I went a little farther today and ran it up to freeway speeds after addressing a few minor issues. Now everything works the way it should, and it runs and idles really smooth. I am super happy with this project! Thanks for the support! Now I am going to start on my 1975 GL1000 project.
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My current bikes
2008 KTM 530 EXC-R
1998 Honda GL1500C
1997 Ducati 900SS SP
1996 Honda XR650L
1993 KTM 250SX
1984 Honda XR500R
1980 Honda GL1100 Standard
1975 Honda GL1000 Scrambler
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Jonesz
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Re: Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#7

Post by Jonesz »

Nice bike byrd, enjoy. Well worth the work put in.
Jonesz

1983 GL1100 Aspencade named "Freki" currently undergoing change to a standard. Sold
1999 Valkyrie CT 1500 goes by the moniker "Valerie"
1978 Gl1000 "Loki" new project going to be a Cafe Convertible
1979 Suzuki GS850. Sold
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Re: Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#8

Post by Track T 2411 »

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

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"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!
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Re: Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#9

Post by desertrefugee »

Great photo too.
- Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass. It's about learning to ride in the rain.
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Re: Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#10

Post by CYBORG »

byrd900sp wrote:Update on my GL1100: I changed the head gaskets and belts, and went through the brakes, cooling, and electrical systems, and replaced too many worn parts to mention. I think I found the original cause of the problem: The right head had never been torqued properly because the locating dowel was in crooked and deformed. The exhaust valve near that dowel had a crack in the shaft. After a few questions here and a lot of work, I got it running, carbs balanced, and a few shake down runs yesterday. I went a little farther today and ran it up to freeway speeds after addressing a few minor issues. Now everything works the way it should, and it runs and idles really smooth. I am super happy with this project! Thanks for the support! Now I am going to start on my 1975 GL1000 project.
Nice bike.
1978 custom GL1000
1977 custom with 1200 engine
1985 gl1200
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Whiskerfish
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Re: Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#11

Post by Whiskerfish »

Great looking bike! So glad you put the effort into it action1 action1 action1 action1
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2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
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Re: Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#12

Post by ob1quixote »

I like those crash bars!
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2001 DRZ400
1983 CR480
And a few late '60's - early '70's British thumpers
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Re: Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#13

Post by Fred Camper »

Love those hondaline bags. They do everything well in my book. Nice looking bike
Proud member of the NGW Cartel (Rochester MI)
1977 GL1000 BADDOG (April 2012 BOTM)
1976 LTD - '993 LTD...and so it begins'

You should remember that it's peace of mind you're after and not just fixing the machine. R.Pirsig
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byrd900sp
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Re: Getting a GL1100 on the road. Questions...

#14

Post by byrd900sp »

Wow! Thanks for the compliments!
Now I have the blinkers I got from Dime City wired up, and I found an old set of Jardine headers in the boneyard, but I actually like the original pipes better, so I'll probably swap them back. But as you can see in the pic, I'm not going to get to try them out today. It was 68f and sunny just two days ago!
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My current bikes
2008 KTM 530 EXC-R
1998 Honda GL1500C
1997 Ducati 900SS SP
1996 Honda XR650L
1993 KTM 250SX
1984 Honda XR500R
1980 Honda GL1100 Standard
1975 Honda GL1000 Scrambler
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