Were they REALLY this fast?

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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#16

Post by Lucien Harpress »

Now I can't speak for their performance back in the day (on account of me not being born yet), but my 1000 always struck me as a bit of a sleeper. Maybe because they're so planted at lower speed, and the quiet exhaust note that just so happens to transform into a scream right around 5k rpm when all the magic starts. I always got the impression that they were perfectly docile bikes to putt around town on at 3.5k, but always ready to turn into a bit of a monster if you were willing to wring it out of them.
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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robbie202
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#17

Post by robbie202 »

i expect that if the skunkworks at honda in 1972 put their heads together with the intention of making the fastest commercially available street legal bike in the world that's exactly what they would have done.
'77 GL1000
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redglbx
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#18

Post by redglbx »

I believe the accounting department also had a say, but ultimately it was Mr Honda’s decision, he wanted something with A fair amount of power to compete but ultimately wanted it to be refined. I got off of my 75 cb750f super sport and was just totally blown away by the effortlessness and refinement, just incredible ! And at that time there was nothing at all like it, blew everyone’s mind but the magazines were really unhappy with the weight and the shocks. Ultimately the shocks while not a set of Koni’s weren’t all that bad, I think if it wasn’t a Ricki Racer they tended to really pan it.

But they did have a lot to say that was good but it was soooo different ! Most of the manufacturers were trying to do something that made them stand out (think Suzuki Re5 rotary) but none really had the Goldwing level of refinement, but I am a bit bias’d.

Keep in mind that the original prototype(s) were essentially Valkerie’s with1500cc flat 6’s but styled like the 80 1100 standards. But Mr Honda said it was too much and nixed it so we got the flat 4 1000’s.


And Lucien, you are correct ! One of the early complaints was that they were way to quiet which made for a heck of a sleeper, and they addressed that in the 78/79’s.
Red 1976 oe owner
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
1981 CBX
1977 CB750 K7
2014 FJR OE owner, sold
1980 GL1100
1984 GL1200 naked
1969 CL350, in the que
wannabridin
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#19

Post by wannabridin »

i wonder what they're like with a little bit of head work and a set of webcam's more aggressive camshafts...
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dontwantapickle
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#20

Post by dontwantapickle »

^ or lightening them up by 150 lbs, or making them more aerodynamic...
wannabridin
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#21

Post by wannabridin »

Lots of work to lose 150 lbs off a bike! Best get to buying less beer!!
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dontwantapickle
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#22

Post by dontwantapickle »

yep,
those horse jockeys are always little bitty fellers for a reason
I bet Mother Hondas test riders were small too. same reason.

Lots of weight on a stock bike...
glass head light , steel chrome fenders, big mirrors and turn signals, giant exhaust, big seat, etc....

A lot of factors go into making a bike fast,
stock 1000's have a 3.4:1 final drive ratio. a taller gear will give a higher top end speed,
it's just gonna take longer to get there.

Even a larger diameter rear tire will change the gearing.
You wont be pulling any wheelies and probably slipping the clutch to take off from a stoplight,
but the top speed will be greater.

Who really rides wfo all of the time? or even most of the time?

it isn't always a matter of horsepower.
digger
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#23

Post by digger »

CaseyH, two nice examples of vintage bikes. When riding my 75 wing it really reminds me of the 77 KZ1000 I bought new, ah those were the days. The wing is heavier but still pulls strong, great to relive the memories.
1975 GL1000
Shadowjack
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#24

Post by Shadowjack »

I wish I'd bought the only '84 1200 Standard I ever saw. The two 1200 Interstates I had were head and shoulders over my 1000 in instant snap, and they're more than 100 pounds heavier.
redglbx
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#25

Post by redglbx »

Jack, I have to agree ! I had an 86 Sei and was surprised at the response & giddy-up it had. I have an 84 Standard now that a PO fully dressed and really needs some electrical work to make it road worthy. My plan is to strip it back to standard level or maybe just strip the windjammer off and make a bagger out of it. Originally planned to strip the motor & drivetrain to Putin a 78 I have but it’s just to nice to do that.

My Sei was almost 200lbs heavier than my 76’s, was it faster ? Dunno, don’t care, wish I hadn’t sold it as it was a really nice bike !

As far as outright speed goes, if I feel the need which isn’t very often any more I just saddle up on my 14 fjr, about 50-75lbs heavier and LOTs more power !
Red 1976 oe owner
1976 LTD restored
1980 CBX , in the que, to fix the ignorant heavy handed owner
1981 CBX
1977 CB750 K7
2014 FJR OE owner, sold
1980 GL1100
1984 GL1200 naked
1969 CL350, in the que
MattMcCoy
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#26

Post by MattMcCoy »

It’s really cool reading the different experiences and expertise. Learning that the ‘75 GL1000 was claimed to be the second-fastest production bike at the time, behind only the Kawasaki KZ1 (900cc), is pretty interesting.
1983 GL1100A Aspencade
1977 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1979 GL1000

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Sidecar Bob
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#27

Post by Sidecar Bob »

All I'll say is that before I added the sidecar I used to enjoy passing guys on sport bikes with my feet on the highway pegs.
They usually looked startled and a bit disappointed when this cruised past :orange
'83 GL1000 3.JPG
'83 GL1000 3.JPG (221.09 KiB) Viewed 154 times
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
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Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
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Lucien Harpress
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#28

Post by Lucien Harpress »

The Standard 1200 is a hoot. Essentially everything good about the 1000, but made better.

Only reason I got rid of mine was to get my Valkyrie, for, well, the same reason.
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.
wannabridin
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#29

Post by wannabridin »

Wow, that's awesome!!

Doesn't the 1200 JUST BARELY fit into a 1000 frame? :-D
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wingrider
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Re: Were they REALLY this fast?

#30

Post by wingrider »

wannabridin wrote: Mon Jun 07, 2021 12:56 pm Wow, that's awesome!!

Doesn't the 1200 JUST BARELY fit into a 1000 frame? :-D
Fits with room to spare in my 77. :)
2002 1800 Wing
2001 Valkyrie Interstate
1978 1200 EFI Wing with Motorvation Coupe Royale sidecar
1977 1200 Wing cafe/bobber project
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